Councils in England are to be given over £500 million in funding to help them restore preventive family and parenting support services. The Department for Education said the funding would help ensure that the most vulnerable children in England are “prevented from falling through the cracks,” and formed part of its plan for change...
For every day of school missed, pupils lose £750 in future earnings
A new government report has looked at the impact of school absences on academic achievement and future prospects, including lifetime earnings. The report from the Department for Education, published 14th March, estimated the monetary impact of one missed school day in state-funded secondary schools. It found that an additional school absence for the typical...
1 in 6 adults fail to identify signs of childhood emotional abuse
A recent survey found that most adults in the UK believe that childhood emotional abuse can have a lasting impact, affecting people well into adulthood. But, despite acknowledging the seriousness of childhood emotional abuse, 1 in 6 adults could not correctly identify the signs. The YouGov survey, commissioned by the NSPCC, found that a...
Police record more than 100 child sexual abuse image crimes a day
It has been revealed that police forces record an average of more than 100 child sexual abuse image offences each day. Data recently released by the Home Office shows that police forces across England and Wales recorded a total of 38,685 child sexual abuse image offences in the year from 1st April 2023 –...
Overcoming health and safety barriers for women
International Women’s Day 2025 was observed on Saturday 8th March, with people around the world amplifying the conversation about women’s equality and working to #AccelerateAction. The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) used the global awareness day to reflect on and highlight the challenges that women still face in the field of workplace...
Lead with love this Stress Awareness Month
April is Stress Awareness Month in the UK, and the theme for 2025 is #LeadWithLove. The annual awareness campaign, observed every April since 1992, aims to increase public awareness of the causes of stress and effective measures to reduce it. The Stress Management Society is at the forefront of this campaign, setting the focus...
Five years on from Covid, IOSH calls for pandemic planning
Five years on from the outbreak of Covid-19, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has called for pandemic planning, prevention and preparedness to be prioritised. It’s been five years since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Covid-19 a global pandemic on 11th March 2020. Next Wednesday, 26th March, will also mark five...
Firm fined £1 million after workers suffered serious injuries
A wood manufacturing firm has been fined more than £1 million after two of its workers suffered “very serious injuries” in separate incidents. West Fraser (Europe) Ltd, formerly known as Norbord, is a multi-national manufacturer of wood-based products. They appeared at Stirling Sheriff Court in February to plead guilty to breaching health and safety...
Government announces abolition of NHS England
In a surprise move last week, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced that his government are abolishing NHS England in a bid to cut bureaucracy and save money. The Prime Minister said his plan to abolish NHS England would bring the health service back into government control, save hundreds of millions of pounds every...
New framework launched to reduce health inequalities
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has launched a new framework to help reduce health inequalities. The health and care watchdog worked in partnership with National Voices and the Point of Care Foundation to develop a self-assessment and improvement framework to help Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) address health inequalities. Integrated care systems (ICSs) are local...
Neurodiversity Celebration Week celebrates different minds
It’s Neurodiversity Celebration Week (17th – 23rd March 2025), which encourages everyone to celebrate neurological differences and recognise the talents and strengths of neurodivergent individuals. Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a global initiative founded in the UK in 2018 by Siena Castellon MBE, who has campaigned to support young people with special educational needs (SEN)...
Our Neurodiversity Training
Neurodiversity Training by First Response Training Empower your workforce with essential knowledge and skills to support neurodivergent individuals. Our comprehensive training covers Autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, and related conditions, helping health and care providers meet the Health and Care Act 2022 requirements. We offer flexible learning options, including online interactive webinars and in-person sessions,...
New Skills for Care campaign supports managers in care
Skills for Care have launched their new campaign to support managers in care. The national care workforce development charity will be running the ‘Managing your service’ campaign throughout March to support registered managers, nominated individuals and care organisation directors to manage their services effectively. The campaign has been devised to empower leaders and managers...
The Importance of Crisis Management Training in Care Settings
In care settings, unexpected crises can happen at any time, and having the right training can make all the difference. Whether it's a medical emergency, fire, or missing person, effective crisis management is vital to ensure the safety and well-being of those in care. To support care professionals in managing such situations, First Response...
How to Create an Inclusive Workplace for Neurodivergent Employees
Creating an inclusive workplace for neurodivergent employees isn’t just about compliance—it’s about fostering an environment where everyone can thrive. With 15% of the UK population identifying as neurodivergent, businesses must take meaningful steps to provide support, make reasonable adjustments, and educate their workforce. At First Response Training, we are committed to inclusion through flexible...