Offer of Support to Schools and Colleges in North Yorkshire regarding Peer on Peer Abuse
| REQUIREMENT: “We would particularly like to draw your attention to Ofsted’s specific recommendation for safeguarding partners: ‘to review work to improve engagement with schools of all types in their local area, tailoring their approach to what their analysis (produced in partnership with schools/colleges and wider safeguarding partners) indicates are the risks to children and young people in their local area’. We are therefore reiterating Minister Ford’s oral statement request that all safeguarding partners review how they work with all their schools and colleges locally (including academies and independent schools) by October half-term and set out what your offer of support to schools and colleges is”. DfE 2021 |
Section One – What is Peer on Peer Abuse:
“Children can abuse other children (often referred to as peer on peer abuse) and it can take many forms. It can happen both inside and outside of school/college and online. It is important that all staff recognise the indicators and signs of peer on peer abuse and know how to identify it and respond to reports. This can include (but is not limited to): bullying (including cyberbullying, prejudice-based and discriminatory bullying); abuse within intimate partner relationships; physical abuse such as hitting, kicking, shaking, biting, hair pulling, or otherwise causing physical harm; sexual violence and sexual harassment; consensual and non-consensual sharing of nude and semi-nude images and/or videos; causing someone to engage in sexual activity without consent, such as forcing someone to strip, touch themselves sexually, or to engage in sexual activity with a third party; upskirting and initiation/hazing type violence and rituals. Addressing inappropriate behaviour (even if it appears to be relatively innocuous) can be an important intervention that helps prevent problematic, abusive and/or violent behaviour in the future”
Keeping Children Safe in Education 2021, P135.
Section Two – Legislation and National Guidance:
Outlined within this section is relevant legislation and national guidance:
HM Government – Working together to Safeguard Children (2018) https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/942454/Working_together_to_safeguard_children_inter_agency_guidance.pdf
HM Government DfE – Keeping Children Safe in Education (2021) https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1021914/KCSIE_2021_September_guidance.pdf
HM Government Home Office – Violence against Women and Girls (2021)
Ofsted – Review of Sexual Abuse in Schools and Colleges (2021) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-sexual-abuse-in-schools-and-colleges/review-of-sexual-abuse-in-schools-and-colleges
Section Three – National Support Organisations:
Outlined within this section is relevant support organisations:
Now that children are back at school fully, we’re urging anyone with concerns around abuse in education to get in touch with the NSPCC helpline:
Call 0800 136 663, or help@nspcc.org.uk Opening hours: Mon to Fri 8am – 10pm or 9am – 6pm at the weekends.
- Childline: https://www.childline.org.uk
- Supporting Victims: https://www.supportingvictims.org/victim-support-services/
- Mind:https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/abuse/all-types-of-abuse
- The Survivors Trust: https://www.thesurvivorstrust.org/find-support
Section Four – Local Support to Schools and Colleges:
| North Yorkshire Safeguarding Partnership (NYSCP): |
| NYSCP Website: A one stop shop for everything safeguarding children www.safeguardingchildren.co.uk NYSCP Arrangements: Currently NYSCP Executive has education representation via the Assistant Director for Education (NYC), Subgroup representation includes School Improvement Team member and also NYSCP have Education and Further Education Focus Groups (there is work underway to strengthen existing arrangements and further updates will be provided around this). North Yorkshire Schools Safeguarding Audit: This Audit takes place every other year and enables schools to demonstrate their compliance of the duties under Section 11, 157 and 175 of the Education Act 2002, the completion of this audit also provides assurance to the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (NYSCP) Executive to understand the response to safeguarding in North Yorkshire Schools. The Audit provides schools the opportunity to document their good practice and identify any areas that may need to be developed, in turn creating an action plan that will be overseen by the governing body. Information from all the school returns are documented by the NYSCP and shared across the partnership to celebrate practice and action matters where required. A seven point briefing can be found here: https://www.safeguardingchildren.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/School-Autit-2020-2021.pdf NYSCP Training and Learning: A variety of masterclasses, training and learning opportunities are promoted through the NYSCP Website https://www.safeguardingchildren.co.uk/training-north-yorkshire/training-courses/ NYSCP Procedures and Guidance: A raft of documents are available as below: Practice Guidance: https://www.safeguardingchildren.co.uk/professionals/practice-guidance/ Procedures: https://www.safeguardingchildren.co.uk/professionals/nyscb-procedures/ One minute Guides: https://www.safeguardingchildren.co.uk/professionals/one-minute-guides/ You will find information relating to Peer on Peer Abuse within the North Yorkshire Sample Child Protection Manual:  |
| Additional Statutory Partner Support: |
