Bookings are now open for the Westmorland and Furness Safeguarding Children Partnership Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Conference, taking place on Friday 2 October 2026, 09:30–15:30 at Junction 36 Conference Centre. Refreshments and lunch will be provided.

The full-day conference is designed to support those in the role of Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). The conference will focus on the role of DSLs in identifying concerns and supporting children and families to access support early. Delivery will consider the WFSCP priorities; Neglect, supporting children at risk of exploitation and children as victims of Domestic Abuse, whilst also providing an opportunity to ensure Designated Safeguarding Leads are sighted on the Families First Partnership programme and implications for education and early years settings. This conference is open to all DSLs in early years settings, schools, and colleges in Westmorland and Furness. 

To register your interest, please complete the following form: 2026 Westmorland and Furness Safeguarding Children Partnership DSL Conference – Fill in form

For queries or further information, please contact: WFSCP@cumbria.gov.uk

Parental Substance Misuse Training

Westmorland and Furness Safeguarding Children Partnership (WFSCP) and Cumberland Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP) are pleased to welcome Recovery Steps to deliver this important training, which follows on from learning identified in recent local reviews.

This session explores the impact of parental drug and alcohol use on children and young people, drawing on learning from recent local reviews. It aims to strengthen practitioners’ understanding, confidence and multi‑agency responses when supporting families affected by substance use.

📅 Wednesday 16 September 🕐09:30 - 12:30pm 📍MS Teams

To sign up, please email: wfscptraining@cumbria.gov.uk with your full name, job title, organisation & email address.

Working Together to Safeguard Children: Level 3

This course is designed for professionals working at Level 3 competency with responsibilities for keeping children safe. The training builds a shared understanding of risk management, roles and responsibilities, thresholds for services, and good practice when working with children, young people and families.

📅 Wednesday 14 October 2026 🕐 12:30 - 16:30pm 📍Kendal 

📅 Wednesday 11 November 2026 🕐 12:30 - 16:30pm 📍Barrow

📅 Thursday 14 January 2027 🕐 12:30 - 16:30pm 📍Kendal

📅 Wednesday 10 March 2027 🕐 12:30 - 16:30pm📍Penrith 

📅 Thursday 13 May 2027 🕐 12:30 - 16:30pm 📍Barrow

📅 Tuesday 6 July 2027 🕐 12:30 - 16:30pm 📍Kendal

📅Thursday 16 September 2027🕐 12:30 - 16:30pm 📍Penrith 

To sign up, please email: wfscptraining@cumbria.gov.uk with your full name, job title, organisation & email address.

Neglect - Learning from National Panel report (Lunch & Learn)

This session, delivered by Westmorland and Furness Safeguarding Children Partnership, will focus on the key learning from the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panels recently published thematic review of Neglect (published April 2026). The thematic analysis, examines multi-agency responses to child neglect in cases of serious harm or death. The session will summarise the main themes from the report and focus in on 

• Understanding and identifying child neglect
• Child centred practice
• Multi-agency working
• Interventions and planning

The session will also include reference to local learning, statistics and what different professionals need to consider within their roles in order to identify, assess and respond effectively to Neglect.

📅 Friday 11 September 🕐13:00 - 14:00pm 📍MS Teams

To sign up, please email: Practice.week.WAF@cumbria.gov.uk with your full name, job title, organisation & email address.

If you missed the Getting Ready for 2026-27: A Pol-Ed Update webinar series, you can now watch the recording on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/E7c5AO0qvvE

Although aimed at schools in Kent, the key updates and guidance are also relevant to schools in Cumbria, with only minor local differences.

For support with embedding Pol-Ed in your school, please contact the Pol-Ed team on hello@pol-ed.police.uk

The Children’s Society has launched its latest Look Closer training programme, running from October 2026 to March 2027. Sessions cover financial exploitation, transitional safeguarding, anti-racism, gendered assumptions in child exploitation, and learning from young people’s lived experiences.

These sessions are open to all professionals, although some prior knowledge of child exploitation is recommended.

For details and booking information, please follow this link here. 

A fully funded event dedicated to celebrating, strengthening and championing youth work across the South Lakes. Bringing together youth workers, practitioners, volunteers, VCFSE organisations, public sector colleagues and partners, the summit offers an opportunity to share good practice, build connections, develop skills and reflect on youth work provision.

South Lakes Youth Work Summit Tickets, Castle Street Community Centre, Kendal | TryBooking United Kingdom