Latest news
Stay up to date with the latest news relating to safeguarding children and young people in York.
Read our recent news:
New Safeguarding Children Partnership 7 Point Briefing
Published 5 June 2026
The Safeguarding Children Partnership have recently published a 7 Point briefing to share the learning from a recent Rapid Review:
Themes include:
- Fabricated Induced Illness
- Neurodiversity
- Complex health issues
- Voice
- Family Networks
- Information Sharing and triangulation
- Professional Curiosity
The Partnership would encourage you and your teams to discuss this briefing in your team meetings and supervisions. Please also share with your colleagues.
Safeguarding Week 2026
Published 28 May 2026.
After the success of Safeguarding Week 2025, we have once again teamed up across the safeguarding partnerships of North Yorkshire, East Riding, Kingston Upon Hull and East Riding to take part in Safeguarding Week which we are pleased to confirm will take place 15 – 19 June, 2026.
As per previous years the main theme will be “safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility” with an emphasis on how we can work together.
We have developed a programme for both professional and public audiences covering a wide variety of safeguarding themes looking at both adult and child safeguarding. Sessions will be delivered virtually or in person at varying times throughout the day to accommodate attendees’ working day or evening activities.
Click here for more information, the prgramme of events and to book tickets.
Safeguarding Week 2026 – York Sessions
City of York All Age Autism Strategy
Course outline - An overview of the York All-Age Autism and ADHD strategy published in 2025. This will include information on the development of the strategy, how lived experience shaped it, and how we are progressing on implementing recommendations produced by it.
City of York Public Health
Monday 15th June
13:00 – 14:00
Book a place on the All Age Autism Strategy course.
York’s Drug and Alcohol Service
Course outline - Overview of York’s drug and alcohol services, including our local offer and focus on hidden harm, particularly the impact on children affected by parental or family substance misuse.
Also covers local trends and a brief overview of harm reduction, with a spotlight on key substances: alcohol, cannabis, THC/spice, and ketamine.
There will also be an overview on the offer for Adults.
Change, Grow, Live
Monday 15th June
14:00- 15:30
Book a place on the Safeguarding Week: York’s Drug and Alcohol Service course.
Working with Dads
Course outline - The session will share experiences of dad’s working with professionals in the safeguarding arena and help us think about positive and practical ways to better include them in all aspects of our work.
Tuesday 16th June
11:30 – 12:30
Book a place on the Safeguarding Week: Working with Dads course.
Family Group Decision Making
Course outline - An overview of Family Group Decision Making and what it means for our work with children and families in York.
Tuesday 16th June
14:30 – 15:30
Book a place on the Safeguarding Week: Family Group Decision Making course
Domestic Abuse
Course outline: This session will provide an overview of domestic abuse, including the different forms it can take, and the signs professionals may notice when someone is experiencing abuse. It will also explore the experiences of people with learning disabilities, considering additional vulnerabilities and some of the barriers individuals may face when accessing domestic abuse support.
The session aims to increase awareness and understanding of how domestic abuse may impact people with learning disabilities and autism, and to support professionals to respond appropriately and confidently.
Wednesday 17th June
11:00 - 12:00
Book a place on the Safeguarding Week: Domestic Abuse course.
Findings from City of York self-neglect Safeguarding Adults Review (SAR) related to hoarding
Course Outline - An overview of recent findings from a thematic Self-neglect safeguarding adults review published in January 2026. This will include information about how to recognise hoarding behaviour in adults and ideas on responding to adults who self-neglect. A brief look into progress on implementing recommendations from the SAR.
Wednesday 17th June
13:00 – 14:30
Book a place on the self-neglect Safeguarding Adults Review (SAR) related to hoarding course.
No Recourse, No Safety: Understanding Immigration Status, No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) and Safeguarding Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Victim-Survivors of Abuse.
Course outline - By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
Understand how immigration status and No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) can increase vulnerability and be used as a tool of abuse and coercive control.
Recognise the barriers BME victim-survivors with insecure immigration status may face when seeking safety and support.
