A boy's hand thrust forward towards the camera

November City of York Safeguarding Children Partnership Newsletter

We're progressing with our Families First reform journey across York to deliver Family Help, Multi-Agency Child Protection Teams and strengthen Family Group Decision-Making.

City of York Safeguarding Children Partnership would now like to hear from practitioners via a short survey to understand our readiness and support needs.

The reforms started from a national review by Josh Macalister. While Josh listened to families across the UK, we have been reflecting on our local needs assessment which looks at need in York, as well as feedback from families and professionals. Families said they needed:

  • consistent relationships
  • changes communicated
  • parental insight promoted
  • timely and practical interventions

We have listened to this feedback and the Local Authority has developed a Family Help Support Worker role in the Safeguarding Team to help achieve all those outcomes. You can hear about this role in the Families First Newsletter.

If you have any suggestions or queries about the reforms, email: [email protected].

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A recent multi-agency audit has highlighted that partners are not aware of the Safeguarding Children Partnership Language Pledge.

All partner organisations within the City of York Safeguarding Children Partnership made a commitment to sign up to the ‘language pledge’.

This commitment was made in 2024 by senior leaders from partner agencies following a powerful presentation delivered by children and young people on the impact of language when working with children and young people.

The language pledge is on the partnership website and we would encourage everyone to review and discuss in your team meetings and with your colleagues.

Remember it is important to not only make these commitments when speaking with children and young people but in our day to day practice with other professionals.

It is important to raise awareness of the language pledge to fully embed this across the Partnership. 

We need your help to do this and we appreciate your support to do this for our children and young people.

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This course is for professionals working with children and young people in York.

This online lunchtime learning masterclass is designed for professionals working with children and young people across all sectors. Explore the importance of truly hearing and responding to the voices of children in a way that is meaningful, respectful, and impactful.

Whether you’re in social care, education, health, youth work, or any role supporting children and young people, this session will strengthen your practice and reinforce the critical value of seeing the world through the eyes of the child.

Dates and times:

  • Wednesday 28 January 2026, midday to 1.00pm
  • Tuesday 3 March 2026, midday to 1.00pm

Go to the Learning Masterclass: Voice of the Child course page on MyLO and click ‘access this course’ at the top of the page and then ‘sign up’ next to the date that you want to attend.

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We’re excited to share a valuable resource available free of charge to York residents – Togetherness – the new home of the Solihull Approach and the inourplace platform.

Developed by NHS clinical psychologists alongside parents and practitioners, Togetherness offers trusted, evidence-based online courses to help families better understand and support emotional wellbeing in everyday life.

York residents can access a personalised page, featuring a wide range of flexible learning pathways, including:

  • understanding your child from toddler to teenager
  • understanding your child with additional needs
  • understanding your teenager’s brain
  • understanding your own adolescence (for teens and pre-teens)

Courses are available for all ages – from pregnancy through to 19 years – and are designed to strengthen family relationships, support child development, and improve emotional health. All courses are free for York residents using the access code: RAISE.

Togetherness has created a selection of promotional materials to help raise awareness of these courses. If you’d like digital slides for schools or community settings, or specific resources for a course, email: [email protected].

Share and signpost to this free resource with all parents, carers and young people you work with.

Find further information about the Togetherness resource.

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A new online service directory has been developed by York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority who have worked with a network of local multi-agency partners to create an area where services and organisations offering specialist support to women and girls across the region can be found in one place.

The network of partners wanted to make a directory that was easily accessible and allows residents of York and North Yorkshire to view a wide range of local services who offer dedicated, gender-specific and trauma-informed support to women & girls who need it, such as those who are victims or at risk of exploitation, violence, and crime.

Some of these services are available across York and North Yorkshire, whilst others are targeted in specific areas.

The service directory will be updated on a 6-monthly basis to ensure all information remains correct.

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Are you, or someone you know, struggling to help your child stay dry at night? Then this video is for you – full of advice from both a paediatrician and specialist nurse on things you can do to try to achieve dry nights.

Bedwetting is very common, but it can be upsetting and exhausting for everyone. This video has been developed by a team of healthcare professionals to help families understand the possible causes of bedwetting as well as sharing some simple strategies families can try at home and school. It also provides advice on what to do if the family has tried the strategies and it’s still an issue.

