Safeguarding

Edition 13: March 2025

Team update

We're sorry to say goodbye to Bekki Oates at the end of the month, as she moves to the Children's Services Reforms team. Bekki has worked for Barnsley Safeguarding Children Partnership (BSCP) business unit team for the past two years and huge thanks are due as she's done so much in her time with us. Her focus on education, including the s.175 self-assessments in schools and colleges; support for the safeguarding in education subgroup, creative online harms resources for schools and most recently, production of the bullying survey, co-produced with young people, are just part of her fantastic contribution. You’ll be missed Bekki – and we wish you the very best in your new role and for the future

Barnsley takes action: ketamine awareness campaign launched

Barnsley is facing a significant issue with ketamine use, which is more prevalent here compared to other cities. According to the drug and alcohol needs assessment completed in 2022, the proportion of individuals citing ketamine use in Barnsley is significantly higher than the national average (92% vs 44%). In response, Barnsley Recovery Steps has launched a comprehensive ketamine campaign to raise awareness about the risks and harms associated with ketamine use. The campaign aims to reduce stigma and promote access to tailored support services. For more information, please visit their social media channels:

• Barnsley Recovery Steps Facebook
• Barnsley Recovery Steps Instagram
• Barnsley Recovery Steps LinkedIn

Safer Sleep Week - 10 to 16 March 2025

Safer Sleep Week is The Lullaby Trust’s national awareness campaign that takes place every year. The campaign aims to raise awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) by providing advice to help reduce the chances of it happening.

This year's theme focused on:

• exploring baby sleep patterns
• busting baby sleep myths
• supporting parents/carers through their own lack of sleep

Safer Sleep Week in Barnsley was very successful. Practitioners had a stall at Barnsley Market hall all week and Maternity Services had a stall in Women's Services at Barnsley Hospital. Local media also supported the campaign.

Practitioners spoke with as many people as possible, including parents-to-be, new parents/carers and grandparents. They offered lots of practical advice and demonstrated safer sleep practices using visual props, to help promote important messages around safer sleep practices and help save babies lives.

Always sleep baby on their back in a clear cot or sleeping space for every day and night time sleep. Learn more about safer sleep.

Early help

Our newly launched early help assessment (EHA) and Family Network Plan are aligned with the signs of wellbeing model for children and families. Early help is Barnsley's approach to providing support to vulnerable children, young people, and families as soon as problems start to emerge or when there's a strong likelihood that issues will arise in the future.

By addressing concerns as early as we can with families, and working together within an EHA and family network plan, we can utilise the strengths of both family members and professionals and bring about positive change, working together to achieve the families' wellbeing goals and outcomes.

We have monthly training sessions available for all multi agency practitioners to undertake training on the new early help assessment and process, and the role you can play within the family network meeting and planning. Training is available via POD or if you have any questions in relation the early help assessment and its process please email earlyhelpdevelopmentofficer@barnsley.gov.uk.

Kinship care reforms

The national Kinship Care Strategy celebrates the remarkable kinship carers who provide loving and stable homes for children unable to live with their parents. These carers will now benefit from enhanced financial support and greater assistance from local authorities and schools. The strategy outlines key commitments, including:

• ensuring positive outcomes for children in kinship care
• providing increased help and support for kinship carers

Listening to the needs and wishes of kinship families Barnsley will soon experience the positive impact of this strategy, which will be highlighted in the upcoming family network briefings.

Barnsley College – crime and justice week

Students at Barnsley College have recently participated in the college’s annual crime and justice week - an opportunity for students to participate in talks and workshops to raise awareness around crime and consequences as well as highlighting safeguarding issues and supporting students to keep themselves safe.

The week's main event was a talk by Alison Cope, whose son Joshua Ribera was murdered in 2013. She now works to prevent youth violence by educating young people on its realties and consequences. She does this by telling her son's story. Over the course of the week, we worked with South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and there were other speakers from a range of professional backgrounds. This included Raj Holness, who spoke about her challenging upbringing and domestic abuse; 2020 Dreams gang prevention workshop; Lisa Potts, George Medal winner, spoke about overcoming adversity, mental health and dealing with change after surviving an attack in the nursery she worked at; Paul Hannaford shared his story of transformation and redemption after his addiction to drugs.

Barnsley College students also had the opportunity to work with Mick Amos of HMP Not-4-Me, who brings his unique mobile replica of a prison cell to allow students to experience how people who commit crimes live behind bars. It fosters a different environment to facilitate discussion and debate and also empowers young people to make positive life choices.

The sessions were organised by Lee Perks, Enterprise Team Leader at Barnsley College. Lee said: "Crime and justice week is such a popular week for all staff and students across the college. It is a week packed full of activities that really engage students in a different type of conversation. Students heard from our keynote speakers about their lived experience of the criminal justice system, take part in workshops around careers in this sector and learn about the importance of crime prevention and the impact that crime can have on individuals, families, and communities. Thank you to all our guests, staff and students for another brilliant crime and justice week."

Child safeguarding updates

Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel

NSPCC Learning released a podcast featuring Panel Chair Annie Hudson and member Jenny Coles, discussing safeguarding roles, local/national learning, and a review into child sexual abuse in families.

• Listen to the podcast on NSPCC Learning
• Watch part one on YouTube
• Watch part two on YouTube

Race and racism in safeguarding

A new report highlights gaps in addressing race and culture in safeguarding, with recommendations for tackling institutional racism. Read the race, racism and safeguarding children report.

Child sexual abuse

The CSA Centre reports under-identification of child sexual abuse and calls for better data and a national prevalence survey. Read the CSA trends in official data report.

Domestic abuse awareness

Women’s Aid launched an animated film, 'the monster who came to tea', showing the impact of domestic abuse and urging government funding. Watch the monster who came to tea.

Boys’ wellbeing and welfare

A report by the CSJ explores challenges boys face in education, employment, family, crime, and technology. Read the Lost Boys report.

Multi-agency training programme

We offer an extensive range of training courses to people who have a responsibility for safeguarding children. We offer face to face training courses and virtual lite bite sessions.

We're also proud to announce that the Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse (CSA Centre) will be hosting a roadshow at The Civic in Barnsley, on Tuesday 18 November 2025. The roadshow is called 'Prioritising Child Sexual Abuse'. This is designed to build the confidence of professionals in Barnsley in effectively identifying and responding to child sexual abuse, and best supporting children and families.

All of our training is bookable via POD. View our training programme.

Edition 12: December 2024

Safeguarding awareness week 2024

Our Safeguarding Awareness Week, which was held between the 18 and 22 November was very successful, with many passionate and dedicated Barnsley professionals attending safeguarding children training events that we had on offer.

Our main two events were the ‘Understanding Neglect and The Impact on Children and Young People Conference’ and our ‘The Impact of Domestic Abuse on Children and Young People Masterclass’. Both had contributions from extremely knowledgeable and inspirational speakers. The message from both events was about giving hope and support to all of our families.

During the week, we also hosted the Designated Safeguarding Lead Forum, which is an opportunity for Designated Safeguarding Leads from schools and other agencies to come together to hear about the current safeguarding landscape, to receive safeguarding updates and to share ideas and to network. The Forum was attended by 83 Barnsley professionals.

The Exodus Project, which offers out of school clubs throughout the Borough, had a theme of ‘Managing Your Emotions’ in their Youth Groups, which fitted in nicely with our themes for the week.

A huge thank you to the Exodus Project and to all our contributors throughout the week.

Check out the training and events that we currently have on offer for the rest of this year and for next year,

National reviews and reports 

The National Panel has published its national review into child sexual abuse within the family environment. 

Their annual report 2023 – 24 was published earlier this month, which the main themes of this year's local child safeguarding practice reviews and national reviews. The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel - Annual Report 2023 to 2024.

Another key report which introduces big changes for how multiagency teams organise to protect children and young people is the Keeping Children Safe, Helping Families thrive report from the DfE.

