Message from the KRSCP Strategic Partner, James Thomas I am delighted that we have now made the smooth transition into our new Safeguarding Children’s Partnership, and on behalf of all the statutory safeguarding partners want to express my thanks to all those who have helped us to build our renewed approach with a clear focus upon the children and young people of Kingston and Richmond and how we can work together to ensure that they are protected from abuse, neglect and exploitation.
In my view, we have struck a sound balance between change (strategic leadership arrangements; a learning hub approach; independent scrutiny) and continuity (our business plan and priorities; the core of our sub-group arrangements; the support of the safeguarding team). Our Strategic Leadership Group will be convening in November and benefit from the commitment of the senior leaders from the statutory safeguarding partners, as well as from representatives from children’s social care, schools and the health service. We will aim to bring greater rigour and clarity focused upon our two core areas of work, namely scrutiny of partners’ performance data, quality assurance findings and feedback from children and families so that we have clear sight of what we are doing well and what we need to be worried about; and close attention to ensuring we secure and maintain the engagement of all partners working with children and families across each borough. We will also be starting the process of thinking how best to renew our business plans for 2020/22 and the resetting of our priorities, as well as confirming the arrangements for our first learning hub deep dive into adolescent risk which will culminate in a partnership learning event on 23rd January.
We look forward to working together with you all and to building the best possible Partnership for our children and families!
James Thomas Interim Director of Children’s Services, Richmond Council
MARVE We have refreshed our MARVE (Multi-Agency Risk & Vulnerability to Exploitation) Protocol to include all major forms of child and adolescent vulnerability – Harmful Sexual Behaviour, County Lines, Modern Day Slavery, Child Criminal Exploitation, Child Sexual Exploitation, Trafficking, Gangs and Groups, and Serious Youth Violence.
Annual Report The last Annual Report and safeguarding assessment for the partnership is here for 2018-19: https://kingstonandrichmondsafeguardingchildrenpartnership.org.uk/about-richmond-lscb/annual-report-42.php. There were lots of positive points around multi-agency working and local performance. We wanted to work together more around school exclusions, Initial Health Assessments for Children Looked After, EHAs (Early Help Assessments) GP engagement in child protection processes, and children who are educated at home, as numbers are rising in our boroughs, following national trends. To find more about Ian and our strategic partnership please see this page: https://kingstonandrichmondsafeguardingchildrenpartnership.org.uk/about-richmond-lscb/our-vision-35.php. The below image show the Kingston and Richmond Safeguarding Children Partnerships Structure:
Youth Needs Consultation Information Event 14th November 2019 at 10 am oneRichmond (RPLC and Hampton Fund) has commissioned Rocket Science to conduct a youth needs consultation in Richmond, with a focus on enhancing life opportunities for vulnerable children and young people. Rocket Science will be reviewing good practice in addressing young people’s needs and concerns; and will be engaging directly with young people in Richmond between December 2019 and February 2020 through interviews, focus groups and peer research.
The Information Event on 14th November will cover the following:
The background and context for the research
Findings from Rocket Science’s review of good practice and mapping of youth need and service provision in Richmond
The approaches which will be used to gather the views of young people.
Sexual Health Services: Many professionals and volunteers have the opportunity to signpost children and young people to sexual health services. There are several levels of sexual health support available, including outreach in some secondary schools by School Nurses. Many Local pharmacies and chemists offer free emergency contraception and sexual health services. Click here to see a table of sexual health services in both boroughs.
Hospital Clinics The Hospital clinics are our ‘acute’ sexual health services based at West Middlesex Hospital and the Wolverton Unit in Kingston Hospital As these clinics are based at a hospital they can do a range of tests not available at our other clinics. This means if anyone has symptoms or signs of a sexually transmitted infection, these are the best clinic to attend as they have doctors available at every walk in session, and with most infections they can provide diagnosis and treatment on the same day.
They provide all contraception and sexual health services with a specific remit for more specialist and complex issues and care. They are open access via booked or walk in clinics and see anyone over 13 years of age. A consultation will always explore an individuals physical and mental health and aim to identify any specific risks or vulnerabilities with respect to sex and their sexual health.
They should be considered the provider of choice for: Symptomatic individuals / Individuals with same sex partners / Transgender individuals / Anyone paying or being paid for sex. They can provide preventative care where appropriate including: PEP (post exposure prophylaxis to protect against HIV where there has been a sexual risk) / PrEP (pre exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV before a sexual risk) / Hepatitis & HPV vaccination (specific populations as identified during consultation) / Long term management or prophylaxis for recurrent infections.
They can provide ongoing support with respect to: Sexual assault / Sexual exploitation / Harmful risky behaviours / Difficulties with healthy relationships issues / Psychosexual issues. Onward referrals to other services will be discussed and facilitated as necessary.
These units’ greatest strengths are ease of access coupled with the ability to discuss all aspects of sexual health in an open and approachable manner. Many individuals don’t feel comfortable discussing such issues with anyone in their life yet doing so can help ensure ongoing optimal levels of physical and mental health. www.sexualhealthkingston.co.uk / https://www.sexualhealthhounslow.org.uk
Elective Home Education The Education Welfare Service in AfC provides support and guidance to all schools and families and relevant agencies on issues relating to Elective Home Education.
Upcoming KRSCP Training The KRSCP offer some online safeguarding training, please use this link to create an account: https://richmondlscb.melearning.university/user/self_register. The KRSCP also offers face to face training to all working with children and families. Here is a list of available courses until the end of November:
05/11/2019 – Safeguarding Children: A Shared Responsibility Level 2 (Kingston)
07/11/2019 – Understanding and Managing Childhood Neglect (Level 3)
13/11/2019 – Neglect Toolkit: A bitesized Session
14/11/2019 – Harmful Practices – Forced Marriage and So Called Honour Based Violence Awareness
27/11/2019 – Safeguarding Children: A Shared Responsibility Level 2 (Kingston)
27/11/2019 – Working Towards Ending Harmful Practices Asian Women’s Resource Centre
28/11/2019 – Domestic Abuse Update: A Bite Size Session
The KRSCP are also running the following conferences to all practitioners in the boroughs;
Safe in Faith – 06/11/2019 – Kingsgate Church Kingston, 161a Clarence St, Kingston upon Thames KT1 1QT
Contextual Safeguarding – 23/01/2020 – St Mary’s University, Twickenham
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