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Welcome to the February edition of the Cumberland Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP) Newsletter.
Within this Newsletter, you will find useful information from across the partnership and from our partner agencies relating to Safeguarding, which is aimed to support Practitioners and Professionals in their role.
The CSCP is delighted to announce that we are holding a Safeguarding Week from 9 - 13 March 2026.
Safeguarding Week is a dedicated time to raise awareness, refresh knowledge and strengthen our collective responsibility to protect children and young people in Cumberland.
Timetable of Training
During the week, we have a full programme of training, which can be accessed by Practitioners from all organisations.
Monday 9 March 2026
- An Introduction to Intra-Familial Child Sexual Abuse – taking a multi-agency approach
- Neglect Training
Tuesday 10 March 2026
- Domestic Abuse Related Suicides and Chloe’s Story
- Child Death Overview Panel and Case Review Lunch & Learn
- Private Fostering - What you need to know
- CSCP Escalation Procedure
Wednesday 11 March 2026
- Domestic Abuse Bitesize Training
- Practitioner Forum – Carlisle
- Online Safety Training
Thursday 12 March 2026
- Information Session with the Family Community Team
- Impact Chronology Training
- An Overview of Early Help Lunch & Learn
- Professional Curiosity and Having Difficult, but Necessary, Conversations
Friday 13 March 2026
- Practitioner Forum – Allerdale, Copeland & Milom
- Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) Lunch & Learn
- Bias, Unconscious Bias and Malignant Alienation in the Client/Professional Relationship
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Details of the Sessions and How to Book
For more information about each of the sessions being delivered, and how to book, please visit the CSCP website CSCP Safeguarding Week 2026
We encourage you to book quickly, as the sessions will be popular.
The forums provide an opportunity to develop common practice in Cumberland and help people who work with children and young people learn from each other, understand each other's roles and responsibilities and what local provision is available in Cumberland.
Visit our website for dates and times of up and coming forum sessions:
Cumberland Practitioner Forums
You may already have had an invitation to a Practitioner Forum if you have been a regular attendee to a Forum. If you have not had an invitation or you have not attended a Practitioner Forum before but would like to join the forum, then email us to be added to the distribution list.
Email: Practitioner.forums@cumbria.gov.uk
Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse (CSA Centre) are offering free resources and events to support the Government’s focus on preventing and reducing the impact of child sexual abuse.
Key to shaping the Government’s response are the report findings and recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel’s report, “I wanted them all to notice.”, and most recently the Casey review on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.
We are aware that organisations and services are currently working to address these recommendations, which highlight the need for all professionals working with children to be better informed about:
- the prevalence of child sexual abuse
- the signs and indicators of child sexual abuse
- the impact of child sexual abuse
- how we can respond when we have concerns about child sexual abuse
Therefore, all professionals working with children should have the skills, knowledge and confidence to talk to children when there are concerns about child sexual abuse.
Click on the links below for free training and resources offered by the CSA Centre:
Free resources A suite of resources aimed directly to inform practice and provide guidance on what steps can be taken to support children and families. These practice resources will help to improve your knowledge, skills and confidence in identifying and responding to child sexual abuse
Free Webinars Throughout the year, the CSA Centre deliver a series of free webinars to introduce practitioners to our resources. These hour-long sessions guide professionals on how to navigate our resources and consider how it can support and inform their practice
Free e-learning course Identifying and responding to intra-familial child sexual abuse. A free 90-minute, accessible and certified eLearning course for all professionals working with children. This can be easily added as part of your organisation’s safeguarding induction and refresher training
Further training opportunities Additional training sessions for professionals in a range of aspects relating to understanding and responding to child sexual abuse. These training courses can be found here: CSA Centre's training programme
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What is MASC?
The Multi-Agency Stalking Coordination (MASC) group was launched on 16th June 2025 for Cumbria. This is a fortnightly multi-agency operational group which reviews medium and high-risk cases of Stalking which are not related to Domestic Abuse.
Why introduce a MASC?
A gap has been identified where to date, there has not been effective multi agency coordination of stalking cases which are not related to Domestic Abuse. Learning from other parts of the country show that significant harm can be prevented and reduced when key agencies share information at an early stage and work together. High risk stalking offending which is related to Domestic Abuse will continue to be managed through existing processes such as MARAC, MATAC and MAPPA.