Christmas dinner for care leavers

This year will be the 7th year of hosting The Christmas Dinner for Care Leavers in Barnsley. The Chair of the project (herself a care leaver) is determined that no young care leaver should face Christmas alone. Consequently, she has inspired and driven a group of volunteers to put on an amazing Christmas day, with all the trimmings, for the young people of Barnsley.

Whilst locally led, the initiative, is linked to a national project founded by the poet and care leaver Lemn Sissay MBE. The aim of the project is that no care leaver should spend Christmas day alone.

To make the magic happen, a small group of volunteers fundraises and organise the day to create a wonderful experience. Whilst this is no mean feat, it’s a great experience to be involved in, and feedback like the quote below makes it all worthwhile. ‘Best Christmas ever, I would normally be on my own. Thank you so much. It was really nice to be around other people and the gifts were just so nice. The whole day made me feel really loved and cared about’.

The Christmas Dinners are an opportunity for the community to support care leavers on Christmas Day and ensuring they have the same great day we would want for our own families. We are always looking for more support and volunteers, so, if you would like to find out more, please email: TCDBarnsley@gmail.com
Facebook page: Barnsley Care Leavers Christmas Dinner @TCDBarnsley
We also still need a venue this year which will hold 40 people on Christmas day, so if you have ideas, please let me know at angela.fawcett@nhs.net

If you would like to donate, and support this worthy cause, you can do so via our PayPal: tcdbarnsley@gmail.com

Safer sleep in winter

We know that the colder months can be difficult for families. They may be worried about the costs of living and have to make difficult choices for their family, paying heating bills, keeping draughts out and keeping their baby warm.

New DASH form 

A new Domestic Abuse, Stalking, Harassment and Honour-Based Violence (DASH) risk assessment tool has been developed. The form has been developed by and on behalf of the South Yorkshire Domestic Abuse Partnership and it has been agreed that the form should be implemented across South Yorkshire from 1 December 2024. The new form looks to gather information picking up recent changes included within the Domestic Abuse Act such as Non-Fatal Strangulation and children being recognised as victims in their own right. Please make sure this new DASH form is used within your organisations. For queries regarding the DASH form please email domesticabuse@barnsley.gov.uk. IDAS also offer domestic abuse training available to professionals in Barnsley.

Private fostering for professionals

What is private fostering?

Private fostering is a private arrangement made between a parent and a responsible adult for the care of a child under the age of 16 (under 18 if disabled). The person who will be looking after the child is not a parent or close relative of the child, and the arrangement is planned for at least 28 days. Private foster carers may be from the extended family such as a cousin or great aunt. They may be a friend of the family, the parent of a friend of the child, or someone previously unknown to the child’s family who is willing to privately foster the child. The local authority in which the private foster carer lives must be notified of the arrangement.

Who are the children that are privately fostered?

The children and young people who are privately fostered can be broken down into the following broad groups.

• Local children living apart from their families due to parental/family relationship
• ‘Sofa surfer’ teenagers; often a vulnerable group with a history of abuse or neglect
• Children ‘on the edge of care’, often living away from home due to relationship difficulties
• Trafficked children (these are children and young people who are likely to have suffered trauma)
• Unaccompanied minors; some of these will have experienced trauma / be fleeing from danger
• Children with parents studying in the UK
• Children with parents abroad in the armed forces
• UK-born children involved in vocational activities
• UK-born children whose parents are working away
• Children whose parents live abroad
• Children in language schools staying with host families
• Children at independent boarding schools/ language schools who live away from home with other families

Who is responsible for notifying the local authority of a private fostering arrangement?

Any person aware of a private fostering arrangement should, as part of their responsibility to safeguard the welfare of children, notify the local authority. This will include teachers and other school staff, health visitors, GPs, school nurses, police, and any other services or other people whose work brings them into contact with children. 

Online behaviour of children young people and adults in the UK 

Ofcom has published its annual report looking at the online behaviours and habits of children and adults in the UK and how they are served by online content providers and platforms. Much of the data is drawn from Ofcom’s Online Experiences Tracker and Ipsos iris. Findings show older children were more concerned than younger ones about the time they spent online; one in five 8 to 15-year-olds have a user age of at least 18 on a social media platform; and teenage boys were more likely to encounter content showing dangerous stunts, while girls were more likely to encounter potential harms relating to body image.

New RSV vaccination programme 

The new Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccination programme was introduced in September 2024 for pregnant women and adults aged 75 to 79 years.
Key messages to consider:

• RSV is a common virus which can cause a lung infection called bronchitis.
• Symptoms of RSV may include: a cough, cold, wheezing, shortness of breath, tiredness or fever.
• Pregnant women at 28 weeks or more can get vaccinated by contacting their maternity service or GP.
• The vaccination boosts the woman’s immune system to produce antibodies that cross the placenta and protect the baby from birth.
• Babies who contract RSV may experience difficulties in breathing and feeding leading onto serious breathing problems such as bronchiolitis.

For more information and to check if you're eligible for a vaccination.

Whooping cough cases are rising in young babies, the vaccination given helps protect young babies against whooping cough at birth.

Key messages to consider:

• Whooping cough is a bacterial lung and airway infection that spreads easily through coughing and sneezing, posing serious risk to babies.
• Babies with whooping cough often need hospital treatment due to risks of pneumonia and brain damage.
• Vaccinating during pregnancy and childhood helps protect infants from diseases. Immunising pregnant women can provide protection to babies before they are eligible for their own vaccinations.
• Pregnant women should be offered the vaccination at routine antenatal appointments from 16 weeks pregnant, if women have not been offered the vaccination, they should contact their GP to arrange an appointment.
• Immunity from the vaccine is passed through the placenta, offering protection until the standard whooping cough vaccination at 8 weeks of age.
• Vaccinating pregnant women is 90% effective at preventing whooping cough in babies, hospital admissions and over 90% effective in preventing infant deaths.

You can view the whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy guide. 

Edition 11: Safeguarding week 

A message from Thomas Beech - Barnsley Youth Council 

“Our consultation work in 2024 shows us that bullying remains to be an issue in Barnsley’s secondary schools particularly affecting students’ health and well-being. Despite lots of awareness work, many students know where to seek help but hesitate to report incidents. This reluctance often stems from fear of retaliation, feelings of shame, or a belief that their concerns will not be taken seriously.

While schools promote anti-bullying policies, the effectiveness of these measures can vary. Students may feel that reporting bullying could lead to further isolation or may not result in meaningful action. Encouraging an open dialogue about bullying and fostering a supportive environment is crucial. By empowering students to speak up and ensuring that reports are taken seriously, our schools can create a safer atmosphere where all students feel valued and protected. Strengthening communication between students and staff is essential for addressing this ongoing challenge. Something which Barnsley Youth Council members fully support.”

Educational neglect pathway launch 2024

The barriers to accessing education are wide-ranging and complex and can often be specific to individual pupils and families. Working together to improve school attendance guidance (2024) and Summary table of responsibilities for school attendance (2024) from the DfE provides statutory guidance that schools, trusts, governing bodies, and local authorities must have regard to, as part of their efforts to maintain high levels of school attendance. This statutory guidance expects the best placed service to lead a ‘support first’ approach with a multiagency response where required. The 2024 training offer has had fantastic engagement. 350+multagency professionals have completed it so far. The course is available to book through POD. Contact Kirsti Booth, kirstibooth@barnsley.gov.uk

Chilypep's open up directory 

The open up directory, developed by Chilypep in 2018 alongside young people, is a vital resource listing mental health services available to those aged 11 to 25 across Barnsley and South Yorkshire. The directory addresses key areas of mental health support, such as crisis support, LGBTQ+ support, and support for bullying and abuse. The directory has been expanded into the open up interactive map, which allows young people to easily access and connect with tailored support from pinpointed locations. This centralised resource is essential in supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of young people by providing a clear pathway to access the support they need, all in one place. You can get access to download a copy of the open up directory or the interactive map at www.chilypep.org.uk.

