A big part of my role as the Safeguarding Development Worker is delivering our safeguarding awareness training sessions for staff and volunteers who work with children and young people, and adults at risk of harm. It’s part of the role that I really enjoy, especially the challenge of making sure the training is continually updated to reflect current research about abuse.
Both the children’s and adult’s safeguarding courses include information about how to identify different types of abuse including cuckooing.
It became clear to me that most people who attend the training are not aware of what cuckooing is, and who it affects. However, there’s not time on the current one-day courses to cover the topic in detail. Therefore, I’ve developed a new type of training course to add to our offer: Safeguarding Spotlight courses will focus on one topic in detail and can be used as a bite-sized course either before or after attending a safeguarding awareness course. We’re starting with Cuckooing but may add other topics to the series later in the year. The 45-minute training courses will be delivered online, not more than quarterly
I’ve been really fortunate to meet with staff from VCSE organisations in Salford that support both the child and adult victims of cuckooing, ensuring that this training accurately reflects the perspectives of all victims. Speaking to staff from CityWall helped me understand the language that young people use to describe what happens in a “trap house” and how frightening this environment is. The staff at Salford Loaves and Fishes and For Housing helped me to understand the scale of the challenge in stopping the cycle for adult victims, and the importance of person-centred support.
People who attend the Safeguarding Spotlight on Cuckooing will improve their understanding of what cuckooing is; who might be exploited; the signs to look out for and how to report it. The first session will be held in February - more details coming soon!