Some people affected by domestic abuse (or other abuse), may have a mobile phone (possibly a work phone) concealed from their abuser, which could be revealed by the alert. If you need to, you can opt out of receiving the alert.

We hope this makes it easier for you to find bite-sized learning from the BSCP.

https://www.bromleysafeguarding.org/articles.php?id=1039

Our app ensures the key documents you need are never further than your pocket. You will find guidance on thresholds, how to get local support for a child, how to escalate if agencies aren't working well together, PLUS key information on domestic abuse (indicators, how to refer to MARAC, advice, support), advice on social media use, what to do if there is an allegation against a professional, and a link to the Online Safety Centre for current alerts, advice and news.

Don't delay, get it on your smartphone today!

Thematic Study - Patrick

You can also view the report, along with previous years' annual reports, HERE.

The Bromley Children Project

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Bromley Changes - referrals for young persons living or studying in Bromley can be sent to; referrals.bromley@cgl.org.uk or telephone 0208 289 1999. Queries are welcome.

Further information can be also be found on the website Bromley Changes Young People's Drug and Alcohol Services (changegrowlive.org)

Click on FRANK for an updated news item.

The Home Office has a FAQ fact sheet and guidance.

Click here for the gov.uk story.

Please read this link to the police circular.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-sets-out-next-steps-to-create-smokefree-generation

The BSCP Independent Chair, Jim Gamble, has recorded a short 7 minute video to introduce this year's Annual Report and summarise some of the key findings.

The guidance can be used as a tool to assist referral, assessment, planning and decision making. Everyone in the children's workforce in Bromley needs to know about this key document and where to find it, so please spread the word in your meetings, supervisions and newsletters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o3ilaofguM

Visit the links below to find out more information on vaping.

https://stopsmokinglondon.com

https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/vaping-to-quit-smoking/

https://www.bromley.gov.uk/leaflet/122630/20/824/d

https://www.bromley.gov.uk/trading-standards/underage-sales

By ‘early help’ we mean the total support that improves a family’s resilience and outcomes or reduces the chance of a problem getting worse. Our early help services are focused on providing the right help when our families need it, whatever the age of the child, from pre-birth all the way through the life of the child, at all life phases. Our early help approach is shaped around our commitment of shifting the balance of power, so our work is increasingly family-led and not led by practitioners. An element of this involves families being supported to come together to utilise their own resources and strengths to overcome their challenges.

Quality work with families already takes place across Bromley, day in and day out, by schools, health services, children and family centres, early years’ settings, community services, and a range of other partner agencies and services within the Council itself, all of which make a difference to children and families. The Local Authority has its own well-established and mature early help service, Early Intervention and Family Support, which includes a range of services such as the Bromley Children Project, Children and Family Centres, as well as other such as Target Youth Support.

This strategy is rightly ambitious for us and for our children. The targets we have set out describing what our early help offer will look in 2030 will challenge us; however, by working together with our partners, our families, and our children, we are confident that they can all be achieved. During the lifetime of this strategy, we will be working to achieve four interlocking ambitions. Each ambition is focused on one of the four quadrants that make up our early help model - our children, our families, our practitioners and our resources: Our four ambitions are:

• Our children experience loving and safe homes with consistent and positive parenting which nurtures them and helps them flourish
• Our families are informed about the range of services and support available to them, and how to use them when they need it, so they can be in control of their own lives
• Our practitioners work within a culture that embraces relational and compassionate practice where the strengths of our families are understood and built upon
• Our resources are focused on providing responsive, dynamic, and holistic integrated services across health, education and social care which identify need and provide support at the earliest opportunity to meet needs and prevent escalation of concern

We believe having a robust early help model, will support families to build resilience and develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to face challenges, learn from them, and have the self-efficacy to try to resolve and find workable solutions, we will reduce the potential additional burden on other services in the future. There will always be a need for support, information, guidance and intervention, but intervening early is more effective, cheaper and over time has the power to alter the future and to reduce the potential reliance of our current children and young people when they become adults and parents themselves.

