With the cost of living rising, it is likely that some of our residents will resort to using alternative forms of heating and lighting such as candles and portable heaters which can pose a serious fire risk. Please take a look at the Fire Safety Awareness page on our website Community – Havering Safeguarding Adults Board (safeguardinghavering.org.uk) and if you know of anyone who is at risk of harm from fire please contact the London Fire Brigade (LFB) who can arrange a home safety visit and provide assistance.
The LFB would also like your views on their new plan for 2023-2029, called Your London Fire Brigade.
The plan explains how they’ll better protect you over the coming years.
You can find the draft plan and a survey on the TalkLondon website
This will take place on Monday 29th August 2022 between 1pm and 4pm at Romford Fire Station
Events will include:
All are welcome
With the cost of living rising and many finding themselves in fuel poverty, whether they work or not, Havering Safeguarding Partnership has developed details of local resources who can help with finances, debt, unemployment, food, and homelessness.
Please see details on how to get help on our website: Community – Havering Safeguarding Adults Board (safeguardinghavering.org.uk)
The new Allocations Scheme, which was approved by the Council last year, raises the income and savings threshold for prospective tenants. The scheme goes live on Monday 1 August 2022.
Under the old scheme, applicants could earn a maximum combined income of no more than £36,000 per year. The new scheme introduces a two-tier system, raising the cap to £50,000 per year for applicants with one or more children.
The cap for single people and couples without children remains at £36,000.
In addition, applicants can now have up to £30,000 in savings, up from £16,000 under the old scheme.
Those who are already on the shortlist to bid for a property will not be affected by this new scheme.
New applications to Havering’s housing register will be temporarily suspended between Monday 11 July and Monday 1 August 2022, as the council transitions over to the new scheme.
However, any urgent requests for housing will still be responded to through the Housing Solutions Team.
Transport for London are proposing to:
Have your say: https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/cleanair
Consultation ends 29 July 2022
A reminder that Alcohol Change UK will be hosting its first ever national blue light conference on 18 October 10:00-17:00.
This conference is for anyone involved in commissioning or providing frontline services. The Blue Light Project can help drug and alcohol services, social services, housing providers, emergency services, the NHS, town-centre managers, and others, to engage with highly vulnerable, dependent drinkers for the benefit of all.
Speakers include:
There will also be input from Mike Ward and Mark Holmes, the authors of the Blue Light manual, and Richard Piper, CEO, Alcohol Change UK.
The NELFT Hospital Discharge Single Point of Access (SPA) service has changed its name to the ‘Barking Havering & Redbridge (BHR) Integrated Discharge Hub’.
The BHR Integrated Discharge Hub is a transfer of care hub delivered by enhanced Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy support, Discharge Coordination Officers, Rehabilitation Assistants and Admin staff support.
For more information about the service, including how to refer patients, please visit the website here.
North East London Clinical Commissioning Group (NEL CCG) has launched an online survey to seek feedback on its proposed new fertility policy. That policy will outline the NHS help available for people who are trying to get pregnant.
NEL CCG want to hear what you think about the proposed changes.
It is particularly interested in hearing from people who have experienced fertility problems. It also wants to hear from people from under-represented groups that are less likely to have their voices heard by decision-makers including Black and minority ethnic people, and the LGBTQ+ community.
You have until 22 August to complete the survey.
This is the first time a detailed breakdown has been presented. This unique picture will help identify areas where boroughs can work together to strengthen the response, and for monitoring progress each year. Please share the report with colleagues
Read the London Modern Slavery Leads Annual Report here
The Ann Craft Trust’s new Head of Safeguarding Adults in Sport, Emma Gibson discusses the ongoing issues in making sport and physical activity, safe and accessible for everyone, in their recent podcast. Our website also has helpful information and advice for professionals on the safeguarding adults in sports agenda, which can be accessed by clicking here
Coram Voice and the Rees Centre at the University of Oxford have released a report on contact arrangements in care. Findings from surveys of over 7,500 children and young people in care in England and Wales show that 25% of young people aged 11-18 felt they were seeing their mothers too little; 22% of children and 18% of young people felt they were seeing their fathers too little; 22% of children and 31% of young people didn’t feel they had enough contact with their siblings. Recommendations include working with children in care to identify key relationships in their lives and making arrangements for children and young people to maintain contact with people who are important to them.
