1. DSL Network National updates
February 2018

2. DSL Network Aims and Purpose
To promote connectivity with the Nottingham Safeguarding Children Board
As a conduit for policy updates
A   practice network  which demonstrates professional behaviours and mutual support

3. Do not underestimate the importance of your work
John Dexter
Director Education
Do not underestimate the importance of your work
Statute and laws
Children’s services
Educational outcomes
Headteachers need you
Families need you
Most of all
Children need you
even when they think they don’t

4. Do not underestimate your effectiveness as a partnership
Achieved more together
Influential, successful, shaping
Covered a wide range of issues
Respect from national players –– success story
Development of systems, protocols policies but more important the processes
Shared experiences

5. DO Enjoy your session Share concerns
Ensure future sessions cover needs
Not go home with more worries but fewer
Go home with a renewed confidence
Know what a vital job you do

6. Do not underestimate the Partnership network
Vulnerable Children at the forefront – thank you
Bothers, worries, sleepless nights > Quiet, self confidence, wisdom
Security, training and coaching of others – thank you
Resource issue
Difficult things to cope with for you >Look out for each other – kindred spirits
Think of your expectations for children and use them to look after yourself
Openness
Honesty
Help
Ongoing support

7. Updates

8. National issues Working Together consultation
Keeping Children Safe in Education – consultation
Sexual violence and sexual intimidation guidance
The role of the Virtual School Head and Designated Teacher for Looked after Children

9. National issues Special Guardianship Orders Mental Health IICSA
Mental Health
IICSA
County Lines

10. National Resources
Developing support and services for children and young people with a learning disability, autism or both
Child Abuse and Neglect NICE Guidance
National Referral Mechanism
NSPCC Safeguarding in Education resources

11. Local issues Private Fostering survey
Developing a lifelong disability service
CGL Lifeline

12. Local issues “Mocksted” Street harassment DASH RIC/Teen DASH RIC
DASH RIC/Teen DASH RIC

13. Local issues The provision of references
When to report children missing from school
Audit

14. Multi Agency Risk Assessment conference (MARAc)
The importance of The Education Welfare Service and the Designated Safeguarding Leads working together.

15. Working together
It is imperative that the EWS Specialist and the DSL/ADSL communicate within the directed time lines to ensure vital information is gathered to enable a full multi agency discussion at the MARAC which informs the safety action plan
Information gathering is undertaken before the MARAC, feedback and actions are undertaken following the MARAC
Sometimes additional children are identified at the MARAC. The DSL will be notified of this after the MARAC
Feedback is strictly at the discretion of the MARAC chair. On occasions feedback is prohibited due to ongoing Police investigations.
Contact:
Education Welfare Specialists: Elaine Parker /Tina Stuart

17. Street Aware and Knife Crime: Schools and Safeguarding
Sonia Burton, Youth Offending Team
Steve Harrison, Community Protection

18. What’s in it for schools?
Help to keep your children and young people safe
Support for children with concerning behaviour;
Reduced exclusions
Better response from the Police & clarity about how to respond to incidents and possession
Police input to lessons and assemblies
Free materials for use by teachers
Enhanced reputation for Nottingham’s schools

19. NTU Evaluation of Street Aware
“Street Aware helps to reinforce the dangers and risks associated with gang-related activity and knife carrying. As such, it is reasonable to conclude that introducing Year 6 children to this material is both appropriate and necessary.”

20. Lesson Evaluation

21. Year 6

22. Josh has upset Mikhail by going out with one of his ex- girlfriends, Charli. A few days ago Mikhail threatened to beat him up. Charli knows what Mikhail is like and is scared he’ll hurt Josh so she decides to put a knife in her pocket to warn Mikhail off if he comes near him.
Year 10

23. Stepped Approach
Y6 Lesson – Knives – stay safe PCSO
Transition Day – Positive citizenship
Y7 Assembly – Law & responsibility PCSO
Y10 Assembly – Difficult situation PCSO
Targeted group work in school
Referral to Targeted Youth Support
Fair Access Panel
+ Use of Fearless publicity materials

24. Street Aware and Knife Crime Guidance circulated to all schools
Process:
Street Aware and Knife Crime Guidance circulated to all schools
All PCSO-led sessions to be booked via YOT who will arrange a briefing note for class teachers, and letter for parents
Evaluate programme in June

26. Local profiles

27. Headlines High number of children subject to a protection plan
High numbers of children in care
Lower volume/high impact issues

28. Child Protection (CP): Initial Category of Abuse for CP cases in 2017
A quarter of CP plans are made up of multiple categories of abuse. The table and graph below include all categories separately, therefore a child with all four categories is included 4 times, once for each category.