There is always more that we can do, and early help cannot stand still. The need to evolve and develop, to look for and use available opportunities to expand the reach and range of support that can be offered is essential. Partnership working, across the Council, key partners and the wider workforce is required. A focus on being family-led and ‘needs-led’ where we are driven by what our families are telling us they need is essential to ensure our resources are best placed and not wasted, hence this Early Help Strategy.

www.bromleyparentinghub.info/earlyhelpstrategy

https://www.bromleysafeguardingadults.org/news/emergency-alerts-impact-on-survivors-of-domestic-abuse

Whilst we continue to develop the new Children and Families Hub and work on a new online portal for referrals, we ask that you continue to refer your concerns about children in the same way as before, using the existing referral forms. Send these to mash@bromley.gov.uk and call 020 8461 7373 / 7379 / 7026 as you always have.

We have made a decision to stop using CAF terminology and instead use 'Early Help Assessment'. The work to support families, holding Team Around the Child/Family meetings, making plans all remains the same. However, the CAF Team will no longer chair any of these meetings.

Should you wish to make a referral to the Bromley Children Project for 1:1 family support or light touch intervention please telephone the Bromley Help, Support & Safeguarding Hub for Children and Families on 020 8461 7373/ 7379/ 7026 or email mash@bromley.gov.uk

There is no change to how you can access the wider offer from the early intervention and family support service (EIFS) provided by the local authority which includes:-

• The wide range of parenting courses, seminars, webinars

• The wide range of activities at the Children and Family Centres,

• Information advice and support service

• ASC family support worker, and the BCP parenting hotline (telephone 020 8461 7259)

There are many developments underway to improve timely and appropriate support and help for families and children and we will keep all partners updated as changes happen. To find out more you can attend an in-person meeting on either the 9th of May 2023 (14.00-15.00) or the 18th of May 2023 (09.00-10.00). These sessions will allow for any questions, challenges, and new ideas to be shared. To book onto one of these sessions, please contact Sinn Cordrey by email Sinn.Cordrey@bromley.gov.uk or by phoning 0208 461 7122.

This detailed report covers partnership activity to safeguard children and young people in Bromley and to promote their welfare, and the impact that activity had.

For the first time, you can watch an 11 minute video where our Independent Chair, Jim Gamble, informs you about the key findings in the BSCP Annual Report 21-22.

https://vimeo.com/ineqe/bromleysafeguardingpartnership

Please let us know what you think of our Annual Report in this short feedback form so we can improve further next year.

For children and young people:

https://www.cruse.org.uk/grief-for-her-majesty-the-queen/

Cruse helpline is offering extended hours over the period of national mourning. Their bereavement supporters will be happy to talk to you about how you’re feeling – whether that’s grief for The Queen or because the situation has brought up other difficult feelings for you. Call 0808 808 1677

For parents:

https://www.place2be.org.uk/about-us/news-and-blogs/2022/september/supporting-your-child-when-someone-famous-dies/

For professionals:

https://www.winstonswish.org/supporting-you/supporting-children-death-of-queen/

Other excellent resources:

https://childhoodbereavementnetwork.org.uk/support-after-the-death-of-the-queen

Winston’s Wish provides support for grieving children, young people (up to 25) and adults supporting them. Please call our Freephone Helpline team on 08088 020 021 or email ask@winstonswish.org. We can provide advice, support and resources. If you need urgent support, the Winston’s Wish Crisis Messenger is available 24/7 for free, confidential support in a crisis. Text WW to 85258.

Other Help Lines

• Text chat via The Signpost 07480 635025
• CAMHS Crisis Line 020 3228 5980
• Childline 0800 1111
• Samaritans 116 123
• Saneline 0300 304 7000
• HOPElink UK 0800 068 4141

Where children or young people need more support than a helpline or their practitioner can offer, please look at the Bromley Y webpages to see what we offer locally in Bromley https://bromley-y.org/ Bromley Y is the single point of access to all our local emotional wellbeing and mental health services for children and young people.

https://express.adobe.com/page/LKMvuJnwkRDJe/

EIFS contains lots of services, including our Bromley Children's Project (BCP) which offers early help, family support, parenting classes, information and advice in a friendly, non-judgmental way.

EIFS runs six children and family centres - the place to be for those with under 5s and for all parents-to-be.

