As a response to learning which has taken place in the city, several campaigns have been developed this year, highlighting key messages for families, parents, carers, children and professionals.
Bath Time Duck
Bath time can be a fun time for both babies and young children, and parents and carers alike. It’s an opportunity for bonding, exploration, and play, however water can be dangerous, especially so for babies and young children who require constant and appropriate supervision during bath time.
To support practitioners the LSCP developed the Bath Time Duck to help parents and carers remember the essential safety advice that they need to know to keep their baby or child safe at bath time.
Practitioners can use the Bath Time Duck as part of their usual interaction with parents and carers where safe bathing is discussed.
A variety of resources were created to support the campaign, as well as social media messages.
The Bath Time safety campaign ran from 1st- 30th June via social media advertising using Facebook and Instagram. In total the advert had a reach of reach of 15,969 profile pages.
Driveway safety
As a response to the tragic death of a young child, a poster for children’s centres was designed and distributed to all centres via the Leeds for Learning website.
A web page was also developed in the Families section of the LSCP website with helpful information on how to keep your child safe around driveways.
Drowning Prevention Week – 17th June 2023
Working in partnership with Active Leeds and the Yorkshire Sport Foundation, the LSCP posted water safety messages during Drowning Prevention Week via their social media channels. These messages continued during the summer holidays when the risk to young people, through accidental drowning increases significantly. Messages included; When the weather is hot young people can be tempted to go for a dip in the local river or reservoir, but swimming in open waters is extremely dangerous.
Online safety campaign – start the conversation
A campaign to inform parents about how to keep children safe online and prevent them becoming a victim of child exploitation was developed this year. The campaign equipped parents and carers with the knowledge and confidence to talk to young people about their online activity and the potential dangers.
The campaign was developed with the LSCP working in partnership with West Yorkshire Police, Basis Yorkshire, WYCA and the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP).
The campaign launched on Monday 30th October 2023 and materials were shared across the West Yorkshire Safeguarding Communications Group, which is made up of representatives from each of the five local authorities as well as NHS, charities, WYCA and VRP. Details of the campaign were also shared with West Yorkshire Police’s Community Engagement and School Liaison Teams.
The overall intention was that the campaign would help parents become aware of potential risks earlier, so that they can prevent any inappropriate online activity escalating into cases of child sexual or criminal exploitation.
Focus group activity took place to gage insight from young people across West Yorkshire.
The ‘Start the conversation’ campaign aimed to encourage parents and carers to have conversations with their children about their online activity. Creating an open dialogue means that a child will be more likely to tell a trusted adult if they have concerns. Parents are then in a better position to protect their child and help prevent any inappropriate online activity escalating into cases of child sexual or criminal exploitation.
The launch included:
- Dedicated web pages on the LSCP website and WY Police website
- A press release - Parents Urged to ‘Start the Conversation’ as Part of New Campaign | West Yorkshire Police
- Facebook adverts targeting adults in West Yorkshire which ran from 30th October to 31st December
- Adverts on Pulse radio
- Digital radio ads targeting adults across West Yorkshire
- Outdoor digital display ads.
Evaluation
The campaign continues to be shared regularly on the West Yorkshire Police and LSCP Facebook and X (Twitter) pages.
The paid for Facebook ads received 8,335 clicks and reached 280,380 people.
The digital ads were played 300,000 times.
Legacy and future plans
A leaflet for parents is in development which will be circulated through the school network and via Leeds for Learning to education staff.
A series of short videos are also being developed which show adults and children having conversations about the games and apps that children use, with children explaining how they work to the adults.
Response following a suspected suicide: guidance for Leeds schools.
Following several cases in Leeds, discussions took place regarding the need for guidance for schools following a suspected suicide of a child or staff member within their settings. A task group took this work forward which included the LSCP, Public Health,Leeds Suicide Bereavement Service and The Samaritans, as well as input from the Educational Psychology team.
Consultation with school staff was completed via the LSCP Education Safeguarding group and the Healthy Schools Steering Group.
The guidance for Leeds schools is aimed to be used as a reference if a death does sadly occur and can also to be used to develop a critical incident plan.
The guidance is published on the Leeds for Learning website: Response following a suspected suicide: guidance for Leeds schools | Leeds for Learning