SVPP Newsletter - Issue 20
SVPP Newsletter Issue 20
Welcome to the Spring edition of Wiltshire SVPP’s e-newsletter bringing you the latest news and updates from the SVPP, including the Wiltshire Community Safety Partnership (CSP).
News in Brief
From Tuesday 1st April the Access Community Mental Health Service will be delivered by a partnership between Second Step, Alabare, Missing Link and Nilaari across BaNES, Swindon & Wiltshire. Attached are a series of slides showing how this service will be delivered (each of the partners will be responsible for different elements of the service).
Further info and referral information can be found here: BaNES Swindon and Wiltshire Partnership | Second Step | Mental Health Charity
Stakeholder meeting 18th June
SVPP Stakeholder Network Meeting is taking place on 18th June 10-12pm: this meeting is open to anyone working with children and young people, families and adults with care and support needs in Wiltshire and who would like to know more about the work of the SVPP. This includes leaders, managers and practitioners. This meeting is led by the SVPP Partnership Leads.
The purpose of this meeting is to:
- Provide an update on the work of the SVPP, including learning from case reviews locally and nationally
- Explore relevant local and national safeguarding themes and activity
- Provide an opportunity to network with other practitioners through discussions in break out groups
Presentations from this meeting are shared with attendees and are available on the SVPP website.
If you have not received an invite, please email SVPP@wiltshire.gov.uk
Education Secretary appoints new chair of Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel
Sir David Holmes has been appointed as the new Chair of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel. This appointment builds on the announcement that the panel will form the foundation from which to build the Child Protection Authority (CPA) in England. The CPA will be established to make the child protection system clearer and more unified and ensure ongoing improvement for child and youth victims of abuse and neglect through effective, evidence-based support for practitioners. For further information please click here.
Wiltshire Police Operation Encompass Update
Wiltshire Police recently changed the system used by officers to record Public Protection Notices to PRONTO. PRONTO has allowed for PPNs to change slightly. This will now include a template being sent out for context of the incident. This will allow education settings to understand what support and nurture the child needs. As with all significant process changes there have been some challenges in the transition period, and the force have worked hard on providing additional training and support to officers to adapt to this new way of working. The Police team have been working hard to ensure the right information goes where it needs to whilst the automation process is fully embedded. For full update please click here
New Armed Forces Helpline
A newly commissioned armed forces helpline for victims/survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence and stalking has been set up. This is a national service, however Aurora New Dawn are aware of and able to signpost to local support services where required. For more information visit them on X here or visit their website here
New dates: Making Every Contact Count (MECC)
MECC training is in two parts. The eLearning can be accessed for free at Making Every Contact Count - elearning for healthcare (e-lfh.org.uk) - please follow the instructions to register and access a certificate for your CPD record.
The group training session is delivered by Public Health in partnership across Wiltshire, Swindon & BaNES. Each area delivers the course once a month.
Register via EventBrite for the below dates
16th July and 13th October
Feeding Recovery Handbook
Alcohol Change UK is pleased to announce the publication of the Feeding Recovery Handbook: a guide for local services to undertaking successful cooking and eating activities.
Feeding Recovery is an Alcohol Change UK project that is about more than alcohol. It is about the poor nutrition and social isolation that often go hand-in-hand with alcohol problems; and about how connecting with others around food can promote wellbeing and reduce harm. It offers a model for services supporting people facing a range of challenges and obstacles in their lives, not just alcohol issues.
The Feeding Recovery Handbook is available to download here
Mental Health SHOUT Service
Wiltshire Council’s contract with Mental Health Innovations, the provider of the Wiltshire SHOUT service, came to an end on 31st March 2025. Wiltshire Council commissioned this service as a short-term 2yr contract, using external non-recurring grant funding. Please ensure any references to the Wiltshire SHOUT service are removed including from websites and email signatures. Individuals are still able to access a National SHOUT service powered by Mental Health Innovations where required, this service can be listed as a resource in any resource libraries. Further information about the national SHOUT service can be found here. Please ensure this is communicated across your organisation as required.
Stalking Awareness 2025
It was Stalking Awareness Week 22nd - 25th April 2025. This year, the campaign was dedicated to improving the recognition of and response to stalking victims across the healthcare sector. The primary focus was on equipping healthcare professionals and Community Link Workers with the knowledge and tools needed to identify the often-overlooked signs of stalking, provide compassionate support, and direct victims to appropriate resources. For more information and to download posters and leaflets please visit the website here.
