City of York's Safeguarding Children Board (CYSCB) is holding a briefing session on 19 July to raise awareness of new national guidance on dealing with child abuse allegations against professionals, carers and volunteers.

The briefing will take place between 10am and 12 noon at St. Peter's School in Bootham and is aimed at managers, trustees, governors and any other staff with a responsibility for child protection. This means that representatives of schools, NHS organisations, childcare and play settings, faith groups and any other public, private, voluntary or community service for children and young people are welcome to attend.

New national guidance states that all investigations into allegations against staff should be carried out independently by a designated officer. The briefing will highlight new procedures and processes for dealing with allegations, which have been developed by CYSCB in response to the government's Working Together 2006 guidance.

Joe Cocker, manager of the City of York Safeguarding Children Board, and designated officer for dealing with allegations, said: "It takes tremendous courage for a child or young person to disclose abuse against them by someone in a position of trust. It is important that anyone working with children, whether it be in a public, private, voluntary or community role, understands the correct procedures for dealing with allegations of this nature and is familiar with the processes that we have put in place."

Any professionals, carers or volunteers with a responsibility for child protection in a public, private, voluntary or community-based service who would like to attend the briefing is asked to email alison.styles@york.gov.uk or telephone 01904 555650.