Safeguarding is top of the agenda across Leeds next week

Issued on behalf of the Leeds Safeguarding Children Board

Keeping the people of Leeds safe is top of the agenda next week, as the city takes part in a county-wide safeguarding week.

Being hosted by the Leeds Safeguarding Children Board with support from partners from across the city, Safeguarding Week is being held from 17 to 23 October to showcase the work done to safeguard all people in Leeds.

Throughout the week events and training sessions will be held covering a wide variety of safeguarding topics. Some are specifically aimed at professionals who work with children or adults, whilst others are aimed at those with a specific role, like those in the taxi or hotel trade, or those who just want to improve their overall understanding of some very complex issues affecting society today.

People can learn more about numerous safeguarding topics including: Child Sexual Exploitation and young people’s rights; CSE in boys and young men, domestic violence; female genital mutilation; safeguarding elders; terrorism and extremism; neglect; safeguarding deaf children; forced marriage and honour based violence, amongst others.

Throughout the week the Leeds Safeguarding Children Board is delivering a choice of nine ‘Light Bite’ training sessions, at a variety of times during the working day, so as many people can attend as possible.

As well as the LSCB and Leeds City Council, experts from third party organisations will also be sharing their insight and knowledge at training and information sessions through the week, including: Caring Dads; The Safe Project; Sportcoach UK; Barnardos; Hidden Scars; The Black Health Initiative and; Basis.

Dr Mark Peel, the independent chair of the Leeds Safeguarding Children Board said:

“Safeguarding covers such a wide range of important and complex issues which affect many different members of our society, that it is vital that we join forces to make sure as many people as possible understand how they can help and support those in need.

“This is the first time the city has come together to host Safeguarding Week providing a fantastic opportunity, not only for ourselves and our partner agencies to showcase the work they do to protect and safeguard all people in Leeds, but also for people from across the city to get a much better understanding of some very serious issues”

Examples of training sessions on the agenda during safeguarding week are:

• Understanding problematic and harmful sexual behaviour displayed by children and young people
• Elected members safeguarding workshop on Child Sexual Exploitation
• The Safe Project
• Deaf Children - Safeguarding & Social Care Support (Light Bite)
• Caring Dads (Light Bite)
• Recognising and Responding to Neglect
• Basic Safeguarding Training Course (especially helpful for people for whom English is a second language)
• Sportcoach UK Safeguarding and Protecting Children – (to help sports coaches identify tell-tale signs of abuse and how to deal with it confidently)
• Forced marriage and honour based violence
• Taxi & Private Hire Licensing Safeguarding Awareness Drop In Session
• Female Genital Mutilation delivered by Hidden Scars
• Safeguarding Our Elders delivered by Black Health Initiative
• Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Workshop - delivered by Hope For Justice
• CSE and young people's rights to autonomy and safety. Where's the balance?
• Barnardo's Open Day
• Making Families Count Conference - delivered by NHS England/LYPFT
• CSE and Boys and Young Men
• Preventing extremism and terrorism
• Domestic abuse within young people’s intimate relationships
• Suppporting CSE Victims through Criminal Justice Process - delivered by Basis Training
• Child Sexual Exploitation information for hotels – delivered by LSCB & West Yorkshire Police

For further details on Safeguarding Week in Leeds visit: www.leedslscb.org.uk/SafeguardingWeek