Read the report: Staying connected (PDF)
Alliance for Youth Justice has released their third and final policy briefing which looks at the impact of COVID-19 on the youth justice system in England and Wales. The report examines challenges experienced prior to and during the pandemic as well as future implications. Findings show that experiences in custody during COVID-19 have been brutal for children and staff. Calls on the government to establish annual targets for increasing secure children’s homes provision and decreasing the use of young offender institutions and secure training centres
Read the briefing: Crises and crossroads for the children’s secure estate: resisting child imprisonment and rethinking youth custody post-pandemic (PDF)
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation has published a report that aims to raise awareness of adultification bias, a form of bias where children – in particular those from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities – are perceived as being more ‘grown up’ and less vulnerable than other children. The report covers areas including: defining and understanding adultification; the different contexts in which adultification often occurs; and how the PIA (professional inter-adultification) model can help to counteract adultification bias.
Download the report: Adultification bias within child protection and safeguarding (PDF)
The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) has published non-statutory guidance providing advice for professionals in the UK who may encounter women and girls affected by virginity testing and hymenoplasty (a procedure undertaken to reconstruct a hymen). The government has made it illegal to carry out, offer or aid and abet virginity testing or hymenoplasty in any part of the UK, as part of the Health and Care Act 2022. The guidance includes: information on how the law applies; support with identifying women and girls at risk or who may have been subjected to a virginity test and/or hymenoplasty; and help to prevent this from taking place.
Read the guidance: Virginity testing and hymenoplasty: multi-agency guidance
The LGA are running the following seminars below in September.
Monday 19 September – 12-1PM – Transitional Safeguarding – Key messages from SARs and an Evidence-Base for SARs
This webinar will draw together an analysis of safeguarding adult reviews where Transitional Safeguarding has been the theme. Key messages for positive practice will be presented alongside an evidence-base that can be used when auditing and reviewing cases of Transitional Safeguarding.
To Book for this event please click the link below:
https://lgaevents.local.gov.uk/lga/1510/home
Monday 26 September – 2:00-4:00PM – Transitional Safeguarding and Homelessness
Continuing the sequence of webinars on adult safeguarding and homelessness, this webinar will focus on Transitional Safeguarding where young people and young adults have experienced homelessness and/or insecure forms of accommodation. There will be presentations that draw on findings from safeguarding adult reviews and serious case reviews, and from research.
As part of the ongoing work that Professor Christine Cocker has completed with Research in Practice about Transitional Safeguarding, they have undertaken a piece of work studying a number of review reports written following the death or serious injury of care experienced young people aged between 15-24. Themes from these reviews will be discussed, particularly whether any Transitional Safeguarding needs around housing and homelessness were identified or not, and met or not met in the care planning for these young people.
To Book for this event please click the link below:
https://lgaevents.local.gov.uk/lga/1535/home
Should you experience any difficulties with registration or receipt of notifications, please email: chip@local.gov.uk
Please see the following links:
Suicide in the workplace
HSE advice has now changed and an individual risk assessment must be carried out for pregnant women and new mothers
Protecting pregnant workers and new mothers – Overview – HSE
SAB training is currently on hold for the summer break but places are available for the courses below in September
Always seek your managers permission before enrolling
| 06 September 2022 | 09:30-16:30 | Mental Capacity & Consent |
| 13 September 2022 | 09:30-12:30 | Mental Capacity Awareness |
| 13 September 2022 | 09:30-16:30 | Harmful Practices |
| 16 September 2022 | 10:00-11:00 | Hate Crime / Prevent |
| 20 September 2022 | 09:30-16:30 | Equality, Diversity and Inclusion |
| 27 September 2022 | 10:00-15:30 | Domestic Abuse, Stalking and HBV Risk Identification Checklist |
| 28 September 2022 | 10:00-15:30 | Substance Misuse |
A reminder that Safeguarding Week takes place 7-11 November this year. Please visit our website to share your thoughts and suggestions for briefings/workshops etc
This is a community space for men to connect, converse and create. The activities are often similar to those of garden sheds, but for groups of men to enjoy together. They reduce loneliness and isolation but most importantly, they are fun.
Contact myplace 343 Dagnam Park Drive Harold Hill RM3 9EN
Are you interested in qualifying as a children and families social worker?
Havering is a partner of the Frontline programme and we are looking for applicants from your area.
Frontline is a paid 2 year programme which gives you the opportunity to earn as you qualify as a social worker and complete a fully-funded Master’s degree.
If you are interested in finding out more, and meet our eligibility requirements, please sign up here.
We also have an event coming up for experienced professionals who are thinking of applying for the Frontline programme. You can sign up to attend here.
