Coronavirus (COVID-19) – signposting for Practitioners and Partners

The ESSCP has brought together a number of sources of information and guidance for practitioners and partners regarding coronavirus (COVID-19).

For guidance and support aimed at children, young people and families please select this link

Our colleagues in the East Sussex Safeguarding Adults Board (ESSAB) have seen an increase in areas of exploitation that are a direct result of the pandemic. This may well impact on some of the families we work with. They have produced guidance around a number of issues, including Coronavirus scams and Domestic Abuse.

!NEW! Advice for practitioners regarding home visits and virtual contact:

• Home Visits and Virtual Contact
• Video calling guidance for contacting children and young people
• CAFCASS Knowledge bite – video conferencing with parents and children
• Signs of harm and creating safety in video calls

NHS and Public Health information:

• The NHS has produced a range of advice, including symptoms, what to do if you think you have coronavirus (COVID-19), and self-isolation.
• Advice on social distancing
• Guidance for the public on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Every Mind Matters provides guidance on looking after your mental health.
• The Sussex Mental Healthline offers crisis care for people in urgent need of help with their mental health. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 0300 5000 101
• Guidance on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing
• The ICON programme offers guidance for parents and carers to cope with crying babies.
• The COVID Symptom Tracker has been developed by Guys and St Thomas’ and Kings College NHS Trusts to help stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
• COVID-19: Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking guidance from the NHS and The Home Office

East Sussex County Council Coronavirus (COVID-19) information:

• Intranet general information for ESCC staff
• Intranet Single Source Children’s Services Practitioner information
• External facing general information
• External facing information about schools, children and families’ service
• Community hubs are the contact point that residents of East Sussex can turn to if they:
  • Feel they need extra help in coping with the effects of coronavirus (COVID-19)
  • Know someone else who needs help

Government Advice:

• The coronavirus (COVID-19) page on the GOV.UK website provides guidance on a range of issues, including;
• Guidance on vulnerable children and young people
• Guidance for schools and other educational settings
• Legal: Coronavirus Act 2020. The Coronavirus Act received royal assent on 25 March 2020. The proposals set out in the Act will significantly enhance the ability of public bodies across the UK to provide an effective response to tackle this epidemic by introducing temporary legislation and regulatory easing. The legislation will be time-limited – for 2 years – and not all of the measures will come into force immediately.
• Ofsted: The routine inspection of schools, further education, early years and social care providers has been temporarily suspended.

Further Information:

• Domestic Violence help and support:
  • Staying safe during COVID-19 – A guide for victims and survivors of domestic abuse.
  • Information about support for those experiencing domestic and sexual violence and abuse is available on the Safe in East Sussex website.
  • Woman’s Aid has produced Safety and support resources
  • Alcohol Change UK has produced a briefing paper on Alcohol and DV abuse in the context of Covid-19 restrictions
• Keeping Children Safe: Toolkit to raise awareness of the significance of childhood unintentional injuries.
• Social Care Institute of Excellence (SCIE) is regularly updating their Covid-19 Hub to provide advice to local authorities and care providers.
• NSPCC CASPAR updates providing resources to support work with children, young people and their families.
• Childline has produced a briefing that highlights the main concerns that children and young people have been talking to Childline counsellors about.
• East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service coronavirus (COVID-19) information
• Online safety: Guidance is available to help keep children protected when online. Thinkuknow contains informative and educational tools aimed at children of all ages, parents and carers as part of the #OnlineSafetyAtHome campaign.
• National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and The Children’s Society guidance on responding to Child Sexual Abuse during lockdown.
• The Cyber Crime Unit has issued guidance regarding the use of Zoom video conferencing
• Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner update.
• Training:
  • ESCC LMS eLearning
  • ESSCP e-learning foundation stage module for an essential basic introduction to Safeguarding Children in East Sussex

Accessible information:

• Easy Read Documents:Mencap easy read guides and information about Coronavirus.
• Public Health England easy read guide on Coronavirus.
• Signed Videos: Sign Health have created a series of signed videos explaining what COVID-19 is and what help and advice is available.
• Translations: NHS advice about COVID-19 in 34 different languages.