Big conversation on care launch - help shape the future of adult social care in England

The Big Conversation on Care has launched, giving people across the country the opportunity to share their views, experiences and ideas about the future of adult social care. Led by Baroness Louise Casey as part of a national review of adult social care, the conversation aims to gather feedback from people who receive support, unpaid carers, families, professionals and anyone with an interest in how care services are delivered in the future.

The conversation is looking at questions including:
- What good care and support means to you.
- What people should be able to expect when they need help.
- How services could work better for individuals and families.
- What kind of care system we want for future generations.

There are no right or wrong answers. The aim is to hear from as many people as possible so that future decisions are based on what really matters to communities. If you would like to take part, visit the Big Conversation on Care website and share your thoughts.

Every experience and every voice can help shape the future of adult social care

Family first partnership programme - training opportunities

As part of children's social care practice week, the Family First Partnership programme is offering a range of learning and development opportunities that are open to all partner agencies.

Family First Partnership programme introduction sessions:
- 29 September, 9:30am to 11:00am MS Teams Book your place
- 2 October, 1:00pm to 2:30pm MS Teams Book your place

Learn about the Family First Partnership model and how agencies work together to improve outcomes for children, young people and families in Oldham. The session will cover partnership working, whole-family and trauma-informed approaches, thresholds for support, and practical tools to help provide earlier intervention.

Conflict management and de-escalation training:
- 24 September, 1:00pm to 4:00pm at Rock Street Resource Centre, OL1 3UJ

To register for this in-person session email oscptraining@oldham.gov.uk

This practical session is designed for frontline health and social care staff and will focus on recognising and managing conflict, understanding escalation, using de-escalation techniques, managing difficult conversations, and maintaining personal safety.

Oldham Safeguarding Children Partnership (OSCP) encourage colleagues across the partnership to take advantage of these sessions and share this information with relevant team members.

Launch of the infinite shelf

The Infinite Shelf is a free, public digital archive and companion to Susanna Amato's Landfill of Memories, a autobiographical stage show and podcast about hoarding, grief and the things we keep.

The Infinite Shelf invites anyone to place a memory on a shared, public shelf: a childhood object, something from a tough time, something cherished forever, and then make a gentle, deliberate choice: keep it, or shred it. It's a digital ritual for letting go, built around three principles:
- See the person, not the hoard. The shelf follows the compassionate methodology: personalise, don't pathologise; ask "what happened to you?"
- Destigmatising, not diagnosing. This is not a clinical tool. It's a creative, accessible space where lived experience leads, and judgement is left at the door.
- Safe by design. Community guidelines, anonymous contribution options, and a clear route to crisis support keep the shelf gentle for everyone who uses it.

The Infinite Shelf platform also hosts the Landfill of Memories podcast, the show's methodology, and a growing collection of public memories — all free to explore. Share the shelf with the people you support, your networks, or your communities

Switched on to privacy: helping children stay safe online

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has launched Switched on to Privacy, a campaign to help parents and carers of children aged 4 to 11 understand and discuss online privacy. Just as we teach children about road safety and stranger danger, understanding how personal information is collected, shared and used online is an important life skill. Small, regular conversations can help children make safer choices as they grow up.

The ICO has developed practical resources to help parents and carers support children to understand and protect their personal information from an early age.

Did you know?
- 17% of 3 to 5-year-olds own a smartphone, rising to 79% by age 12.
- 75% of parents are concerned about their child's ability to make safe online privacy choices.
- Yet 21% of parents have never spoken to their child about online privacy.

Useful resources

Campaign resources for schools, early years settings and education organisations

Switched on to privacy checklist

OSCP encourage schools, early years settings and partner organisations to:
- Share the resources with parents and carers.
- Use the materials to support discussions about privacy and personal information online.
- Promote the importance of making informed and safe choices online.

Free event: online radicalisation, communication platforms, AI & gaming, signs, symbols and nihilistic violent extremism

Lenny, a Home Office Prevent Intervention Provider and former Counter Terrorism Intelligence Officer, has kindly agreed to deliver a bespoke presentation for Oldham partner agencies covering emerging terrorism risks, including online radicalisation, communication platforms, terrorists use of Artificial Intelligence, gaming, signs and symbols, and Nihilistic Violent Extremism.

This session supports our understanding of the learning emerging from Phase 1 of the Southport attack Inquiry and its relevance to safeguarding practice.

Lenny is a fantastic presenter, and this is a unique opportunity to hear from an expert with experience from both the intelligence and investigative side of counter terrorism, as well as direct intervention work with individuals who have been drawn into terrorist narratives and ideologies.

The session will be valuable not only from a professional perspective but also personally. Understanding how our children, family members and friends, who access online content, can be vulnerable and preyed upon, by a variety of different extremist groups, whilst using online gaming platforms and social media such as Call of Duty, Roblox, Facebook, Instagram, X, and Snapchat.

Event details: 10.00-11.30am, 24 September 2025, via Microsoft Teams

Book your place online: Online Booking Form

Child bereavement UK: one organisation, one purpose

Earlier this year, Child Bereavement UK and Winston’s Wish came together as one unified organisation, bringing together decades of expertise and experience to support bereaved children, young people, and families across the UK. Now operating as Child Bereavement UK, the charity provides free, UK-wide support for:
- Children and young people (up to age 25) who are bereaved or facing the death of someone important.
- Parents and carers of babies and children who are dying or who have died before their 26th birthday.

The newly merged organisation has introduced a clinically grounded service model that provides different levels of support, from free information and resources to immediate access to bereavement specialists with no waiting list, and ongoing structured support for those who need it most.

While services may look different, their commitment to providing compassionate, accessible support for bereaved families remains unchanged.

Access Child Bereavement UK support for bereaved children, young people and families

Additional resource: read the living with grief leaflet 

Reducing gambling related harms - chapter one training dates

The next round of Chapter One Training has been arranged for frontline professionals to develop skills and understanding to discuss gambling related harms with individuals on their caseloads. The free online sessions can be accessed by anyone interested by registering online but be quick all of the 2026 dates are now fully booked!

Gambling addiction is one of the most common addictions, harming millions. It can affect anyone, at any time. Sign yourself up for this free training, that will provide you with the information, tools, and training that you need to support those harmed by gambling.

This training has been developed based on the best available international evidence on gambling-related harm, by clinicians, and by people with lived experience. It will support you too:
- Understand the causes and effects of gambling harms- including gambling addition and gambling related suicide
- Build skills, confidence and knowledge to identify if someone needs help
- Help people take simple steps to access information and support

Please note, this training will include gambling related sounds and imagery and will reference issues including suicide.

Supporting young people through change and transition

Youth Connect 5 In Transit is a programme designed to help young people navigate periods of change and build resilience during significant life transitions. The next groups will be delivered from Lees Library and Royton Town Hall in September 2026.

This adapted version of the successful Youth Connect 5 programme supports those who may be moving schools, changing communities, or experiencing other significant life changes.

What does the programme offer?
- Practical strategies to help young people manage stress, worries, and emotions during transitions.
- Support for parents, carers, and professionals to strengthen the networks around them.
- Activities that promote emotional wellbeing, resilience, and confidence.
- Lifelong coping skills to help them thrive during periods of change and beyond.

The programme is particularly valuable for families preparing for the transition to high school. It is also recognised by CAMHS and aligns with NICE guidance for supporting children and young people who may be on a pathway for additional mental health support.

Promotional posters for the programme are available on the OSCP website. Please share these with parents, carers, and colleagues who support children and young people experiencing transitions. View the Youth Connect 5 In Transit posters on the OSCP website