Domestic abuse training through IDAS 

IDAS is the commissioned domestic abuse service in Barnsley, delivering free training courses to professionals who work with adults, children and young people who experience abuse. The training includes the dynamics of abuse, recognising signs, and its impact on survivors. Participants learn about safeguarding practices, legal frameworks, and gain practical skills to support survivors. It empowers professionals to respond sensitively and effectively to those impacted by domestic abuse.

Mental health support for children and young people 

The NHS has commissioned free, instant access, digital mental health support across Barnsley for those aged 10 to 25.  Kooth offers anonymous and stigma free support with zero judgement, giving young people a safe space where they can work alongside qualified Mental Health practitioners, explore self care tools and seek safe, moderated support from other young people via our vibrant peer:peer online community. Kooth is available 365 days a year with no waiting lists for support and is available 24/7 at times when young people need it, without the need for a lengthy referral. Go to www.kooth.com to get started today.

What is contextual safeguarding?

Contextual safeguarding is an approach to understanding and responding to children’s experiences of significant harm beyond their family and home. It includes peers, places and groups where children and young people spend time.

A contextual safeguarding approach ensures the focus is on both the child or young person and the wider context of the abuse they experience. Our partnership approach aims to disrupt harmful extra-familial contexts rather than move young people away from them and practitioners, adults and young people seek change in the social conditions or environments where abuse occurs.

‘Our multi-agency B-SAFE team is central to Barnsley’s contextual safeguarding strategy. The team of police officers, social workers, youth justice practitioners, family workers and specialist practitioners create a joined-up response to complex risk issues including child sexual and criminal exploitation, harmful sexual behaviour, and serious youth violence. The B-SAFE team provides intensive, specialist support, engaging directly with victims, children at acute risk and their families. They also provide specialist support to professionals across the Partnership.

The team works actively with partners in the pursuit of abusers and works closely with police and children’s services colleagues in complex abuse and exploitation investigations to protect victims from further harm and trauma and supports successful prosecution of offenders.

Referred cases are reviewed by the integrated front door (IFD) using evidence-based risk assessments. Cases that meet the threshold are discussed at multi-agency child exploitation (MACE) meetings where interventions will be recommended based on risk and need. 

Edition 10: September 2024

Private fostering 

What is private fostering?

Private fostering is an arrangement made without the direct involvement of a Local Authority. Private fostering is when a child under the age of 16 (or under the age of 18 if they have a disability) is cared for by someone who is not their parent, close relative or guardian and this has lasted or is expected to last for 28 days or more. A ‘close relative’ is defined as a grandparent, brother, sister, uncle, aunt or stepparent by marriage or civil partnership.

What might private fostering look like?

• Teenagers who have broken ties with their parents and are staying in short term arrangements with friends or others.
• Children sent from abroad to stay with another family.
• Children from abroad who are attending school in England and living with host families.

What are your professional responsibilities and duties?

Professionals have a statutory duty in relation to private fostering. If you have become aware of a possible private fostering arrangement, you have a duty to inform the local authority. For more information or to notify the local authority about a private fostering arrangement please call 01226 772423.

Where to find more information:

• Barnsley Council private fostering
• Coram BAAF Private Fostering
• Coram BAAF Private Fostering Awareness Day 2024

Alcohol and pregnancy 

Did you know that drinking in pregnancy can harm your unborn baby? If you are pregnant, thinking about becoming pregnant or know someone who is pregnant, it’s important to know that drinking alcohol during pregnancy can put the baby’s health at risk. There is no known safe amount, no safe time, and no safe type of alcohol during pregnancy.

A baby’s brain and body develop all the way through pregnancy and drinking alcohol, even a small amount, can affect development. This is because the alcohol stays in their blood stream for a long time, as babies cannot process alcohol well due to their liver not being fully developed. Drinking alcohol in pregnancy makes it more likely you’ll have a miscarriage, or your baby will be born early or underweight, or your baby can develop a range of lifelong conditions called foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).

If you were drinking small amounts of alcohol before you knew you were pregnant the risks to your baby are likely to be low. The most important thing you can do now is to stop drinking. For many women, stopping drinking when pregnant can be hard, sometimes harder than they thought. The social pressure to have a drink can be massive and can make it harder to say no. If you need support, you can speak to your midwife or GP. Talking to your midwife is the first step towards getting the right support for you and your baby. Dads and partners can also support you by not drinking alcohol around you or trying non-alcoholic alternatives. If you think that you have a problem with alcohol, and are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, speak to your midwife, GP or local alcohol service for support.

You can find more information about the risks of drinking alcohol in pregnancy from:
• nationalfasd.org.uk
• drymester.org.uk
• fasdawareness.org.uk

Let's talk about babies crying 

Crying is normal in young babies, it’s their way of communicating that they need help or comfort. Infant crying can be upsetting and overwhelming, but it is normal, and it will stop.

Babies start to cry more frequently and for longer from around two weeks of age and this usually peaks around 6-8 weeks of age. Every baby is different, but after about eight weeks, babies will start to cry less and less each week. ICON is about helping people who care for babies to cope with crying, which is a normal part of development, and it will stop.

ICON stands for:

• I - Infant crying is normal – babies can cry for different reasons like when they are hungry, wet/dirty nappy or if they are unwell. Sometimes babies can also cry for no reason.
• C - Comforting methods can help – you can try simple calming techniques like holding them close to you, have babies
  skin to skin, singing to your baby, a warm bath or taking your baby for a walk.
• O – It’s OK to walk away - if you have checked your baby is safe and the crying is getting to you. After a few minutes when you are feeling calm, go back and check on your baby.
• N – Never, ever shake or hurt a baby – this can cause lasting brain damage or death. If you are worried that your baby is unwell contact your GP or call NHS 111.

Remember looking after a new baby is hard and it’s okay to ask for help. Speak to someone who can support you such as your family, friends, midwife, GP or Health Visitor or get information from iconcope.org and remember You can cope! Never, ever shake a baby.

A safer sleep for baby 

Every year approximately 200 babies die as a result of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI). These deaths are tragic, and many could have been prevented with a few simple steps.

Safer Sleep information and advice for babies has changed over the last 30 years. It’s important to follow the latest advice to make every sleep a safer sleep (day or night) for baby and help reduce the risk of SUDI.

An easy way to remember the basics of a safer sleep is by following the ABCs of safer sleep - Always on their Back in a Clear cot or sleep space.

Use a firm, flat and waterproof mattress and put baby’s feet to the foot of the Moses basket or cot to stop them wriggling down under the bedding. The bedding should be tucked in firmly and below the baby’s shoulders. Babies should sleep in a clear space, with no pillows, bumpers or soft toys in the cot.

The safest place for a baby to sleep is in a clear Moses basket/cot in the same room as you for the first 6 months. It’s important they don’t get too hot or too cold so try and keep the room temperature comfortable between 16 to 20°c and think about where you are placing the Moses basket/cot. Never sleep on a sofa or armchair with baby as the risk of SUDI is 50 times higher.

It’s important to keep your home or other areas your baby is in smoke-free. Don’t let people smoke near your baby and always protect baby from cigarette smoke during pregnancy and after birth.
The safest place for a baby to sleep is in their own clear Moses basket/cot, but if you do choose to bring your baby into bed with you please speak with your midwife or health visitor for more advice as to how to make this safer, and never share a bed with them if any of the following apply:

• If you or your partner smokes.
• If you or anyone sleeping in your bed has been drinking alcohol or taking drugs, including medications that may make you drowsy.
• If your baby was born prematurely or was born with a low birth weight.

If baby is staying somewhere different, it is still very important to follow safer sleep advice and plan ahead to reduce the risk.

If you plan to travel by car and use a car seat, take regular breaks as they are more at risk if they sleep in a seated position for a long time.

In warmer weather it’s important to not let baby get too hot. If the room baby is sleeping in is hard to cool, you could close the curtains during the day and use a fan to circulate air. You could also use a room thermometer. Use lighter bedding and clothing and open the bedroom door and a window if it is safe to do so. When you are out and about in the sun, don’t cover baby’s pram or buggy with blankets or cloths as this blocks air from circulating and can cause overheating. Instead use a clip on sunshade or parasol and keep baby out of direct sunlight as much as possible.

