Dr Lisa Cherry FRSA’s Post

Over the last nine months Future Voices has been working with Surrey Children’s Services and Safeguarding Partnership to develop their system wide response to adolescents in need. It is an ambitious long term project that will see the creation of an integrated, multiagency collaborative service for children and their families, in need of both help and protection. Workstreams to deliver the practice, process and partnership are underway with a clear objective to build services that wrap around children, families and communities. In laying these foundation, the need for us all to continually develop is inherent. As we help lay these foundations, we support the leadership teams to go live with an initial six month comprehensive programme of adolescent safeguarding training, group reflective supervision and multiagency events to operationalise the Adolescent Service model. The approach is system wide, but we must build solid foundations on which to grow.

Happy New Year to my LinkedIn community! As we embrace the dawn of 2024 with new resolutions and renewed vigor, I propose a critical reflection on our professional practices, especially those of us who find ourselves at the intersections of privilege and power. One pressing issue that demands our attention is the language and attitude we adopt towards children who are victims of exploitation. It's not uncommon to hear phrases like "they have chosen this lifestyle" in our professional circles. But is it just a matter of semantics? I believe it's much more profound. This rhetoric is not only dismissive but dangerously misinformed. It strips young people of their agency, blaming and shaming them for circumstances often beyond their control. Such a stance leads to oppressive practices, exacerbates compassion fatigue, and, most crucially, hinders effective action and protection for those in need. In the context of safeguarding training, it's imperative that we challenge and support our colleagues to better understand the lived experiences of child victims of exploitation. It's about building relationships, listening to young voices, and fostering an environment where their stories are heard and validated. This year, let's commit to not only refining our professional skills but also our perspectives. Let's be the advocates for change and protection that these young individuals desperately need. #NewYearResolutions #ProfessionalGrowth #ChildProtection #ContextualSafeguarding #EmpathyInAction

I received this email on Friday night, and it served as a timely reminder of why I use every space I'm in to create opportunities for open and honest conversations, reinforcing that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. As safeguarding professionals, we must recognise and unpack the many layers involved in safeguarding—from family dynamics, culture, and traditions to the pervasive impact of racism, and how this influences the way children and young people experience the world. It is crucial to approach safeguarding with a nuanced perspective, acknowledging that each layer shapes the unique challenges and needs of the children we aim to protect. While these conversations may be uncomfortable, it is our duty if we are truly committed to safeguarding every child. #safeguarding ****************************************** Hi, I'm Tina. I specialise in assisting churches, schools, and workplaces in mitigating risks, creating safer environments, and upholding their reputation. Additionally, I deliver bootcamps to women wanting to transform their careers into a consultancy business. If you're interested in how I can help, feel free to drop me a DM.

Updates to Working Together to Safeguard Children highlights the pivotal role played by schools in multi-agency safeguarding, stating that their contributions should be articulated at the 'highest level of decision-making.' As part of this, the guidance emphasises the importance of information-sharing between safeguarding partners and engaging positively with families. Our Safeguarding Assessment will consider every element of your school's safeguarding practices, including multi-agency working and parental engagement. Let's work together to ensure your safeguarding arrangements are nothing less than outstanding. Find out more here: https://bit.ly/3JkPNe3

Today I had the absolute privilege of sitting beside two amazing colleagues from NSPCC NI as they provided oral evidence to the Education Committee’s Mini-Inquiry in to Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE). Caroline Cunningham, Policy and Public Affairs Manager, and Karen Walker, NI Schools Service Manager, provided a wealth of information to the committee based on policy, research as well as evidence from the NSPCC RSE services that are provided in many schools across NI. The NSPCC’s overarching objective is to ensure that children are protected from abuse and violence through early intervention and prevention, comprehensively tackling all forms of abuse that children face. All school aged children and young people should receive an RSE programme that is age and developmentally appropriate and responds to the needs of children and young people as they mature so that they can make responsible and well-informed decisions about their lives. RSE can play a vital role in the safeguarding of children and young people. A whole school, comprehensive and inclusive approach to RSE has the potential to prevent harm to children: 🟢 by supporting children to recognise abuse, know how and where they can ask for help, understand consent and healthy relationships, 🟢 and by enabling more adults to identify concerning behaviour and know what to do if a disclosure is made. The reception from the committee was very positive and engaging. And although I didn’t speak (If colleagues have the question covered I am not that type of person that jumps in to just have my say), listening to such positive comments regarding the work of the NSPCC and the appreciation for the detailed and informative briefing paper we provided prior to our attendance, definitely reminded me why I joined NSPCC and how each little step forward we make in our day to day work will hopefully help make a difference to babies, children and young people in our society! Link to evidence session in the comments ⬇️⬇️

