A young girl has her arms outstretched, she is looking upwards and smiling.

July City of York Safeguarding Children Partnership Newsletter

At the City of York Safeguarding Children Partnership Development Day in June 2026, we heard directly from young people about why language professionals use matters. In response, the Partnership has developed a Language Pledge in conjunction with young people and invite all partners to commit to it.

This is a reminder that the words we choose shape the experiences of children and young people. Please use clear, accessible language, avoid acronyms and unnecessary jargon, and consider how your language is understood in both conversations and written reports.

View the language pledge.

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A reminder that Children and Young People Trauma Informed Care Programme training is available. The following course is available:

3 August 2026, York Explore Library & Archive, Library Square, YO1 7DS (Book a place on the Full Day Trauma Informed Training course).

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Here is another Children and Young People Trauma Informed Care Programme training course:

9 and 10 September 2026, York Sports Club, Clifton Park, Shipton Road, YO30 5RE (Book a place on the 2 Day ARC Traing course)

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For the this course, you will have to had attended session 1 first to ensure content continuity.

11 September 2026, York Sports Club, Clifton Park, Shipton Road, YO30 5RE (Book a place on the Half Day Senior Leadership Training Session)

Further information is available on the Partnership website.

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There is also a 45-minute Children and Young Peoples Trauma Informed Care awareness e-learning training package which can be accessed via the Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership website.
 

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A gentle reminder that the Partnership does offer an online virtual ‘City of York Safeguarding Children Awareness E-learning’ course.
This course has recently been reviewed and updated to reflect current safeguarding practice. It now includes more in-depth content on a range of key topics, including contextual safeguarding and helping practitioners build their knowledge and confidence in responding to the wider risks that children and young people may face.

Further information about the course, including learning outcomes and how to book, is available on the Partnership website.

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This course covers the different components of the child death review including the role and responsibilities of multi-agency professionals and provides the skills to explain it to families.
This is available to all multi-agency professionals across North Yorkshire and York who work directly or indirectly with children and families. Find out more about Child Death Review Training.

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Dates for Diaries: 16th November 2026 and 26th January 2027
This training session is an opportunity for professionals to learn more about York Carers Centre, and the support available for unpaid carers across the city.

Target Audience: Anyone working in the health or social care sector. Click here for further information and to book a place on Identifying and Supporting Carers.

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Date for Diary: Tuesday 29th September, 2026 9.30 AM – 1.00 PM (Teams)

Following our popular Transitional Safeguarding Masterclass in November 2025, this year’s regional conference will explore how a Transitional Safeguarding approach can strengthen responses to exploitation.

Young people affected by exploitation and other forms of contextual harm often continue to experience significant risks beyond their 18th birthday and into adulthood.

Through contributions from expert speakers and facilitated Q&A, this conference will:
*Explore the relationship between Transitional Safeguarding and exploitation
*Examine the experiences and needs of young people moving towards adulthood
*Consider how children’s and adults’ services can work together more effectively
*Share emerging learning, research and examples of local practice

This event is free to access and open to all Yorkshire and Humber professionals, including strategic leaders, managers and practitioners working across Safeguarding Partnerships, Children’s Social Care, Adult Social Care, Health, Education, Youth Justice, Policing, Community Safety, Housing and the Voluntary and Community Sector.

Register your place on Bridging The Gap.

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A training video has been developed by the National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC) on Slavery Trafficking Risk Orders.
The National County Lines Coordination Centre is funded by the Home Office with the aim of co-ordinating national law enforcement activity across England and Wales, increasing intelligence on the county lines threat, and informing national policy development and best practice. The mission of the National County Lines Coordination Centre is to prevent county lines and the associated violence and exploitation of vulnerable adults and children.

The National County Lines Coordination Centre have been working on a training video in relation to Slavery Trafficking Risk Orders (STRO).

This video has been created to provide Police and Safeguarding Partners with the information required to:
*Identify how the risky (but not necessarily criminal) acts/behaviours that are witnessed by various professionals can form part of a Slavery and Trafficking Risk Order
*Include information evidence of the risk without putting the victims at additional risk (through anonymity of the victims) as well as maintaining a strong working relationship with the child/vulnerable adult.
*Understand the importance of Slavery and Trafficking Risk Orders in managing risky individuals longer term and therefore protecting potential future victims.
*Provide confidence for Safeguarding Professionals to work together in disrupting risky individuals who commonly feel they are untouchable.

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Families First is a national ambitious reform programme developing Family Help, Multi-Agency Child Protection Teams and Family Group Decision Making.

Thank you to everyone that has been a part of the Families First reform journey so far, that has kept up to date with communications, provided feedback through the Partnership workforce survey and supported the Families First Subgroups to help shape our Partnership offer of the reforms here in York.

The go live date for Families First in York will be 1st October 2026 where there will be:
*4 Family Help locality-based teams 1 team leading on Domestic Abuse
*1 Multi-Agency Child Protection Team (providing expert child protection oversight across the system) which is separate but will work closely with the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)
*A continuum of Family Group Decision Making, thinking about wider family and friends, network meetings and Family Group Conferences, known as Friends and Family Meetings

For further information about this please see the lastest Families First Newsletter.

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If you are working with a child/family who is in receipt of Free School Meals or a child/family who you think may be eligible for Free School Meals this is a reminder to speak to them about re-applying for Free School Meals at their child’s school.

From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, the Department for Education are expanding the Free School Meal eligibility to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit, regardless of household earnings.

A pupil is only eligible to receive a Free School Meals where both:
*the parent or carer has applied for Free School Meals
*their eligibility has been checked and confirmed by the school where they are enrolled or by the local authority

Free School Meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:
*Universal Credit
*support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

Households may also be entitled to a meal if they:
*are in receipt of income-related Employment and Support Allowance
*receive the guarantee element of Pension Credit
*meet criteria set out in separate guidance for families with no recourse to public funds

Following the eligibility changes there are now 2 types of Free School Meals criteria:

Targeted Free School Meals

Children from households in receipt of Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less (the existing threshold for FSM prior to the expansion), will be eligible for targeted Free School Meals.

In addition to receiving free meals, pupils eligible for targeted Free School Meals will attract pupil premium and other disadvantage funding for their schools.

Expanded Free School Meals

Children from households in receipt of Universal Credit, with annual household earnings exceeding £7,400 will be entitled to expanded Free School Meals (meals only).

Universal Infant School Meals will continue for children in reception, Year 1 and Year 2 and the Westfield School Meal Project will continue but it is important that all parents/carers apply for Free School Meals to ensure that schools receive any disadvantage funding such as Pupil Premium and so that families have access to other funding such as HAF if they are eligible.

A key point to note is that if a family have children that attend different schools, they must apply for each child at each respective school using the school application process.

Information about Free School Meal Eligibility can be found on school websites.

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1st-7th August – World Breastfeeding Week

World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is a global campaign to raise awareness and galvanise action on themes related to breastfeeding.

We would also like to use this as an opportunity to remind you about the babies and pregnancy webpage on our website and the resources available to you.

Find out more about World Breatfeeding Week

12th August – International Youth Day

International Youth Day 2026 recognises that while young people’s lives are shaped by different national and local realities, their aspirations are remarkably similar. Across countries and communities, young people seek dignity, opportunity, meaningful participation, decent work, quality education, and a sustainable future.

This year’s theme places particular attention on young people living in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), who often experience overlapping challenges linked to poverty, climate change, geographic isolation, limited economic opportunities, and unequal access to digital technologies. At the same time, these young people continue to demonstrate resilience, leadership, and innovation in advancing sustainable development within their communities and beyond.

Find out about International Youth Day.

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