Latest brighton & hove news
EXTRA TRAINING FOR MEDICAL STAFF AFTER LOCAL CHILD NEGLECT CASE
A case of parents neglecting a child because of their addiction to drink or drugs has led to doctors, health visitors, midwives and social workers being given extra training. A review found a need for “considerable learning” as a result of the case.
Brighton and Hove Local Children Safeguarding Board said in its annual report that the review recommended: Improvement in antenatal assessment processes; Support for a GP practice on capacity related to safeguarding; The need for more face-to-face meetings between health visitors, midwives and GPs, especially as community staff are less likely to be attached to a doctors surgery; Improved assessment of parental capacity by agencies with adult clients.
Separately the report said that a hospital consultant specialising in child protection medicals had been recruited by the trust in charge of the Royal Sussex County Hospital. This happened after concerns were raised about whether there were enough suitably senior staff to provide prompt enough medicals in child protections cases. The trust agreed that junior doctors needed better supervision and the quality of medical reports would be improved.
Brighton and Hove City Council also agreed to carry out a review of safeguarding in relation to adopted children after concerns came to light.
A confidential report will be shared with the safeguarding board’s Serious Case Review Panel.
CHIMNEY SWEEP CLEANS UP IN MEMORY OF HIS DAUGHTER
Portslade chimney sweep David Ansell has hit a charity fundraising target set by his dying daughter. Mr Ansell promised to donate everything he could earn in a day to the Teenage Cancer Trust in memory of his daughter Beth.
She was just 18 when she died in February from a rare form of cancer called Ewing’s Sarcoma. Mr Ansell said: “Beth’s goal was to raise £10,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust.” After she died, he vowed to finish the fundraising work that she had started.
Mr Ansell swept enough chimneys to make £665 – or £831.25 with gift aid – taking the total past the target. He said: “A big thank you to everyone who showed an interest. I will be doing this once a year and next year I will divide any money raised between the various charities that helped Beth.”
ARTISTS PREPARE FOR RETURN OF OPEN HOUSES FESTIVAL
The Artists Open Houses Christmas 2012 Festival will take place during the first three weekends of December involving more than 50 venues and hundreds of artists. The organisers described it as “a great opportunity to find affordable, unique and personalised Christmas presents for friends and family”.
The festival runs from Saturday 1 December to Sunday 16 December. The range of work includes jewellery, ceramics and textiles as well as painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography and many other media. Entry is free and many houses offer homemade tea and cake.
The organisers added: “The Artists Open Houses festival provides the perfect opportunity to view and buy artwork directly from artists and makers, in the artists homes and studios. Many visitors buy their first piece of original artwork at an Open House and return again year after year.
“Exhibiting artists include many experienced and professional artists, others starting out on their careers, as well as marginalised artists, school and college students.” There are two annual Artists Open Houses festivals, with the other one taking place during the Brighton Festival period in May.