Identify key safeguarding risks linked to immigration insecurity, destitution, isolation, and fear of authorities.
Wednesday 17th June
13:00 – 14:00
Book a place on the Understanding Immigration Status course.
Preparation for Adulthood (PfA) – Whole System Approach in York
Course outline: This session provides an overview of York’s evolving Preparation for Adulthood (PfA) model, focusing on how we are strengthening outcomes for young people with SEND as they move towards adulthood. It will highlight our strategic direction, operational delivery, and the impact of multi-agency collaboration across education, health, and social care.
Thursday 18th June
14:00 – 15:00
Book a place on the Safeguarding Week: Preparation for Adulthood and Learning Disabilities course.
Private Fostering
The aim of this workshop is to raise awareness of private fostering. We will achieve this by discussing the definition of private fostering, exploring differing scenarios to put the definition in practice, and feeling confident in your responsibilities when you identify a private fostering arrangement.
Jess will share her experience and expertise of Private Fostering both within the Social Care and Education settings, linking the procedures to frontline practice.
Jess will talk about some of the lessons learnt through the death of Victoria Climbié and how The subsequent Laming Report prompted a strengthening of the legal framework around private fostering.
We hope to inspire professionals to feel confident in recognising private fostering arrangements, know what to do and how to support children and young people in these arrangements.
Friday 19th June
12:00 – 13:00
Book a place on the Safeguarding Week: Private Fostering course.
Transitional Safeguarding
This session explores the principles and practice of transitional safeguarding, focusing on how services can effectively support young people as they move from adolescence into adulthood. It will highlight the unique risks faced by those approaching 18, particularly where vulnerabilities such as exploitation, mental health needs, or instability remain present beyond childhood frameworks. The session will encourage practitioners to think beyond traditional service boundaries and consider developmentally appropriate, person-centred approaches that ensure continuity of care and protection. This session is informed by the new Transitional Safeguarding Practice Guidance introduced in March this year.
Friday 19th June
13:30 – 14:30
Book a place on the Safeguarding Week: Transitional Safeguarding course.
Update to Working Together
Published 27 April 2026.
The government have now published an updated Working Together (2026) guidance. This replaces the previous 2023 version.
Please also find young person’s friendly resources.
A summary is also available of the changes.
As a partnership we will look to review the latest guidance and communicate any further information to partners in due course.
An Introduction to Fabricated Induced Illness and Perplexing Presentations
Published 27 April 2026.
Course outline
City of York Safeguarding Children Partnership and North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership are delivering a joint masterclass session on Fabricated Induced Illness and Perplexing Presentations.
Fabricated or Induced Illness (FII), by parents or carers, is child abuse and can cause significant harm to children. Fabricated Induced Illness involves a well-child being presented by a parent/carer as ill, or a disabled child being presented with more significant problems than he/she has.
The updated City of York and North Yorkshire Perplexing Presentations/Fabricated Induced Illness multi agency guidance aims to support professionals from all agencies to recognise and respond to possible Perplexing Presentations/Fabricated Induced Illness to effectively safeguard and achieve better outcomes for children. It is necessarily detailed as it reflects the often highly complex nature of this form of abuse.
This masterclass will explore learning from local safeguarding reviews and cases with reference to the application of the newly updated guidance.
Details
Tuesday 5 May, 2.00pm to 3.00pm, via MS Teams
Book a place
Go to the course page on MyLO and click ‘access this course’ at the top of the page and then ‘sign up’ next to the date.
Managers can book places for members of their team using the ‘allocate place for team’ option.
New 'Ready for Parenthood' campaign
Published 15 April 2026.
City of York Council, North Yorkshire Council, York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and YorSexualHealth have joined forces to launch ‘Ready for Parenthood’ - a new regional campaign designed to help women feel informed, supported, and confident from pre-conception through to birth and beyond.