| Early Help: The aim of Early Help is to build on people’s capacity and resources to manage their own dilemmas, resolve their own difficulties and prevent further problems in the future. Early Help is the response offered by all services in North Yorkshire who are in contact with children, young people and families when an unmet need is identified as outlined in Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018). To find out how you can support the Early help agenda visit https://www.safeguardingchildren.co.uk/professionals/early-help/ North Yorkshire Police (NYP): NYP believe Youth engagement is a powerful way for the Police service, partner agencies and community organisations to involve the young people they serve in moving their work forward and results in young people being involved in responsible, supporting and challenging actions to create positive social change. There are four full time School Liaison Officers across the county. Their main focus is to prevent the criminalisation of young people and provide early intervention and support. The NYP School Liaison Officers are able to help and their main focus is to Safeguard and support vulnerable young people by: – Supporting Schools and PSHCE (personal, social, health, citizenship & economic) curriculum – Aim to prevent young people engaging in risk taking behaviour – Aim to reduce the number of young people entering the criminal justice system and reduce reoffending – Assess and Signpost (young people & families) to other relevant agencies – Attend multi-agency meetings to address long term problem solving for young people and cases – Identify and refer young people to programmes such as the NYFRS ‘LIFE’ (Local Intervention Fire Education) courses – Work closely with schools and partners – planning and delivering multi-agency events – Maintain resource and support NYP colleagues with any youth related issues and maintain lesson resources: For general enquires contact the Schools Liaison Officers: SchoolTeam2@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk Twitter account @YouthteamNYP Child adolescence Mental Health Service Crisis Line (CAMHS): Where you have urgent concerns regarding a child or young person’s mental health, please call CAMHS Crisis Service in the appropriate locality where you have a concern: North Allerton, Hambleton and Richmondshire: TEWV All age Line:- 0800 0516171 (Option 2, then option 3), 7 days a week, 24 hours Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon: TEWV All age Line:- 0800 0516171 (Option 2, the option 1), 7 days a week, 24 hours York and Selby: TEWV All age Line:- 0800 0516171 (Option 2 then option 2 ), 7 days a week, 24 hours Scarborough, Whitby & Ryedale: TEWV All age Line:- 0800 0516171 (Option 2 then option 4), 7 days a week, 24 hours Craven: BDCT First response 08009521181 7 days a week, 24 hours There are a variety of training listed on the NYSCP Website for partner agencies to utilise you can access these by visiting https://www.safeguardingchildren.co.uk/training-north-yorkshire/training-courses/ North Yorkshire Council also provide a training offer via North Yorkshire Education Services which can be found here: https://www.nyestraining.co.uk/ |
| How to Make Referrals: |
| If you are worried about a child and would like to make a referral please visit https://www.safeguardingchildren.co.uk/about-us/worried-about-a-child/. Where there are significant immediate concerns about the safety of a child, professionals should contact the Police on 999. The North Yorkshire Self-Harm and Suicide Ideation Pathway can be accessed by visiting https://www.safeguardingchildren.co.uk/shsip/ where you will find a variety of helpful resources, links and pathways to services. |
Section Five – Local Organisations and Useful Contacts:
Three safeguarding partners:
- North Yorkshire Police – phone 999 for Emergencies or 119 www.northyorkshire.police.uk
- North Yorkshire Council (NYC) – social.care@northyorks.gov.uk website www.northyorks.gov.uk phone 0300 131 2 131
- Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board – website https://humberandnorthyorkshire.icb.nhs.uk/
Commissioned Services: There are a number of services in North Yorkshire who are commissioned or set up specifically by services to provide support to children and young people. To find out what these services offer and how you can access support for children and families you are working with visit: https://www.safeguardingchildren.co.uk/professionals/commissioned-services-in-north-yorkshire/
The Healthy Child Service (HCP): HCP is part of the child and family health promotion programme for children aged 0-19 years and their families more details can be found here: https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/healthy-child-service
Section Six – Frequently Asked Questions:
| What should I do if I have a concern about a child or young person? | Professionals in all agencies have a responsibility to refer a child when it is believed or suspected that a child: – Has suffered significant harm and /or; – Is likely to suffer significant harm and/or; – Has developmental and welfare needs which are likely only to be met through provision of family support services (with agreement of the child’s parent). Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, if you are concerned about any child and think they may be a victim of abuse or neglect, whether as someone working with children or young people, or as a member of the public, you should make referral to the North Yorkshire Multi-Agency Screening Team (MAST), or if outside of office hours speak to the Emergency Duty Team. Where there are significant immediate concerns about the safety of a child, you should contact the police on 999. If you believe the situation is urgent but does not require the police, please call 0300 131 2 131. A written referral using the universal referral form must be completed and submitted within 24 hours of your telephone call. For more information visit the Worried About a Child page on the NYSCP Website. |
| What should I do if I have a concern about a person who works with children or young people in North Yorkshire? | Where an organisation has received an allegation that a volunteer or member of staff who works with children has: – Behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child; possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child; or – Behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children – Behaved or may have behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children. You should contact the Duty Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) on 01609 533080. A referral should be sent to the LADO within one working day using the LADO Referral Form, giving as much detail as possible. Completed LADO Referral Forms should be emailed using secure mail to the safeguardingunit@northyorks.gov.uk or if you do not have a secure email address please contact 01609 533080 within office hours. Where there is an immediate threat to a child please contact the Police on 999 or the contact the Emergency Duty Team (if outside office hours) on 0300 131 2 131. For more information please see the Managing Allegations Against Those Who Work or Volunteer with Children practice guidance. |
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