Safeguarding children's wellbeing extends beyond the classroom, which is why the British Standards Institution (BSI) has released comprehensive guidelines to protect young people in out-of-school settings. The new standard, PAS 5222:2024, provides a robust framework for organisations and individuals overseeing extracurricular activities, tuition centres, sports clubs, and other non-educational programs involving minors. Developed in response to the 2022 Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse that exposed safeguarding lapses, this specification aims to close gaps in statutory guidance and allows providers to implement rigorous child protection policies, procedures, and governance structures. Access the standard and find out more here: https://bit.ly/3X8YAY9

Day 15 of #FosterCareMonth This is Respite! Every parent or caregiver needs a break occasionally. The foster system in the US acknowledges the need for resource parents to take time away and refresh themselves. Respite care aims to offer safe, short-term alternative care for kids to help resource and foster parents prevent burnout. When we say short-term, we mean that most commonly respite care occurs over a weekend. However, sometimes it is as long as two weeks. Typically respite care providers are other foster parents within the community who have also been vetted, trained, and approved for care. This form of short-term respite care might be a regular date night where foster parents swap childcare duties each month. Other times, it could be a resource parent offering weekend care so another foster family can go to a wedding out of state. Sometimes, respite care providers have joined the foster system solely to provide this short-term temporary care without doing typical fostering. As you can imagine, the need for respite providers is tremendous, and being connected to a family offering this care can be a huge support to the resource parents in a community. The Prudent Parenting Law allows us to use family or friends we know and trust to provide care for our foster child for up to 72 hours; but anything over 72 hours requires a trained respite provider. As you get connected to the foster parents around you, think and pray about getting registered and trained. https://bit.ly/3V1wqgk #FosterDad #FosterYouth #FosterFamilies #Youth #Reunification

Empowering children to advocate for themselves is crucial in today’s world. One of the ways we can do this is by providing them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to speak up, we can create a safer and more just society. Imagine a world where children freely express their thoughts and feelings, understand their rights, recognise abuse, and know how to seek help. Nurturing open communication and educating them about their rights is the only way we can empower children to actively participate in their own safety. An empowered child is more likely to report when something is wrong, trust their instincts, and seek support from trusted adults. This early intervention can prevent further harm. When children feel heard and valued, they thrive and contribute positively to society. Empowering children sends a powerful message: Their voices matter!

Empowering Youth and Families to Break the Cycle of Disparities: At FACESS, we recognise that breaking the cycle of ongoing disparities requires working closely with both youth and their families. Through culturally tailored mentoring, education, and early intervention, FACESS help provide the tools needed to prevent future challenges. Our partnerships with youth justice, child safety, and education sectors are designed to support long-term change, ensuring that young people can achieve positive outcomes and build stronger, more resilient communities.

Supportive and caring adults are critical in helping young people become powerful advocates for their rights and individual decisions about their health and well-being. They can support youth agency and engagement by actively listening to young people, centering their voices and lived experiences, and involving them in program development. When caring adults are better equipped to understand young people’s concerns, they can work with them to make informed decisions to help them thrive. Adults can work together to share resources and information that best support adolescents: · Check out our resources on how to strengthen training and support for caring adults, including parents, caregivers, and legal representatives. https://lnkd.in/e39zGzXz · Learn more about how to increase youth agency and youth engagement. https://lnkd.in/e4dutf-m