News and events

With effect from 31 January 2020, all secure GCSX Herefordshire Council email addresses will not work. If you need to send a secure safeguarding related email please consider using the following addresses: To discuss or report a safeguarding concer… read more on article: "New secure email addresses from 31 January 2020"

Click the link below to view a calendar of national, regional and local campaigns related to adult safeguarding. Campaign Calendar 2019-20

From 1 September 2019 the charge and cancellations fee for participants attending the Safeguarding Training are as follows:   Partner agencies contributing to the Partnership budget Free All Other Organisations, including Schools and Charity emp… read more on article: "Safeguarding Training - new charges from 01/09/19"

On 10th July, all three statutory agencies of the newly formed Safeguarding Children and Young People in Herefordshire group (the Local Authority, Police and NHS Clinical Commissioning Group) agreed to establish a working group to combat harmful sexu… read more on article: "Presentations on harmful sexual behaviour / peer on peer abuse"

Under the Children Act 2004 there is a statutory requirement that all child deaths are independently reviewed. New requirements mean that there will be a change of responsibility for ensuring that these reviews are carried out, from the local Safegu… read more on article: "New Child Death Overview arrangements"

Herefordshire Council run a range of parenting courses for parents, guardians and carers who'd like a little extra support, information or advice, when it comes to bringing up children and young people.  They cover all age ranges from birth to 18 yea… read more on article: "Free parenting courses in Herefordshire"

Sexual Health Services 4 Herefordshire There is a dedicated young person’s Sexual Health clinic (a non-prejudiced service) which takes place every Wednesday afternoon 1-4pm at 15 St Owens Street (opposite the Town Hall). Or young people can drop in … read more on article: "Sexual Health Services 4 Herefordshire"

Child Protection Evidence from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH). Evidence-based resource for clinicians in the UK and internationally which helps inform clinical practice, child protection procedures and professional and… read more on article: "RCPCH Child Protection Evidence Reviews for Practitioners"

The Safeguarding Boards Practitioner Forum in June 2019 will take the form of a professional development session on the subject of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) and Trauma Informed Practice (TIP) presented by Dr Carlie Goldsmith, of St Mary’s U… read more on article: "Professional development session on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) and Trauma Informed Practice (TIP)"

Herefordshire Safeguarding Children and Adults Boards are committed to linking with front line practice to share learning and information about safeguarding. We have set up a Safeguarding mailing list, and we use it to send out a range of informatio… read more on article: "Join our Safeguarding mailing list"

The theme of the February 2019 Practitioner Forum was Crime and Vulnerability 34 professionals attended the morning session at our Plough Lane offices, from 23 different organisations/departments across the public, private and third sector, and enjo… read more on article: "February Practitioner Forum update"

HSCB are supporting National CSE Awareness Day The National Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness Day aims to highlight the issues surrounding CSE; encouraging everyone to think, spot and speak out against abuse and adopt a zero tolerance to adults … read more on article: "National CSE Awareness Day"

The theme of the 28 November Practitioner Forum was Sexual Exploitation.  Thirty six professionals attended from 10 different organisations/departments across the public, private and third sector, and enjoyed a range of informative presentations, whi… read more on article: "November Practitioner Forum update"

This is a reminder of who to contact if you have a safeguarding concern. If it's regarding an adult, it's Herefordshire Council's Adult Referral Team (ART). Their telephone number is 01432 260715, or 0330 123 9309 out of hours and weekends. If it's… read more on article: "Who to contact if you have a safeguarding concern about an individual."

West Mercia Women’s Aid (WMWA) have received funding from the West Mercia PCC to launch a new initiative to tackle domestic violence and abuse. The Inspiring Families initiative is a 10 week programme working with couples that are in an abusive relat… read more on article: "West Mercia Women’s Aid Launch new Initiative to help Couples and Families "

Briefing for professionals on Fractures in Infants under 18 months.

