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Lancashire Violence Reduction Network News December 2020

Lancashire Violence Reduction Network News

December 2020

Welcome to the December issue of the LVRN newsletter, the final issue for this year. While 2020 hasn't been as any of us expected, we are pleased that we were still able to support Lancashire communities, working with partners to adapt programmes to ever changing circumstances so that they could continue where reasonably practical.

We've been taken aback at the passion and commitment from organisations and individuals we've worked with, who have been innovative in their approach to support others during what has been a challenging time for many.

In this newsletter we provide you with a whistle-stop tour of some of the achievements of this year. Let us know what you think of the new format - we hope a more visual approach will add flavour to the content.

Contents

  1. Trauma informed Lancashire
  2. Youth engagement
  3. Divert intervention programme
  4. Emergency Department Navigators
  5. MARRAC review
  6. Prisoners and their families
  7. Knife and violent crime enforcement

1. Trauma informed Lancashire

Trauma informed practice training is up and running!

As we spoke about in the last newsletter, members of the Lancashire Violence Reduction Network team have been putting together a trauma informed training package which has now been delivered successfully across multiple agencies. Bringing a common language across all partner agencies, the training aims to help embed a trauma informed approach, supporting the commitment to a trauma informed Lancashire.

A trauma informed approach is about developing a deeper understanding of the lived experience of others, not excluding ourselves, our family members and our colleagues and we have received some very positive feedback from the sessions.

Train the trainer multi-agency approach

We have developed and delivered multi-agency how-to sessions involving 150 children's social care and 100 multi-agency practitioners, alongside staff and students from Blackpool and Fylde University. We are developing a train the trainer approach to help Lancashire become a trauma informed county and will continue with multi-agency project in the New Year. We are already committed to projects within early help organisations including children and family wellbeing teams.

We have developed and delivered multi-agency how-to sessions involving 150 childrens social care and 100 multi-agency staff.

A self-assessment project is underway with practice development managers within childrens social care to help them ensure that a trauma informed approach is embedded in day-to-day practice across childrens social care and seen as a part of everyday practice and not just another model.

A separate project is underway with Grade 9 social workers and the principle social worker to bring a trauma informed approach to a local team level.

We've been able to offer the training sessions virtually during the pandemic restrictions and will review periodically with a view to moving back to in-person sessions when it's safe to do so.

We are hoping to schedule in further train the trainer sessions for 2020.

Training delivered to new student police officers

A beskpoke training package on taking a trauma informed approach has been developed with police officers in mind and successfully delivered to a large proportion of new Lancashire police student officers.

The feedback so far has been extremely positive and well received. The aim is that the whole intake of students will be fully versed in the trauma informed approach and will take it out on to the streets of Lancashire . We are already planning the training rollout throughout the police force.

Walk the Talk: Childhood trauma podcast

Aimed at those involved in policing but relevant to others too, this podcast is a chat about childhood trauma experiences and how trauma informed policing can really make a difference. The panel discuss:

  • Intergenerational trauma – breaking the cycle
  • Professional curiosity and taking an empathetic, trauma informed approach
  • Are all criminals bad or do good people do bad things?
  • Choice when experiencing trauma and choice about recovery
  • Two different experiences of reporting trauma to the police

Have a listen to some powerful testimonials on how taking a trauma informed approach can make a real difference to people’s lives today and to the generation that follows. The podcast is hosted by PC Dave Thomas, with guests DCS Sue Clarke (Head of Lancashire Violence Reduction Network), and Rose Latham and Daniel Wolstencroft of Empower the Invisible Project.

Resources: trauma infomed approach toolkit

Resources including a trauma informed approach toolkit are available on the Lancashire VRN website which have been developed as a first step for all agencies looking to understand what a trauma informed approach means and how to assess where their organisation is on its trauma informed journey.

