NHS Trusts have been told to prioritise patient safety over targets as they face record pressures this winter. NHS England Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard and other trust leads met with the Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting this week to address the critical situation in A&E departments across the country. The Health and...
Child safeguarding review highlights critical role of schools
A major review into child safeguarding practices has highlighted the critical role that schools play in protecting children from harm. The report, entitled I Wanted Them All to Notice, was published by the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel last month. It focuses on protecting children and responding to child sexual abuse within the family...
Low-income families struggle to access early childhood services
The NSPCC has warned that families on low incomes in the UK are missing out on vital support as they struggle to access early childhood services. In a new report with the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), the national children’s charity reveals that families living in poverty experience barriers to accessing early childhood...
Rise in concerns about children experiencing domestic abuse
The NSPCC has revealed that concerns about children experiencing domestic abuse have risen by a fifth. The national children’s charity saw a surge in people contacting its Helpline with concerns about children experiencing domestic abuse, fielding almost 4,000 concerns of this nature between April and September 2024. This represents a 19% increase in concerns...
HSE focuses on manual handling injuries this festive season
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is focusing on safe manual handling as the festive season gets underway. Britain’s health and safety watchdog has warnings and advice for the haulage and distribution industry, a new body mapping tool for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and awards for MSD risk-reduction. The HSE has warned those working in...
National Workplace Day of Remembrance remembers lives lost at work
Thursday 12th December marks the UK National Workplace Day of Remembrance. The annual awareness day was first established in 2019 to remember all those who have lost their lives at work, across all industries and job roles. The organisers urge people to mark the National Workplace Day of Remembrance by observing a minute’s silence...
Government publishes plan to Get Britain Working
The government has published its plan to get Britain working again. The Get Britain Working Whitepaper was published last week (26th November 2024) and sets out the government’s plans to tackle “spiralling economic inactivity” and get Britain growing again. It forms a key part of the government’s commitment to build “an inclusive and thriving...
New protections from workplace sexual harassment are in force
Workers in the UK are now afforded new protections from sexual harassment in the workplace, with employers required to create a safe working environment. A new duty under the Equality Act 2010 has come into force which requires all employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of their employees, including by third...
HSE publishes latest workplace health and safety statistics
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published it’s latest workplace health and safety statistics. The annual statistics reveal the number of workers affected by work-related ill-health and workplace injuries in Great Britain from 1st April 2023 until 31st March 2024. Britain’s health and safety watchdog has revealed that the number of workers who...
NSPCC shares parent and child views on smartphones
The NSPCC has asked parents and young people how they feel about the impact of smartphones and social media on child safety and wellbeing. Young people told the NSPCC that they feel trying to keep them away from smartphones and social media was unrealistic in an online world, and that having a phone to...
New Skills for Care campaign aims to boost digital confidence
The latest campaign from Skills for Care is focused on boosting digital confidence across the adult social care workforce. Running throughout November and December, the ‘Building digital confidence’ campaign aims to help people working in the adult social care sector to understand how enhanced digital skills can support the delivery of higher quality care....
CQC sets out to rebuild trust in its regulation
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has set out the improvements and changes it will make to help rebuild trust in its regulation. The care watchdog is aiming to improve the way in which it works in response to two important reviews of its practices. Dr Penny Dash recently published the final report of her...
World Children’s Day: building a better world for children
World Children’s Day is celebrated on 20th November each year to promote children’s rights and shine a spotlight on child welfare across the globe. The international awareness day was first established by the United Nations (UN) in 1954 as Universal Children’s Day. It is now celebrated on 20th November each year as that is...
Online grooming crimes reach ‘record levels’ in the UK
Online grooming crimes against children have reached record levels across the UK, with the number of offences surpassing 7,000 for the first time, according to new data released by the NSPCC. The national children’s charity is calling for more “ambitious regulation” to make online platforms safer for children and young people. Data compiled by...
Young people urged to ‘choose respect’ this Anti-Bullying Week
This week (11th-15th November) is Anti-Bullying Week 2024 across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with Odd Socks Day held on Tuesday and World Kindness Day marked on Wednesday. Organised by the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA), Anti-Bullying Week aims to highlight the issue of bullying and the theme for 2024 is: ‘Choose Respect.’ The ABA consulted...