New OSAB homelessness awareness training
A new Oldham Safeguarding Adults Board (OSAB) training course has been developed to equip practitioners with knowledge and awareness of homelessness legislation and the process a customer would experience should they approach the Council’s Homelessness Services. It will be delivered by members of Oldham Council’s Housing Options team on 21 November 2025.
By the end of the session, participants will understand:
- The statutory duties the Local Authority have to a person experiencing homelessness
- The needs and risks considered within Homelessness assessments, determining priority need
- Details about working in partnership and when to refer to adult safeguarding
Take a look at the flyer for more information including how to book your place.
Learning lessons from child safeguarding practice review: ‘Alpha’
Oldham Strategic Safeguarding Partnership (OSCP) are clear about their responsibilities to learn from experience and improve their services; findings from local child safeguarding practice reviews (LCSPR) are an essential part of this process and provide us with an opportunity to reflect and learn.
On 5 August 2025, OSCP published an executive summary setting out the findings and learning from a LCSPR concerning a serious incident relating to Alpha. At the time of the incident, Alpha was 13 years old. The review identified some key learning but also many aspects of good practice by professionals in Alpha’s care.
This importamt review makes several recommendations to agencies who provide services to children in Oldham. OSCP continues to ensure that progress is being made to strengthen safeguarding practices in Oldham. The executive summary from the Alpha report is available on the OSCP website
New OSAB 7-minute briefing: defensible decision making
OSAB are pleased to share an essential 7-Minute Briefing about Defensible Decision Making. The briefing explains defensible decisions; the importance of analysis and critical reflection and recording; and key considerations including unconscious bias and decision fatigue.
7-Minute Briefings are based on research which suggests that seven minutes is an ideal time span in which to concentrate and learn. Please discuss this briefing within your teams, complete the OSAB-7-Minute Briefing Team Discussion Feedback Form to record and evidence how you have used the briefing and send a copy to OSAB.
Free child sexual abuse training webinars
A national child safeguarding practice review has investigated the experience of 193 children who were sexually abused by a family member. The report reveals that safeguarding agencies were not equipped with the skills and support to listen, hear and protect these children from horrific abuse.
The north west regional improvement pilot programme are delivering multi-agency training via Microsoft Teams. Details of the upcoming training webinars are available on the OSCP website
ICYMI: OSAB safeguarding supervision guidance
In case you missed it…..Did you know OSAB provide Safeguarding Supervision Guidance? The guidance provides an overarching framework for all staff across agencies. It sets out safeguarding supervision principles, with some suggested models for practice to assist in the delivery of safe practice. It outlines the core functions and minimum standards of effective supervision which OSAB requires all partner agencies to closely consider, alongside some key aspects of practice that should be considered in supervision sessions from a safeguarding perspective.
The overall aim of this guidance is to develop and promote a culture in Oldham that values and engages in regular supervision and support within the context of safeguarding.
Take a look at the guidance on the OSAB website
Find child sexual abuse support services
If you, someone you care for, or someone you are working with, needs to find support this summer, the child sexual abuse centre’s (CSA) directory of support services can help.
As a child, young person or adult, finding and getting support can play a large role in mitigating the impacts of sexual abuse in childhood. To make finding services as simple as possible, with a quick postcode search, or by clicking on a map, you can use the directory of support services to see the details of organisations who can help. Find these and links to organisations who can provide immediate advice and assistance, on the get support page of the CSA centre website.
Case study – learning from a fatal fire in Wigan
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) do a lot of great work with partners to prevent fires in the homes of clients and service users. But when a fire does happen, learning from it together is important to improve our partnership work in the community and prevent further incidents.
Following a fatal fire in Wigan in 2023, GMFRS worked with Wigan Adult Social Care and independent care providers to identify and implement learning, resulting in positive outcomes.
Tragically, the casualty died in a smoking related fire at home. They were known to services in Wigan and were receiving care at home. Following the incident, GMFRS worked in partnership to improve awareness of Home Fire Safety Assessments (HFSAs) and the importance of promoting the referral pathway to ensure that people at increased risk of fire receive a HFSA.
Hate and how to effectively challenge session
Hate crime is an act of violence or hostility that is directed at a person or group because of who they are or what they think they are, and it can come in many different forms such as physical attacks, a threat of attack and verbal abuse or insults.
The aim of the 'hate and how to effectively challenge' sessions is to provide information, resources and learning experiences to raise awareness of hate incidents/crimes. There are various dates available:
- Wednesday 15 October 2025, 9.30–11:30am
- Wednesday 4 February 2026, 1–3pm
All sessions will be delivered face to face at Oldham Council Offices, Spindles. Book your place via the online booking form. Further information can be found on the Oldham Council website