2. Youth engagement

Youth Commission on Crime Reduction and Prevention

The joint youth engagement programme with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner has commenced with 25 young people recruited to form the Youth Commission on Crime Reduction and Prevention. Members of the Youth Commission have met twice, and at both sessions they were joined by the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner and the Programme Manager from Lancashire Violence Reduction Network (LVRN).

Initial discussions by the young people have produced 6 draft priorities which will be developed further in a series of workshop sessions over the next few weeks:

  • Hate crime
  • Abusive relationships
  • Mental health
  • Drugs and alcohol
  • Social media and online crime
  • Relationships with the police

The Youth Commission is facilitated by Leaders Unlocked.

Blackburn with Darwen Youth Forum

Blackburn with Darwen Youth Forum logo

LVRN representatives have met with young people from the Blackburn with Darwen Youth Forum to explore their issues and concerns regarding reducing and preventing crime.

Relationships with the police, abusive relationships and hate crime were identified as key priorities by the Youth Council and they have agreed to meet again with LVRN in January 2021.

UCLan voluntering partnership launched

A new partnership has launched which offers students on the University of Central Lancashire's (UCLan) BSc Professional Policing degree programme the opportunity to volunteer to support projects in communities across Lancashire in conjunction with Lancashire Violence Reduction Network.

UCLan volunteers will build on their understanding of the root causes of violence and become role models to those they meet while supporting LVRN funded projects. Projects are to include delivering violence prevention messages to young people within colleges and schools and supporting community outreach work.

Captain Calm to the rescue!

Excerpts from the Captain Calm story

Captain Calm is the first project that UCLan's policing students volunteers are developing and delivering in conjunction with LVRN. A group of UCLan students are leading sessions with year 1 and 2 pupils to help children to think about and develop their resilience.

‘Captain Calm’, a story written by 6 year old Charlie Mooney to appeal to children of a similar age, tells of how a young boy donned a badge which gave him super hero powers to recognise feelings such as anger or sadness and think before acting to help him to make positive decisions. Captain Calm uses these superpowers to help other children to make positive decisions that make them feel happy too.

The sessions are being delivered remotely until the students are able to gain access into schools in-person and have already secured a schedule of 12 schools who would like to received the programme, with more to follow.

3. DIVERT intervention programme

We were very excited to bring the DIVERT custody intervention programme to Lancashire. Having seen its success in other areas we launched the initiative at Preston custody suite back in March, just as pandemic restrictions came into place.

During the pandemic coaches underwent further training and helped in the community and were eager to get started in custody suites as soon as it was possible.

Delivering essential supplies to residents.

Supporting the community during pandemic restrictions.

Keeping in touch with the team remotely.

Delivering essential supplies to residents.

Gaining access to custody suites

September came round and we were able to gain access into custody suites and started offering the service in Blackpool, with Preston, Lancaster and Blackburn to follow.

DIVERT is expanding to include Burnley FC Community Sports Trust

Looking ahead we are delighted to announce that Burnley FC community trust have agreed to become part of the DIVERT Lancashire programme.

This means that now all 8 of the county's football community trusts are part of the work being carried out in Blackpool, Preston and Blackburn custody suites.

All 8 of the county’s football community trusts are part of the work in the Blackpool, Preston and Blackburn custody suites.

It has also been agreed that young people aged 17 years and 6 months, currently under the guidance of youth offending teams, will be triaged and invited to join the programme to ensure that they have support whether they transition across to probation service or not.

This approach is the beginning of a step towards DIVERT youth to hopefully make positive changes in younger peoples lives.

DIVERT offers support to people in custody to help them to make positive decisions in life to reduce the chances of them re-offending.

4. Emergency Department Navigators

The emergency department navigator scheme helps people to access support services. It’s based within Blackpool Victoria Hospital’s emergency department and supports people aged 10-39. Between January and November 2020, ED Navigators had contact with 380 people.

Between January and November 2020, ED Navigators had contact with 380 people.

