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Safeguarding Briefing - 7th September 2020
Keeping Children Safe in Education 2020
The latest version of Keeping Children Safe in Education 2020 has been published and can be downloaded here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2
Keeping Children Safe in Education - Part 1 translated into community languages (LGfL)
The London Grid for Learning (LGfL) have translated KCSIE 2020 Part 1 into a number of community languages as part of their commitment to helping schools keep children safe.
The translations were carried out by professional linguists with secondary proofing. However, the original English version should be treated as the official source of statutory school staff duties. Translations available are:
- English (original)
- Arabic
- Bengali
- Cantonese
- Gujarati
- Mandarin
- Polish
- Portuguese
- Punjabi
- Spanish
- Urdu
- Somali
The translated documents can be found here: https://national.lgfl.net/DigiSafe/kcsietranslate
Making relationships and sex education work for children with SEND (Sex Education Forum)
To coincide with relationships and sex education (RSE) becoming compulsory on 1st September the Sex Education Forum, together with Image in Action and Mencap, have published a new guide for teachers about how to teach RSE in an accessible way to ensure pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are not left behind. The free guide covers FAQs and is packed with practical advice and tips.
The guide is also a timely reminder of good practice that applies to all schools, such as using correct language for private body parts, establishing partnerships with parents and carers, and listening to children and young people themselves.
Download the new free guide: RSE for disabled pupils and those with special educational needs https://www.sexeducationforum.org.uk/resources/advice-guidance/rse-pupils-send-short-guide
Further RSE guidance resources including 'Principles of good RSE in easy read' by Mencap and Sex Education Forum https://www.sexeducationforum.org.uk/resources/advice-guidance
New programme of specialist SEND inclusive RSE training from the Sex Education Forum https://www.sexeducationforum.org.uk/training-and-consultancy/training/meeting-needs-pupils-send-specialist-rse-training
Identifying mental health difficulties in children & young people: the role of schools (Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health)
An interesting blog article from the ACAMH says 'National survey data show that 1 in 8 children and young people (CYP) has a clinically diagnosable mental health disorder. Yet, only around a quarter of these CYP will access specialist mental health services. This means that there is a significant unmet need for care and support.'
The article says that 'the very first barrier [to unmet needs], however, is under-identification of need. It’s estimated that key adults (such as parents, teachers, and GPs) identify fewer than one in five CYP with mental health difficulties. This means that the majority are struggling in silence.'
The article also lists a number of other barriers to access, including:
- low availability of care;
- lack of information about services;
- long waiting times;
- inflexible services;
- complex administrative procedures;
- treatment costs; and
- stigma.
Read the full article here: https://www.acamh.org/blog/identifying-mental-health-difficulties-in-children-young-people-the-role-of-schools/
Fake information on social media about detaining children suspected of having coronavirus
There are numerous reports around the country of false information being posted on social media suggesting that children can be taken from the parents without consenting if they are suspected of having coronavirus.
The Safer Internet Centre Helpline advise not responding to this online or challenging it publicly on social media. It is suggested that schools deal with fake messaging on a case by case basis, rather than with blanket communication to the parent community to avoid escalating the fake news via searching and traffic to the content.
Can children be detained without their parents’ consent if the authorities think they have coronavirus? (Full Fact)
https://fullfact.org/online/children-coronavirus-act/
Click here to forward this email to a colleague
Self-harm and Suicide (Papyrus)
PAPYRUS is a national charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide. PAPYRUS was founded in 1997 by a mother, Jean Kerr, from Lancashire following the loss of her son to suicide.
The organisation have recently published a guide for parents created by those who have experience of supporting a young person struggling with their mental health. Whilst the booklet it aimed at parents, I'm sure staff would find the support it gives useful too.
Download: https://www.papyrus-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Supporting-Your-Child-A-Guide-for-Parents.pdf
HOPELINEUK Helpline
The HOPELINK helpline is available to anyone under 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, and anyone who may be concerned about them. Papyrus' trained suicide prevention advisers are trained to help young people focus on staying safe from suicide. Their training enables them to provide advice and support to help forward and stay alive.
Debriefing Support
As well as supporting young people experiencing thoughts of suicide, we also offer a debriefing service for professionals who have recently had an encounter with suicide & would like to talk it through with a professional.
Call: 0800 068 4141
Text: 07860039967
Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org
Opening hours:
Weekdays 9am – 10pm
Weekends 2pm – 10pm
Bank Holidays 2pm – 10pm
Language is important: avoiding saying Committed Suicide
Suicide is not a criminal act (Papyrus)
"We urge you not to use the term ‘committed suicide’.
Changes made in the Suicide Act of 1961 decriminalised the act of suicide in the UK. The word ‘commit’ treats it as if it were still a crime, which perpetuates the stigma around suicide and is offensive to families and friends."
Instead use phrases like died by suicide or took their own life.
Safer Recruitment: Hidden Cameras
A couple of cases recently have highlighted the importance of ongoing vigilance around staff conduct.
Former school caretaker jailed for secretly filming children
A former caretaker was jailed recently after filming children children whilst changing and using the toilet using a hidden wildlife monitoring camera. Although he had retired in 2017, he returned to the school as a volunteer. The man was arrested after a child told their parents that the former caretaker had touched them inappropriately whilst supposedly giving First Aid.
In December 2019, another caretaker was jailed after placing a camera inside a toilet roll holder in the female toilets. The offender had attached a handwritten note to the only other cubicle, stating that it was out of order and directing women into the toilet that was being filmed. In this case, the device was discovered by someone using the toilet.
Sadly, in safeguarding we do have to 'think the unthinkable'. To limit the likelihood of incidents like this ensure that toilets and changing areas are kept clutter-free, so there are few places to hide devices and periodically check that nothing has been placed there.
After a serious case review a few years ago, I published this video:
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