Upcoming campaigns and dates for the diary
Hoarding Awareness Week is taking place from 12-16th May. Raising awareness for hoarding disorder and behaviour is crucial because it helps break down stigma, promotes empathy, and encourages individuals to seek support without fear of judgment. For resources and to take part in events place visit: Home - National Hoarding Awareness Week
Mental Health Awareness Week is taking place from 12-18th May. This Mental Health Awareness Week the focus is on the ways that communities protect our mental health. Being part of a safe, positive community is vital for everyone’s mental health. Yet too many people in our society are isolated, cut off from their local support networks and struggling to cope. Please celebrate the power and importance of communities by sharing this message with colleagues and communities. For further information visit: Mental Health Awareness Week | Mental Health Foundation
Gypsy, Roma & Traveller Domestic Abuse Training - New Dates Released
Julian House have released further dates for their free Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller (GRT) Domestic Abuse Training. This 1-hour training session will improve understanding of GRT cultures and raise awareness of domestic abuse in GRT communities and the additional barriers to support that GRT survivors face.
The newly released dates are:
- 6th May (online) – 10:00-11:00
- 13th May (online) – 10:00-11:00
- 21st May (online) – 10:00-11:00
To book onto the training or for any queries, please email Daisy Manley (daisy.manley@wiltshire.gov.uk) or Sue Meech (sue.meech@julianhouse.org.uk).
Vaping Event in Swindon on 14th May
On May 14th researchers from Bath University will be holding a public engagement event to help shape the direction of future research on youth vaping. This event is organised by the Addiction and Mental Health Group (AIM). AIM want to hear from those directly affected by vaping - whether you're a young person, teacher, healthcare worker, parent, or part of a community group. Your insights will help guide their research to better address the needs and concerns of the local community.
To register your interest in attending please follow the below link:
Bath Uni Youth Vaping event
Connecting You is a new online forum where people who have experienced abuse can meet anonymously to share their experiences and talk with other people who are on their healing journey.
The forum is an inclusive space and open to all survivors aged over 18 years who live in the South-West. Connecting You opens in April and you can register to receive an email invitation by completing the form here
Training: Alcohol awareness, Identification and Brief Advice (IBA)
Tuesday 20th May, 09:30-12:00, via Teams.
Connect are offering training on Alcohol awareness, Identification and Brief Advice (IBA) and working with change resistant clients for frontline professionals based in Wiltshire . This training is interactive and will run from 9:30-12:00 over Microsoft Teams on 20th May.
Following registration, you will receive a Microsoft Teams link separately via email.
If you wish to book your place, please email: Connectreferrals@Turning-Point.co.uk or Jon.Amor@turning-point.co.uk
National Youth Strategy
The Government is creating a new ten-year National Youth Strategy to tackle the challenges for this generation of young people and ensure that every young person can thrive. The National Youth Strategy will bring power back to young people and their communities and improve youth focused services, moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach from Government.
Join this event in support of thousands of young people aged 10-21 (aged 25 with SEND) to shape this once in a generation strategy.
DCMS has also developed a ‘National Youth Strategy Engagement and Comms Toolkit’, which can be accessed here and which includes key messaging and communications assets, including social media assets and a session plan for organisations to run engagements with young people.
Men's Health week is taking place on 10-16th June. It's an annual campaign that aims to raise awareness of men's health and encourage them to seek help for any health concerns. The week is particularly important for breaking down the stigma around seeking help for mental health issues.
Within My Reach
Virtual Teams meetings taking place on 27th May, 3rd, 10th and 17th June 6-8pm for those that need help and support in communicating as a couple and making positive changes as parents.
Click on the QR code below to sign up.
ASB Awareness Week 2025 is confirmed for 30 June - 6 July 2025.
The overarching theme and hashtag for the week is #MakingCommunitiesSafer. For more information and media packs please visit their website here.
Swindon Safeguarding Partnership have developed a training session following the completion of SAR Robert. This session has been opened to Wiltshire and BaNes professionals so please share within your organisation.
Thursday 17th July 10.00-11.30 - book your place here
Please visit our social media platform here, follow, like and share to help safeguard and protect the most vulnerable in our community together.
SVPP Training and Learning Events
Did you know the SVPP offers a range of free e-learning courses? Modules include Child and Adult Exploitation, Self-Neglect, Learning from Case Reviews, Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, and E- Safety. To book any SVPP training courses including e-learning, click here
SVPP Courses – Availability
- 06.2025 – Mental Capacity Act (MCA) Training
- 06.2025 – Working Together: A Shared Responsibility
- 06.2025 – Conferences and Core Groups
- 06.2025 – Adult Threshold Matrix Workshop
All courses are available to book via your Virtual College account. For full course descriptions, charging details and further booking information, please visit the SVPP website Learning Hub.
E-Learning
SVPP offer a range of safeguarding e-learning modules which can be accessed at your convenience. New modules have recently been added. Please select the ‘Learning’ tile, then ‘Available Learning’ on your Virtual College account.
SVPP Safeguarding Week Catch-Up modules and Webinars
SVPP hosted their annual Safeguarding Week in November. Many of the webinars were recorded and a copy of the presentation slides has been made available for most. To access these, please select the ‘Learning’ tile on your Virtual College account. For further information, please visit the SVPP Website. Many other recorded webinars are available to view, including Cannabis Tool and Guidance, Multi-Agency Thresholds for Safeguarding Children and Case Learning Reviews. Please see the full list here.