Throughout the pandemic restrictions we had to slightly adapt our model to deliver the service via phone calls and our usual patients were being signposted through different routes. We have now reverted back to a mixed approach with some face to face support in the ED department and all others by follow up phone calls.

An academic evaluation of the ED Navigators project is under way with Liverpool John Moores University and Ipsos MORI.

Emergency Department Navigators

Patient story

James (not his real name), attended the emergency department the day after being assaulted by several men in Blackpool. He informed the staff that he hadn't reported the incident to the police and didn't wish to and provided no further information about what had happened.

An ED Navigator later phoned James to talk about his coming into the emergency department and offer support. The ED Navigator explained their role and situations that are occurring in the area around drug debts. James didn't want support so the ED Navigator left contact details for in case James changed his mind.

The next day James sent a text to the ED Navigator stating that he didn't like to say on the phone the previous day, but he had a debt to pay and this was the reason for the assault. The ED Navigator called James and talked about how James had tried to get a job to pay off the debt but this hadn't worked out.

The ED Navigator listened to James and offered the following practical support:

  • Helped James to write a CV and cover letter and gave him printed copies and envelopes
  • Offered support from the local drugs counselling service and suggested a referral to Victim Support (declined at this stage)
  • Referred James to DIVERT for ongoing support with accommodation, employment and training. James engaged with this for a short time then said it was no longer needed as he had secured a job.

James lost his job and recontacted the ED Navigator for further help and support which resulted in him accepting a referral for drugs counselling and receiving an introduction into the local boxing gym.

James has now secured a full-time job with a building company and is happy there and can see a positive future for himself. He hasn't used drugs for several weeks and is very proud of this, adding that going to boxing has helped. James is looking for a flat in a nearby town where he has happy childhood memories and sought help from the ED Navigator with the forms. He is working towards competing as a boxer and is really enjoying it.

Nursing Times Awards

The team were proud to be finalists at these national awards in the category of Emergency and Critical Care for the Emergency Department navigators' serious violence and knife crime work.

5. MARRAC review

Lancashire's new multi-agency risk reduction, assessment and co-ordination (MARRAC) approach came about as a result of unprecedented demand and professional concerns over a period of time. Over around 18 months a group of multi-agency practitioners with expertise in domestic abuse and violence undertook a systems review which led to a complete redesign of the service. This created an exciting opportunity to work more effectively and holistically with individuals and families, co-ordinating support with a clear aim to prevent further domestic abuse and violence.

The team works inclusively with victims, perpetrators and children, in order to ascertain the needs of individuals and families.

The new approach was designed by listening to the perspectives of people involved in domestic violence and abuse. The team works inclusively with victims, perpetrators and children, in order to ascertain the needs of individuals and families. It is these individuals and families who remain at the heart of the MARRAC team’s work.

An initial implementation in Preston was received well and discussions are taking place with the core team of partners to facilitate rolling out in Blackburn with Darwen.

Once agreements are made as to when and how the implementation will begin, the next step is for us to organise and deliver training for the core agencies and wider partnership. There will also be new roles within the team to recruit into.

Planning meetings have also been set with Blackpool and the Lancashire County Council area in preparation for roll out across the whole of Lancashire.

6. Prisoners and their families

Mia's story

In England and Wales 312,000 children per year live with the consequences of a parent being in prison. That is more than 3 times the number of looked after children in the country or 2% of the child population.

Outcomes for this group are poor with 65% of boys with a parent in prison going on to offend themselves, 25% of these children suffering from significant mental health problems and a hugely disproportionate number being represented in the care community.

65% of boys with a parent in prison going on to offend themselves.

Training to address the needs of children with a parent in prison has been offered to all schools and multi-agency practitioners across Lancashire, through 17 possible dates, covering issues including why this experience is recognised as trauma, how children are affected, the impact of shame and stigma, the need for honesty, how to support contact arrangements and LVRN plans for future innovations.

Representatives from 445 schools and 105 multi-agency practitioners, including Social Workers, Probation Officers, mental health practitioners, school nurses and third sector representatives have attended training.