Anyone can refer to MASC. Further details can be found on the Briefing Note. Details of the MASC Steering Group are held within this document should you require further information
Further Information
Over the last couple of months, as a Pan-Cumbria (Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness Safeguarding Children Partnerships), have hosted in-person training sessions on Missing Persons Policies and Procedures, delivered by Cumbria Police. As a result of this, Cumbria Police have designed a 'Quick Guide' on how to report a child or adult, who goes missing. All procedures in place are in line with national guidance.
Read: Missing Persons Report - Quick Brief
Please also refer to CSCP online policy and procedures on Children who go Missing:
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The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel have published ‘Protecting all vulnerable babies better’, our national review into the tragic death of baby Victoria Marten. The review details what we can learn from this deeply distressing incident, and why this matters for the safeguarding system.
Baby Victoria died in early 2023 and her parents were subsequently convicted of gross negligence manslaughter, child cruelty, perverting the course of justice, and concealing the birth of a child. While the circumstances of Baby Victoria's death are very rare, the professional challenges and systemic safeguarding issues involved are not.
Practitioner Briefing Protecting All Vulnerable Babies Better
Protecting all vulnerable babies better - GOV.UK
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The report shares the most significant findings from 6 joint targeted area inspections (JTAIs) carried out between October 2024 and June 2025.
The report aims to help improve practice, knowledge and understanding for local areas, partners and agencies working in domestic abuse.
Here are five key findings:
- Multi‑agency responses remain inconsistent, with serious and widespread weaknesses
- Practice is not consistently based on a strong understanding of children’s needs
- Children are still not consistently recognised as victims of domestic abuse
- Inspections found challenges in decision‑making and risk assessment
- Despite extensive inspection activity, children do not consistently get the right help at the right time
The multi-agency response to children who are victims of domestic abuse - GOV.UK
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Safer Sleep Week (9-15 March 2026)
Organised by The Lullaby Trust, to raise awareness of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The campaign focuses on "baby necessities" and the message to "keep it simple to keep it safe," promoting a clear, firm, and flat sleep space for infants to reduce risk.
You may also find Helen’s Story a helpful resource to share, offering a powerful reminder of why safe sleep advice is so important. Helen’s story | The Lullaby Trust
New Safer sleep essential bundle for new parents This baby safety information bundle contains all the information new or expectant parents and carers need, as well as a handy room thermometer. Safer Sleep Essential Bundle for New Parents | The Lullaby Trust
Child Exploitation Awareness Day (18 March 2026)
The National Child Exploitation Awareness Day, takes place annually and is a great way to highlight the issues surrounding Child Exploitation; encouraging everyone to think, spot and speak out against abuse and adopt a zero tolerance to adults developing inappropriate relationships with children or children exploiting and abusing their peers.
Look out for our 5 Minute Briefings being published for more information on each of the above topics.
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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Intra-Familial Sexual Abuse
NSPCC Learning has published a Helplines insight briefing on experiences of intrafamilial sexual abuse. The briefing draws on insights from 1,042 contacts to the NSPCC Helpline where adults raised concerns about intra-familial sexual abuse and 573 Childline counselling sessions with children and young people who discussed intrafamilial sexual abuse between April 2024 to March 2025. The briefing shares the voices of children, young people and adults as they describe the impact of sexual abuse by a family member on their lives. It also highlights their varied experiences of choosing to report including barriers such as conflicting feelings about family members and feelings of shame and guilt.
Read the news story: Contacts about child sexual abuse in the family home rise by over a fifth in a single year
Read the briefing: Insights on intra-familial sexual abuse
Intra-Familial Sexual Abuse Training
During Safeguarding Week, from 9 - 13 March 2026, the CSCP are delivering a full day session on 'An Introduction to Intra-Familial Child Sexual Abuse - taking a multi-agency approach' on Monday 9 March (9.30am to 4.30pm). For more details on this session and how to book your place, please visit our website CSCP Safeguarding Week 9-13 March 2026
Gender in Schools
The Department for Education (DfE) has announced plans to publish new guidance for schools in England on children who are questioning their gender. The guidance will be published within ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ (KCSIE). A press release and policy paper have been published about the proposed new guidance. The government are seeking views on the proposed revisions to the KCSIE statutory guidance for schools and colleges. The consultation closes on 22 April 2026.
Read the press release: Government to publish new gender guidance for schools
Read the policy paper: Including guidance on children who are questioning their gender in KCSIE
Find out more about the consultation: Keeping children safe in education: proposed revisions 2026
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