Information and advice for Professionals

Gov.uk Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Guidance collection for health professionals and other organisations

COVID-19 Victim and Witness Services - Gov.uk have published information on accessing victim and witness support services

Child friendly explanation of Coronavirus

Safelives - Responding to the challenges of Covid-19: Guidance for Multi-agency forums (including Maracs) 

Dedicated website for youth sector launchedthis external link will open in a new window - UKYouth and the NYA have pulled together to launch a new web resource for the youth sector. The site has been developed to provide a SINGLE point of access for information for youth workers and those working with young people. 

Supporting children and young people’s mental health during times of disruption - The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families has published advice and guidance for schools on how to help children and young people in primary, secondary and post-16 settings manage their mental health and wellbeing during times of disruption to their learning. Read the report: Supporting school and colleges: a guide to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of pupils and students during periods of disruption (PDF)

Remote teaching: safeguarding children and young peoplethis external link will open in a new window - NSPCC Learning has published a webpage with resources to help schools keep children and young people safe while teaching in a remote or unusual setting. Topics covered include: consent; contacting children at home; child protection concerns; online safety and mental health and wellbeing.  See also on NSPCC Learning > Online safety trainingthis external link will open in a new window

How to have difficult conversations with childrenthis external link will open in a new window - NSPCC Learning has updated its content on how to have difficult conversations with children to include information about talking to children about coronavirus. The content covers: preparing for a conversation, having a conversation and support from Childline.



We're here to help (NYAS)this external link will open in a new window - National Youth Advocacy Service's message to professionals, children and young people in care have the right to an advocate to help them voice their views, wishes and feelings. Help us to spread the word and give them the support they need

Coronavirus Act 2020this external link will open in a new window - The Coronavirus Act was passed on the 25 March 2020 to help public bodies across the UK to provide an effective response to tackle the epidemic. The Act makes provision to increase the available health and social care workforce and ease the burden on frontline staff. The House of Commons Library published a series of briefing papers providing an overview of the Bill before Royal Assent including those clauses relating to childcare and education settings; health and social care; and measures and implications for the courts and tribunal.  House of Commons Library briefings: Coronavirus Bill: overviewthis external link will open in a new window

Travel guidance for education settingsthis external link will open in a new window - The Department for Education (DfE) and Public Health England (PHE) have published updated guidance for schools in England. Travel guidance about current overseas trips by students, students and staff considering travelling overseas, students and staff already overseas, and Erasmus+ students has been updated; as has guidance on vulnerable children who have education health and care plans or are in alternative provision settings. New guidance has been published: on social distancing for education and childcare settings supporting vulnerable children and the children of critical workers; and guidance for schools and colleges to support them keeping children safe, including online. A summary of advice has also been produced for school governors.

Further guidance(s) : 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) childcare provisions: early years and childcare closures - Department for Education in England has published a guidance around childcare closures in response to Coronavirus. Childcare providers should remain closed except to those children who are vulnerable and children whose parents are critical to the Coronavirus response and cannot be safely cared for at home.  

Advice and Guidance for Virtual Team Around the Family Meetingsthis external link will open in a new window - This guidance has been provided for coordinators of an Early Help Assessment with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Coronavirus: safeguarding guidance and information for schools - NSPCC Learning has published a briefing pulling together key safeguarding guidance from all four UK nations on how to keep children safe during the pandemic. 

Coronavirus briefing: guidance for social workersthis external link will open in a new window - NSPCC Learning has published a briefing summarising guidance from across the UK on how social workers and local authorities should work during the pandemic to ensure that children are protected. 

Coronavirus: children safeguarding "are you concerned about a child"? (poster)this external link will open in a new window - we are all living in unprecedented times, it is really important that we look out for each other and support each other in our communities. 

Coronavirus: safeguarding information for volunteers (leaflet)this external link will open in a new window - as a volunteer it is important that you understand how to spot the signs of abuse and neglect and how to report any concerns that you may have.

Guidance for professionals for Domestic Abuse : Emergency Operating Procedures (COVID-19)this external link will open in a new window - The CSCP, Safer Cumbria and Cumbria Adults Safeguarding Board have produced 'Guidance for professionals for Domestic Abuse Emergency Operating Procedures during COVID-19', this guidance has been provided to support adults and children living with domestic abuse, and the professionals working hard to support them. It is imperative that we give the message to victims and families that we are still actively working to support them in this situation and will continue to ensure domestic abuse is a priority.

Safeguarding during coronavirus : school governors and trustees - NSPCC Learning has published a webpage for governors and academy trustees outlining key things to consider to help ensure their school, college or academy is keeping children safe during the coronavirus pandemic. Topics covered include: updating safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures; monitoring safeguarding and child protection; looking after children’s safety and wellbeing and keeping in touch with all children who are at home; and covering staff absence and recruitment.