You can find more information around Safer Sleep from The Lullaby Trust - safer sleep for babies, support for families. 

NSPCC pregnancy in mind 

What is it?

The Pregnancy in Mind (PiM) is a FREE virtual 8-week online programme to support parents to be (including mums, dads and co parents) across Barnsley, who are experiencing mild anxiety or depression, between 12-26 weeks of pregnancy. This is a preventative group programme, and a medical diagnosis is not required to attend.

You can find out more about NSPCC pregnancy in mind. 

You can view the animation for NSPCC pregnancy in mind. 

Barnsley young people's drug and alcohol service

On Monday 1 July 2024, the Barnsley Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Service is transferring from Barnsley Council to Barnsley Recovery Steps, which is part of Humankind.

The service will continue to provide free, confidential and easy-to-access advice, information and support for anyone under 18 or family members supporting a young person who is experiencing issues around drug or alcohol use in Barnsley.

You'll be able to refer someone to seek support from the service by calling 01226 779066 or emailing brs.referrals@humankindcharity.org.uk.

Barnsley Children and Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Service information will transfer to a new website shortly and a webchat service will be offered as an additional referral method.

Please share this information with your staff and networks to ensure they are aware of the changes. The previous contact details for Barnsley Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Service will no longer be in use as of 30 June 2024.

Barnsley Recovery Steps is the commissioned drug and alcohol recovery service dedicated to supporting adults with their drug and alcohol use, so moving Barnsley Children and Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Service to the same provider will create an integrated drug and alcohol service for all ages across Barnsley.

Useful resources 

Safeguarding children in sport:

• Keeping your child safe in sport video
• NSPCC keep your child safe in sport

Edition 9: June 2024 

Important changes to Emergency Duty Team (EDT)

As of Monday 13 May, the Barnsley Social Care Emergency Duty Team (EDT) adopted a new way of working to continue supporting our communities around the clock.

Previously, EDT had been a joint service covering both Adult and Children’s Social Care, supporting people with urgent social care needs over evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

Their prompt responses and proactive approach help people stay safe and well outside our regular working hours. Following a Joint Targeted Area Inspection in May 2022, a comprehensive review of our EDT service has been carried out.

In Children’s Social Care, this will now be part of their Integrated Front Door, handling emergency referrals and responding promptly to child protection concerns. Their dedicated team, who will cover all hours, brings together key professionals working across Barnsley, including social workers, health, Police and other partner agencies.

Meanwhile, Adult Social Care’s EDT service will focus on addressing Adult Social Care emergencies out of hours, including Mental Health Act Assessments.

You can call the Emergency Duty Teams on:

• 01226 787789 for Children’s Social Care.
• 01226 774466 for Adult Social Care.

If you’re worried about an adult’s safety or wellbeing, please visit our dedicated adult safeguarding webpage. If you’re worried about a child’s safety or wellbeing, please visit our dedicated children safeguarding webpage.

This change to how our services work together reflects our commitment to providing efficient and responsive social care services to our residents.

Getting to know Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)

Ruth Holmes and Sian Christian share the role of the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) for safeguarding children in Barnsley. A 'one-minute guide to the LADO' has been produced to provide you with a brief insight into what they do and how the LADO process works.

For further questions or queries around LADO, please email: LADO@barnsley.gov.uk

New parenting programme accepted as ADHD Pathway with CAMHS

The universal Nurturing Programme will now be accepted alongside the targeted Webster Stratton – Incredible Years programme by children adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) for parents and carers wishing to pursue an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) referral for their children.

The 14-week Webster Stratton programme continues to be offered to parents in Barnsley using the existing referral process.

The Nurturing Programme explores many of the same topics as Webster Stratton but offers an alternative approach for parents and practitioners to understand more about their children’s behaviour and explore strategies to parent in a positive, caring way.

Parents can book directly on the Nurturing programme without the need for a referral. Practitioners and parents should discuss which programme will best suit their needs.  For any advice, please email the Parent Support Team at parentsupport@barnsley.gov.uk

Find out more information about the programmes on the Virtual Family Hub. 

Keeping children safe in education 

The Department for Education (DfE) has published draft Keeping children safe in education statutory guidance for 2024, pending publication of the final version. The guidance is due to come into effect in September 2024.

Read the GOV.UK guidance keeping children safe in education. 

Elective home education 

The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel has published a briefing on elective home education in England. The paper collates learning from rapid reviews and local child safeguarding practice reviews to inform the work of safeguarding partners. It explores common themes and highlights practice issues.

Read the GOV.UK guidance on safeguarding children in elective home education.

Criminal justice system 

The Children’s Commissioner for England has published a report on children’s experiences of the criminal justice system and support services following a crime. The research draws upon interviews with children who have experienced sexual harm, an analysis of transcripts of police interviews and data from police forces across England. Findings include a lack of awareness amongst children about their statutory rights in the Victims’ Code and issues around the conduct of some police interviews, including the use of inappropriate and victim-blaming language. The Commissioner is calling for guidance for professionals to help children and young people access their rights under the Victims’ Code.

Read the report children's experiences as victims of crime. 

Multi agency training programme 

We offer an extensive range of training courses to people who have a responsibility for safeguarding children. We offer face to face training courses and virtual Lite Bite sessions.

You can view our Safeguarding training and events calendar.

The Admin Support Officer for the Multi-agency Training Programme has been the wonderful Marion Proudfoot for the last 19 years. Marion retired at the end of May. Let’s hope Marion has a long, happy and healthy retirement.

In order to book/cancel places on POD you'll be able to do this for yourself by entering your username and password on POD.

If you haven't used POD before but have attended training/are booked onto training/are on a waiting list, you will have an account.

Your username will be in the format firstnamesurname 

Please contact the POD Team at pod@barnsley.gov.uk - for the following:

• setting up, amending or closing accounts
• manager changes
• course resets (for example if you have to retake a course)

Upcoming training courses and events 

Domestic Abuse Risk Assessment and MARAC

Friday 19 July 2024, 10am to 12 noon via Microsoft Teams
Thursday 26 September 2024, 10am to 12 noon via Microsoft Teams

Sexual Abuse Within The Family Masterclass – delivered by Zoe Lodrick

Friday 14 February 2025 9:30am to 3pm, Shaw Lane Sports Club
If you would like to book a place please access POD. 

BSARCS offer a range of training courses, including working with sexual harm; recognising and responding to online sexual harm and Trauma informed responses and the impact of sexual harm. The training programme can be accessed via BSARCS training calendar. 

Peer reviewers for NSPCC research 

The NSPCC is looking for researchers to join its database of peer reviewers to help maintain the quality of the evidence they produce. Researchers will be asked to review up to one report per year. The NSPCC would like to hear from people with experience in areas including child abuse and neglect, online safety, and children’s social care.

Read the news story can you help peer review NSPCC research. 

Edition 8: March 2024

Understanding adverse childhood experiences

As part of the Barnsley Safeguarding Children Partnership (BSCP) multi-agency training programme, we had independent trainer, Zoe Lodrick, attend Shaw Lane Sports Club to deliver training on understanding adverse childhood experiences. We had a great turnout of almost 100 of the Barnsley workforce. As always, Zoe received great feedback; here are just a few of the comments received:

• Thank you so much for today. It was really thought provoking and the analogies that Zoe used helped me to understand things from a different perspective. Thank you so much.
• Amazing training. I first saw Zoe in Leeds in 2015 and I make every effort to see her whenever she comes to Barnsley. Her lectures are invaluable.
• Fantastic training, really engaging presentation by Zoe. I'm looking forward to embedding the knowledge in my role as an ISVA. Thank you.
• Absolutely fantastic training! Zoe really invests in you as a learner. So powerful and thought provoking.

Zoe will be next delivering training in Barnsley on the 22 November, again at Shaw Lane Sports Club. This time the training will be around the impact of domestic abuse on children and adults. You can book this training on POD. Please add your name to the waiting list if this session is already full.

View the Barnsley SCP multi-agency training programme.

