|
This edition is the final newsletter from the Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership. Details on how to sign up to receive Cumberland and/or Westmorland & Furness Safeguarding Children Partnership newsletters from September onwards, can be found in the following articles.
As you will be aware, the new Cumberland Safeguarding Children Partnership and the Westmorland & Furness Safeguarding Children Partnership have been working to create two new websites specific to their local area.
Each new Safeguarding Partnership website will launch on Monday 8 September 2025. You will receive a 5 Minute Briefing informing you of the launch of the websites, along with each website link.
|
As mentioned above, this is the last Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership's newsletter. The new Safeguarding Partnership websites will launch on 8 September, therefore, 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 sign up here
Westmorland and Furness sign up here
|
FOR CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND & FURNESS PRACTITIONERS
ICON Week 2025 is dedicated to raising awareness about infant crying and how to cope with it. It will take place from 22-26 September 2025.
ICON stands for Infant crying is normal, Comforting methods can help, Ok to walk away, and Never shake a baby. The week aims to support parents and carers, reduce stress, and prevent serious injury, illness, or death of young babies due to abusive head trauma.
Further information will be published via 5 Minute Briefings during ICON week.
To ensure that you receive our ICON Week 5 Minute Briefings, remember to sign up to receive the partnership comms, newsletter and 5 minute briefings
Cumberland sign up here
Westmorland and Furness sign up here
|
Local and national reports, research and learning from Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs), Domestic Abuse Related Death Review (DARDR) and Local Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews (LCSPRs) highlight that practitioners working with adults, families and children need to be more Professionally Curious.
Cumbria Safeguarding Adults Board recently published A Quick Guide to Professional Curiosity, which forms part of a programme of collaborative work undertaken by Cumbria Safeguarding Adults Board, Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership and Safer Cumbria in recognition that Professional Curiosity is a recurring theme from SARs, DARDRs and LCSPRs.
Read the full 'A Quick Guide To Professional Curiosity' here
|
CUMBERLAND PRACTITIONERS ONLY
Cumberland Safeguarding Children Partnership are delighted to launch their second Cumberland Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) Conference, taking place on Monday 22 September (9.00am-4.45pm), at Greenhill Hotel, Wigton.
The DSL Training Conference is open to all Designated Safeguarding Leads and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads within schools. Please note we are currently offering one place per school, however, additional requests for places are being added to a 'waiting list' and individuals will be informed when a place becomes available.
The conference is a full day training event and is free and will include a variety of training to improve frontline safeguarding practice. A full Conference Agenda will be shared closer to the event.
How to book your place
There are still some places available. You can book a place by emailing CSCP.Training@cumbria.gov.uk, your name, job role and email address, along with stating whether you are a Designated Safeguarding Lead or Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
|
Two important services in Cumberland Council have been given exciting new names, following consultation with young people across the area.
The first, Youth SAFE – Substance Awareness For Everyone (formerly Youth Substance Misuse), provides under-18s with vital support around substance use, offering education, guidance, and harm reduction advice to help them make informed decisions.
The second service, Youth RISE – Reaching Potential through Support and Empowerment (formerly Youth Homeless and Housing), supports young people aged 16–24 who are homeless or are worried about becoming homeless, helping them access the support they need to feel safe and empowered.
If you would like any further advice about either service or want to know how to make a referral, please contact Abi Macrae (Family Help Manager – Youth SAFE & RISE) abi.macrae@cumberland.gov.uk
WESTMORLAND & FURNESS PRACTITIONERS ONLY
Bookings are now open for the Westmorland & Furness Safeguarding Children Partnership Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) Conference, taking place on Friday 3 October (9.30am-3.30pm), at Junction 36 Conference Centre.
The full-day conference is designed to support those in the role of Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). The conference will focus on the role of DSLs in identifying concerns and supporting children and families to access support early. Themes covered during the day will include the role of the Multi-Agency Children’s Hub (MACH), Family Help, children who are victims of domestic abuse and the role of schools and settings in supporting children at risk of exploitation.
The conference is open to all Designated Safeguarding Leads in early years settings, schools and colleges. Please note we are currently offering one place per setting and places will be confirmed.
To register your interest, please complete the following form: https://forms.office.com/e/5V1zshb2BN
For any queries or further information, please email: WFSCP@cumbria.gov.uk
|
Westmorland & Furness are currently setting up a series of Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Networks. If you are a DSL or Deputy DSL and would like to know more about these, please contact Naomi Hillman (Education Safeguarding Adviser) email: naomi.hillman@cumbria.gov.uk
TRAINING
The Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness Safeguarding Children Partnerships 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.
|
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 LAD0, as set out in Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023.
- Wednesday 10 September 2025 (11am to 12pm) - Teams
To book your place, please email CSCP.Training@cumbria.gov.uk
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 11 September (1.30pm to 4.30pm) - Carlisle
- Monday 6 October (1.30pm to 4.30pm) - Workington
- Wednesday 12 November (9.30am to 12.30pm) - Workington
Westmorland and Furness
- Wednesday 17 September (9.30am to 12.30pm) - Kendal (fully booked)
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 16 September 2025 (2pm to 5pm) - Carlisle
- Thursday 13 November 2025 (10am to 1pm) - Wigton
To book your place, please email CSCP.Training@cumbria.gov.uk
Westmorland and Furness
- Tuesday 18 November 2025 (10am to 1pm) - Kendal
To book your place, please email wfscptraining@cumbria.gov.uk
Westmorland & Furness Practitioners (only)
Westmorland & Furness Safeguarding Children Partnership are pleased to offer a one-hour online training session for all front line multi-agency staff on Non-Fatal Strangulation. This training will be delivered over Microsoft Teams, by Yvonne Jackson.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the session, participants will have:
- An increased awareness of the seriousness of NFS
- An understanding of the physiological and psychological impact of NFS
- The ability to identify and manage the risks associated with NFS
- Insight into how victims may present
- An understanding of how to respond and support victims and children/young people using a trauma-informed approach
This essential training is suitable for all levels of frontline multi-agency professionals.
