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Safeguarding Briefing - 25th April 2022
Dear Colleagues,
Welcome back after the Easter break and to a packed summer term.
UPDATED Guidance for safer working practices (February 2022)
An update of the 'Guidance for Safer Working Practice for professionals working in education settings' has recently been published. The original guidance was developed by a DfES network in 2005 and revised in 2009, 2015 & 2019.
The latest update has been produced in consultation with representatives from Child Protection in Education (CAPE), local authorities and other stakeholders and incorporates both the GSWP Covid addendum (2020) and KCSIE expectations around low level concern reporting. This (non-statutory) guidance will be helpful when developing your staff behaviour policy / code of conduct.
If you wish to see what's new, there is a version that shows all changes in yellow.
The Safer Recruitment Consortium also have a basic training resource to support the introduction of 'safe working practice' in INSET / staff briefings with a short exercise.
You can find the latest version of the 'Guidance for safer working practices here: https://saferrecruitmentconsortium.org/
Court reports and Safeguarding Practice Reviews
Tragically, during the last month there has been several serious incident reports published and court cases concluded with respect to cases of child neglect and cruelty. These horrendous cases follow on from those we heard about at the end of last year, including Arthur Labinjo-Hughes.
It feels like there are more of these awful incidents. However, The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel says 'Notifications to the Panel in the period April to September 2020 were 27% higher than the same period in 2019, although the increase in notifications was less significant when compared to the 2018 data.' (See The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel: Annual Report 2020 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-safeguarding-practice-review-panel-annual-report-2020)
Court cases concluded
Logan Mwangi, a five-year-old from South Wales was found dead in July 2021.
Logan had suffered a “slow and painful death”, after months of abuse. It was reported that his teachers had noticed worrying changes in his appearance and demeanour in the weeks before his death. Logan's mother, step-father, and a 14-year old boy have all been convicted of his murder. A month before his death Logan had been removed from the Child Protection register and stepped down to a child in need.
Hakeem Hussain, a seven-year-old boy from Birmingham died in 2017
Hakeem's mother was convicted of his manslaughter last week. Hakeem had been subject to a child protection plan before his death and a few days earlier a nurse at his school had told a social care meeting he would die if action was not taken to protect him. The court heard that two days before Hakeem's death, social workers voted to act to protect Hakeem, at a child protection conference. The meeting ended with an agreement that the family's social worker would speak to Heath on Monday - by which time Hakeem was dead. Hakeem's three half-siblings had already been removed from his mother’s care.
Safeguarding Practice Reviews published
'Kingfisher' review (Teeside)
'Lucy', two-year old from Teeside was seriously injured in July 2020, after falling 20' from an upstairs window. Her mother, was eighteen when she gave birth and had been in the care of the local authority since the age of seven.
The 'Kingfisher' review reflects on the learning from two cases, 'Lucy' and 'Mia'.
Read the review here: https://stscp.co.uk/about-stscp/key-documents/child-safeguarding-practice-reviews/
'Stephen', a 12-week old baby died from injuries sustained in ongoing, physical abuse. His mother’s partner (who was not Stephen’s biological father) was been found guilty of his murder.
Read the review here: https://safeguardingcambspeterborough.org.uk/2022/04/12/statement-issued-on-behalf-of-cambridgeshire-and-peterborough-safeguarding-partnership-3/
The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel: Annual Report 2020
'The Panel received notification of 482 serious incidents which occurred between 1 January and 31 December 2020, relating to 514 children. Of those 482 notifications, 206 were in relation to child deaths and 267 related to serious harm'. Most incidents referred to under-1s (35%) and 15 - 17 year olds (30%).
Suicide was an important issue, 'accounting for 20%' of the 206 fatal incidents. 'Young people’s feelings of isolation during the COVID-19 lockdown were a contributory factor in a number of incidents. More generally, it was not always clear whether a suicide was linked to suspected abuse or neglect. Often there was not a single trigger event.'
