NHS England have developed a powerful video animation to help the health and social care workforce understand the importance of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training package. It has been made available as the Department of Health and Social Care runs a consultation on its draft code of practice for the training. The Oliver McGowan...
Online grooming cases reach record high
Data from the NSPCC has revealed that online grooming crimes reached a record high last year, as new online safety laws have repeatedly stalled. The national children’s charity said that data from 42 police forces in the UK showed that 6,350 offences related to sexual communication with a child were recorded last year, representing...
IOSH says flexible working can boost health and safety
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has welcomed new regulations that support flexible working, saying it leads to “positive mental health and physical health.” The world’s largest professional health and safety body says the benefits of flexible work patterns also include “healthier and more sustainable lives” for workers and “lower absenteeism or...
Hospitality firms urged to ensure electrical safety this summer
Hospitality venues are being urged to check the electrical safety of their outdoor equipment, after a young boy lost his life when he was electrocuted in a pub garden. Danielle Jones, aged 34 from Romford, is calling on all pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues to ensure that their outdoor electrical installations and equipment...
Firm fined after worker paralysed in ‘preventable’ incident
A manufacturing firm has been fined for health and safety failings after a worker was left paralysed following an “easily preventable” incident. Last month, Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court heard how the worker, a 65-year-old man from Worcester, suffered “life-changing” injuries when working for Mountfield CNC Ltd on 4th January 2022. He had been setting up...
Annual report shows social care workforce is growing again
Skills for Care have published their annual report into the state of the adult social care workforce in England, and it reveals that it has started growing again but will continue to face challenges posed by an ageing population. The Size and Structure of the Adult Social Care Sector and Workforce in England report...
Sexual harassment of girls ‘widespread’ in schools
A group of MPs has called for a government-led strategy to engage boys in relationship and sex education, improve safeguarding and tackle sexual harassment of girls. The Women and Equalities Committee have published a report in which they describe sexual harassment of girls as “a scourge” in England’s schools and claim that it is...
School fined £35,000 for ‘shocking and scary’ burn incident
A primary school has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and fined £35,000 for “common sense” safety failings that led to a “shocking and scary” burn incident involving a young child. The London-based school had pleaded not guilty to breaching health and safety regulations but were found guilty following a trial...
HSE reveals 135 people were killed at work last year
The latest work-related fatality statistics for Great Britain reveal that 135 people were killed in accidents at work last year. Published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) this month, the annual figures cover the period from April 2022 until March 2023 and detail work-related fatalities. Britain’s health and safety watchdog says that the industries...
Pupil mental health and teacher welfare a key concern for parents
A new survey has found there are high levels of parental concern about pupil mental health and teacher welfare in Britain’s schools. The Ipsos survey focused on attitudes to education in Britain and how well people rate the quality of the nation’s schools, colleges and universities. Over 2,200 British adults aged 18 or over...
Talk to us: campaign raises awareness of suicide support
Talk to Us is an annual awareness campaign run by the Samaritans throughout July. Samaritans Awareness Day falls on the 24th July (24/7) each year to highlight the fact that the national charity helpline is there to listen to people 24 hours a day, 7 days a week throughout the year. The Talk to...
New CQC public engagement strategy
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published its new public engagement strategy setting out how it will listen, inform and involve people in its work. Supporting the organisational strategy previously published by the regulator in 2021, the new strategy also sets out how the CQC will work in partnership with organisations that represent people....
Good Care Month celebrates valuable work of care sector
July is Good Care Month in the UK, designed to raise the profile of the social care sector, celebrate its workforce and highlight career and development opportunities. Spearheaded by the Hertfordshire Care Providers Association (HCPA), the annual awareness campaign puts the spotlight on the good care provided by social care workers every day throughout...
HSE dust inspection drive targets woodworking businesses
Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will be visiting woodworking businesses to check they are managing the respiratory risks from wood dust. Britain’s health and safety watchdog warns that many businesses in the woodworking industry are endangering their workers’ lives by failing to implement the required safety measures to prevent or control...
Employers must protect workers in hot weather, HSE warns
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned employers that they must take action to protect their workers during periods of extreme hot weather. Britain’s health and safety watchdog spoke out as temperatures rose across the UK and have said that recent heat-health alerts issued by the Met Office, coupled with the record high...