NSPCC Bradford has capacity to take referrals to two services that support children and families.
The free services have been adapted to function during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The two services are In CTRL and Seeking Solutions.
In CTRL is a preventative child sexual abuse service. In Ctrl practitioners work with children and families to prevent
child sexual abuse online by working directly with them to help them gain an understanding of the potential risks, as well as the benefits that exist when being online.
Seeking Solutions is aimed at enabling children from 7 – 18 years to consider goals they may have and how to achieve them. This may include making friends, dealing with bullying, regulating emotions, family relationships, managing worries.
Full details of each, and how to make a referral, can be found below.
In CTRL (adapted virtual offer during COVID-19)
In Ctrl is an NSPCC preventative child sexual abuse service. In Ctrl practitioners have been working with children and families to prevent
child sexual abuse online by working directly with them to help them gain an understanding of the potential risks, as well as the benefits that exist when being online. The original service was developed and feasibility tested as a group-work programme,
but due to the circumstances around COVID-19, the programme has been reviewed and adapted to work on a 1:1 basis and tailored to the needs of the individual child and parent.
The adapted In Ctrl offer will provide children and their parents, where appropriate, tailored 1-1 support to help keep children safe online. The support will be relationship-based meaning practitioners build rapport and trust with the family to meaningfully
engage them, understand their specific support needs and respond to these using a range of approaches and creative activities.
Alternative support that can be offered:
Advice, guidance and support to parents and carers:
Where appropriate, our In Ctrl practitioners are available to offer specific advice and guidance on important issues, such as managing children’s screen time and routines when spending more time at home because of COVID-19.
Consultation for professionals:
Our In Ctrl practitioners are available to provide professional consultations to partner agencies such as schools to help enhance their confidence to support families with online safety in general and signpost them to national NSPCC resources.
Referral criteria:
This is a preventative service aimed at preventing child sexual abuse online.
Eligibility Criteria:
• Children aged between 9 and 13 years
• Children identified as vulnerable due to previous adverse experiences
• Children who are experiencing adversity (including due to current COVID-19 situation)
Who can refer?
• Local authority partners
• Schools that have referred to In Ctrl previously.
• Other partners we have working relationships with for example early help services, parenting services etc.
What do you need to do to refer?
• Enquiries and referrals can be made via telephone on 01274 381440
• Once it has been established that the referral is appropriate the practitioner will send out a referral form via email or the practitioner will complete the referral form with the referrer over the phone and send this to be agreed and signed.
• Self-referrals can be accepted from parents/carers if the referral criteria are met.
Seeking Solutions (revised offer during COVID-19)
Seeking Solutions is an NSPCC service aimed at enabling children from 7 – 18 years consider goals they may have and how to achieve them. This may include making friends, dealing with bullying, regulating emotions, family relationships, managing worries.
The adapted Seeking Solutions programme will offer:
- Solution focused sessions, minimum of 3 sessions, which can take place via video call with children from 7 – 18 years.
- The child/young person will have to understand the purpose of the service and must have given verbal consent. We expect that the child has spoken about their goal, for example “I wish I didn’t worry so much”, “I wish I didn’t get angry all the time” etc…
- The child/young person must have already identified the anxiety or goal that they would like support with before they are referred to the service such as - making friends, dealing with bullying, regulating emotions, family relationships, managing worries.
This could also include managing worries regarding the current COVID-19 situation.
- If a child does not want to access the service or has not given their consent they cannot be referred. However, if a parent would like some support and prompts on how to support their child to manage their anxieties or worries, information can be shared
with parents or referring professionals to support with this. This can include solution focused resources and crib sheets on how to support children and young people in a solution focused approach. This could also be offered to foster carers.
- The child referred, would need some quiet space within the home to access the Seeking Solutions service via video call.
- The child will need support from a parent or trusted carer after sessions.
- Workers will speak with parents after sessions to keep parents in the loop.
How to refer?
- Enquiries and referrals can be made via telephone on 01274 381440
What happens when we have received a referral?
- Following receiving a referral, allocated worker will contact the referred child/young person and their parent/carer via telephone.
- During initial telephone contact, worker will seek informed, verbal consent. Consent to the service will need to be explained to the service user to include: Safeguarding, Child Protection, Sharing of Information, Complaints and Access to records. During
initial contact allocated worker will explain that we are offering an amended version of Seeking solutions over the phone on a 1:1 basis.
- It will be explained that this is not a crisis service, but a planned telephone appointment system. We will be offering some key aspects of Seeking Solutions focusing on the child’s goal or worry.
- If the child/adult wants to proceed allocated worker will complete an assessment using the service assessment form via telephone.
- Ongoing liaison will be undertaken with any professional network supporting the child.