The guidance is suitable for all children and young people of any age, with advice that can be adapted for children and young people with physical or learning needs.

Watch the nighttime wetting video.

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City of York Council are working with eating disorder experts Beat to provide free support for York residents.

Anyone can self-refer into online programmes to help develop skills to help support a loved one with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, OSFED or ARFID.

A range of programmes are available for those supporting someone with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID, Pica and other eating disorders. There is also support for those with Binge Eating Disorder – no diagnosis needed.

Further information about all the support available is on the BEAT Eating Disorders website.

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Residents can now use a new interactive “mental health roadmap” to find the right support for themselves or their loved ones.

The website provides information about the different types of services in the York area.

Accesss the mental health roadmap.

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A reminder that the Partnership offer the following training for all our professionals

A reminder that a new Safeguarding Children Partnership Awareness E-Learning package has been produced which is more in depth and up-to-date. If you're working with children and young people in the City of York we would encourage you to access this e-learning training.

Feedback received to date on the new course has been positive so we would encourage you to share with your colleagues.

If you have any queries email: [email protected].

A reminder that the Partnership also offer free face to face training as follows:

  • Safeguarding children: Shared Responsibilities and Procedures Working Together (previously A and B)
  • Developing an Understanding of Harmful Sexual Behaviour
  • Child Death Review Training
  • Whole Approach System to Addressing Abusive Behaviours – ‘Hard to Help’ training
  • Domestic Abuse Training

Further information in relation to our training is available online.

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Tuesday 25 November to Wednesday 10 December – 16 Days of Action Against Domestic Violence.

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that starts on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day.

IDAS have developed a range of resources and tools to show the different ways in which women and girls experience abuse and violence. These have been developed to raise awareness and are free for everyone to use during the 16 days and throughout the year.

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A message from the Family Hubs Transformation Hub:

We are delighted to share with you the launch of the new Best Start in Life campaign and hope you can support through your own channels and networks.

It is part of the government’s plan for change promise to break the link between a child’s background and their future success, with the aim to ensure 75% of children are ready to learn when they start school by 2028.

From pregnancy to childcare and beyond, every milestone in the early years of a child’s life helps shape their development. The Best Start in Life campaign aims to increase awareness of the role of the early years in a child’s development, increase parental understanding of things they can do in their child’s early years and how early education supports child development.

Being a parent is full of joyful firsts but can also feel daunting, with questions both big and small, which is why our Best Start in Life website brings together trusted advice, support and guidance for parents to turn to. Whether they are wondering when the right time is to wean their baby, looking into childcare support options, or thinking about activities to get their child ready for school, the Best Start in Life website offers a broad range of information for families, including eligibility for childcare offers, help to find free breakfast clubs and Best Start Family Hubs in their area, and support on pregnancy through to starting school and beyond.   

To mark the campaign launch, a powerful new film titled ‘The Story of You’, celebrating the journey of early childhood, highlighting to parents the vital role they play in their child’s lives and the support available.

The film is scripted by children’s author Camilla Reid (author of the Pip and Posy books), illustrated by Rob Biddulph (illustrator of Blown Away and Odd Dog Out) and narrated by famous parents; dancer and author Oti Mabuse, TV personality Billie Shepherd, online creators Ms Apple and Tay Kabs, as well as much-loved character, Mummy Pig from the Peppa Pig series alongside ‘Secret Life of 4 Year Olds’ childhood expert Professor Sam Wass.

We hope you can support the Best Start in Life and help us reach parents and carers of young children with key messages to support them on their journey.

Here are some ways you can support:

  • promote the Best Start in Life website: Use your channels to encourage parents to explore Best Start in Life to find trusted resources and information as well as local support
  • encourage newsletter sign-up: Invite parents to subscribe to our newsletter or personalised weekly emails for tailored updates, tips, and guidance throughout their journey as a parent
  • use toolkit resources. Make use of the creative assets, newsletter and blog copy, and sample social posts included in our toolkit to promote the campaign across your channels

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Raise York partners are collaborating to support The Good Mental Health Project which actively promotes positive mental health.

Find out more about the the Good Mental Health Project online.

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Newsletter sign-up

Please let your colleagues know they can sign up now to receive our newsletter.

If anyone has any items for newsletters going forward, please let us know on email: [email protected].