EIFS runs contact centres for separated families. It also supports professionals and families with CAFs (Common Assessment Framework) and Teams Around The Children, for those that need some additional support in order to thrive in life.

It also hosts the IASS who provide free, confidential and impartial information, advice and support relating to special educational needs and disability (SEND) for those aged 0-25 years and their families/carers.

Please share the digital leaflet widely to ensure everyone who would benefit from one of the EIFS services knows about them.

Professionals should use it as a tool to assist referral, assessment, planning and decision making. Everyone in the children's workforce in Bromley needs to know about this key document and where to find it, so please spread the word in your meetings, supervisions and newsletters.

A summary of what has changed since the last version of the Bromley Thresholds of Need can be obtained from BSCP@bromley.gov.uk

From 1st February, we will no longer accept the booking forms sent to Safeguarding.Training@bromley.gov.uk instead you must book via our new learning management system called EVOLVE.

Guidance can be found here but it’s very straightforward and you only need to register once. Once you’re registered on EVOLVE, you can manage your own bookings, cancellations, print certificates and submit evaluations. Managers can see their staff members’ training records. See below for the full benefits.

If you have a pre-existing booking with us for February or March 2021 then it has already been transferred to Evolve for you.

We have ten excellent webinars running between now and the end of the financial year, so take a look at the Diary of Events 2021 and book on using EVOLVE today! New courses are being commissioned all the time.

Our training courses are free to all staff from: LBB, BHC, Kings, CCG, Oxleas, SLAM, Met Police, NPS, CRC, LFB and Bromley based charities with an annual turnover of less than £500k. For all our other partners, including schools and early years settings, some courses do incur a charge but rates are very reasonable and the quality is consistently rated by participants as very good or excellent.

Basic Training: e-learning modules

As ever, access to our online e-learning modules (via ME Learning) is free to absolutely everybody living or working/volunteering in Bromley. Booking on an e-learning course is unaffected by EVOLVE. Our 24 different e-learning courses are great as introductions or refreshers to key safeguarding topics. They form the basics of Level 1 and Level 2 training and are largely suitable for anyone in the children’s workforce or with an interest in keeping children safe. See our online training webpage for more details.

EVOLVE details

Evolve is a convenient and user-friendly LMS that has the advantage of self-service functionality. This provides learners and managers with more control over the following:-

Learners

• Viewing all courses on offer in one place
• Viewing specific course details on one page for easy referral
• Access to learning materials linked to the course
• Booking training
• Cancelling training
• Adding to a waiting list
• Declaring an interest in a course if no dates are available
• Recording attendance
• Completing online evaluations
• Accessing certificates of attendance
• Reminders (when required) to refresh training
• Tracking course progress and completion
• Receiving notifications
• Updating personal profile

Managers

• Viewing and tracking team member learning
• Keeping track of attendance
• Running reports

Just like the ME Learning portal for Safeguarding e-Learning, you will have to self-register to access the Evolve site.

How to register (see User guide on our Training Programme webpage for detailed instructions)

• Go to the Evolve site (www.evolve.bromley.gov.uk)
• Create new account
• Complete the registration form (all fields must be completed)
• The registration forms are sent for approval
• Once approved you will receive an email with your log in details
• Go to red circle (Safeguarding) where you will find all the training available to you
• Start booking on to training

For those who have already made bookings with us for the January to March 2021 period, we have transferred these bookings over to the new site. You should have already received an email and outlook calendar confirmation where we will also let you know your login details.

Before registering on the Evolve site please go to the partnership safeguarding webpages to see what training is available to book.

If you have any issues using the Evolve site, please contact evolve@bromley.gov.uk

Further information is provided on a specific website for the service: www.bromley0to19.co.uk

Dear Parents and guardians,

As you are aware, recently South Area police have received a number of reports regarding suspicious males and an attempted abduction near one of our schools in Bromley. These incidents are being actively investigated and over the weekend South Area CID arrested two males in relation to two separate incidents. Both of these males have been released on police bail, pending further enquiries.

We are aware of the messages of concern regarding these incidents, circulating on social media channels, and we would like to remind our community that incidents of this nature are extremely rare.

