Background Information

Turning Point - Rochdale and Oldham Active Recovery (ROAR) are the local drug and alcohol treatment service in Oldham. They support individuals to make positive changes surrounding their drug and/or alcohol use. This is achieved by offering key working sessions with the individual, psychosocial interventions, opiate substitute prescribing, health and wellbeing assessments, harm reduction sessions, health and wellbeing appointments and access to detox and rehab placements.

Session Aims and Objectives
This training session will provide a clear introduction to Turning Point, outlining who they are, how they support and work with their clients, and the full range of services and pathways on offer. It also guides participants through the referral process, ensuring they understand how to direct individuals into appropriate treatment. The session is aimed at people who are supporting service users/clients who are working through their own personal substance use journey. The session is designed to enhance participants knowledge of substance/substance use and empower them to have the confidence to administer potentially lifesaving treatment.

Time/Date/Delivery
10:00-12:00, 15 September 2026, via Microsoft Teams.

If you are interested in booking a place for this session, please complete the online booking form. You will then be contacted to discuss availability.

Lunch & learn: THC and THC vapes – places still available

Early Break is offering a 30-minute lunch and learn session for professionals in Oldham working with children and families on Thursday 9 July, 12:00–12:30 (via Teams).

Join them online for a short, focused lunchtime briefing to stay up to date on emerging trends in ketamine use among children and young people. Places are still available, book today. The session will explore:
• The effects of THC and synthetic cannabinoids
• Signs and behaviours to watch for
• How to engage and support young people
• When and how to refer to specialist substance use services

This session will boost staff confidence in recognising and responding to vape-related substance use in young people

Register for the THC awareness session

ICYMI!…..

Did you know Oldham Safeguarding Adults Board (OSAB) have developed an essential 7-Minute Briefing about cuckooing? The briefing focuses on defining cuckooing; spotting the signs; responding to cuckooing; and where to get further information including the Oldham Cuckooing guidance 

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.

Working together for families: latest from families first

Oldham’s Families First Partnership continues to progress at pace, aligning with the national Children’s Social Care Reset (2026–2029), which focuses on earlier support, stronger family networks, and improved outcomes for children

Locally, partners have been working together to strengthen a more joined up, family centred system, including the development of new tools, multi agency approaches, and district-based pilots to improve how support is delivered.

Extensive engagement with practitioners, children and families is helping to shape this work, ensuring services reflect lived experience and local need.

Overall, the programme is focused on making it easier for families to access the right help, at the right time, from the right people.

The June newsletter and previous editions are available on the Oldham Safeguarding Children Partnership (OSCP) website where you can also find further updates and opportunities to get involved.

Public survey: safeguarding awareness and communication

Oldham Safeguarding Adults Board (OSAB) are asking people in Oldham to take part in a short survey about safeguarding awareness and communication. The aim is to improve how we share important messages, understand what people already know, and reach more people in our communities. Can you support us to share details of the survey with residents? There’s a poster available which might help!

It only takes about 10 minutes to complete, and feedback will help shape improvements to safeguarding information locally. People can take part by scanning the QR code on the poster or via this link: 

Complete the Survey!

The survey is open to all residents and community groups and closes on 19 July 2026. Residents’ views really will make a difference. People can send us an email if they’d like to arrange for us to call them so they can answer the survey questions by telephone.

Finally, do you live in Oldham?! If you do, click on the link and tell us your thoughts!

Understanding the social media ban: supporting children together

The Molly Rose Foundation is a UK charity founded in memory of Molly Russell, working to prevent youth suicide and improve online safety. It has produced clear guidance to help parents, carers, and professionals understand recent developments in children’s online safety.

While some may welcome these changes as a positive step, others may feel uncertain about what they mean in practice. These announcements are likely to raise questions and strong feelings for children and young people.

Parents, carers, and professionals all play an important role in supporting children as the online landscape evolves. While safety measures are intended to reduce harm, risks online remain, making ongoing support and open conversations essential.

Children may hear different messages from friends, school, or online. They do not need adults to have all the answers, but they do need to feel listened to, reassured, and supported. By working together, adults can help children make sense of changes and stay safe.

Find out more

First responder toolkit: referring victims of modern slavery into the National Referral Mechanism

The NRM Toolkit for First Responders in England and Wales has been through several iterations to ensure it meets the needs of both experienced and new First Responders. It has been developed to provide clear, user friendly, practical, step by step support and to simplify the process for referring potential victims of modern slavery into the NRM. 

The Toolkit includes:
• Tips for completing each section of the NRM form
• Advice on producing high quality referrals
• Advice on conducting trauma informed interviews
• Advice on explaining the NRM process
• A First Responder checklist

Please note the toolkit is intended as an aid and will not replace the Modern Slavery Statutory Guidance or the NRM guidance. The toolkit is available on the Report modern slavery - GOV.UK page alongside the NRM referral form.

HAF summer programme: free activities and food for eligible families

We are pleased to share details of the Oldham Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme for this summer. The programme offers funded holiday activities for children and young people, supporting them to eat more healthily, stay active, be safe, reduce social isolation, and learn more about health and nutrition.

You can find full details and how to access activities by visiting the HAF programme webpage 

Please help us share this information widely with the families you support, as well as colleagues and partners, to ensure as many children and young people as possible can benefit from a healthy and active summer.