Multi-agency training programme

We offer an extensive range of training courses to people who have a responsibility for safeguarding children. We offer face to face training courses and virtual lite bite sessions.

BSCP is keen to promote the new strengthening and re-energising core groups training. This training is essential for anyone who attends core groups or potentially could attend them.

By the end of the training, those attending should understand the key principles and remit of core groups, be familiar with the arrangements for convening meetings, be able to describe the responsibilities of core group members and have explored how child protection plans should be developed and implemented in Barnsley.

See all the training opportunities.

BSARCS open day (additional seminar)

Additional date: dealing with disclosure of sexual abuse from children and young people - 5 June 10am 12.30pm delivered via Zoom

This course looks at best practice in how to work with disclosure. It Identifies what your professional responsibilities are when hearing a disclosure. It discusses how working with professional curiosity can shape and manage "difficult" conversations which support children and young people to speak up about difficult experiences. Finally, the course looks at a trauma informed response to supporting children after a disclosure has been made.

Please register by contacting ruth.oleary@bsarcs.org.

Child sexual abuse

The CSA Centre has published a report on child sexual abuse in England and Wales. The report analyses existing data from children’s social care, policing, criminal justice and health to explore how child sexual abuse is being identified and responded to. Findings show:

• Across the year, local authority children’s services in England recorded concerns about child sexual abuse in 33,760 assessments of children.
• Concerns about child sexual exploitation were recorded in 15,020 assessments.
• one in 10 assessments undertaken by local authorities in England recorded a concern about some form of child sexual abuse.

Download the report.

Online safety

The UK Safer Internet Centre has published new research on online safety examining the experiences and opinions of children and their parents/carers. Findings from a survey of 2,008 parents and their children aged 8-17 include: 74% of parents and carers are worried about the fast-changing online world as posing safety risks to their child; 60% of 8- 17-year-olds who say they have used generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) believe it has online safety risks; and 48% of 8-17s think changing technology is making it harder for them to control who can access information about them online.

Read the news story.

Read the research.

Update from Chilypep

Chilypep have some exciting news to share! HOME, Barnsley is one of 24 Hubs across the country to share in £8 million funding for early support hubs to help children and young people receive better mental health support across the country.

The government announced in October 2023 that £4.92 million would be available for 10 early support hubs. It is now providing an additional £3 million to expand the number of hubs to 24 across the country - ranging from Exeter to Liverpool.

The £8 million overall package will improve access for children and young people to vital mental health support, offering early interventions to improve wellbeing before their condition escalates further.

HOME, Barnsley is delighted to have been successful in securing this funding for the young people of Barnsley and it will go towards continuing to support the Wellbeing Programme here at HOME, ensuring we can continue to offer a range of services, including group work, 1-2-1 support, counselling and signposting.

Find further information and the Government’s announcement on their website.

For more information on HOME, Barnsley please visit the Chilypep website.

Free training through Kooth

Kooth are offering free training webinars for you on the topic of “Overcoming mental health stigma in Muslim communities”. Book your place on KoothTalks.

In April Kooth are running webinars specifically to help parents and carers with children sitting exams. Please let your network of parents know that this support is available, especially if they're worried about their child’s anxiety.

Extra-familial harms

Research in Practice has published video learning resources which look at professional innovation in response to extrafamilial risks and harms. These are harms that young people may encounter and experience beyond the family home (including online). The videos cover:

• what helps innovation in children’s social care
• adopting trauma informed practice to support young people experiencing extra-familial harm
• developing contextual safeguarding as a local system
• and reflective structures that enhance local innovation

Watch the videos:

Innovation in response to extra-familial risks and harms - the Innovate Project: video learning resources

Read the news story:

Innovation, contextual safeguarding and trauma-informed practice

National CSPR Panel Annual Report 2022-23

The National Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel has published its annual report 2022 to 2023.
Read the full report.

OPEN UP Barnsley

The OPEN UP Directory has been updated for 2024. Access and download it from the Chilypep website.

Please feel free to share this with other colleagues, networks, parents, carers and of course, young people.

IDAS Professionals Helpline

IDAS host a professionals' helpline to offer advice and support, which comes through to the hubs team rather than a helpline worker.

Helpline number: (01226) 320112

Working Together 2023

Working Together was updated in 2023 and published in December. These updates specifically emphasise:

• a shared responsibility
• multi-agency safeguarding arrangements
• providing help
• support and protection
• organisational responsibilities
• learning from serious child safeguarding incidents and child death reviews

View the full Working Together 2023 guidance.

April 2025

Pilot of tool to help adults and workers evaluate the emotional impact of hoarding

Feedback from a recent research project has generated a tool to help adults and workers explore the impact of hoarding. It supports the adult and the workers supporting them to consider the approaches used to address the risks of hoarding.

Safer Neighbourhoods, Berneslai Homes and Adult Social Care are piloting the tool, if you're interested in becoming involved please email safeguardingadultsservice@barnsley.gov.uk.

Be our "eyes and ears" in the community

Thanks to the work of the safeguarding engagement post, in Healthwatch, we have over 20 who have agreed to become safeguarding champions; most are volunteers with organisations across Barnsley. We'll provide training and a resource pack to support them to signpost people who need help with staying safe, being a carer etc.

If you work with a member of the public who might be interested in joining this group, ask them to contact catherine@barnsley.gov.uk or to speak to Tracy Hughes at Healthwatch - 07984 790230.

We're also keen to expand the membership of the SAFE (Safeguarding Adults Forum by Experience) subgroup of the board that meets quarterly. We can cover travel costs but aren't able to pay for the volunteer's time - but a cuppa and biscuits are provided. For more information about SAFE, visit our subgroups webpage. For dates of meetings please contact safeguardingadultsservice@barnsley.gov.uk.

Updated or new policies:

• Exploitation checklist
• Professional duty to respond to safeguarding concerns
• Guide to working with adults struggling with alcohol and/or drug misuse issues - filling in the gaps: a guide to supporting people experiencing co-occurring alcohol use and… Alcohol Change UK
• Professional curiosity - often identified in safeguarding reviews. We've produced a resource to help navigate the need for curiosity with the rights of adults to privacy - Practitioner Newsflash - Professional Curiosity

If you'd like us to consider creating new resources to help you keep adults safe from harm and abuse or have any you would like to share, please email catherine@barnsley.gov.uk.

Safeguarding Awareness fortnight - 17 to 28 November

Feedback from workers and volunteers has led to the decision to extend the duration of the event to give workers and volunteers increased opportunities to attend the public facing events and training on offer. During the fortnight we'll be running two South Yorkshire wide events:

• Homelessness, safeguarding and capacity. Key speakers - Michael Preston Shoot, Mike Ward and Ellie Atkins. This will be an in-person event in Sheffield. For more information, email sabtraining@barnsley.gov.uk.
• "Eyes on" conference - exploring the need to see the adult in their home settings to inform risk assessments. Date to be confirmed.

We'll be hosting a local launch event - all age exploitation - watch out for more information in future newsletters or Safeguarding Awareness emails.

If your organisation would like to be involved in the public facing events or would like to run any training, please email safeguardingadultsservice@barnsley.gov.uk.

Safeguarding Adults Reviews

Barnsley Safeguarding Adults Boards has commissioned several statutory and non-statutory reviews, these include:

• a thematic review of seven adults who were homeless (rough sleeping) or in temporary accommodation at the point of their deaths. We're completing this in partnership with the Barnsley Safer Partnership, who lead on homelessness.
• a review into the circumstance of a man who was subject to a home take-over (cuckooing) and physical assault due to an inaccurate social media communication
• exploring the circumstance of a pregnant homeless woman who was living in a tent with her mum. Sadly, her mum later died and the adult's baby was taken into care.
• a man who died as a result of self-neglect, regularly refusing offers of help from workers but asking for support from friends and family

We'll publish all the reports, and the learning will be included in future newsletters and training.

January 2025

Welcome to our new Independent BSAB Chair - Vanessa Rolfe

Hello

I'm really looking forward to joining a fantastic team to work on more trailblazing projects to continue to improve the safeguarding of adults in Barnsley.