Please continue to reinforce the personal safety messages that you have already given to your children. If you have any information relating to any of the incidents that have previously been reported, please speak to your school who can contact me direct, or call 101. In an emergency, dial 999.

REMINDER: For BSCP Safety Tips and free printable resources for both children and parents, visit our webpage.

The app is already used by over 5000 schools across the UK. It will cost you nothing to download to provide access to advice and guidance on making children and young people safer in the online world.

In these unprecedented times, we know everyone is spending more time at home and using social media to ensure that physical distancing does not become social isolation. The positive power of technology will help keep our community digitally connected but we also know that more time spent online and in isolation by our children can lead to greater levels of risk.

The significance of this risk should not be underestimated and parents and carers need up-to-date, reliable information in order to protect their children. This app provides it.

Downloading the app

• Decide which version to download. If you have both primary and secondary school age children, we’d suggest you download the secondary school version.
• Simply follow the steps set out in the images or follow the instructions below:
• Visit your usual app store (Google Play for android phones or App Store for Apple phones) and download the Safer Schools app.
• Once downloaded you will need to scan the relevant QR code from the image or manually enter the 4 digit entry code to see the Bromley specific app. The parent code for children of primary age is 7440 and the code for parent/carers of secondary aged children is 7675.
• Make sure to allow push notifications to keep up to date with the very latest tips, advice and guidance on how to make your pupils safer.

For any queries and for further information and about the App please contact Safer Schools using the details below or using the blue live chat function on the bottom left hand side of website www.oursaferschools.co.uk

· Safer Schools Partnership – 02896 005 777

· saferschools@ineqe.com

In these unprecedented times, we know everyone is spending more time at home and using social media to ensure that physical distancing does not become social isolation. The positive power of technology will help keep our community digitally connected but we also know that more time spent online and in isolation by our children can lead to greater levels of risk.

The significance of this risk should not be underestimated, and neither should the need for us to accelerate our response to support our community at this time.

About Your App

The app is ordinarily designed for use by individual schools but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been temporarily released by Bromley for use by all other safeguarding professionals.

Downloading the app

· Decide which version to download. If you work with both primary and secondary school age children, we’d suggest you download the secondary school version.

· Simply follow the steps set out in the images below

· Once downloaded you will need to scan the relevant QR code below or manually enter the 4 digit entry code to see the Bromley specific app. It is available for both Apple and Android phones from the relevant app store. Primary school code is 3137 and the secondary school code is 6676.

· Make sure to allow push notifications to keep up to date with tips, advice and guidance on how to make your pupils safer.

· For any queries and for further information and about the App please contact Safer Schools using the details below or using the blue live chat function on the bottom left hand side of website oursaferschools.co.uk.

· Safer Schools Partnership – 02896 005 777

· saferschools@ineqe.com

The App has been designed to help the children's workforce understand FGM, the law, the context in which it takes place and your safeguarding responsibility with regards to FGM. This app will increase all safeguarding professionals’ confidence in dealing with issues around FGM. It will also ensure that they are well equipped to better identify children and young people who are at risk.

Available from both App Store (for iphones) and Google Play (for Android phones). Search 'BSCP FGM' or follow these direct links:

For Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ineqe.bromleyfgm&gl=GB

For iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/bscp-fgm/id1491908414

This is the last ever Annual Report of the BSCB. Next year we will be reporting on the transition from statutory LSCB to the new Safeguarding Children Partnership (BSCP). Exciting times are ahead!

Mum’s Support Group
Drop-in support group for pregnant women and new mums living in Bromley borough.

Look after your own emotional and mental well-being by joining our weekly, relaxed, drop-in support groups for pregnant women and new mums.
Make new friends, share well-being and parenting stories, experiences and tips over a cup of tea or coffee.
Crèche Facilities
The group is in the crèche so babies and children up to 5 years old can play safely, while you get some time for yourself with other women.
Contact
Jackie Hufford 07715 618762

jackie.hufford@blgmind.org.uk No need to book, just turn up on the day.

Where and When
Burnt Ash Children and Family Centre,
Rangefield Road, Bromley, BR1 4QX
Wednesdays 1.30pm – 3.00pm

Community Vision Children and Family
Centre,
Woodbine Grove, Penge, SE20 8UX
Mondays 1.30pm – 3.30pm

• Make sure you have dates in your diary for the Lunchtime Learning sessions on our Serious Case Reviews.