- Monday, 29 September 2025 (12.00pm to 1.00pm)
- Tuesday, 11 November 2025 (12.00pm to 1.00pm)
To book your place, please email wfscptraining@cumbria.gov.uk
This powerful and thought-provoking multi-agency training shares Tom’s voice—the voice of a child who lived through domestic abuse and tragically lost his mother to it. Developed as part of a Domestic Homicide Review, this session gives practitioners a rare and moving insight into the lived experience of children impacted by parental domestic abuse.
Using Tom’s own words, the training promotes child-centred, trauma-informed practice, encouraging professionals to reflect deeply on how domestic abuse, coercive control, and neglect affect children’s emotional wellbeing and development.
Aims and Objectives
-
Child’s Voice: Hear Tom’s story and understand what we can learn from his and his family's experience.
-
Raise Awareness: Explore key themes including domestic abuse, coercive control, neglect, and their impact on mental health.
-
Understand Trauma: Reflect on the effects of trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on children’s lives and outcomes.
This training is for all professionals from across all safeguarding partner agencies and sectors who work with children and families.
- Thursday 2 October 2025 (10.00am to 1.00pm) - Kendal
- Thursday 29 January 2026 (10.00am to 1.00pm) - Barrow
To reserve a place or make an enquiry, please contact wfscptraining@cumbria.gov.uk
Cumberland Practitioners/Parent/Carers (only)
The CSCP are delivering a virtual briefing session on Multi-Agency Online Safety. This training is for practitioners and teachers, but is also suitable for parents/carers.
Join us for an informative and practical webinar designed for teachers and parents who want to better understand how to keep children safe in today's digital world. We'll cover essential topics including:
- online safety
- cyber security basics
- and how to prevent common online threats
Whether you're new to the topic or looking to stay up to date, this session will equip you with the knowledge and tools to create a safer online environment at home and in the classroom.
- Tuesday 7 October 2025 (3.30pm to 4.30pm) - Teams
To book your place, please email CSCP.Training@cumbria.gov.uk
Cumberland Practitioners only
The CSCP are delivering training on Impact Chronology. The following session will be a face to face workshop and the aim of the session is to enable practitioners to develop skills in using impact chronologies.
- Tuesday 4 November 2025 (1.30pm to 3.30pm) - Carlisle
To book your place, please email CSCP.Training@cumbria.gov.uk
Cumberland Council and Westmorland & Furness Council, in partnership with SafeLives, are offering the training opportunity to complete ‘Responding Well’ Domestic Abuse Training.
For more available dates and to book a place, please click on the link below
Book your place (Eventbrite)
If you have any queries regarding the training or you are having issues with booking, please contact either:
Email: mary-claire.telford@cumberland.gov.uk
Email: alison.goodfellow@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Important Information - Police Officers/staff need not attend as Cumbria Constabulary have their own DA Matters Training.
IN THE NEWS
Ofcom’s online safety rules came into force on 25 July 2025, requiring technology firms to implement safety measures protecting children in the UK. Companies within the scope of the Online Safety Act are required to introduce age checks preventing children from accessing pornography and material that promotes or encourages suicide, self-harm and eating disorders.
Read the news story: What are the new UK online safety rules and how will age checks on adult content be enforced?
See also on NSPCC Learning > Preventing online harm and abuse
If after reading these articles, you would like to complete some Online Safety Training, please refer to the Training Section of this Newsletter for more information.
|
NSPCC Learning has published the latest blog in the Why language matters series. The blog explores the ‘baby blind spot’ and the importance of including babies in the language of safeguarding. It discusses how not including ‘babies’ when talking about ‘children and young people’ can lead professionals to overlook the needs and experiences of babies in safeguarding policy, practice and service provision. It also outlines the importance of acknowledging the early years and what professionals can do to keep babies in mind.
Read the blog: Why language matters: the importance of including babies in the language of safeguarding
See also on NSPCC Learning > Safeguarding and child protection in the early years
|
NSPCC Learning has published a CASPAR briefing summarising the Department for Education’s (DfE’s) updated Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework for England. It combines and summarises the guidance for childminders and for group and school-based providers. The changes for 2025 come into force on 01 September and include new information on: whistleblowing; child absences; references; and safer eating.
Read the CASPAR briefing: Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework 2025: summary of requirements
|
The NSPCC has published a news story on children’s welfare in sports settings. Data from the NSPCC Helpline shows that between 2024 and 2025, there were 623 contacts from adults across the UK with concerns about a child’s welfare in a sports setting, an increase from 425 contacts in 2023-2024. The news story highlights how the NSPCC’s Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport resources support adults in ensuring children can enjoy their sport in safety.
Read the news story: Our Helpline saw an almost 50% rise in contacts about children’s welfare in sports last year
See also on NSPCC Learning > What is safeguarding in sport?
|
|
