The public have a key role to play in the fight against human trafficking and modern slavery. We need to find new ways of empowering and encouraging the public to report their concerns. We take a look at three smartphone apps that do just that. Read More →
Catch up with the online safeguarding news stories for November, in easy to read bitesize news segments. Read More →
Each year many people go missing on a night out with friends. Most turn up a few days later, but some missing cases end fatally. Alcohol is a major factor and the optimum time for fatal disappearances are the winter months of – December, January and February. Read More →
When dealing with a vulnerable child or adult, safeguarding practitioners will create and update numerous documents. If the investigation leads to a criminal case, what information is recorded about the victim could well be disclosed to the accused. What professionals write about the victim is important and we should avoid ‘victim blaming language’. Read More →
The term ‘streetwise’ is often mentioned in missing children cases. It wrongly gives the impression that a child is wise to the risks they may face, and able to get themselves out of dangerous situations. It is mistakenly used to justify a reduced response from safeguarding professionals. This can lead to tragic circumstances. Read More →
Catch up with the online safeguarding news stories for October, in easy to read bitesize news segments. Read More →
Advances in smart technology has proved a valuable tool in keeping vulnerable people safe. Where missing people are concerned, assistive technology aides a problem-solving approach in preventing a person from going missing in the first place, whist GPS tech provides police and search teams with an important means of locating a missing person quickly and safely. Read More →
For most people the end of British Summer Time signals the start of the long dark British winter. For many living with dementia, the clocks turning back an hour can affect routine, one of the possible causes of a pattern of behaviour known as ‘Sundowning’. This can potentially cause a person with dementia to wander and subsequently go missing. Read More →
Hotel and B&B rooms are often used to groom and abuse young people. Those that work in the hotel business have a responsibility to safeguard and prevent the sexual exploitation of children. MakeSafe is an initiative that equips hoteliers with the necessary skills to spot potential signs of exploitation and take preventative action. Read More →
Can the police search addresses for missing children? What powers do police have to return missing children safely home? Can they use force? What exactly is the law around missing children? Read More →
There are numerous pieces of legislation, both civil and criminal which deal with the protection of children. This article looks at the various court orders that can assist us in our safeguarding role. Read More →
Catch up with the online safeguarding news stories for September, in easy to read bitesize news segments. Read More →
A father takes his child out of the UK without the permission of the mother and refuses to return. Parental Child Abduction is more common than you think. What can the mother do? What is the law? Who can help? Read More →
There are approximately 130,000 missing incidents involving children each year in the UK. It is impossible for the police and social care to provide the same level of service to every missing and returning child. Proper risk assessment is the key to identifying and responding to those children who are the most vulnerable. Read More →
Many missing children are harboured by adults when missing. We take a look at Child Abduction Warning Notices (CAWNS), what they are used for, the processes involved and the law if they are breached. Read More →
Catch up with the online safeguarding news stories for August, in easy to read bitesize news segments. Read More →
You can find anything on the world wide web. For most it is a place of joy, entertainment and education. Sadly, for those people contemplating taking their own lives, there are also websites and other platforms which exploit the vulnerable. We take a look at pro-suicide platforms.Read More →
The reasons adults and children are trafficked into, or within the UK are many. There are however, some distinct areas where children are more lucrative to the trafficker or slave master. Find out more. Read More →
Missing and vulnerable children often gravitate to a ‘friendly’ address in their area. Some are safe, many are not. Find out what the law says, when a person persistently ignores requests and warnings by the authorities not to harbour a child. Read More →
Breast ironing is an age-old tradition, practiced in certain parts of Africa. The pounding and massaging of a girl’s breasts to delay breast development. In the UK it is child abuse. Read our guide to find out more. Read More →
Operation Limelight is a multi-agency proactive operation that periodically takes place at various ports in the UK, to tackle Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The emphasis is on prevention, detection and awareness.Read More →
Modern slavery is in plain sight in the UK, but we often don’t realise it is there. We take a look at some of the areas that may indicate someone is a victim – accommodation, working conditions, appearance and behaviours. Read More →
Modern slavery is prevalent in the UK. Safeguarding Hub examines what modern slavery is and looks at the various types, from organ harvesting to sexual exploitation. Read More →
In the second part of our articles on Honour Based Abuse, we look at the safeguarding response and some of the actions professionals should take when dealing with a victim. Read More →
Safeguarding Hub look at first contact with a victim of human trafficking, the actions safeguarding professionals should consider and the law around trafficking. Read More →
In the first of two articles, we look at Honour Based Abuse. What it is, who it affects, the crime types and some of the indicators that might help safeguarding professionals spot the signs.