I'm really impressed with the innovation and enthusiasm in Barnsley, in particular the work done on self-neglect and hoarding, and the introduction of the drop-in medical centre in the town.

My assurance is that I'll collaborate with partners to make sure they deliver on the strategic plan, and I'll lead on co-production of work, which I'm really excited about.

I recently retired from policing where, in my 30-year career, I was a safeguarding investigator and leader, spending my last three years as the strategic lead for violence against women and girls.

Passionate about safeguarding, I'm also a trustee for Leeds Women's Aid and Yorkshire Adoption Agency, which is based nearby in Doncaster.

I'm keen to continue the chair's role to make sure that services for adults continue to improve on their delivery. I welcome any feedback, ideas and questions so I encourage you to make contact and please feel free to invite me to come and meet you and your team vanessarolfe@barnsley.gov.uk.

New resources approved by the board

We're committed to developing resources to help workers and volunteers safeguard adults. We signed off the following resources, all of which are on our webpages:

• Guide to Malnutrition - aimed at non clinical staff to help you identify when adults may be at risk of malnutrition due to self-neglect - Signs and indications of malnutrition in adults.
• Professional Curiosity - lack of curiosity is highlighted in both adults and children’s reviews. Please share widely and discuss with colleagues and in teams. Practitioner Newsflash - Professional Curiosity.
• Decision Support Guidance - aimed at workers and volunteers who raise safeguarding concerns to assist them to make high quality referrals. This may be particularly helpful to workers in care homes/support to stay at home services.

Please share, and if you have any questions do contact us -
safeguardingadultsservice@barnsley.gov.uk.

Learning from Safeguarding Adults Reviews (SAR) - how do we help you embed the learning into practice?

We held a multi-agency SAR assurance event to evaluate what had helped workers/organisations to embed learning from SARs into practice and identify any barriers.

Our thanks go to all the organisations who attended and shared their views. We asked the
following questions:

• Are your workers appropriately trained to work with adults who are self-neglecting
  and/or hoarding?
• Do staff have access to support in supervision or other settings from managers who
  have experience of or knowledge of SN/H?
• Do staff know when to make a safeguarding referral for adults who are self-neglecting and/or hoarding?
• Are staff confident to challenge decisions made by Adult Social Care about the outcome of the referral (S42 or other enquiry/NFA)?
• Are staff encouraged and supported to maintain contact with adults at risk due to SN and/or Hoarding, even if they're refusing support?
• Do your staff have access to legal support and/or have legal literacy within the team?
• Do your organisations have templates/recording systems that help staff record
  activities around self-neglect and/or hoarding and do staff report finding them helpful?

Helpful and honest discussions led to the creation of an action plan that includes:

• BSAB to run reflective learning sessions to support best practice discussions from 2025. (Look out for the dates). All organisations to share case studies for these sessions and for use in training.
• A commitment to include hoarding of animals and expand the roles and
  responsibilities section of our self-neglect and/or hoarding policy.
• The SAR and Learning and Development subgroups to explore if a coaching
  development programme for workers responsible for managing self neglect and/or
  hoarding cases would be helpful. (please share any views by emailing catherine@barnsley.gov.uk).
• BSAB and the SAR will review the quality of legal support for workers across the partnership and evaluate the need to develop practice guidance.
• An audit of risk tools used by partners to create a best practice template.
• We'll trial the use of a psychological hoarding risk tool in advance of adoption in the policy.
• The SAR subgroup to evaluate the use and impact of both the group around the person (GAP) and the vulnerable adults panel (VAP) and engagement of friends and family in managing the risks linked to self-neglect and/or hoarding.

Have you heard about our Initial Response Team?

In Barnsley Adult Social Care, we're committed to delivering the right, person-centred support for our communities. Our Initial Response Team is here to help people at the start of their care journey, connecting people with the right support for their needs and goals.

When someone calls Adult Social Care, our friendly team is here to discuss what they're
experiencing and offer advice on how we can support their independence and wellbeing. Our team helps connect people with the right support for them by:

• offering information and advice, including signposting to local services
• identifying people who could benefit from reablement support to get back on their feet
• exploring safeguarding concerns and deciding whether further enquiries are
  needed

If you want to learn more about our role in safeguarding adults in Barnsley, visit our Safeguarding adults in Barnsley website.

Updated Herbert Protocol

This supports the police and other services to locate "missing" adults living with dementia. Can you encourage all family carers to consider completing the Herbert Protocol form to share with the police if their loved one goes missing.

November 2024

Safeguarding Adults review completed in Barnsley

Tony died at the age of 71, in hospital. Tony had lived in Barnsley all his adult life in two properties managed by Berneslai Homes. Tony was deaf, partially sighted and had longstanding mental ill health, requiring support from a care coordinator and a specialist deaf mental health nurse. Tony struggled with self-neglect, and the cause of his death included malnutrition, though we believe he was receiving all his benefits - including Person Independence Payments.

Tony had over 15 unneutered cats living in his home at the time of his death. He attempted to look after them but lacked knowledge/skills/money to address their health needs.

The key learning identified:

• Need for staff to use the adults preferred communication methods - BSL for Tony.
• Consider non engagement as a risk factor for self-neglect - Tony had pressure ulcers, poor oral health, inappropriate glasses etc.
• Consider use of specialist advocates for assessments and safeguarding enquiries.
• Explore informal support and if they can be more involved - carers assessments, group around the person etc.
• Ability to carry through agreed actions - executive functioning.
• Would staff recognise signs of malnutrition - guide produced. (Thanks to ICB colleagues) - a guide to help non clinicians recognise the signs of malnutrition.

Please consider sharing at internal team meetings/supervision to share the learning.

To access the 7 minute briefing and full report - Statutory Safeguarding Adults Review Tony overview report approved September 2024 and Safeguarding adults review seven point briefing - Tony.

Updated self-neglect and/or hoarding policy

Reflecting the learning from Tony, we've included a section on hoarding of animals - see our updated self neglect and hoarding policy.

We'll be piloting a new hoarding risk tool that includes a psychological approach - 'how is the person feeling' before we evaluate the need to amend the policy and training to include this.

If your organisation would like to be involved in the pilot, please email
safeguardingadultsservice@barnsley.gov.uk.

Goodbye to our Safeguarding Adults Board Chair

Sadly, Marianne Huison has given notice and will leave at the end of November 2024. We want to thank Marianne for her enthusiasm and commitment to safeguarding in Barnsley. We will miss her.

We've recruited a new chair; our next newsletter will include an article from them. If you have any 'goodbye' messages for Marianne, please email them to catherine@barnsley.gov.uk.

Barnsley Safeguarding Adults Board annual report

Working with the SAFE group (customer group supporting the work of the Board) and other customer groups our annual report consists of four videos. Please share with customer groups and staff, feedback would be welcome.

Read the Safeguarding adults annual report.

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) issues second edition of the intercollegiate document - adult safeguarding

The second edition will require additional health colleagues to complete safeguarding adults training beyond the basic level of awareness. The document identifies the need for regular supervision for staff. Locally, our health partners are evaluating the impact of these changes and are confident they'll deliver these by 2025.

Adult safeguarding: roles and competencies for health care staff.

Ask the question about sexual harm - Barnsley sexual abuse and rape crisis service (BSARCS)

BSARCS has spent the last year working closely with frontline organisations, delivering training, and supporting the delivery of ask the question. Funded through Barnsley council, ask the question's aim is to embed asking service users aged 18 and above about experiences of sexual harm. Launching on November 25 as part of the 16 days against gender-based violence campaign is a partnership campaign between Barnsley council and BSARCS - Barnsley is asking the question.

Why you should consider asking the question

The independent enquiry into childhood sexual abuse shared that survivors repeatedly told them they find it difficult to speak about what happened to them. They describe being supported in a range of services but say they're rarely asked directly. Often struggling to disclose what happened to them, or hoping frontline practitioners will pick up on signs. One of the key factors we have heard repeatedly is how much improved victims and survivors' wellbeing is once they've "Broken the Silence" about an experience of sexual harm.

