Welcome to Lesley Smith our new Independent Chair
NEW INDEPENDENT CHAIR AND SCRUTINEER FOR THE CHILDREN'S AND ADULTS SAFEGUARDING PARTNERSHIPS
Having led the safeguarding partnerships since 2019, David Ashcroft stepped down at the end of 2021. The Partnership Boards extend their thanks to David for his invaluable work over the last 3 years.
In April, Lesley Smith was appointed as the new Independent Chair and Scrutineer of the Adults and Children's Safeguarding Partnerships. Previously, Lesley was the Accountable Officer at NHS Sheffield CCG. Lesley also brings experience as the Deputy Lead for the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System.
Lesley has been Chair of the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Cancer Alliance from 2014 through to 2022, working with statutory, voluntary and third sector partners. This experience will be invaluable to us in navigating the challenges and capturing the opportunities, from partnership working.
Statutory accountabilities for safeguarding lie with our core partners and as scrutineer Lesley’s role is to bring independent assurance and constructive challenge to the way we work together, focusing on maximising the potential of working together across the partnership to keep children and vulnerable adults in Sheffield safe.
NEA are tackling fuel poverty and promoting energy efficiency across the country, and offer one to one advice , support, and grants throughout the year to the most vulnerable and low-income households. NEA also do much more , but happy to share this later.
Energy bills have increased for some people since October last year and are set to rise again by 54% on the average standard variable tariff , I have seen quotes that means for some people the price of their monthly consumption has doubled. Average price of Gas for example 3.5P now average will be 7.5p
The rise in the Daily Standing Charge is most concerning for me as this is a charge that even people using the min amount of energy or self-disconnecting on prepay will still bear the brunt of. Some of the proposed increases I have seen are astronomical from 18-27 p per day to 40-49p per day meaning £3.50 a week on each energy will be charged £7.00 per week before they use any gas or electricity.
There are some grants available for customers on Pre-Pay meters and on low incomes or benefits in particular the grant is top up vouchers to the value of 147.00 per household . Evidence of their supplier and income will be required for the customer to access the grant, but they will all be offered Energy Advice too, and this is more important then ever. Referral for help link. Or Click the button below.
Click here
A carers guide to home fire safety, learn how to keep people who receive care safe from fire.
A formal video is now available for carers on the London Fire Brigade website, watch the Carers Video. Click the button below to watch the video.
click here
Sheffield is part of a national campaign – DRYMESTER - to inform people of the dangers of drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can harm the brain and body of the baby which will affect them for the rest of their life –
Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
NO SAFE TIME NO SAFE AMOUNT – SPREAD THE WORD
Check out and share these YouTube Videos
Drymester - You Tube
What is FASD - You Tube
Where to go for Support - You Tube
More resources available at https://www.safeguardingsheffieldchildren.org/sscb/campaigns/drymester
The Dewis Choice initiative was launched in Wales in 2015.
Dewis Choice is a co-produced initiative consisting of a bespoke service designed by older people and a longitudinal research study, capturing the lived experiences of older people seeking help and justice.
Dewis Choice provides a dedicated ‘whole family’1 service for women and men aged 60 years and over, who have experienced DVA from an intimate partner, ex-intimate partner and/or adult family member(s).
Adopting an inclusive approach, the service also supports older lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) clients, and cases where DVA and dementia co-exist.
Dewis Choice - YouTube
Resources - Centre For Age Gender and Social Justice (dewischoice.org.uk)
What is Professional Challenge
- Professional Challenge is a positive activity and a sign of good professional practice, a healthy organisation and effective multi-agency working
- Being professional challenged should not be seen as a criticism of the persons professional capabilities. In this context it is about challenging decisions, practice or actions which may not effectively ensure the safety or well-being of an adult or others
- Learning from Safeguarding Adult Reviews has identified apparent reluctance to challenge inter-agency decision making and identified that one or more professionals were concerned with a decision made by a different agency, but these concerns were not followed up with a professional challenge, which may have altered the professional response and the outcome for the adult.
Skills check list for effective challenge
Calm Be confident
Polite Gut Instinct-opportunity to unpick
Respectful Diplomacy
Consider the voice of the adult Communicate with your line manager
Negotiation Policy- escalation or professional challenge
Support with evidence Communicate with other professionals
Professionally ‘Braver’
Bold – be bold in your professional approach
Rationale – is there a clear rationale behind your thoughts/ actions?
Assertive – use assertion to ask the questions you are thinking of, no matter how silly or exaggerated you think they are.
Verify/ Validate – can you verify and validate the challenge you are making
Enquire/ Escalate – if you are still unhappy with the decision
Why it matters
Leads to better outcomes for the adult, is a good sign of professional practice, shows multi-agency good practice, ensures complacency doesn’t take place
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