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Catch up with the online safeguarding news stories for July, in easy to read bitesize news segments.
What the difference between Trojans and Worms? What is Catfishing? What are the dangers of a young person using an avatar? What does the PEGI rating mean? If you are responsible for safeguarding children and young people, but don’t quite understand the everyday language of the internet, then read this simple guide explaining the basics. Read More →
In the last few years the drugs landscape for young people has changed. Whilst cannabis is still the drug of choice, there has been a move towards “Legal Highs”, illegally purchased prescription only medication and powerful synthetic drugs. The availability of drugs on the internet has also had a significant impact. We look at some of those changes and some of the new drugs of choice. Read More →
We take a look at the online game that has prompted a UK Coroner to issue a warning about the psychological impact the game may have on young people.Read More →
Catch up with the online safeguarding news stories for June, in easy to read bitesize news segments. Read More →
How do we divert children away from gang involvement? What is an Osman warning? How do gang injunctions work? We take a look at some of the methods available to safeguarding professionals, that may help divert young people away from gang involvement. Read More →
We take a look at the indicators that help identify whether someone is at risk of forced marriage, and describe some of the preventative safeguarding tactics that can help professionals with those that are vulnerable. Read More →
In our third article examining ‘abuse linked to belief or faith’, we take a look at actions that must be taken when a safeguarding concern is identified , and emphasise the need to act quickly to ensure the “one chance rule” is not missed. Read More →
Catch up with the online safeguarding news stories for May, in easy to read bitesize news segments.
Cyber bullying and online sexual exploitation are not the only dangers that lurk on the world wide web for children. Here we look at some of the other safeguarding risks that young people may be exposed to.Read More →
It’s a phenomenon. Millions upon millions of players worldwide. A free to play online shoot-‘em-up survival game with lots of bad guys to kill. But, who are your children playing with and what are the hidden dangers within ‘Fortnite Battle Royale’?Read More →
Police are the lead agency when a child is reported missing. In this article we take a look at their role and what procedures they should follow to locate a child safely. Read More →
For people with Dementia, walking can be beneficial. In this article we look at how to keep a person safe and provide tips on preventing wandering turning to missing. Read More →
A look at the recommendation from the Independent Inquiry into child sexual abuse (IICSA) interim report, which states that those working in children’s homes in England, should be required to register, in the same way that social workers have to. Read More →
In the third and final part of our County Lines drug supply familiarisation articles, we look at what you can do to identify the issues and some tactics around prevention, and how the law applies to children.
Catch up with the online safeguarding news stories for April, in easy to read bitesize news segments.
Catch up with the last 3 months (January to March 2018) online safeguarding stories and risks, in easy to read bitesize news segments. Read More →
Each year across the UK, hundreds of children are removed from harmful situations by the police and placed into ‘Police Protection’. We take a look at this valuable tool, which if used responsibly, can be a very valuable tool in safeguarding vulnerable children. Read More →
Abuse linked to a belief in spirit possession is difficult for safeguarding professionals to identify, understand and sometimes accept. It sits outside the norm and there is a danger that they could mistakenly be dismissed as superstitious nonsense. We take a look at the very specific indicators associated with this specific area of child abuse. Read More →
We identify some indicators that point to a child’s involvement in gangs and also take a look at those young people that are more likely to be at risk of being drawn into gang culture. Read More →
In the last of our child sexual exploitation factsheets for safeguarding professionals we take a look at the actions that should be taken when dealing with a young person at risk of CSE, and also provide some tactics and options that are at our disposal.
National Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness Day on 18th March. In the second of our factsheets for safeguarding professionals we look at the indicators that might suggest CSE is taking place , those that are likely to be more at risk, and also take a look at ‘hot spot’ CSE locations. Read More →
As we approach National Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness Day on 18th March, we produce the first of three practical factsheets for safeguarding professionals. Part 1 looks at the methods used by perpetrators, risk levels and the law. Read More →
Mental health issues amongst university and college students have significantly increased in the last decade. Read our useful fact sheet which identifies and explains, some common mental health problems that could affect those facing the pressures of higher education.Read More →
