I am writing this blog on a train back to Derby at the end of another interesting week working for the CSE Response Unit.

On Monday I was office bound working on the new promotional materials for the ‘Say Something if you See Something’ Campaign resources that we are about to re-launch. The previous resources were developed by the NWG and Response Unit’s Bina Radcliffe and proved very successful having been downloaded over 60,000 times, now is the time to refresh the campaign to ensure the new legislation such as the Modern-Day Slavery Act 2015 (which also incorporates Trafficking and the NRM to support victims of Trafficking) is included.

The new resources will each be packaged separately for Hotel and Accommodation sectors, Taxi and Transportation hub industries, new resources are being developed to include sports facilities and premises, shopping centres and other public areas where children congregate. This work was punctuated by the regular amount of phone calls and e-mails that we respond to daily from fellow professionals…variety is the spice of life so they say?

Tuesday afternoon saw myself and Steve Baguley, who has been contracted to carry out some work on post 16 support for those effected by CSE, travelled down to Taunton in Somerset ready for a Wednesday meeting working with their CSE sub group and facilitate a workshop to help plan a way forward for the future. We felt that it was an excellent use of all of our time and we were inspired by the attendance and commitment of all those who attended, special thanks to Helen MacDonald and Christian Sweeny for helping to arrange the event and make us most welcome whilst we were in Taunton, we wont mention the nightmare journey back home along the M5 and M42 but the journey there was very worthwhile and productive and also highlighted the unique nature of how the CSE Response Unit can help agencies to improve outcomes for children.

Thursday was a very different day as I attended a meeting at the NWG Offices in Derby of the CSE Champions who currently work in Derby City Council Children’s homes, it was a very constructive meeting chaired very ably by Marina Grant who is a registered home manager for the authority, these sessions are so important in helping to develop practice and share information with staff who do not always get to meet together due to working in different homes spread across the city, sharing information via e-mail can be efficient but it is not as effective as sitting with colleagues sharing information and discussing concerns, threats and risks to children in a face to face meeting.  All agreed it was a good meeting and I have agreed to facilitate more meetings in our offices throughout the course of the year, for those who work in residential settings and children’s homes you will know the value of being able to hold a meeting without the potential to be disturbed or disrupted!

The NWG offices also played host to the Police Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCUs) CSE leads and some of their analysts for a CSE flagging exercise, between meetings it was nice to speak to our colleagues from the Police about the different issues that occur in the differing Police regions but also demonstrated how seriously the Police take the current threat levels of child sexual exploitation and abuse. A busy day for all the NWG in the office!

Friday was another completely different day, I was invited to attend a meeting in London by a theatre company who are looking to develop a screen play regarding a specific issue around child sexual exploitation, I found it fascinating how ideas and concepts are developed into stage productions and was only too happy to be able to provide advice and guidance on this topic.                                                                                                                                                                   The NWG have worked directly with a number of theatre companies in the past to develop new resources primarily aimed at schools but this was my first foray into developing a play directly for theatres and playhouses across the country, it was a unique and enjoyable experience talking directly to an artistic director and his creative team alongside two playwrights and a cluster of actors about this topical issue and how it effects children and their parents.

This blog just highlights the different work that is undertaken by the CSE Response Unit each week and I do have to say that no two weeks are ever the same such is the breadth and nature of our network.

 

Kev Murphy

Education and Communities Lead

CSE Response Unit

[email protected]

01332 585371

07399449045