Safeguarding resources for parents, carers and families
We have put together this page to provide parents, carers and families with a collection of resources, information and links to further support for concerns they have for their children or young people.
- See our poster for information on what to do if you are worried about a child or young person. [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/32568/worried_about_a_child]
- The NSPCC has developed a suite of resources to support parents and carers in keeping children safe [https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/]. Their advice guides include online safety, including specific advice around video games, self harm, sexting, leaving children at home alone and talking PANTS.
- Does your child play sports or attend any meetings or clubs out of school? The Government has produced some guidance for parents to help their children stay safe [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak], which includes 10 key questions to ask activity providers to put your mind at rest.
- Get Safe Online is a website dedicated to help you know that your children are safe on the internet [https://www.getsafeonline.org/safeguarding-children/]. Their guidance is broken down into age ranges and has specific sections for gaming, social network, music and movies and parental control software so you can go straight to what you're looking for.
- Family Lives are an organisation who offer support to parents and families [https://www.familylives.org.uk/how-we-can-help/confidential-helpline/] on the phone, Skype and via email. They welcome chats about anything worrying you - from a crisis to everyday parenting challenges and are available 7 days a week.
Child Sexual Abuse (CSA)
We have produced a set of webpages about child sexual abuse, how to spot the signs and where to go for help and support. This includes a specific page of resources for families and friends [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/coventry-local-safeguarding-children-board/child-sexual-abuse/8].
Parenting
The Ready, Steady, Grow! pages [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/readysteadygrow] provide advice and support on what parents can do with their child to help them grow and develop.
Directory of services that work with young parents. [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/7178/services-for-young-parents]
Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust have produced a set of webpages about mental health support in pregnancy and following the birth of your baby. [https://www.covwarkpt.nhs.uk/mental-health-support-in-pregnancy-and-after-birth]
Birmingham Safeguarding Children Partnership has produced videos and information as part of their Never Ever Shake A Baby campaign. This is linked to the ICON programme adopted by health and social care organisations in the UK to provide information about infant crying, including how to cope, support for parents/carers, how to reduce stress and prevent abusive head trauma in babies.
I - Infant crying is normal and it will stop
C - Comfort methods can sometimes soothe the baby and the crying will stop
O - It’s OK to walk away for a few minutes if you have checked the baby is safe and the crying is getting to you
N - Never ever shake or hurt a baby
See more information and the awareness raising videos. [https://lscpbirmingham.org.uk/campaigns/never-ever-shake-a-baby]
Mental health
Coventry Safe Haven [https://cwsafehaven.org.uk/] offers out-of-hours mental health support to anyone aged 18+ in the Coventry area.
Online safety
Think U Know have produced Online Factsheets for children and young people at both primary age [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/32452/parent_online_safety_helpsheet_-_primary_age] and secondary age [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/32453/parents_online_safety_helpsheet_-_secondary_age].
The Anna Freud Centre has also produced a guide for supporting children and young people in education with their mental health. [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/32455/supporting_children_and_young_people_with_their_mental_health]
County Lines
Visit the Child Exploitation information pages [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/37/childrens_social_care/2415/child_exploitation/3]. They include an explanation of what County Lines means, the signs to look out for, what to do if you're worried about a young person and links to further information if you want to know more.
Some parents choose to share a bed (or other places to sleep) with their baby for most of the night, not just for feeds or comfort. To consider safer co-sleeping with a baby, have a look at our information leaflet [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/6064/safer_sleep_for_babies] and our resources page [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/206/coventry_safeguarding_children_partnership/3962/safe_sleeping] where we have a quick reference guide, recorded presentations from the lullaby trust and links to further support.
Black Lives Matter
Parents' guide to Black Lives Matter [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/6368/parents_guide_to_black_lives_matter].
COVID-19
The NHS has produced a guide to medical assistance if your child is ill or injured. [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/32535/parents_information_-_when_your_child_is_ill_or_injured]
Nitrous Oxide
Download a factsheet [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/33077/nitrous_oxide_factsheet] and leaflet [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/33074/nitrous_oxide_leaflet] for more information on Nitrous Oxide.
Safeguarding resources for children and young people
We sometimes write guides and leaflets specially for young people, to make important information accessible to you easily. We have also included sites and further support available to you below.
- We have a written a leaflet for you to explain who we are, what we do, who is involved and how you can contact us [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/5833/young_persons_guide_to_the_new_safeguarding_arrangements].
- Young person's guide to the Children and Families Act 2014 [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/30377/children_and_young_peoples_guide_to_the_children_and_families_act]
- Young person's guide to contextual safeguarding [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/30532/yps_guide_to_contextual_safeguarding]
- A video guide to PANTS for young people deaf or hard of hearing .
- Save the Children has published a short book called 'Nobody Is Allowed To Harm You' [https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net/node/12483/pdf/niko_ne_sme_da_te_povredi_en.pdf]. It's written in language that you will understand, and explains a lot of the things that you might not.
- See our posters on Adolescent Neglect Here [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/37004/safeguarding_adolescent_neglect_for_young_people]
Child Sexual Abuse (CSA)
We have produced a set of webpages about child sexual abuse, how to spot the signs and where to go for help and support. This includes a specific page of resources for children and young people. [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/coventry-local-safeguarding-children-board/child-sexual-abuse/9]
Online safety
The Childline site [https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/online-mobile-safety/] has tips and resources to help you stay safe online.
Mental health support
Are you worried about your mental health? YoungMinds has loads of help and support [https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/feelings-and-symptoms/] for you on lots of subjects including bullying, anger, body image, exam stress, eating problems, managing grief and loss, problems at school - and more. There's also some general support around mental health, feelings and symptoms and how to look after yourself.
Kooth [http://www.kooth.com] is an anonymous digital counselling and support service for 11 to 25 year olds in Coventry.
Where to go for further help
Call Childline on 0800 1111 or visit their website [https://www.childline.org.uk/] for help, advice and support
The Petals web app [http://petals.coventry.ac.uk/] is for young people, both girls and boys living in the UK who want to find out more about Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and how it might affect them and others they may know.