FOR CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND & FURNESS PRACTITIONERS
It has now been some months since the Cumberland Safeguarding Children Partnership and Westmorland and Furness Safeguarding Children Partnership were implemented that provide the multi-agency safeguarding arrangements across each of their respective local authority areas.
 As you will be aware there is a Business Team for each new partnership.
The Cumberland Safeguarding Children Partnership Business Team remains the same with Steph Smithson as Partnership and Improvement Manager, Charlotte Astill as Partnership and Improvement Officer, Sharon Mitchell who is the CDOP Coordinator, who provides business support and Deborah Hope who is Business Planning and Improvement Assistant. You can email the Business Team at CSCP@cumbria.gov.uk
 The Westmorland and Furness Safeguarding Children Partnership Business Team is managed by Hayley Clark as Safeguarding Children Partnership Manager and Jenna Lodge as Partnership and Improvement Officer. The Business Team will be joined at the end of July with a Business Administrator called Sally Mallinson. You can email the Business Team at wfscp@cumbria.gov.uk
What does this mean for me and my organisation?
Concerns about a Child
The process remains the remains and information on each local authority’s process can be found here: https://cumbriasafeguardingchildren.co.uk/report-concern-about-child
Training
Training continues to be accessed via the Learning Zone: https://cumbriasafeguardingchildren.co.uk/learning-zone-0
Policy and Procedures
All practitioners in Cumbria will continue to follow the current Pan-Cumbria procedures and access them via the Cumbria manual: https://cumbriascp.trixonline.co.uk/
We are currently reviewing all policies and procedures and each partnership will launch new manuals in early 2026.
Early/Family Help
The process still remains the same and information on Early/Family Help is here: https://cumbriasafeguardingchildren.co.uk/early-help
Practitioner Forums
We will continue to run the Practitioner Forums in the current format, whilst each partnership reviews how they engage with practitioners in their area. https://cumbriasafeguardingchildren.co.uk/practitioner-forums
Website
Both Safeguarding Partnerships are developing new websites, which we hope to go live during the Summer. In the meantime, we advise practitioners to continue to access the current Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership website. https://cumbriasafeguardingchildren.co.uk/cumbria-safeguarding-children-partnership
Partnership Comms, Newsletters and 5-Minute Briefings
We are continuing to publish newsletters and 5-minute briefings via the Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership mailing list.
However, as we draw closure to the new partnerships’ websites going live, we urge you to sign up to the new mailing list for your respective safeguarding partnership. For some professionals it may be relevant for you to sign up to both.
To sign up to these mailing lists please click on the links below.
Cumberland: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKCUMBERLAND/subscriber/new?topic_id=UKCUMBERLAND_112
Westmorland and Furness: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKWFC/subscriber/new?topic_id=UKWFC_134
This was a national campaign, led by the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), which aimed to raise awareness and reduce preventable deaths by drowning.
As summer approaches, it’s vital to help our communities, especially children, young people and their families, stay safe around water, both at home and outdoors.
Throughout Drowning Prevention Week, Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness Safeguarding Children Partnerships shared a range of drowning prevention resources, and top tips, to help raise awareness.
We need to keep vigilant of the risks of drowning, therefore, we would like to remind you that you can still access the 5-Minute Briefings, which include links to resources that you can cascade within your teams.
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CUMBERLAND PRACTITIONERS ONLY
Since the launch of the new Cumberland Single Contact Form in November 2024, the Cumberland Safeguarding Hub have been accepting referrals using both the new and old versions of the Single Contact Form, as part of a transition period.
However, as of Thursday 1 June 2025, Cumberland Safeguarding Hub will only accept the new version of the Single Contact Form, which can be found on the CSCP Website: here.
As a reminder, within the new Single Contact Form, there are three different types of referrals that can be sent to the Cumberland Safeguarding Hub:
- Referrals from a professional who works with children, young people and families, who as concerns about a child or is seeking Family Help support.
- Referrals from an adult (member of the public) with concerns about a child.
- Referrals from a child with concerns.
What does this mean for me?
If you have saved a link to the old version of the Single Contact Form as a favourite on your computer, please delete this and refer to the CSCP website for the most up to date version here, as the old version will no longer be accepted by the Cumberland Safeguarding Hub from Thursday 1 June 2025.
If you have any questions or queries in relation to this change, please do not hesitate to contact the Cumberland Safeguarding Hub via email:
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Cumberland Council are excited to launch their new Youth Connect Team, formerly known as The Complex Safeguarding Team.
The team have recently rebranded and renamed themselves to highlight and emphasise the purpose and role of the team.
They focus on building and encouraging positive connections for children and young people within their network, local community and services, whilst breaking negative connections to keep our children safe.
Youth Connect Workers are based at both Cumbria House and West Cumbria House, but they cover all of Cumberland. They undertake Return Home Chats (RHCs) and support children identified as vulnerable to or at risk of exploitation.
Youth Connect Workers offer direct support to children, families, including siblings (when affected), carers, and the wider professional network working with the child. The team do not case hold the child’s plan, but they work alongside case holders who remain the key worker for the family.
The Youth Connect Team will soon be launching their Prevention offer, which will focus on raising awareness and harm reduction. More information about referrals for preventative support will be shared in due course.
