Range of topics for Safeguarding Week

Hazardous co-sleeping with infants and adults who self-neglect are among topics for discussion highlighted in National Safeguarding Week in Mid and West Wales which runs from next Monday (4th November).

A wide-ranging programme is taking place throughout the week across Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Powys including conferences, engagement events and workshops.

The programme has been co-ordinated by CWMPAS and CYSUR, the Mid and West Wales Regional Safeguarding Board.

A highlight of the week is the Board’s annual conference at Pembrokeshire College in Haverfordwest on Thursday, 14th November.

The keynote address is being delivered by Dr Eileen Munro, Emeritus Professor of Social Policy at the London School of Economics.

Dr Munro is the author of the Munro Review of Child Protection – a child-centred system which made a number of recommendations to reform the child protection system from being over-bureaucratised to one that keeps a focus on the child.

The conference will highlight key achievements across the region in implementing the Signs of Safety approach to working with families.

Signs of Safety is a more inclusive, solution-focused approach which encourages families to find their own solutions to the challenges they may be experiencing.

During the week, the Safeguarding Board will also seek to raise awareness of circumstances in which co-sleeping becomes unsafe, as well as the dangers of self-neglect and hoarding.
Technology will also be a theme as the Board formally launches its newly designed website and enhanced social media presence in order to improve awareness of its work and functions.

The new All-Wales Protection Procedures is also due to launch while Dyfed Powys Police will follow a comprehensive programme of activities to engage schools and communities, focussing on a variety of themes such as sexting, cyber-crime and exploitation.

Other events taking place in Pembrokeshire include the Junior Safeguarding Conference during which secondary school pupils will receive a safeguarding module devised by Pembrokeshire’s Safeguardians. There will also be a County Lines workshop to be facilitated by Fearless, a branch of Crimestoppers.

Carmarthenshire County Council will be facilitating consultation with partner agencies to finalise the draft regional self-neglect policy. Hywel Dda University Health Board will also hold a Learning Event related to this theme as part of Safeguarding Week activities.

Events taking place across Powys include the formal launch of new procedures relating to deprivation of liberty safeguards, as well as training across Health Boards on a range of adult safeguarding issues delivered jointly with Trading Standards and Police.