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December 2025

Hello!  As we approach the end of the year, I wanted to take a moment to pause and acknowledge how busy this time can be for everyone. The weeks leading up to the festive period often bring extra pressures, alongside the importance of keeping children, young people and families safe and supported. So, I just wanted to give my personal thanks to each and every one of you who works tirelessly to help safeguard Devon's young people.   It's certainly been a busy few months since we last wrote to you, including for me personally. Some of you might be aware the in November I had an accident that left me with a fractured wrist and a dislocated ankle. I'll be back at work full time in the new year, but my injuries were one of the many unforeseen circumstances that meant that we unfortunately have had to postpone SaFest until February 2026 (please see below for more details). We’re truly sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. We know how much planning and anticipation has gone into this, and we share your disappointment. Our priority is to ensure SaFest runs to the high standard you expect and deserve, and we hope that you'll join us in February. There are some other key updates that I would like to point you in the direction of too. Firstly, in October we refined our priorities to provide greater clarity and concentrate effort where it will have the most impact. And, linked to this, I'm pleased to say that our new Child Exploitation and Child Sexual Abuse strategies were signed off by the Executive Group earlier this week. We will be adding the two new strategies to the policies and procedures page of our website early in the new year, and we will send further communications once these have been published. The need for safeguarding doesn't stop, of course, and while the festive season is a time for joy and togetherness, but it can also bring challenges. We want everyone to feel safe and supported over the holidays, so we’ve pulled together some practical guidance on keeping safe this Christmas (below), which we hope will be helpful for you to share with families and use in your own practice. Thank you for the commitment and care you continue to show in your work. I hope those of you who are able to take time over the festive period enjoy a well-earned break, and I want to offer my sincere thanks to those who will be working through the holidays to support children, young people and families.

Jackie Colby
Partnership Manager
Devon Safeguarding Children Partnership

Updated priorities for 2025-2027

Following some reflection, in October we refined our priorities to provide greater clarity and concentrate effort where it will have the most impact.

Our current priorities for 2025-27 are:

1. Improving outcomes of pre-birth services and responses and support to families to prevent non-accidental injuries to infants.​
2. Improving our partnership approach and response to:
   • Child neglect
   • Sexual abuse
   • Domestic abuse
3. Improving response to need through developing multi-agency contextual safeguarding approaches.​

Please note that all priorities are equally as important as each other – the numbering is solely to help identify each priority.

Partnership's yearly report published

At the end of October we published our yearly report for 2024-25.

The yearly reports are a main tool of accountability for partnerships and are a key source of data and evidence for the DfE, Department for Health and Social Care and Home Office, as the three main government departments with responsibility for safeguarding. 

If you would like further details, all of our annual reports are available on our website. 

SaFest postponed until February 2026

Unfortunately due to lots of unforeseen circumstances, SaFest 2025, which was due to take place in November, has had to be postponed until 2026. The new dates are Monday 9 to Friday 13 February 2026. We’re truly sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. We know how much planning and anticipation has gone into this, and we share your disappointment. Our priority is to ensure SaFest runs to the high standard you expect and deserve. If you have already booked your place, it has been automatically moved over to the new dates and we will assume that you would still like to attend unless you cancel your booking. If you haven’t yet booked, you can do so on the Devon Education Services website.

New Child Exploitation and Child Sexual Abuse strategies agreed

Earlier this week our Executive Group signed off on our new Child Exploitation and Child Sexual Abuse strategies. We will be adding the two new strategies to the policies and procedures page of our website early in the new year, and we will send further communications once these have been published.

NICE update guidance on child maltreatment

Please be aware that National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) updated their guidance on child maltreatment at the start of December.

The guidance covers the signs of possible child maltreatment in children and young people aged under 18 years, and it aims to raise awareness and help health professionals who are not child protection specialists to identify the features of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, neglect and fabricated or induced illness.  

The guidance is available on the NICE website, or you can find it via our policies and procedures page.

Keeping Safe This Christmas

The festive season is a time for joy and togetherness, but it can also bring challenges. At Devon SCP, we want everyone to feel safe and supported over the holidays. 

Alcohol and Staying Safe

Christmas celebrations often involve drinking. If you’re looking after children, or supporting families, remember that drinking alcohol can put them at risk. Even a small amount can affect judgment, reaction times, and ability to supervise. This can lead to:

• Accidents – Children may wander off, choke on small objects, or get injured without quick intervention.
• Unsafe environments – Cooking, open fires, and busy homes need alert supervision.
• Delayed response in emergencies – If a child becomes ill or injured, you may not react quickly or appropriately.

Tips for a safer Christmas:

Make sure another responsible adult is sober and available to care for the children if you intend to drink, or know of anyone who intends to drink. No-none should ever co-sleep with a baby if they've been drinking – it increases the risk of suffocation. Alcohol should be kept out of reach of children’s because accidental ingestion can be dangerous. Encourage people to get to know their limits so they can plan how to get home safely and never drink and drive.

Loneliness

Christmas can be a joyful time, but for some, it can feel isolating.  Loneliness can affect mental health and wellbeing, and it’s more common than we think especially for older people, those living alone, or families under stress.

What can you do?

