Extra Help and Early Help (Family Help)
There are changes to the delivery of Family Help and Partnerships services within Children’s Services at Cumberland Council, the team have drafted a letter outlining the progress and the steps they've taken to implement improvements, which is provided below and you are encouraged to read:
Update on progress of Family Help and Partnerships Services (letter)
They have also developed some Guidance Notes, which outline the support available from the Family Help, Partnerships and Youth Justice Service at Universal, Extra Help (Targeted Prevention) and Family Help (Early Help) Support levels. A link to these Guidance Notes is below:
Extra Help and Early Help (Family Help) Guidance Notes.pdf
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Did you know that private fostering arrangements often go unnoticed, yet they play a vital role in the lives of many children and young people across Cumberland? Private fostering occurs when a child under 16 (or under 18 if disabled) is cared for by someone who is not their parent or close relative for 28 days or more. On Private Fostering Awareness Day, we’re shining a light on these hidden arrangements to ensure every child receives the support and protection they deserve. If you’re involved in a private fostering arrangement, or know someone who is, please notify Cumberland Children Advice & Support Service (CCASS) on 0333 240 1727. Together, we can make sure every child is safe, supported, and thriving.
For more information about Private Fostering, please visit the CSCP website here, where you will find links to the leaflets and posters to display in your agency.
Coram BAAF are holding a Breakfast Briefing on Private Fostering Awareness Day, 5 November 9:00am – 9:45am via Zoom, which is open to all to attend. To find out more, please visit: ComramBAAF Private Fostering Awareness Day | CoramBAAF
Look out for our 5 Minute Briefing, which will be shared on 5 November, to raise awareness of private fostering.
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Cumberland Council currently uses a document called SEND Handbook and Criteria to structure their approach to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
The team have worked closely with SEND professionals and parent/carers to refresh and update this document.
They are now seeking wider feedback on this updated version, which has been titled SEND Needs Descriptors.
Your feedback is highly valued and will play a key role in shaping the final version of the document.
This short survey includes a mix of scaling questions and optional free-text responses to capture your views. At the end of the survey, you will also have the option to upload a commented version of the document, if you prefer to provide detailed feedback directly within the text.
Click the link below:
SEND Needs Descriptor Consultation
This consultation closes on 2 November 2025.
Depending on the quantity of responses received, and changes required, the current ambition is to release a finalised version in January 2026.
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that begins on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day.
 Both Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness Community Safety Partnerships have developed this year’s programme of Lunch and Learn sessions, accessible to all those across both Partnerships.
Full information on how to book a place for each session is included in the 16 Days of Activism 2025 flyer.
If you have any questions or queries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with:
Cumberland
Westmorland & Furness
Cumberland Safeguarding Children Partnership have a range of training sessions on offer.
Please visit our training page 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 Cumberland.
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Further Awareness of the Safeguarding Environment (formerly known as Safeguarding Level 2)
The CSCP are delighted to be launching a face to face “Further Awareness of the Safeguarding Environment” training session, which was formally known as Level 2 Safeguarding Training.
This new training package bridges the gap between the online, Level 2 Safeguarding Training delivered via the CSCP’s Learning Management System, and the “Understanding the Levels of Need” (Level 3 Safeguarding Training) for Designated Safeguarding Leads.
The course is designed to help participants understand more about their safeguarding responsibilities, capturing the voice of the child, professional curiosity and how to make a referral. Along with up to date information about general safeguarding topics, such as allegations against staff, domestic abuse, online safety and child exploitation.
This “Further Awareness of the Safeguarding Environment” Training can be completed by any professionals or practitioners who work directly with children and young people, whether this is frequent or infrequent.
Designated Safeguarding Leads and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads should complete this course before undertaking the “Understanding the Levels of Need” (Level 3 Safeguarding Training).
Upcoming training dates are shown below:
- Wednesday 3 December (9.30am-12.30pm) - Wigton
- Monday 12 January 2026 (9.30am-12.30pm) - Carlisle
- Thursday 29 January 2026 (9.30am-12.30pm) - Workington
- Tuesday 3 February 2026 (9.30am-12.30pm) - Whitehaven
- Thursday 26 February 2026 (1.30-4.30pm) - Carlisle
- Tuesday 3 March 2026 (9.30am-12.30pm) - Millom
- Tuesday 24 March 2026 (1.30-4.30pm) - Wigton
- Thursday 2 April 2026 (9.30am-12.30pm) - Workington
- Wednesday 15 April 2026 (1.30-4.30pm) - Carlisle
- Wednesday 13 May 2026 (1.30-4.30pm) - Whitehaven
- Tuesday 9 June 2026 (9.30am-12.30pm) - Carlisle
- Tuesday 7 July 2026 (1.30-4.30pm) - Millom
To book your place, please click here
Understanding the Levels of Need (Formerly known as Safeguarding Level 3)
This course develops a common understanding of risk management and provides support to Designated Safeguarding Leads and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads, so they are clear about:
- the thresholds for access to services which support the actions needed to improve the outcomes for children
- understanding roles and responsibilities
- identifying exemplars of good practice
- individual responsibility when working with children, young people and families
- responsibility of different agencies; and
- the tools in place to support professionals in their role
Upcoming training dates are shown below:
- Wednesday 12 November (9.30am-12.30pm) - Workington
- Tuesday 9 December (9.30am-12.30pm) - Carlisle
- Tuesday 20 January 2026 (1.30-4.30pm) - Whitehaven
- Thursday 12 February 2026 (9.30am-12.30pm) - Wigton
- Wednesday 25 March 2026 (1.30-4.30pm) - Millom
- Wednesday 22 April 2026 (1.30-4.30pm) - Carlisle
- Tuesday 5 May 2026 (9.30am-12.30pm) - Workington
- Monday 15 June 2026 (1.30-4.30pm) - Wigton
- Thursday 16 July 2026 (9.30am-12.30pm) - Carlisle
To book your place, please click here
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.
