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Understanding Psychosis: Voices, Visions and Distressing Beliefs (British Psychological Society)
The British Psychological Society (BPS) has published a young person's guide to help them understand psychosis. The guide explains in accessible language why some people hear voices when there is no one there, feel suspicious of others, or believe things that others find unusual.
These are experiences often thought of as ‘psychosis’, ‘schizophrenia’, ‘mental illness’ or ‘nervous breakdown’.
The booklet is broken down into sections describing these phenomena, explaining why some people experience them, offering tips on what can help, and discussing how someone can understand their own relationship with them.
Tips to help manage these experiences include taking part in stress-reducing activities, having therapy or, for some people, taking medication.
You can download the booklet here: https://www.bps.org.uk/sites/www.bps.org.uk/files/Page%20-%20Files/Understanding%20Psychosis%20-%20Edited%20for%20Young%20People.pdf
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Working in a Norfolk or Suffolk School?
If you work in a Norfolk or Suffolk school, you will be interested to know that the counties are now considered key target areas for the County Lines, the effective and criminal network supplying drugs across rural areas. Whilst you will be already familiar with this trend, the government is so concerned that last week it published a project tender to 'deliver a coordinated response to the Criminal Exploitation and County Lines challenge across Norfolk and Suffolk. It will deliver directly against existing local County Lines Strategies in both counties'.
County Lines in Norfolk and Suffolk
Norfolk and Suffolk are now key target areas for ‘county lines’ which can be highly effective criminal networks supplying drugs across rural areas. Norwich has the most links of any other city outside London and Suffolk is ranked sixth nationally. These networks target vulnerable young people to courier drugs, leading to an increase in cuckooing, violent crime, sexual exploitation and arrest.
The issue of gangs and county lines is intrinsically linked to the umbrella term ‘criminal exploitation’. This term better reflects the wider implications of how and why young people and vulnerable adults get involved in gangs, county lines, trafficking, grooming and the common occurrence of switching between being a victim on one hand and a perpetrator on another.
The Covid-19 pandemic has undoubtedly exacerbated all these concerns, with an increase in young people going ‘off the radar’ and lacking the oversight and structure provided by school and college life. Whilst existing initiatives can evidence effective work with vulnerable young people, numbers have increased within some of the hardest to reach groups.
Safeguarding Sunday in Churches - 11th October 2020 (Thirtyone:eight)
The independent Christian safeguarding charity, Thirtyone:eight, are leading on Safeguarding Sunday next week. They have produced a number of really useful resources to help church groups raise awareness of safeguarding vulnerable people.
Whilst aimed at a family church audience, church schools may find the resources useful too.
The resources can be found here: https://thirtyoneeight.org/news-and-events/safeguarding-sunday/resource-pack
(Incidentally, they are called from the Bible verse in Proverbs 31:8: ‘Speak out on behalf of the voiceless, and for the rights of all who are vulnerable.')
Remote Learning and Safeguarding
Just a reminder that in April 2020, the Safer Recruitment Consortium published an addendum to their Guidance for a Safer Working Practices document. The addendum was written to consider the issues around remote online learning.
The addendum can be downloaded here: https://www.saferrecruitmentconsortium.org/GSWP%20COVID%20addendum%20April%202020%20final-1.pdf
Forthcoming Courses
Advanced Safeguarding for DSLs
ONLINE Friday 9th October 2020 BOOK NOW
Safeguarding for Everyone
Excellent as an online safeguarding session for all staff. Set up for your school on request.
For more information, go to: Whole School Safeguarding Course (Online)
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