Updated Greater Manchester safeguarding procedures

Oldham Safeguarding Children Partnership (OSCP) sign up to and follows the Greater Manchester Safeguarding Children Procedures Manual this is to support the safeguarding and wellbeing of children across Oldham. The safeguarding manual has recently been updated, with updates introducing refreshed guidance and important changes across several areas:

All practitioners and organisations working with children, young people and families should review and keep up to date with the Greater Manchester Safeguarding Children Procedures Manual to ensure they are following the latest guidance and best practice.

In case you missed it!…..

Did you know Oldham Safeguarding Adults Board (OSAB) have developed an essential 7-Minute Briefing about sexual exploitation of adults? The briefing focuses on defining sexual abuse and sexual exploitation; who victims may be; risk factors; responding to sexual exploitation; and where to get further information including the Adult Sexual Exploitation Toolkit 

7-Minute Briefings are based on research which suggests that seven minutes is an ideal time span in which to concentrate and learn. Learning for 7 minutes is manageable in most services and often more memorable as it is necessarily brief and not clouded by other issues and pressures. These short, safeguarding snapshots can be a helpful way to support team learning. 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.

Preventing avoidable child deaths

The National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) uses learning from child death reviews, informed by data submitted by local Child Death Overview Panels (CDOPs) across England, to identify opportunities to improve child safety.

NCMD has now launched a series of short videos on accident prevention and safer sleep, designed to share important safety messages in a clear and accessible way. The bite-sized clips can be used by professionals working with families or shared directly with parents and carers through social media.

The training package translates national learning into practical, evidence-informed advice, helping practitioners provide consistent guidance to families and support the prevention of avoidable child deaths. Topics covered include:

  • Safer sleep
  • Creating a safe cot environment (including bedding)
  • Co-sleeping
  • Preventing accidents
  • Keeping babies smoke free
  • Product safety
  • Back to Sleep campaign
  • Bath safety
  • And more

These training videos are aimed at professionals who interact with families and gives them the details they need to better advise anyone who cares for children: Watch the NCMD safer sleep and accident prevention videos

Latest OSAB multi-agency training dates

Multi-agency group training promotes better inter-agency working and understanding of how working as a multi-agency team provides the best opportunity for positive outcomes. OSAB are excited to share new dates for your multi-agency training below, click on each course to find out more and to book your places

Understanding Exploitation Training - 9:30-16:30, 03-09-2026, Rock Street Resource Centre

Homelessness Awareness Webinar - 12:30-14:00, 08-09-2026, Online via Microsoft Teams

Rochdale and Oldham Active Recovery - Service Overview Training - 10:00-12:00, 14-09-2026, Online via Microsoft Teams

Supporting Your Practitioners with Risk Management: TAAs and the TRAM Protocol - 13:00-15:30, 14-09-2026, Online via Microsoft Teams

Mental Capacity Act Training - 13:00-15:30, 16-09-2026, Online via Microsoft Teams

Professional Curiosity and Unconscious Bias Training - 9:30-11:00, 23-09-2026, Online via Microsoft Teams

Risk Management in Oldham Webinar: Team Around the Adult and the TRAM Protocol - 12:00-14:00, 23-09-2026, Online via Microsoft Teams

How to Make a Safeguarding Adult Referral Training - 12:00-13:30, 29-09-2026, Online via Microsoft Teams

Introduction to Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements Training - 10.00-12.00, 16-11-2026, Online via Microsoft Teams

Understanding exploitation training

Exploitation can affect people of all ages and is often hidden behind complex safeguarding concerns. Delivered by Oldham's Complex Safeguarding Team and colleagues from adult support services, this multi-agency training will increase practitioners' awareness of criminal, sexual and financial exploitation, including modern slavery and cuckooing.

A great opportunity to build your knowledge and confidence in recognising and responding to exploitation. The session will help you identify signs and risk factors, understand local response pathways, and explore survivor perspectives, trauma-informed practice, professional curiosity, intersectionality, and transition planning for young people approaching adulthood.

This training course will be delivered in person at 9:30-16:30 on 3 September 2026, at Rock Street Resource Centre, Rock Street, Oldham OL1 3UJ.

To book a place, please email: OSCPtraining@oldham.gov.uk

Oldham advice service launched

Oldham Council and Citizens Advice have launched the new Oldham Advice Service, funded by the UK Government's Crisis and Resilience Fund. This is a free and confidential service that provides residents with support on money, debt, benefits, housing, and financial wellbeing. The aim of the service is to help people access expert advice that can prevent issues from escalating into a crisis.

The service is designed to make getting help easier. Residents will only need to tell their story once. Citizens Advice will listen, assess their needs, and connect them with the right support, whether that's within Citizens Advice or one of the wider partner organisations across the borough.

The service is available by phone Monday to Friday, from 9am to 9pm. These extended evening hours reflect what residents told the council they needed. Many people who work or have caring responsibilities during the day are unable to contact services during standard office hours. Residents can access the service in the way that works best for them:

In person: Visit Citizens Advice at the Customer Service Centre, Spindles Shopping Centre, West Street, Oldham, OL1 1LF (10am–4pm weekdays)

Did you know that a child's brain develops more rapidly in the first five years than at any other time in life?

The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood has created a series of engaging animated films that explain how early brain development is shaped by everyday interactions between babies, young children and the caring adults around them.

Designed for professionals working with children and families, these short animations show how simple, everyday moments, such as talking, playing, comforting and responding to a child's needs, can have a lasting positive impact on their social and emotional development.

Access the animations and supporting learning resources, these are ideal for sharing with staff, parents and carers to promote understanding of the importance of the early years.

Did you know that alcohol is a significant risk factor when it comes to home fire safety?

In the 11-year period ending March 2026, alcohol use featured in the lives of more than a third of people who died in fires in Greater Manchester.

The effects of alcohol increase the likelihood of a fire starting and reduce chances of safe escape in an emergency – think falling asleep with a cigarette burning, forgetting that frying pan on the cooker, failing to hear a sounding smoke alarm, or tripping over when trying to exit the property.

If you provide care or support to people who drink alcohol, help Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) to keep them safe from fire. View the GMFRS alcohol and fire safety leaflet or order free copies of the leaflet by email: preventioneducation@manchesterfire.gov.uk 

Remember, you can support people at increased risk of fire, including people who drink alcohol, by referring them for a Home Fire Safety Assessment – visit the GMFRS website to find out if they are eligible and to make a referral.