Norfolk Safeguarding Partnership - Serious Youth Violence Training
Background
As part of its workforce development programme, Norfolk Safeguarding Partnership delivered a 1-day virtual Serious Youth Violence (SYV) training session to multi-agency staff including professionals from schools, voluntary and community organisations, police, community safety teams, social care and early help services.
This training was commissioned to address increasing concerns about serious youth violence in Norfolk and to promote a coordinated, trauma-informed multi-agency response. It supports local safeguarding priorities by enhancing knowledge, collaboration, and practice across sectors.
Aims of the Training Programme
The training aimed to:
- Develop clear understanding of key terms, definitions, and local prevalence related to Serious Youth Violence.
- Identify signs and indicators of criminal exploitation, with attention to intersectionality and diverse vulnerabilities.
- Explore underlying causes of youth violence, including trauma, adverse childhood experiences, peer and online influence.
- Examine risks associated with gang involvement and safeguarding implications.
- Recognise emotional and developmental mental health challenges experienced by at-risk youth.
- Promote best practices for engaging, supporting and delivering effective interventions, including exit strategies and safeguarding.
Overview of Training Content
- Introduction to Serious Youth Violence: definitions and local data trends.
- Criminal Exploitation and Intersectionality: Identifying risk factors and vulnerabilities.
- Root Causes: trauma, peer dynamics, and online pressures.
- Gang Activity Risks: Safeguarding challenges related to gang involvement.
- Mental Health Considerations: emotional and developmental difficulties in vulnerable youth.
- Intervention Strategies: multi-agency collaboration, engagement, exit strategies, and safeguarding.
- Experiential Learning: case studies, group discussions, scenario exercises.
Impact on Practice and Staff Learning
Staff reported substantial growth in knowledge, skills, and confidence to support young people at risk of serious youth violence. Their reflections highlight key learning outcomes and practical intentions:
- Improved Ability to Support Young People and Families
“Being able to support YP more.”
“More work with the high schools to support wider family.”
“Seeing the young person as a victim of exploitation and identifying signs of this.”
- Increased Awareness of Trauma and Risk Indicators
“I now have a much greater understanding of the challenges facing our young people and more awareness of trauma informed practice.”
“A lot more awareness of signs and concerns to pick up on when meeting families.”
“Looking out for key red flags and having more conversations with young people about things that could be concerning.”
- Enhanced Communication and Engagement Skills
“Listen to students more, change how I talk to them.”
“Think about the language I use and utilise best practice as discussed during course.”
- Commitment to Collaboration and Information Sharing
“Cascade key messages to DSL team at school and look at introducing and/or making more explicit curriculum teaching, particularly with our older primary pupils.”
“More prep work and information gathering.”
“I will look at policy and how we can deliver best practice around this.”
- Focus on Upskilling and Raising Awareness Across Teams
“I will upskill others by this training and use everything I learned to help me identify potential of SYV.”
“I will generally be more aware and informed.”
- Recognition of Broader Context and Safeguarding Complexity
“Consider the impact of the child's lived experience in relation to exposure of youth violence.”
“This training shifted how I think about youth violence—not just as criminal behaviour but as a symptom of deeper trauma.”
- Increased Confidence in Multi-Agency Intervention
“The focus on best practice and collaboration makes me feel more confident in my role within the wider safeguarding network.”
Outcomes
- Strengthened multi-agency understanding of serious youth violence and local context.
- Enhanced ability to identify and respond to criminal exploitation and trauma.
- Improved awareness of safeguarding risks related to gang involvement.
- Greater sensitivity to mental health and developmental issues in vulnerable youth.
- Increased confidence and skills in applying intervention, engagement and exit strategies.
- Reinforced collaboration across agencies for effective prevention and safeguarding.
Conclusion
The 1-day virtual Serious Youth Violence training delivered by Norfolk Safeguarding Partnership has effectively enhanced multi-agency knowledge, skills, and confidence. By embedding trauma-informed and intersectional approaches within a safeguarding framework, the training equips professionals to better identify risks, engage young people and deliver coordinated, effective interventions. Staff feedback reflects strong commitment to applying learning, improving communication and fostering collaboration to safeguard Norfolk’s children and young people from serious youth violence.