• Keep an eye out for the dates of our upcoming mini conferences

• Senior Research Fellow at King’s College London speaking about the impact of early years on later life
• Specialist Midwife for Perinatal Mental Health, Kings College Hospital, and Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist, Oxleas, talking about local perinatal services available in Bromley
• Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Glasgow who will give an overview of the London Infant and Family Trial currently being trialled in Bromley Children’s Social Care
• The LBB Early Years Team and the Bromley Children’s Project who will share information on local early years/early intervention services and projects delivered by London Borough of Bromley.

Please note that tea and coffee will be available but not lunch. This is a multi-agency learning event so places will be limited to ensure a good mix of agencies. You MUST book a place for this event.

HOW TO BOOK

Please email BSCB@bromley.gov.uk by 18th September to book your place. Please send your name and agency. Please ensure you apply for your own individual place only. You will receive confirmation of your place by email by 25th September.

Call us on 0208 461 7816 if you have any questions.

Remember to: PAUSE, THINK, PLAN before having the conversation. This isn't the first widespread panic in the media about what our children access online, and it won't be the last. Bromley Safeguarding Children Board advises all parents and carers to have regular informal conversations with their children about safety and ensure every child knows what to do if they see something that scares or concerns them.

I hope you all had a happy Christmas break and wish each of you a healthy and prosperous New Year.

In fact, I can think of no better way to start this new year than by drawing your attention to the outcome of the recent ILACS inspection of Bromley children’s social care by Ofsted. Their report can be accessed here. Bromley has been judged as good in all practice areas and the impact of leadership on social work practice has been judged as outstanding.

I am not aware of any Local Authority managing this type of transition in the timescales within which Bromley have achieved this outcome. All of those involved, from the Interim Chief Executive, Director of Children’s Services and Chair of the Improvement Board deserve our thanks. Above all, however, our appreciation must go to all those frontline practitioners who during what was a difficult time, did everything they could to make things better for the children and young people they serve so well. They are a credit to Bromley, to themselves and their families. I am genuinely proud to be associated with them.

That said, I am absolutely sure that this could not have been achieved without the hard work and critical partnership support provided by the BSCB and this is reflected in the leadership narrative.

Finally, it is not often that we get the chance to celebrate such success so please take a moment to reflect upon what has been achieved, contact and congratulate anyone you know in Bromley Children’s Social Care and make sure they enjoy the moment. Tomorrow it is back to business and I know we will all want to grasp the opportunity to build on this new foundation.

Jim Gamble QPM

Independent Chair, Bromley Safeguarding Children Board

The profile has been developed to illustrate the current Bromley gang profile with temporal analysis on serious youth violence and knife enabled crime. It is based on data and analysis by the Metropolitan Police and will highlight some key trends, themes and patterns in Bromley.

This session will run from 12.30 to 1.30 in the Council Chamber at the Civic Centre. Simply sign in on arrival.

BSCB thanks our friends at Ineqe for designing our Annual Report this year as part of their Corporate Responsibility Programme. We hope you agree that it looks great.

• Make sure you have dates in your diary for the Lunchtime Learning sessions on our Serious Case Reviews.
• Sign up for our Annual Conference
• Get our App so all the key safeguarding children documents you need are always in your pocket

Booking is now OPEN.

The theme this year is Vulnerable Adolescents and Pathways to Harm. Our key speakers are Dr Carlene Firmin MBE who will talk about contextual safeguarding, Noel Willliams - an ex-gang member who will discuss interventions which work, and Jim Gamble and Ineqe will run an interactive workshop using the new SSNAP cards.

You will hear from the BSCB, Papyrus and Bromley Youth Council about learning from recent Serious Case Reviews, suicide awareness and Bromley young people's safeguarding priorities. Places are £120 and include lunch and refreshments.

Complete a booking form and submit as soon as possible. Places are limited!

Private Fostering is……..

When a child under the age of 16 (under 18 if they are disabled) is cared for by someone who is not their parent or a close relative for 28 days or more.

Close relatives are defined as step-parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, uncles or aunts.