Coronavirus: guidance on temporary changes to education, health and care legislation - The Department for Education (DfE) has published guidance on temporary changes to the law on education, health and care (EHC) needs assessments and plans in England during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The guidance provides a summary of these legislative changes and sets out the key implications for those who play a part in the processes relating to EHC needs assessments and plans.  See also on NSPCC Learning > Coronavirus (COVID-19) briefing: safeguarding guidance and information for schools

Coronavirus: child vulnerability - The Children’s Commissioner for England has published local area profiles of child vulnerability which map the challenges faced by schools and local authorities supporting children and young people in lockdown during the coronavirus crisis.  The local area profiles of child vulnerability provide a way for councils to understand which groups of children are likely to be at risk under lockdown, and how many children in their area fall into those groups. It also provides a framework for central government to target additional resources at the areas most in need.


Coronavirus: support for bereaved children and young people - The National Children’s Bureau (NCB) has published a blog offering advice on supporting children and young people who have experienced the death of someone close to them and are facing particular challenges during the coronavirus pandemic, whether they were bereaved before the outbreak began or more recently.

Coronavirus: support for bereaved children and young people - The Childhood Bereavement Network (also based at the National Children’s Bureau) have written this blog about supporting bereaved children.

Victims of domestic abuse in Cumbria urged to report itthis external link will open in a new window - Cumbria County Council and Cumbria Police are joining forces to reach out to people across the county who are at risk from domestic abuse. A new campaign launches this week to encourage victims, or people who are concerned about their friends, family or neighbours, to report incidents to Cumbria Police. 

Report domestic abuse:
  • Call 101, or report online at www.cumbria.police.uk
  • If you are in immediate danger, always call 999 and ask for the police
Coronavirus: domestic abuse : impact on child welfare - The NSPCC has published information on children’s experiences of domestic abuse both before and during lockdown. An NSPCC Learning briefing using insight from NSPCC helpline contacts and Childline counselling sessions highlights the impact of domestic abuse on children and young people during the coronavirus pandemic. A separate briefing, looking at learning from case reviews published since 2019 where children experienced domestic abuse, summarises the learning in the published reports and highlights that professionals must prioritise the impact that living with domestic abuse has on children. A BBC Newsnight feature on children’s experiences of domestic violence during the coronavirus crisis was broadcast on 9 June 2020.


Coronavirus: impact on adolescents, parenting and neglect - The Children’s Society has published a briefing looking at the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on adolescents and their parents. The briefing discusses: how adolescents are likely to be severely impacted by the coronavirus crisis;  and how parents’ capacity to provide care and support may be compromised, leading to increases in neglect. Read the briefing: Supporting young people and parents: the impact of Covid-19 on adolescents, parenting and neglect

Guidance for people without English as a first language about getting help around domestic abuse during coronavirus - The Home Office has published guidance on getting help for domestic abuse during the coronavirus crisis for people without English as a first language. The guidance is currently available in 15 languages.

COVID-19 impacts: early yearsthis external link will open in a new window - The Sutton Trust has published an impact brief examining the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on the early years sector in England, with a focus on children, parents and providers in disadvantaged communities. A report has also been published looking at recent government policy on early childhood education and care in England, and whether the right balance is being achieved between supporting child development and learning and raising parental employment through flexible, affordable childcare. 

Schools and colleges to reopen in full in September - The Department for Education (DfE) has published plans for schools and colleges to fully reopen to all children and young people from September 2020. The guidance applies to all schools in England including: local-authority-maintained schools; academies; free schools; alternative provision schools; pupil referral units; independent schools: and boarding schools. Separate guidance has been published for early years and for special schools.

Coronavirus: mental health and wellbeing - Working with NAHT to provide guidance for pupil’s mental health and wellbeing - The Anna Freud Centre, the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and the PSHE Association have published guidance to help school leaders and their staff support children and young people with their mental health and wellbeing. Topics covered include: the impact of coronavirus on children and young peoples’ mental health and wellbeing; how these experiences might affect pupils when they return to school; how schools can support pupils to readjust, recover and move forwards; responding to pupils’ fear, anxiety and uncertainty; and transitions. Read the guidance: Coronavirus: supporting pupils’ mental health and wellbeing (PDF)

Coronavirus: vulnerable teenagers - Teenagers falling through the gaps - The Children’s Commissioner for England has published a report looking at the impact of lockdown on teenagers in England, assessing the number of teenagers who were already vulnerable before the coronavirus outbreak. The report estimates that 120,000 teenagers in England, one in 25, were vulnerable before coronavirus and calls on local authorities to work with schools and police to focus resources on these teenagers at risk of becoming ‘invisible’ to services. Read the report: Teenagers falling through the gaps (PDF)

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