The campaign focuses on 3 simple themes that make a big difference to health and wellbeing during early parenthood:
- What we put in our bodies - eating well, staying hydrated, and stopping smoking and drinking alcohol
- How we move - building movement into everyday life in safe, enjoyable ways
- How we feel - prioritising emotional wellbeing, healthy relationships, connection and support
Over the coming months, partners will share short videos, real stories, and advice from trusted local professionals including midwives, public health professionals, York Health Trainers, North Yorkshire’s Healthy You practitioners, and clinicians from YorSexualHealth.
The first set of films - featuring midwives from York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - is now available and sets the tone for the wider campaign, emphasising practical, friendly, non judgemental advice.
Midwives Claire, Hayley and Lynda share guidance on staying healthy and supported throughout pregnancy.
Additional videos featuring York Health Trainers, Healthy You practitioners, Dr Gill Kelly and YorSexualHealth services will be released over the coming weeks.
The Ready for Parenthood campaign aims to empower mums and mums to be with simple, accessible information that can help improve pregnancy experiences and outcomes for families.
Anita Dobson, Nurse Consultant in Public Health at City of York Council, said:
Thinking about having a baby is an exciting moment, and we want every woman to feel supported from the very beginning.
"Ready for Parenthood is about reassurance - offering small, positive steps that can make a real difference physically and emotionally. We’re proud to be part of a partnership that ensures every family can enjoy the very best start.”
Dr Gill Kelly, North Yorkshire Council’s public health consultant, said:
From eating well to emotional wellbeing including having healthy relationships, women across our county deserve clear and compassionate information.
"This campaign brings our local services together, so families know where to turn and what support is available at every stage. It’s about giving people the tools.”
Sascha Wells-Munro OBE, Director of Midwifery and Strategic Clinical lead for Family Health at York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said:
Our midwives see first-hand how important early support and lifestyle choices can be. The voices in these videos are real midwives sharing real experiences to help women feel informed and cared for.
"We’re delighted to contribute to a campaign that puts practical, evidence-based advice directly into the hands of families.”
Alison Chorlton, Nurse Consultant in the YorSexualHealth service at York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said:
Being ready for parenthood also means planning if you want to try to become pregnant again in the future. You can get pregnant again from 3 weeks after birth, even before your periods return.
"Many contraception options are safe to use straight after delivery, including long acting methods. Talk to your midwife, GP or sexual health service to plan what’s right for you. They can help you create a plan that fits your needs and supports your health and wellbeing as you look to the future”.
“Ready for Parenthood helps break down barriers and encourages open conversations about health, relationships and wellbeing
Each video in the campaign includes a simple, reassuring message for women at any stage, from planning a pregnancy through to life with a newborn.
Midwives highlight that no one is expected to be perfect, and that asking for support is a strength. The films signpost viewers to local, free services:
In York residents can access free, one-to-one support from Health Trainers online, or by calling telephone: 01904 553377.
Health Trainers can help with:
- healthy eating
- staying active
- stopping smoking and drinking alcohol
- building confidence to make small lifestyle changes
In North Yorkshire residents can access support from Healthy You.
Healthy You practitioners provide help with:
- physical activity
- healthy eating
- stopping smoking and drinking alcohol
- emotional wellbeing
Both services work closely with midwives, health visitors, and community partners, including IDAS - the largest specialist charity in Yorkshire supporting people affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence - ensuring support continues throughout pregnancy and beyond.
The Ready for Parenthood campaign is part of a wider local commitment to ensuring families across York and North Yorkshire can access early help, trustworthy information and compassionate support.
By bringing together services across two local authorities, NHS partners and specialist clinics, the campaign reflects a shared ambition: that every child in our region has the Best Start in Life - beginning with the wellbeing of their parents.
Safeguarding Children Partnership Documentation
Published 9 April 2026.
The following documents have recently been approved and added to the Partnership website:
Child Protection Medical Procedure
Female Genital Mutilation Practice Guidance
Fabricated Induced Illness/Perplexing Presentations Practice Guidance
These are all joint documents with North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership. Please make sure yourself familiar with these updated documents and share with your colleagues, discuss in your team meetings and supervisions.