We have updated our information sharing section, which can be found in the footer on every page of this website, as well as by clicking the link: https://herefordshiresafeguardingboards.org.uk/information-sharing/ Guidance for information sharing i… read more on article: "Information sharing page updated with new protocols"

The themes of the September Practitioner Forum were Parental mental health and Fabricated or Induced Illness. On the day, a record thirty six professionals from 13 different organisations and departments across the public, private and third sector a… read more on article: "September Practitioner Forum "

The NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) has published updated standards for safeguarding and protecting children in sport. The standards provide a framework for those involved in sport to help them create a safe sporting environment for child… read more on article: "Standards for safeguarding and protecting children in sport"

Did you know that there are regular joint multi-agency practitioner forum events which provide practitioners with regular updates from Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board and Herefordshire Safeguarding Adults Board and provide the opportunity t… read more on article: "Hold the dates - multi-agency practitioner forum events 20/09/18 and 28/11/18"

WISH is Herefordshire’s online service for wellbeing information and signposting to local services, groups, events and activities across the county to help residents stay independent, happy and healthy. The service is run by Herefordshire Council an… read more on article: "WISH Herefordshire"

SELFIE is an educational programme run by West Mercia Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Centre (WMRSASC) designed to increase young people’s (11 to 25-year olds) awareness of sexual violence, harassment and abuse. It aims to equip them with the skills,… read more on article: "SELFIE Programme for young people"

Herefordshire Safeguarding Boards have produced a new guidance document to help organisations in Herefordshire produce a safeguarding policy. The document can be found on the following link: Guidance for agencies developing a safeguarding policy

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week (14-20 May), focusing on stress. Research has shown that two thirds of us experience a mental health problem in our lifetimes, and stress is a key factor in this. By tackling stress, we can go a long way to … read more on article: "Mental Health Awareness Week (14-20 May)"

There is a new Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) for Herefordshire. Terry Pilliner is based in Hereford and can be contacted on 01432 261739. The new email address for LADO with effect from 1 February 2020 is LADO@herefordshire.gov.uk

NICE and SCIE have published a new quick guide – Getting help to overcome abuse: a quick guide for young people receiving support. The guide helps young people to understand what is meant by abuse and neglect and describes how they might feel bec… read more on article: "Getting help to overcome abuse - a new quick guide from SCIE and NICE"

National Autism Week 26 Mar – 2 Apr Mental Health Awareness week 14 – 18 May International Museums day 18-May Dementia Awareness week 21 – 25 May Volunteers week 1-7 June … read more on article: "Dates for your diary"

2018 Thurs 26 April (PM) Theme – Working with individuals with disabilities. Tues 26 June (PM) Theme - Impact of early exposure to mental health and fictitious illness. Thurs 20 Sept (PM) Theme - Sexual Exploitation (adults and children’s). Weds … read more on article: "Future joint practitioner forum dates for your diary:"

The links below will take you to the relevant pages on the Herefordshire Council website. Prevent is about safeguarding people and communities from the threat of terrorism.  Prevent is one of the four elements of CONTEST, the Government's counter-te… read more on article: "Preventing extremism - Prevent and Channel"

Did you know that there are regular joint multi-agency practitioner forum events which provide practitioners with regular updates from Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board and Herefordshire Safeguarding Adults Board and provide the opportunity t… read more on article: "Practitioner Forum - "Working with individuals with disabilities" "

Herefordshire Safeguarding Children and Adults Boards are committed to linking with front line practice to share learning and information about safeguarding. We are setting up a new Safeguarding mailing list, and we will be sending out a range of in… read more on article: "Sign up for our Safeguarding mailing list"

West Mercia Police have produced See past the obvious - a video aimed at helping officers become better at spotting the signs of vulnerable and at-risk people. Whilst this was produced for the Police, this may be useful for other professionals as wel… read more on article: "See past the obvious - spotting the signs of vulnerable and at-risk people"

WMWA offer a ‘no names’ domestic abuse consultation function for all partner  agencies who wish to seek advice around an individual for whom they cannot share personal data.  This consultation can be undertaken by contacting our Access to Services he… read more on article: "West Mercia Women's Aid 'no names' domestic abuse consultation service for professionals"

Please find attached a briefing paper from NHS England on the roll-out of a revised service model for the Children and Young Peoples Sexual Assault (PSAS) Service due in April 2018. Further updates are expected before the implementation date and the… read more on article: "Changes to the Children and Young Peoples Sexual Assault (PSAS) Service due in April 2018"

The latest Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board annual report is now available online. Click the following link to read more about the work of the Children's Board during 2016-17. 2016-17 Annual Report.

Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board (HSCB) is currently undertaking an audit to clarify the understanding of front line professionals of the Herefordshire Levels of Need Threshold Guidance. http://surveys.herefordshire.gov.uk/levels_of_needs_n… read more on article: "Levels of Need Threshold Guidance Audit 2017"

On the 14th November 2017 YMCA WiSE Project will be launchinga campaign to raise awareness about the sexual exploitation of boysand young men, WiSE Up to Boys. The campaign aims to increaseawareness and understanding that child sexual exploitation (C… read more on article: "WiSE Up to Boys - CSE Campaign from the YMCA"

Colleagues from West Mercia Police and Warwickshire Police have created this poster to raise awareness of CSE, Modern slavery and Trafficking. The poster is being displayed in all 19 motorway service stations in the region. If you would like the fu… read more on article: "CSE, Modern slavery and Trafficking poster"

In September 2016 Herefordshire Council introduced the Single Social Work Assessment as a replacement for the Initial and Core Assessments that have been in place for many years. Colleagues will be aware that the single assessment was introduced to … read more on article: "Initial and Core Assessments replaced by Single Social Work Assessment "

Summary of police guidance on sexting The NSPCC has published a summary of the College of Policing’s guidance for police in England and Wales responding to cases involving young people who are sexting. Key issues include: the Outcome 21 reporting co… read more on article: "Summary of police guidance on sexting"

Violence against women and girls insight pack The Home Office has updated its Violence against women and girls (VAWG) communications insight pack, which gives information about issues related to VAWG. Topics covered include: domestic violence and se… read more on article: "Violence against women and girls "

Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group have produced a useful guide about private fostering, specifically about identifying and notifying private fostering arrangements. Whilst it has been written for GPs, there is a great deal of information in… read more on article: "Private Fostering - information for professionals"

Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board (HSCB) has today published the Serious Case Review Overview Report on Family HJ which can be found on the following page: https://herefordshiresafeguardingboards.org.uk/herefordshire-safeguarding-children-bo… read more on article: "Serious Case Review Family HJ published today"

Today CEOP have launched a brand new Thinkuknow resource for eight to ten year olds called Play Like Share. Play Like Share is a three-episode animated series and accompanying resource pack, which aims to help children learn how to stay safe from se… read more on article: "Brand new Thinkuknow resource for eight to ten year olds "

What is the ‘duty to notify’? From 1 November 2015, specified public authorities have a duty to notify the Home Office of any individual encountered in England and Wales who they believe is a suspected victim of slavery or human trafficking. It is … read more on article: "Duty to notify the home office of potential victims of modern slavery"

The West Midlands Paediatric Sexual Assault Service is a region-wide service, launching on 1st October which provides expert care for children and young people who have disclosed sexual assault, or who may have been subject to sexual abuse. The servi… read more on article: "West Midlands Paediatric Sexual Assault Service launches on 1st October"

In 2014, 72 year old William Thompson tragically died of smoke inhalation, when his bedding caught alight from a discarded cigarette.  Mr Thompson lived in supported housing and while smoke alarms were installed in his hall and kitchen, there weren’t… read more on article: "Professionals - can you spot any danger signs when visiting a resident’s home?"

With Ofsted planning joint area inspections on domestic abuse, here are some factors which social workers should consider when working on these complex cases. http://www.communitycare.co.uk/2016/08/15/adults-scared-might-children-living-domestic-abu… read more on article: "‘If adults are scared, how might children living with domestic abuse feel?’"

The Health and Social Care Information Centre has published the first ever annual statistical publication for female genital mutilation (FGM). Findings from data collected by healthcare providers in England include: 5,702 newly recorded cases of FGM … read more on article: "Female genital mutilation statistics"

A forced marriage is where one or both people do not (or in cases of people with learning disabilities, cannot) consent to the marriage and pressure or abuse is used. It is an appalling and indefensible practice and is recognised in the UK as a form … read more on article: "Free online training - forced marriage awareness"

The NSPCC’s Knowledge and Information Service has published a summary of the main findings and recommendations from Pathways to harm, pathways to protection, the triennial analysis of serious case reviews relating to incidents from 2011 to 2014, publ… read more on article: "Summary of triennial analysis of serious case reviews"

The Department for Education has published statistics on child death reviews completed in England between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2016. Findings include 3,665 reviews were completed by Child Death Overview Panels in the year ending 31 March 2016, o… read more on article: "Child death reviews statistics"

Female Genital Mutilation advice Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a form of child abuse and violence against women and is illegal in England and Wales under the FGM Act 2003. The act covers all procedures involving partial or total removal of the … read more on article: "FGM update"

On 21st June 2016 the NSPCC published a report called How safe are our children?.  This report compiles and analyses the most robust and up-to-date child protection data that exists across the UK for 2016.

The educate against hate website gives parents, teachers and school leaders practical advice on protecting children from extremism and radicalisation.