To qualify as private fostering, the arrangement has not been made by the local authority, and the child or young person is not being looked after by an approved foster carer.

All Private Fostering arrangements must be notified to the Local Authority via the MASH Team 020 8461 7373 / 7379 / 7026 or MASH@bromley.gov.uk

For more information, read our Private Fostering page on www.bromleysafeguarding.org

Changes include an important new contact at University College London Hospital (UCL) Children's FGM Service who conduct medical investigation to confirm FGM as well as management of the physical and psychological implications if FGM is confirmed. (Change to paragraph 2.5)

Other changes include additional information on FGM Risk Information Sharing (RIS) and consent; Health Record of FGM; referral pathway for under 18s now includes females up to age 25 if Children Looked After, Care Leavers or those with an Education, Health and Care Plan.

The strategy outlines the vision and guiding principles of the BSCB in relation to neglect. It sets out what neglect is, what the risk factors are, what the prevalence is locally and nationally, and what our local strategic priorities are in relation to neglect.

The BSCB Neglect Toolbox is for use by the children's workforce in Bromley to identify and assess neglect, record evidence using a chronology and contains links to useful information. The toolbox also contains a list of all the neglect indicators from the Bromley Threshold of Need Guidance, which is used by all partners.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BSCB-Section11

Results of this anonymous survey will help the partnership to better understand confidence levels and expertise in safeguarding Bromley's children and young people.

Closing date is Monday 12th February 2018.

BSCB Annual Report 2016-17

Bromley Safeguarding Children & Young People -

iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/bromley-safeguarding-children-board/id1257682899?mt=8

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ineqe.bscb

Private Fostering Awareness -

iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/bromley-private-fostering-awareness/id1260195919?mt=8

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ineqe.bpfa

TAKE 5 VIDEO BRIEFING

Watch our new Take 5 video briefing on CSE for everyone working with children and young people in Bromley then please take 30 seconds to tell us what you thought by clicking on this very short survey.

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Please complete our anonymous survey. It takes less than 5 minutes and it will help the Bromley Safeguarding Children Board to keep children and young people in Bromley safer. We will get a better understanding of the apps, sites, games and platforms that are most popular here and the impact of using them. We will then be able to give you up to date advice about any hidden or new features and the best ways to keep safe on them.

If you are aged 7 - 11 years old then complete this survey.
If you are aged 11-18 years old then complete this survey
If you are a parent/carer of a child aged between 2 and 18 years old that lives in Bromley, complete this survey.

Thank you for your time. Watch this space in the Autumn to read about our findings.

Please delete any draft copies or any old 'A Child's Journey in Bromley' documents. These are now obsolete.

The Thresholds document explains the Bromley Continuum of Needs model - how children's needs are not static so they will need a varying level of support depending on what their needs are at a particular time. We explain when people should refer to Children's Social Care and when to use the Common Assessment Framework, how to access early help services and what to do if you are unsure. Indicators of each 'level' of need are given as examples together with referral information and links to all the forms you need to access support.

The Thresholds of Need Guidance document can be found in the 'Our Polices, Procedures and Guidance' section of the website.

Read our information for parents, carers and the community about Child Sexual Exploitation to learn more.

Operation Makesafe - licensed premises, taxi drivers, hotel workers may only see young people infrequently but are key to spotting vulnerable young people who may be being expolited by others. Make sure you know how to report. See It, Say It. Protecting children from harm is everyone's responsibility.

Parents and carers - Are you Share Aware? How to keep your children safe online. See our Keeping Children Safe online section for more information.

Executive Member for Care Services Cllr Robert Evans said: “We need the right people in place to help us on our journey to excellence and I am delighted that Jim Gamble will be bringing his impressive experience in the field to Bromley by heading Bromley’s Safeguarding Children Board. Jim will use his energy, inspirational leadership and independent challenge to strengthen safeguarding practices and processes across the borough.”

Cllr Evans added: “I want to take this opportunity to thank the outgoing chairman, Annie Callanan, for her work and commitment to Bromley over the past few years. Annie’s leadership enabled the Board to make a number of improvements and put a greater focus on safeguarding priorities, establishing good foundations for progress into the future.”

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