• Check in on neighbours – A simple knock on the door or a friendly message can make a big difference.
• Offer practical help – Picking up shopping, sharing a meal, or inviting someone for a chat can help them feel included.
• Connect through local groups – Many communities run festive events or volunteer opportunities. Joining in can help you and others feel connected.
• If you’re struggling yourself, remember you’re not alone. Support is available:
• Samaritans: 116 123 (free, 24/7)
• Mind: 0300 123 3393
• Age UK Devon: 0333 241 2340

Domestic Abuse

Domestic abuse isn’t always physical. It can include emotional, financial, and controlling behaviour. Over Christmas, stress and isolation can make situations worse. Signs can include:

• Physical injuries with vague or inconsistent explanations.
• Changes in behaviour – withdrawal, anxiety, or seeming fearful of a partner.
• Control over money or movements – not being allowed to go out or speak freely.
• Frequent arguments or shouting behind closed doors.
• Children showing distress – clinginess, aggression, or sudden changes in mood.

If you suspect someone is experiencing abuse:

• In an emergency, call 999.
• For advice and support, contact Devon Domestic Abuse Service: 0808 2000 247.
• Devon Domestic Abuse Alliance: 08082 816161 (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm)
• If you’re worried about a child, read the information below.

No one should feel unsafe in their own home. 

Worried About a Child in Devon?

Children may be more vulnerable during the holidays. If you’re concerned about a child:

• If your query is to ask whether a child/family are open to social care, please contact the customer services desk 0345 155 1078. 
• If you’re a professional wishing to seek advice and guidance, please call the Front Door’s Professional Consultation Line.
• Out of hours contact number: 0345 6000 388 - the Emergency duty service provides emergency social care response in
• If a child is in immediate danger, call 999

For anything else, please contact the customer services desk 0345 155 1078, who will be able to appropriately signpost and assist you.

Government consultation opens on the creation of a new national Child Protection Authority

The Department for Education is seeking views from children and families, frontline practitioners, local authorities, inspectorates, professional bodies, and voluntary, community and statutory organisations involved in safeguarding.

The consultation is open until 5 March 2026, and can be responded to on the Department for Education’s website.

Take part in our survey on missing children and child exploitation in Devon

We are conducting a survey to gather your valuable feedback on recognising and responding to missing children and child exploitation in Devon. Your frontline experience is crucial in helping us understand the practical challenges and successes in our current approach. This survey will ask about your confidence in identifying exploitation, the tools and strategies you use, and the support you receive from training programmes and leadership. Your responses will help us improve our practices and ensure that we are effectively supporting the needs of children and young people.

It is open to professionals/practitioners who work in organisations that provide services to children, young people, families and/or adults who live in Devon only.

You can fill in the survey here. Thank you for your participation!

Closing date: 12 Jan 2026

Devon HAF Programme

It’s not too late to book your child onto activities this winter through the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme.

Winter 2025 events an can booked using the new online booking system.

For more information about the programme, please visit the HAF pages on the Devon County Council website.

The NSPCC Repository

Did you know the NSPCC have the most comprehensive collection of case reviews in the UK? The national case review repository provides a single place to access and share learning at a local, regional and national level.

Additionally, our colleagues in Torbay Safeguarding Children Partnership produce a monthly summary of each newly published review along with a link to the relevant report. These summaries are shared with us so that we can ensure consistent ways of working across the greater Devon area, and you can find these documents on the Torbay SCP website.

National Panel newsletter

As you will already know, the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel are an independent panel commissioning reviews of serious child safeguarding cases. They want national and local reviews to focus on improving learning, professional practice and outcomes for children. And as part of this mission, they produce a regular newsletter to help you stay informed and up to date.

The latest National Panel newsletter is available here, and you can sign up to receive the newsletter here.

The Devon Safeguarding Digest

Our monthly digest that will help you stay up to speed with safeguarding news and local policy changes. The Devon Safeguarding Digest is published on the Devon SCP site in the first week of each month. You can read the December Digest here, or you can find all of our previous Digests here.

Follow us on LinkedIn

We'd love for you to connect with us on LinkedIn. We are looking to build a network up on the site, and we will be posting updates and useful information, initially on a weekly basis.

Merry Christmas from the business team!

Merry Christmas from all of us in the Business Team! Thank you for your collaboration, support, and hard work throughout the year. We hope you enjoy a well-earned break over the festive period and and look forward to continuing our work together in the year ahead.

Training opportunities

Prevent Duty Training

The government training courses are designed, and are appropriate for, staff working in sectors covered by the Prevent duty. These include education, health, local authorities, police and criminal justice agencies. Other sectors that are not covered may also complete this training. You do not have to complete all the courses. You should refer to your organisation’s training requirements to determine which courses are appropriate for you.

National Prevent duty training.

Confidence in Attending Child Protection Conference Training

This course is for practitioners working with children, young people and families who may have to attend a Child Protection Conference as part of their role and want to feel more confident about contributing and contributing to the child protection processes.

📅 Course available on the following dates:

• 7 January 2026
• 11 February 2026
• 9 March 2026

👉 Book on to a Confidence in Attending Child Protection Conference training course.

Understanding the Role of the Special Guardianship Support team

These lunch-time one hour bite-size workshops have been designed to give you more information about the role of the Special Guardian Support Team, how they fit in with other service and will provide you with examples of the Special Guardian Support Team practice. 

This is funded to attend.

👉 Book on to a workshop in Understanding the Role of the Special Guardianship Support Team.

ICON Training

The aim of this training is to raise awareness and providing strategies and prevention information within the ICON intervention that can prevent babies being shaken. If you work directly with families this training would really benefit you.

📅 Course available on the following dates:

• 11 February 2026
• 6 May 2026
• 15 July 2026
• 21 October 2026

👉 Book on to an ICON training course.

Other Workforce Development Opportunities

We also have lots of fully funded e-learning modules and video learning opportunities that you can access on the Devon SCP website. 

Next newsletter: 31 March 2026

Contact us

The Devon SCP Business Team can be contacted on 01392 386067 or via the Devon SCP website.

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