29. Break

31. IMARA - Who are we and what do we do?

32. An unique early Intervention service following disclosure of sexual abuse and VRI with Nottinghamshire Police
Referrals come directly from the Police and within the city boundaries
Work with families and young people throughout the process of the Criminal Justice Service.
We provide therapy, pre and post trial, advocacy and legal help.
The clients we work with are often family members of the abused, who have often been abused themselves, as well the referred person.
Recovery is long term and goes on into adulthood.

33. The Focus Group Disclosure
What a difference professionals could have made/missed opportunities
Promoting Prevention
Allow young people to have a voice

34. What blocks a disclosure? FEAR of…

36. It’s all your fault

37. Grooming and level of grooming – too much focus on disclosure and abuse and not enough understanding of grooming.

38. Child feels responsible

40. S/he loves me, s/he loves me not

41. Distraction

42. Liar, Liar…….

43. Protection of siblings

44. NSPCC research
Research from the NSPCC shows that on average it takes 7 years for a child to disclose abuse.
The Children’s Commissioner states that for every 1 child that does disclose, there will be 7 others that don’t. What does this mean in your schools and classrooms?
There is a huge level of cost to society involving Child Sexual Abuse.

45. ‘What a difference professionals could have made.’

46. A survivor of sexual abuse states…..
‘Remembering now, all these things from school – there was so much wrong in my behaviours that recurred, where I was just screaming out for someone to notice/to do something – I knew I had no damn power to change things, but I know somewhere I hoped they did and could. But they never used it if they did.’

47. Unheard Voices

48. The age and gender of victims
Victims of abuse tend to disclose at the age of 12 yrs
The average age of abuse taking place is yrs
There is an additional pressure on males as it carries a ‘heavier’ stigma
Children’s Commissioner Inquiry into Sexual Abuse in the Family Environment

49. Prevention not treatment

50. To look at prevention not just early intervention and post trial work
This would encourage a universal language in professionals to help children speak out – ‘I had a constant rehearsal in my head’ client
IMARA would like to look at prevention and understanding of grooming for adults and children.
Language

51. NSPCC ADVERT

52. A basic level of Neuroscience knowledge is needed for all professionals working with young people

53. The Amygdala and Cortisol

54. Window of Tolerance

58. Exercise
Thinking of the Window of Tolerance, think of a child you work with and discuss with your partner…….
What ‘behaviours’ do you see and think about?
How would school/staff respond to this?

59. The Making Noise Project - Children’s voices for positive change after sexual abuse. Bedfordshire University
Who are they most likely to tell?

60. Their friends

61. Their Mum’s. Can be met with further guilt, or not being believed

62. Generational abuse

63. Children’s experience of specialist services
“Gives me confidence”
“I now know this happens to other people”
Changing workers – very disruptive
Long process and so many questions “I wish I’d never told anyone’

64. Children’s experience of therapeutic input
“Made me feel validated, believed and understood”
“Supported me to make sense of what had happened”
Coping mechanisms were useful as was other practical support
Helped to challenge the stigma around abuse
Stopped me to feel so isolated
Helped me to build confidence and resilience
Helpful to see how far I’ve come, when my worker reminded me of my progress

65. "Child sexual abuse is a silent epidemic
"Child sexual abuse is a silent epidemic...if this were Ebola, the whole world would shut down and yet we’re not talking about this. Where are the bracelets? Where are the ribbons? Where is the race to the cure for this disease?...If silence is a predator’s best friend, if shame and denial are the ingredients that help this epidemic to grow, then how can any of us stay silent? ...maybe instead of just focusing on how uncomfortable this conversation is, we could focus on how this is an opportunity to have courage... because there are kids out there that are counting on us to have this conversation“
Jill Tolles – University of Nevada

67. Consultation Line number: