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Private fostering

Private fostering is when a child under the age of 16 (under 18 if disabled) is cared for by someone who is not their parent or a 'close relative'. This is a private arrangement made between a parent and a carer, for 28 days or more. Close relatives are defined as step-parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, uncles or aunts.

When a child is privately fostered, the local council’s Children’s Services must be informed. A social worker will visit the home to speak to the carer and the child to ensure the child is safe, do background checks, and make sure support is being provided.

Birth parents, private foster carers and persons who are arranging for a child to be privately fostered  are required by law to notify the local council’s Children’s Services department of the arrangement. If you know someone in a personal or professional capacity who is privately fostering or is about to, you should encourage them to notify their local council’s Children’s Services department and if they are not able to do so then you must make this notification.

Please click here for more information about private fostering.

Free e-learning - Introduction to the Role of Social Care in the SEND Reforms The Council for Disabled Children (CDC) have developed free online e-learning training on the Role of Social Care in the SEND reforms. This online training module is designed to be an introduction to the SEND reforms, and the role of social care within these. By the end of the module professionals will have an understanding of the key legislation, the role of social care (including identification of social care needs and provision of good quality advice), and the purpose of Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans in supporting children, young people and their families. The module should take approximately 1.5 hours to complete and can be accessed here. A user handbook for the module is available here.

Inter-agency Safeguarding Procedures The Nottingham City Safeguarding Children Board and Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Children Board have joint procedures setting out how professionals from all agencies need to work together to safeguard children and young people. Please click here to access the procedures and familiarise yourself with them.

Revisiting learning from reviews

We would like to take this opportunity to revisit with colleagues some key learning that we have previously highlighted in reviews

1. Assessing physical injuries -  click here to access the NCSCB procedure on assessing physical injuries, and here for bite-size learning sheet on potential non-accidental injury
2. Awareness of confirmatory bias – click here for a bite-size learning sheet on confirmatory bias
3. Escalating concerns when professional disagreements arise - click here to access the inter-agency escalation procedure

Join Equation in #16Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence 25th November – 10th December 2018, Worldwide From the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (also known as White Ribbon Day), to Human Rights Day, 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is a global campaign that galvanises action to end violence against women and girls around the world. More people than ever are taking part in these #16days, and Equation is promoting action in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. Find out more about the global campaign by clicking here.

Supporting parents of sexually exploited young people The Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse (CSA) have produced a brief guide on how professionals can best support the parents of children and young people that have been sexually exploited.  To view the guide, please click here.

Rethinking 'Did Not Attend' to 'Was Not Brought'

The Safeguarding Board has been nominated for the Children and Young People Now Safeguarding Award for our successful Rethinking ‘Did not Attend’ video.   

The Children and Young People Now awards recognise the best organisations, teams, individuals, initiatives, and resources in the UK, shining a light on the hard work, innovation and dedication of those working with children, young people and families.  This is awarded for the initiative that has made the biggest contribution to prevent and protect children and young people from abuse and neglect.  

The video can be seen here

The winner is due to be announced at an award ceremony in London today - please keep your fingers crossed for us!