Ask the question will:

• enable frontline practitioners get to the root cause of the presenting issues, through
  providing an opportunity for service users to speak up about their experiences. This
  allows practitioners to provide a package of tailored support, signpost, and referral if
  necessary, reducing repeat referrals in to services.
• help people stay in your service for less time, enabling faster service for others and
  quicker healing for this service user.
• offer practitioners the provision of expert advice, to support with decision making, and gain useful insight in to how to effectively support service users who disclose sexual harm.

If you're interested in hearing more about BSARCS ask the question initiative, please email training@bsarcs.org.

HumanKind - new contact details

Do you need to refer an adult for support with drugs/alcohol - please contact brs.referrals@waythrough.org.uk.

Support for adults with learning disabilities and autism

Allied Health Professional (AHP) learning disability videos were designed to raise the profile of AHP roles in services that care for people with a learning disability and autistic people. They highlight the impact of AHPs providing care and in improving health outcomes.

August 2024

New resources

Our updated decision support guidance is now available, it includes a falls flow chart and a medication errors advice sheet.

A guide to help non clinicians recognise the signs of malnutrition has been produced as a result of a Safeguarding Adults Review.

A guide to professional curiosity is available to support workers to ask the questions of situations that feel 'uncomfortable'. A further resource will be published soon.

Predatory marriage

Sadly, we're seeing a rise in older adults agreeing to marriage when it is doubtful that they can make this decision. This is experience of one daughter: "Your mother and her man friend - did you know they were married?"

So, with a phone call from Joan Blass's doctor, began a horrific series of events which have highlighted the gaps in safeguarding for the elderly and the vulnerable, both at the time of marriage and in the Law. In March 2016 Joan Blass was almost 92 years old, with severe vascular dementia and terminal cancer. She was unable to make the simplest decision and never knew that she had remarried just five months before her death.

Joan's daughter Daphne Franks tells the story of a secret marriage, a revoked will, an unmarked grave, grooming, gaslighting, a Private Member's Bill and a campaign to highlight all the issues.

The Franks family hope to fill all the gaps so nothing like this will ever happen to another family in the future - because, as they've learned, it's currently happening to many of our elderly and vulnerable and their families. This story is "right up there amongst the most shocking we've come across in the ten years that we've been making this programme." - Angela Rippon, Rip-Off Britain, BBC Television.

Some of the challenges:

• If the victim has set up a power of attorney, the attorney isn't notified if the victim marries.
• Notifications of marriage are displayed on notice boards in register offices and aren't easily searchable or listed online.
• No evidence is kept at the point of marriage - no video or audio recordings - once a marriage certificate is attained the following impact on wills is almost impossible to challenge.
• Registrars have responsibility for judgment of mental capacity on the day.
  These persons may not have training on dementia or mental capacity.
• There's an absence of joined up safeguarding between different relevant organisations and an absence of standardised safeguarding or mental capacity training.

Suicide training

Papyrus offer FREE training to the public and workers, sadly this remains the main cause of death for men in England.

Book a training session through Papyrus.

We'd like to encourage everyone to complete the Zero Suicide Alliance training which is a 30 minute free training course.

June 2024

BSAB launches new strategic plan

We've produced a new strategic plan to outline what we aim to achieve in the coming year and how this will help keep adults safe.

If you'd like any more details about the work of the board or our strategic plan, please contact catherine@barnsley.gov.uk.

Second national SAR review now available

The review now published Analysis of Safeguarding Adult Reviews: April 2019 to March 2023 (executive summary) Local Government Association evaluated 652 SARs for wider data about types of abuse etc and completed detailed analysis of 229 SARs to produce a summary of:

• who experienced abuse
• what type of abuse
• good practice identified
• areas for improvement
• recommendations for SABs

Good practice identified:

• risk assessment and management (in 31% of cases)
• applying the principles of Making Safeguarding Personal (29%)
• continuity/perseverance and attention to health needs when working with adults who are self-neglecting (22% of cases)
• use of the mental capacity act (11%)
• think family approaches (8%)
• use of advocacy (7%)
• legal literacy (6%)
• understanding of personal history (4%)
• work with unpaid carers (4%)
• hospital discharge (4%)
• very occasional positive mention was made of recording (3%), transition planning (3 per cent), use of professional curiosity (35) and attention to protected characteristics (1%)

Practice shortcomings identified:

• poor risk assessment/risk management (82%)
• shortcomings in mental capacity assessment (58%)
• failure to recognise abuse or neglect (56%).
• shortcomings in making safeguarding personal (50%)
• absence of professional curiosity (44%)
• lack of attention to people’s care and support needs (43%) their mental health needs (41%)and attention to people’s care and support needs (43%) and physical health (37%)
• an absence of professional curiosity (44%)
• absence of legal literacy (40%)
• superficial acceptance of individuals’ apparent reluctance to engage (38%)
• absence of a ‘think family’ approach (37%).
• a lack of perseverance (21%)
• poor access to advocacy (21%)
• lack of attention to substance use (20%)
• poor transition planning (15%)
• poor attention to protected characteristics (12%)
• absence of relationship-based practice (10%)

Barnsley Safeguarding Adult's Board will be assessing our local performance to evaluate what areas we may need to develop to support workers and volunteers to feel confident in all areas of safeguarding.

We regularly run learning from SARs event to bring this data to life. Find out more about training.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Safer South Yorkshire Week - 1 to 5 July 2024

BSAB are pleased to support this event to increase the knowledge of staff and volunteers visiting people in their own homes. We have complete two reviews into the deaths of adults in house fires and are keen to reduce the risk of further deaths.

We're offering free virtual fire safety awareness sessions to partners existing and new, alongside our referral training. This training is aimed at any public facing partners/charities/organisations that may want to refer their service users to the fire service for a home fire safety visit. To book on a session please email safe&well@syfire.gov.uk.

Resources available

We have the following available for workers/volunteers and to leave in public spaces - eg libraries, community spaces etc.

Workers/volunteers

Hoarding Z card - showing clutter scales for workers visiting adults in their own homes.

For the public

Safeguarding bookmarks with QR codes.

Leaflets with QR code.

For more information about the resources visit our Information and support for workers and volunteers webpage.

Leaflets and posters

If you'd like resources, please contact the safeguardingadultsservice@barnsley.gov.uk.

April 2024

Updated policies/guidance available

People in Positions of Trust policy has been updated.

Organisational abuse policy has been updated.

Self-Neglect and/or Hoarding policy has been updated with more tools to accurately assess the risks linked to self-neglect

Mental Capacity Act Toolkit - Nationally, Safeguarding Adults Reviews reference the lack of appropriate mental capacity assessments. To help workers we have produced a toolkit.

We'd welcome your feedback - catherine@barnsley.gov.uk.

Please share these links widely and if training is needed please visit our Safeguarding adults training page.

Hoarding - a personal story

We're incredibly grateful that Diane has given us permission to include her experience in the newsletter.

Too much stuff,
Does your nut in,
You can’t move around the house,
Squeeze through the boxes,
Scramble over bags,
You play hunt the sock, you haven’t seen for ages,
To try and make a match.
You feel quite embarrassed, to have visitors look around,
Inside it’s a dump.
A burglar would be in danger, of having an accident,
There’s nothing worth of value, even the tele doesn’t work,
It’s covered with thick dust and spiders.
Bed time is a nightmare, the bed is hidden under junk,
It’s hard to find somewhere to sleep,
What started off as a collection, ended up as a mad obsession.
It’s no joke when you’re stuck in a rut,
all it would take is a lit-up fag, to ignite a fire.
The exits have all been blocked, the fire alarm doesn’t work,
If you screamed, no one would hear you,
You’d need a miracle to get out,
You wouldn’t think it was a problem, buying to excess,
When your home is invaded, by piled up crap,
Stuff you thought you needed,
It’s just a vicious circle, trying to D. Clutter,
The emotional pain can leave you depressed,
You need to admit you’ve got a problem, not to be in denial,
Before you can get help, you feel overwhelmed,
It’s hard to know where to start, or where to get support,
You’re not on your own, there are thousands of us out there,
But once you start to make progress, and just take one step at a time,
There’s light at the end of the tunnel, it’s not going to be easy.
It’s going to be tough, but going to the D ‘Clutter Club,
You can meet people like yourself,
Who don’t pre-judge you,
You can pat yourself on your back, for making an enormous effort,
Just never give up trying

Diane (member of the D ’Clutter Group)

If you're working with someone struggling with hoarding please share details of the D'Clutter Group which meets monthly at the Library @ the Lightbox.

