Any dogs can bite and 9 in 10 dog bites to children happen in the home with a dog they know (CAPT). Luckily most bites are preventable. During the summer holidays families and dogs are spending more time together, so we are encouraging key partners to continue sharing practical dog safety tips that families can use this summer. Please see below for a range of useful resources

• Defra’s dog safety partner pack includes a range of downloadable resources to support your dog safety communications both online and in person. Defra has translated the dog safety factsheets into Polish, Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi and Arabic to support dog safety messaging being shared more widely. Newly translated materials can be downloaded using the link below:
•   Translated Fact Sheets | Child Safety Advice in Translation (capt.org.uk).
• The Dogs Trust is also providing free dog safety masterclasses for parents and caregivers which may be of interest in your local communities.
• RSPCA - Keeping children safe around dogs
• CAPT - Safety around dogs factsheet

Are you a neglect champion for your organisation? The WSSCP holds 2 multi-agency neglect champion meetings per year to give practitioners holding this title, the opportunity to meet other champions and share good practice, as well as any challenges they face relating to neglect in practice. This is also a fantastic opportunity to find out about new resources, updates and other news about identifying and tackling neglect. If you are a neglect champion and haven't yet booked your place, click on the link below to secure your ticket. This event is free to attend.

Book my ticket to the WSSCP neglect champions meeting

There are still some places available for training around Safeguarding children and young people when using the internet and digitally enabled technology.

If you haven’t had a chance to attend the Digital Safety Team’s two-hour webinar to learn more about safeguarding children and young people when using the internet and digitally enabled technology, then this is a good opportunity as this session is free for anyone to attend whilst we review our training fees.

Starting at 1pm on Monday 31 August and running for two hours, this webinar is for staff working with children and young people and will better equip you to:

• support individuals to be more resilient of the risks they face online,
• know where to go for help and support if you have any concerns,
• provide you with useful resources to use in future.

For more information and to book your free ticket, visit Eventbrite.

The Child Exploitation Learning Network is an opportunity for professionals working with children and young people to gain further knowledge around child exploitation and of the work delivered locally, hear from guest speakers and gain access to a suite of resources. This network will focus on the support given to children (up to the age of 18 yrs), parent/carers and siblings.

WiSE are asking professionals to sign up to all 4 events to ensure continuity of learning and networking opportunities.

Please see the link to the Child Exploitation Learning Network, tickets can be purchased through the Eventbrite link below. Please note this is free to join.

For West Sussex professionals the dates are;

Thursday 5th Oct 2023 10-12pm

Thursday 30th Nov 2023 10-12pm

Thursday 29th Feb 2024 10-12pm

Thursday 28th March 2024 10-12pm

WiSE Child Exploitation Learning Network- Book my West Sussex professionals ticket now

Please see the link below for a short questionnaire which will help inform the network content and areas of interest for those attending;

Take me to the short questionnaire

New training is now available to book onto. Please see link, course information and available dates below. Please advertise and share with colleagues and be sure to book your place.

This 3.5-hour online, MS Teams, webinar is for anyone working with children, young people, adults and families who may be experiencing, or have experienced, Domestic Abuse, and will specifically focus on Controlling and Coercive Behaviour.

The aim of this webinar is to enable you to develop your awareness of Controlling and Coercive Behaviour (CCB) and increase your confidence in identifying, risk assessing and safety planning in relation to this form of Domestic Abuse. It will support you to increase your knowledge on the current legislation and legal framework as well as where you can access additional support and information both Nationally and in West Sussex.

If you apply what you have learnt in this webinar, you will be able to:

• Identify Controlling and Coercive Behaviour (CCB).
• Have an awareness of the legal framework and complexities of recognising and evidencing Controlling and Coercive Behaviour (CCB).
• Identify the stages of Controlling and Coercive Behaviour (CCB) and the link between Controlling and Coercive Behaviour and the Domestic Homicide Timeline.
• Recognise the impact of Controlling and Coercive Behaviour on children and parenting.
• Provide support and safety planning in relation to Controlling and Coercive Behaviour.
• Know where to access additional support and advice.

Course: Domestic Abuse Awareness - Controlling and Coercive Behaviour (CCB) (learningpool.com)

The Ministry of Justice recently updated the Achieving Best Evidence in Criminal Proceedings Evidence Crucial updates were made to references to the role of medical examinations following feedback from the CSA Centre and with our input.  

The updated guidance is clear that when the victim of a crime is a child and there are concerns their physical or mental health a medical examination should be offered and that medical examinations contribute to: identifying and responding to the child’s health and well-being needs, safeguarding decision making, civil proceedings and/or criminal proceedings. Please do read and share this update to the Achieving Best Evidence Guidance. It is important that all professionals involved in multi-agency safeguarding decision making are aware of this update.

Read the updated guidance

Watch this medical examinations explainer

Foundations has published a report evaluating the impact of Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) proceedings in England and the effect on family reunification.

The report examined data from 13 FDAC sites, nine local authorities (LAs), and 40 interviews with professionals and parents. Findings include: children with a primary carer in FDAC care proceedings were more likely to be reunified with their primary carer than children with a primary carer in non-FDAC care proceedings; a higher proportion of FDAC than comparison parents had ceased drug or alcohol misuse by the end of the proceedings; and children in FDAC sites had lower probability of being placed in LA care compared with non-FDAC care proceedings. 

Read the report: Evaluation of Family Drug and Alcohol Courts