- Thursday 13 November (10am-1pm) - Wigton
To book your place, please click here
Impact Chronology
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 (1.30-3.30pm) - Carlisle
To book your place, please click here
Working with Men Affected by Domestic Abuse, Sexual Violence and Harmful Practices - Male Victims of Domestic Abuse Day 4 November 2025
This 1-hour learning session/briefing will be delivered by, Luke Martin, Specialist Domestic and Sexual Abuse Consultant, Martin Training and Consultancy.
Overview
The session will provide a focused introduction to understanding and supporting male victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence, and harmful practices. The session explores the unique barriers men face when seeking help, including issues around masculinity, stigma, and social expectations. Participants will gain an understanding of the context, prevalence, and dynamics of abuse against men, as well as insight into how trauma manifests and how men may cope or respond to it. The briefing highlights the impact of patriarchal settings on men’s experiences of harmful practices and provides practical guidance on how to engage with, and support, male victims effectively.
Key Content
- Prevalence, risk factors, and patterns of behaviour in male victimisation
- Barriers to disclosure and help-seeking among men
- The influence of masculinity and societal expectations
- Case examples illustrating diverse experiences, including men from LGBTQ+ and ethnic minority backgrounds
Learning Outcomes
- Describe the nature, scale, and incidence of abuse against men
- Recognise how male victims’ experiences and support needs may differ from those of women
- Understand the forms of support men may request and what can help or hinder access to that support
Learning Session date/time
- Tuesday 4 November 2025 (12.30-1.30pm) - Microsoft Teams (link below)
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 326 836 067 140 9
Passcode: Vi7rg35a
Need help?
How to Support Children & Families through Early Help - Signs of Wellbeing Training
The aim of this training is to increase knowledge and enable practitioners to work more effectively with children, young people and their families using Early Help, and identify needs early to give all children the opportunity to thrive and succeed.
- Friday 7 November (9.30am-3.30pm) - Workington
- Friday 5 December (9.30am-3.30pm) - Carlisle
- Friday 6 February 2026 (9.30am-3.30pm) - Whitehaven
- Friday 6 March 2026 (9.30am-3.30pm) - Carlisle
- Friday 1 May 2026 (9.30am-3.30pm) - Whitehaven
- Friday 5 June 2026 (9.30am-3.30pm) - Carlisle
To book your place, please click here
Cumbria Constabulary Partnership Responsibility to Police Missing Children Procedure
Cumbria Constabulary, with the support of the Local Authority, are updating their Missing Persons Policy and Procedures in line with national guidance. Changes are due to go live from January 2026.
The changes to be made are focused on ensuring a proportionate response by Police on receiving a report of a missing child. Sometimes, Police involvement in the first instance may be disproportionate, negatively impact on a child's life or relationships with professionals and on occasion, may lead to unnecessary criminalisation of that child should they commit a criminal offence on being located by Police.
Identified risks to all children will continue to be fully assessed during the initial call to Police. Where it is deemed proportionate, it may be that reasonable actions available to the parent or carer and are to be carried out prior to Police Officers being deployed. This is in accordance with the children who go missing from care framework and approved Police professional practice.
To provide you with the required skills and knowledge prior to changes being implemented, an event is being and we encourage Education, Children Services and care placement personnel to attend.
The police will provide an overview of changes to their procedures, invite discussions around safety planning and provide an insight into the role of the Police METCOs (Missing, Exploited, Trafficked coordinators).
- Thursday 11 December 2025 (10am-12noon) - Carlisle
Should you wish to attend, please email CSCP.Training@cumbria.gov.uk, to express your interest.
Child Sexual Abuse
The Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse (CSA Centre) has published a new guide on developing evidence-based strategies to respond to child sexual abuse. Aimed at professionals working with local and regional safeguarding children partnerships in England and Wales, the guide provides advice on developing and improving strategic responses and sets out information on: identifying strategic aims and intended outcomes; key components of a strategic response; and embedding a strategy across local/regional systems.
Access the guide: Developing your strategic response to child sexual abuse
See also on NSPCC Learning: Protecting children from sexual abuse
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Safeguarding in the Health Sector
NSPCC Learning has published a new Learning from case reviews briefing on healthcare. The briefing explores key issues, learning for improved practice and reflective questions to support safeguarding and child protection in the health sector. It highlights learning from a sample of case reviews published between 2020 and 2024 including how health professionals should: consider potential safeguarding concerns when addressing children’s medical concerns; understand and follow organisational safeguarding policies and procedures; and work effectively with other professionals to share important information about a child’s condition and care needs.
Read the briefing: Healthcare: learning from case reviews
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Child Mental Health and Wellbeing
NSPCC Learning has published updated content on child mental health. The updated pages include information on recognising and responding to mental health concerns, promoting child mental health, and using tools and techniques to understand children's mental health and wellbeing.
Child mental health: recognising and responding to concerns
Promoting mental health and wellbeing
Understanding children’s mental health and wellbeing
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