Redbridge local safeguarding children board

News:   07 October 2025

New!  Event for local Foster Carers and Social Workers

Project ADDER from the metropolitan police service wish to invite local foster carers and social workers to attend an event on 3 November, between 10am and 2pm at Redbridge Town Hall, Ilford.  The event, ‘A generational shift in the demand for drugs and exploitation’ is an opportunity for carers and social workers to have an in-depth discussion and learning experience into the current trends of the drug market.  Lunch will be provided and the event is free of charge.  Bookings can be made via the Eventbrite link below:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1741532523659?aff=oddtdtcreator

New!  Elective Home Education (EHE) Information

New content is now available on Elective Home Education (EHE).  There is a page for parents and carers, and a separate page for professionals.

RSCP Annual Scrutiny Report 2024 – 2025

The RSCP Annual Scrutiny Report for 2024 – 2025 is now available to download via the link below:

Private Fostering

Do you know of a child who is being cared for by someone who is not a close relative for more than 28 days? It is required by law for Children’s Services to be notified of these arrangements to ensure the safety of the child.  Redbridge Council are holding a Private Awareness Session online on MS Teams on 5th November 11am until 12pm and would encourage you and relevant members of your team to attend to find out more about what these arrangements are and when we would need to be legally notified.  Please visit www.redbridge.gov.uk/private-fostering or https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1737520764379?aff=oddtdtcreator to book a place.

Private fostering describes an arrangement when someone who is not a close relative cares for another person’s child under the age of 16 (18 if disabled) for 28 days or more.  A close relative is considered to be an aunt, uncle, grandparent, step parent or siblings. Other family members such as cousins or great aunts are not classed as close relatives for the purposes of Private Fostering.  Private Fostering also includes families hosting overseas students being educated in the UK.

To notify us about a private fostering arrangement in Redbridge, please contact Redbridge Children’s Services on 020 8708 3885 or by email CPAT.Referrals@redbridge.gov.uk

For more information please visit our website: https://www.redbridge.gov.uk/private-fostering

RSCP Training Programme 2025 – 2026 Launched

We are delighted to launch our 2025/26 Redbridge Safeguarding Children Partnership Training Programme, providing learning opportunities for multi-agency professionals and volunteers working with children and families in Redbridge.  We had some great feedback on our offer last year and we want to thank all our facilitators, many of whom are local practitioners and experts for their time and effort, and our trainees for their commitment to transferring learning into outcomes for children.   This year’s Programme will offer a mix of in-person and online training and some free online briefings, arranged in four parts:

  1. Understanding Safeguarding Risks and Responding to Learning
  2. Contextual Safeguarding and Child-on-Child Abuse
  3. Responding to Local and National Priorities
  4. Creating Safer Settings for Children and Families

If you are not currently on our mailing list, you can sign up here for regular updates.  Please forward this email to any of your colleagues or partners who you think would benefit.  Don’t forget there’s lots of information and resources on safeguarding on our website.

To book your place on any of our courses or briefings, please use our online booking form.  (N.B. if the course you’re interested in still has dates to be confirmed, you won’t be able to book yet but we’ll advertise dates as soon as they’re set).  For notes on training fees and cancellation policy, please click here and visit our website for full details of our training programme.  Please note we charge for non-attendance in most instances, even if the course is free to attend.  We look forward to seeing you on one of our briefings or courses soon!

Barnardos TIGER Training in North East London

TIGER (Trauma Informed Growth and Empowered Recovery) is a service provided by Barnardos.  Part of this offer is free online training for those working in health, social care, and education.  Courses include:

  • Trauma Informed Practice (12 November, 10:00 – 13:00)
  • Working with Children Displaying Harmful Sexual Behaviour (21 January, 13:00 – 16:00)
  • Working with Sibling Sexual Abuse (25 February, 10:00 – 13:00)

Bookings should be made via Eventbrite.  For more information contact TIGER via 07519 294000 or tigerservice@barnardos.org.uk

Additional information is available on the leaflet which can be downloaded via the link below:

Reminder – Contact with Local Authority – Children’s Social Care

This is a reminder that professionals wishing to make a safeguarding referral, request for information or services, or a notification to contact LBR Children’s Services that the on-line portal:

CSA Centre Webinars

The CSA Centre are again offering free webinars for professionals to help build confidence in working with children and families where there have been concerns about sexual abuse.    Bookings can be made via the link below: