Safeguarding People Is Everybody’s Business

The safety and wellbeing of vulnerable children and adults in Mid and West Wales is the focus of a new website to be launched on Monday 14th November. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The website can be accessed via two addresses – www.cysur.wales and www.cwmpas.wales ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It has been developed by the regional safeguarding boards for children and adults, CYSUR and CWMPAS. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The purpose is to provide an information-sharing hub accessible to members of the public and professional agencies across the whole region – encompassing Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Powys. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It also supports the safeguarding boards’ vision of professional agencies working together to promote safety and wellbeing, says Julie Breckon, manager of CYSUR and CWMPAS. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The website can be used by parents and carers, children and young people, adults at risk of harm, teachers, health professionals, police officers, probation officers, youth workers, voluntary agencies, and community members,” she said. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It will provide up to date safeguarding news, information on training in relation to safeguarding matters and events across the region, as well as useful contact information and links.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The launch of the website marks the beginning of National Safeguarding Week, which starts on 14th November and continues until 18th November. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As part of the week, a series of events will be held across Mid and West Wales promoting the message that ‘safeguarding is everyone’s business’. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The events are being organised by CYSUR, the regional safeguarding children’s board, together with CWMPAS – the regional safeguarding adult’s board. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The purpose is to promote and raise awareness with members of the public within our local communities and across professional networks of children and vulnerable adults who may be at risk of harm,” said Julie Breckon. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rebecca Evans, Minister for Social Services and Public Health, said: “We want to make sure that children and adults in Wales are protected from abuse or neglect and that those around them know how to recognise the signs and dangers. Through the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 we have introduced an effective partnership approach to safeguarding. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The website, which has been developed by the regional board, will help share information and expertise on safeguarding issues and ensure the safety of vulnerable children and adults in Mid and West Wales.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Pembrokeshire ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In Pembrokeshire, National Safeguarding Week will focus on the issue of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE), with events including: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• For Pembrokeshire County Council staff – On 17th November, there will be a stand in County Hall reception to highlight the issue of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and promote uptake of an E learning module/film.
• For Elected Members – briefing session for elected members highlighting CSE, introduction of a new Members workbook on CSE, and the screening of the ‘Caught in traffik’ film.
• For Children and Young People – Activity related to the issue of CSE in each Secondary School and
• Pembrokeshire College. This activity was prepared at a conference run by the Junior Safeguarding Board in October.

Further events include: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Development Day. There will be a joint development day held by CYSUR and CWMPASS – the regional children and adults safeguarding boards – on Monday 14th November.
• White Ribbon Day. The international White Ribbon Day, which aims to eliminate violence against woman, will be marked by an awareness-raising event at Tesco in Haverfordwest on the day itself – November 25th – and an event at Withybush Hospital on 15th November.