How to contact Cumberland Youth Connect Team
Family Help Manager - Youth Connect
- Belinda Worrall - 07825054869
Senior Family Help Worker – Youth Connect
- Claire Murphy – 07901008397
Family Help Workers – Youth Connect
- Joanne Dixon – 07785740806
- Kerry Armstrong – 07880052359
- Alison Dacre – 07748930095
- Ailsa Taylor – 07917305768
- Emma Bedford – 07880055970
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The Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) returns this summer. Cumberland's HAF is funded by the Department for Education (DfE), enabling school aged children in receipt of benefit related free school meals, access to free clubs and activities. We want to give children and young people the chance to have healthy, happy holidays so they can:
- be more active
- learn new skills
- meet up with friends and make new ones
- get a tasty nutritious meal
- work together and stay safe
HAF activities are delivered at our Family Hubs, by schools, established community groups, creative arts, sports, leisure, and youth organisations. We have several providers who offer activities for young people with additional needs. We have a limited number of places for those not on free school meals but have been identified by Cumberland Council as eligible through other circumstances. Some providers also offer paid spaces.
This summer we have changed the way we manage bookings; we are using a new booking service called EEQU. Booking HAF activities will now be easier, quicker, and fairer for all families. On the new system you:
- do not need a HAF code to book
- can contact providers with any questions through direct messages
- will see more detailed information about each activity
- can access a more visual and user-friendly platform
- can request bookings for multiple children at the same time
To check eligibility criteria and to see what activities are available this summer, please visit: Cumberland's Holiday Activities and Food Programme
For advice and support on how to book a place, please visit: Quick guide - how to book a HAF session
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WESTMORLAND & FURNESS PRACTITIONERS ONLY
Westmorland and Furness Council are pleased to launch our Summer Holiday Activity Fund offer. We have a wide range of provision to meet the needs of children and young people age from reception to Y11, with some activities open to whole family groups and others offering specialist SEND provision.
Bookings are made through the providers, details on the website: Holiday activities and food (HAF) programme | Westmorland and Furness Council The best way to find out what is happening near to you is to use the search criteria which includes:
- Dates
- Ages
- Location
- SEN appropriate activities
- Paid Places
Or you can drop a pin on the map and search within an area, just enter in the box how far you can travel.
Many providers will offer paid places, so if you aren’t eligible for a free space please ask if you can pay.
Please be aware the funding is provided to the council on the basis that 85% of places are made available to two distinct groups:
- Children and young people who receive means tested free school meals
- Children and young people who receive means tested free school meals AND have SEND
The remaining 15% of funding is for pupils facing other challenges:
- cared for or care experienced children and young adults
- children and young adults on Resettlement Schemes
- child and young adults seeking asylum
- young people who are not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)
- children and young people at risk of being involved in crime
- children living in areas of deprivation
- families in crisis
- young carers
- SEND or on a EHCP but not on free school meals up to the age of 18
These families need to be confirmed by our team.
If in doubt, please ask contact this mailbox: HAF@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Lastly, we welcome any contact from schools or other providers who are interested in putting on their own HAF programmes, please contact the mailbox above.
TRAINING
The Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership have a range of training sessions across the county.
Please visit the learning zone on the website for all eLearning/face to face courses offered to professionals and volunteers working with children/young people and their families who live in Cumbria.
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Safeguarding Level 3
Safeguarding in Practice - Working Together to Safeguard Children - Multi-agency approach to safeguard, protect and promote the welfare of children. The course is designed for Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) only.
This training is part of a programme of learning events that practitioners and professionals, working with children, can access to support their learning at level 3.
Cumberland
- Thursday 3 July (9.30am to 12.30pm) - Wigton
- Thursday 11 September (1.30pm to 4.30pm) - Carlisle
Westmorland and Furness
- Wednesday 17 September (9.30am to 12.30pm) - Kendal
To book your place, please email CSCP.Training@cumbria.gov.uk
Child Exploitation
The CSCP recommend that anyone working with children should complete Child Exploitation (CE) Level 1 eLearning as mandatory training. Click here to access the training.
Those practitioners who work more closely with children and young people, and are involved in their safety planning, should complete Child Exploitation (CE) Level 2 training.
Cumberland
- Tuesday 15 July (2pm to 5pm) - Carlisle
- Thursday 13 November (10am to 1pm) - Wigton
Westmorland and Furness
- Tuesday 1 July (10am to 1pm) - Barrow
- Tuesday 18 November 2025 (10am to 1pm) - Kendal
To book your place, please email CSCP.Training@cumbria.gov.uk
Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) Bitesize Session - Cumberland Practitioners (only)
Are you aware of your responsibilities in informing the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) of all allegations against adults who work with children?
This bitesize session is an opportunity to meet the LADO team manager Paul Cooper who will explain your responsibility and how to inform the LADO as set out in Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018.
Cumberland Practitioners (only)
- Wednesday 10 September 2025 (11am to 12pm) - Teams
To book your place, please email CSCP.Training@cumbria.gov.uk
IN THE NEWS
The DfE has published a strengthened guidance to support local authorities to fully utilise their existing legal powers, alongside those of multi-agency partners, to identify and intervene in settings of concern.
It explains what unregistered independent schools and out-of-school settings (OOSS) are, and outlines steps local authorities can take to:
- safeguard children in OOSS
- identify settings of concern
- intervene when you have concerns
It also explains how local authorities’ duties and powers are relevant to this work. Here is the link to the relevant statutory guidance and legislation, where these duties and powers are defined.
The department has also published its Call for Evidence on safeguarding in OOSS. It is open to any interested individuals or organisations, and seeks to better understand the sector, along with views on potential policy proposals to further enhance the safety of the sector.
Finally, the department has published its e-learning for providers, staff and volunteers in OOSS. The e-learning is accessible and free-to-access, complements government guidance and offers an introduction to the principles of safeguarding in OOSS.
Please do share these publications across your networks.
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NSPCC Learning has published a series of expert insight videos on online safety. The series includes talking head contributions from a range of practitioners and young people. The films aim to help those working and volunteering with children to explore what online safety means, recognise the risks children face, and understand how to support children’s safety online.
Watch the films: Online safety: expert insight videos
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