Representatives from 445 schools and 105 multi-agency practitioners... have attended training.

The training introduced resources to support families and children affected by a parent being in prison, using the story of Mia as a vehicle to demonstrate key messages around how to support this vulnerable and under supported group.

1,090 books have been requested by practitioners, and police teams are in the process of arranging distribution of Mia's Story to all those who placed an order. We are very excited to see this beautiful resource in the hands of children, parents and front-line practitioners, helping to improve outcomes for children and families.

Excerpts from Mia's Story

We've received excellent feedback from training attendees:

  • "I wish I’d had possession of all that information 4 years ago when I started working with a little ‘Mia’ of our own. I did the best I could, at the time, with the knowledge I had. I still often ‘catch up’ with her and look forward to sharing Mia’s story with her." – Primary school.
  • "Thank you for the informative meeting and the power point, we will definitely be cascading this to our staff." – Nursery school
  • "A really informative, useful session and I am glad to be updating our very outdated resources!" – Social services
  • "A big thank you for a very informative training session. It has provided a lot of food for thought. Looking forward to receiving the PowerPoint which will be a great resource for all staff in school so thank you. I would like to order 12 copies of the book please as it would be great to have one in every class." – Primary school

Operation Encompass

Feedback survey conducted with schools

A survey was conducted asking all Lancashire schools anout their experiences of Operation Encompass.

320 returns were received, which is just over 50% of the total issued and the responses were very positive:

  • 99% of settings are confident about how to respond to a notification
  • 98% feel that notifications have been useful in supporting families appropriately
  • 97% feel that notifications have helped to improve outcomes for children and families.
  • 96% found the training to be useful.

Here are some examples of how the notifications have enabled schools to support children and their families:

  • Support given to a suicidal mum who agreed to work with Adaction. This family is beginning to stabilise with a full multi-agency approach in place to support the mother and family.
  • School fully informed when invited to attend strategy discussion with CSC which allowed time to prepare in advance.
  • Children offered support from learning mentors on the day of referral received. Support included informal chat over breakfast, drinks, therapeutic input to address trauma and understand how to respond and remain safe.
  • Some children have spent the morning in the Rainbow Room. This is a therapeutic environment where they snuggled up on sofas with breakfast, drinks, expert support, and cuddles where needed. This has made all the difference, allowing them to go back to their classrooms feeling nurtured and supported.

Notifications and compliance rates

Over 1,200 notifications are received by schools each month. The survey results give reassurance that the majority of notifications are ensuring children and their families received increased support.

Compliance rates, in terms of notifications being sent by police, are continuing to improve with some teams achieving 100% compliance and compliance rates reaching almost 80%.

Operation Encompass to extend to colleges

All colleges pan-Lancashire have attended training in November 2020, and have been set up to receive notifications from February 2021.

All ITP providers are attending the same training in January 2021, ready to receive notifications from February 2021.

7. Knife and violent crime enforcement

Operation Sceptre week of intensification

Lancashire Violence Reduction Network and the Constabulary supported the recent Operation Sceptre national week of intense action on knife crime.

This week of intensification saw increased police activity across the county including weapons sweeps, knife arches, and test purchasing.

Operation Edge

Operaton Sceptre is part of the wider Operation Edge initiative which has been in place for the last 18 months and works to reduce knife and violent crime in Lancashire through police activity, Between July and September this year, Operation Edge has seen over 1,700 knives and other weapons removed from the streets.

Between July and September this year, Operation Edge has seen over 1,700 knives and other weapons removed from the streets.

A new brand image has been launched for Operation Edge as a recognisable entity for members of the public to associate with the work being done to keep communities safe from knife and violent crime.

7. Contact

Lancashire Violence Reduction Network

County Hall, Fishergate, Preston PR1 8XB

+44 (0) 1772 537026

LancsVRN@lancashire.police.uk

LancsVRN.co.uk

Twitter: @LancsVRN