Promoting annual health checks for adults with learning disabilities

Adults and children have a right to an annual health check via their GP, these are crucial to identify health conditions at an early stage. South West Yorkshire Partnership Trust have produced four helpful films to explain what they are and why we should encourage adults to attend.

• Barnsley annual health checks for people with a learning disability
• The benefits of having an annual health check
• Why I have an annual health check
• What is an annual health check?

MECC link - simple signposting to better health and wellbeing

Find helpful resource to support adults to stay well.

24-hour support for mental health

Find text support for people struggling with mental ill health - share the link. 

February 2024

Death of a safeguarding adults forum by experience (SAFE) member

We're sad to share news of the unexpected death of George Orr who died in December 2023, aged 70. George had been an active campaigner for adults with learning disabilities for over 10 years and he was one of the first members of the SAFE group. We will miss his enthusiasm and questions and we send our condolences to all his family and friends.

Joint Safeguarding Adult Review with Wakefield

We have completed a joint, non-statutory review, with Wakefield Safeguarding Adults Board. The family have requested that we do not publish the full report, however members of BSAB and the Safeguarding Adults Review subgroup will receive a copy of the full report.

Claire died aged 40 at home, she had struggled with alcohol use for many years, and she was resistant to involvement of services which led to self-neglect. Her access to alcohol services was complicated by her Wakefield address and a Barnsley GP and the lack of robust information sharing across the boundaries by health services.

Barnsley and Wakefield safeguarding boards will make sure that the agreed recommendations result in changes; locally our commissioning colleagues have started work to make sure that adults can access support irrespective of location of their GP or postal address.

The main recommendations are:

• Commissioners of drug and alcohol services in South and West Yorkshire will review contracts to maximise access to services for people who live on "boundaries".
• Barnsley and Wakefield hospitals to flag complex patients and set up an information sharing system.
• Barnsley and Wakefield Safeguarding Boards to ask the Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences, supporting victims of domestic abuse, to improve their information sharing systems across geographical boundaries.
• Wakefield Safeguarding Board to support production of a multi-agency risk assessment tool and audit its impact.
• Workers will receive training and resources to support them to deliver person centred responses, when working with adults with complex lives.
• All organisations to evaluate the accessibility of their records to all relevant staff within their own organisation.

New and updated policies online

Self-Neglect and/or Hoarding policy, flow chart and summary guidance:

We've reflected the learning from local and national safeguarding adults’ reviews in our latest policy. It includes tools to assess the risks of self-neglect more effectively and to explore the challenge of assessing executive functioning (being able to do what you say you will do). Our local training will include the changes and we would encourage you to share the link to the resources widely and to attend the training, if you've not recently completed it.

• Self-neglect and/or Hoarding Policy
• Summary guidance
• Flow chart

Professional curiosity guidance

We have developed guidance to support and encourage workers and volunteers to be curious, especially when things do not "feel right"

Lack of professional curiosity and tenacity regularly feature in both adults and children’s reviews. We hope this resource will empower workers to be curious and question.

Mental capacity toolkit

We thank colleagues at the Integrated Care Board for their support in identifying and amending this helpful document, which will assist all workers to identify when capacity is in question and how to complete assessments.

View the mental capacity act toolkit.

Hoarding Z cards

We've produced a hoarding resource, which are the size of a credit card, which open out to show the hoarding clutter ratings to support staff accurately identify the level of hoarding risk in the adult’s home. If you'd like to circulate these to staff or volunteers please contact the Safeguarding Adults Service, detailing which organisation you represent, what contact you have with adults in their own homes and how many of the cards you would like. Email safeguardingadultsservice@barnsley.gov.uk.

Safeguarding Awareness Week 2023 Evaluation

We'd like to thank all organisations who participated in SAW23. Our impacts are shown below

• What we did - We produced a comprehensive social media plan across our Barnsley Council and Healthy Barnsley Facebook pages, sharing key safeguarding advice and promoting our events, with a focus on our Barnsley Market takeover.
  How we made a difference - Our social media campaign generated 3,502 social media engagements, including 96 shares and 219 link clicks. This is up on last year’s total and helped us achieve our targets around social media.
• What we did - To help us share key children’s safeguarding messages, we produced a daily social media plan for our new Family Hubs Facebook page.
  How we made a difference - These messages generated 133 social media engagements, including 15 link clicks, helping us share key advice with a targeted audience of families and parents.
• What we did - As part of our Barnsley Market takeover, we promoted our Housing Options team’s drop-in to donate items we can share with homeless charities in Barnsley to support those sleeping rough this winter.
  How we made a difference - These social media messages proved particularly popular, with a reach of 29,107 and 1,674 engagements. This was a great way to encourage more people to come down and learn more about the support that’s available locally.
• What we did - As part of our commitment to delivering this year’s campaign in partnership, we created a social media timeline, including our plans across Barnsley Council’s channels and messages from our partners.
  How we made a difference - This proved a great way to capture what we had planned across Barnsley, helping us make sure the right messages were going out through the right channels.
  It also provided an easy way for partner organisations to get involved by sharing relevant messages with their audiences.
• What we did - To promote our plans for the week, we produced a joint media release, bringing together key events and messages from spokespeople in Adults and Children’s.
  How we made a difference - Our media release generated 60 views, being read by 50 unique visitors. We featured the release as part of our top stories' webpage.
• What we did - We drove traffic across all our channels to our Safeguarding Awareness Week webpage, which included details about events for the public and professionals as well as updated safeguarding materials.
  How we made a difference - Throughout November, our Safeguarding Awareness Week webpage was viewed 587 times, with 289 unique visitors.
  On top of this, we saw:
  387 views for our safeguarding children webpage, with 270 unique visitors.
  612 views for our safeguarding adults webpage, with 371 unique visitors.
• What we did - We promoted the wide range of events available for professionals through regular internal messages on the intranet and in our bulletins in the run-up to SAW.
  How we made a difference - Articles in our Let’s Talk and schools bulletins generated 16 link clicks to our Safeguarding Awareness Week webpage. Our Online Harms conference was also promoted regularly in the school bulletin to encourage professionals working with children to take part.
  Our intranet articles generated 97 views, with our message promoting our Online Harms Conference proving particularly popular.
• What we did - We did a dedicated edition of our Safeguarding Adults newsletter around what we have planned, spotlighting events for professionals to get involved with.
  How we made a difference - The open rate for this bulletin was 74%, making it an effective way of reaching our professional audience. The bulletin generated 298 link clicks, further showing its value in promoting events in the run-up.
• What we did - We designed a range of digital screen adverts for Safeguarding Awareness Week, driving traffic to our events' webpage.
  How we made a difference - These were displayed in our council buildings, including Westgate and the Town Hall, as well as Barnsley Markets, helping us increase visibility for our Market takeover.
• What we did - We designed a range of digital and printed materials to promote our Safeguarding Awareness Week plans, using our established safeguarding branding.
  How we made a difference - We ran intranet and barnsley.gov.uk banners in the run-up to Safeguarding Awareness Week to drive traffic to our events' webpage. We also created a Teams background to support our teams and designed a poster template for promoting specific events.

Planning for SAW 24 will commence late spring, if you would like to contribute to the planning process, please contact Cath Erine (Board manager) - catherine@barnsley.gov.uk.

Mental health support for young people (under 25)

Chilypep have produced a comprehensive resource mapping all the support services locally and nationally for young people.

Please share the link with relevant workers and any young adults you work with - Open up Directory - Chilypep.