In 16% of the notified incidents, the child had experienced mental ill-health. These issues have taken on greater significance given the evident concerns about children and young people’s mental health and emotional well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Preventing self-harm and suicide
In 2020 the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel had commissioned a thematic analysis of Serious Incident Notifications where the child had ended their own life. A sample of 98 notifications was examined.
Themes that could be seen in the study were:
- abuse or neglect from others
- bereavement
- relationship issues
- substance misuse
- children missing from home and
- bullying in an educational setting
A fifth of all the cases involved children who were, or had previously been, involved with Children’s Services, including looked after children and care leavers.
Read the full report and the executive summary here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-safeguarding-practice-review-panel-annual-report-2020
Governor vacancy
A Portsmouth School has emailed to say that it is recruiting a Safeguarding Link Trustee. If you think you can help, or know someone who could, please email Suzanne at clerk@utcportsmouth.org
Bookings for Cornwall
I have had an invitation to speak in Cornwall in the autumn term. This is a long way from my base in Cambridge and the costs are potentially prohibitive. This would be offset if I were able to book two or three other events in during the same week, probably in October/November 2022.
If you are a school, local authority or MAT in Cornwall, I would love to hear from you with a view to booking events including, whole school sessions, DSL courses or a talk to Governors.
If you are interested, please email ofice@safeguardinginschools.co.uk
Anaphylaxis
Recently, a headteacher in the north-west, emailed to share her experience of a health service presentation about the death of a child due to anaphylaxis - a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction to a trigger, such as an allergy. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include feeling faint, finding it hard to breathe, a fast heartbeat and feeling anxious.
The headteacher, Emma, said, 'One big take away I would share [from the presentation] is to ensure people who carry Jext 2 or Epi pens register them with the manufacture as soon as they receive them. In turn they will get a reminder to renew their prescription two months before the pen's expiry date. The adrenalin won't always save a life, but there is a much better chance if the medication is in date. It is so important.'
Further information about anaphylaxis
Statement regarding the inquest of Cason Hallwood, a 12-year old from Cheshire who died on Christmas Day 2020.
https://www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/2021/10/15/statement-regarding-the-inquest-of-cason-hallwood/
Allergy death mum's plea to schools to save lives
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-48872090
Statement regarding the inquest of Ishmaeel Ashraf, a nine-year old from Birmingham who died in March 2017 after falling ill in school.
https://www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/2017/08/24/statement-regarding-inquest-ishmaeel-ashraf/
London pupil, 14-year old, Nasar Ahmed died after falling ill during an after-school detention in November 2016.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-39896499
Spare Pens in Schools (Stakeholder Website)
A one-stop resource for anyone who wants to know about anaphylaxis and adrenaline auto-injector “pens” in schools created by British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology's (BSACI) Paediatric Allergy Group, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), the Anaphylaxis Campaign and Allergy UK.
Website: https://www.sparepensinschools.uk/
Safeguarding.Pro Member Call
Thursday 19th May 2022 4.15 - 5.15pm
You can now register for the next member call by going to: https://www.safeguardinginschools.co.uk/products/safeguarding-pro-resources/categories/2149313100/posts/2157310390
Questions can be sent to: office@safeguardinginschools.co.uk Please put 'Member Call Question' in the subject line.
Senior Mental Health Lead online course
Our senior mental health lead (SMHL) course 'Implementing the role of the Senior Mental Health Lead' is now available and is accredited by the DfE. This online programme is more than just a course, it is a whole package of learning for the new SMHL. The course ensures that the learning outcomes in the DfE document 'Learning outcomes for senior mental health lead training' are met. The document can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/995681/Learning_outcomes_for_senior_mental_health_leads_in_schools_and_colleges.pdf
'Implementing the role of the Senior Mental Health Lead' (Course Code: SMHL105)
The course includes SMHL.Pro Learning Hub includes 12-months access to:
- Self-paced course materials
- Mental Health Pro Handbook (*Hard-copy)
- Mental Health Pro Workbook (*Hard-copy)
- Guided needs assessment
- An online community of SMHL colleagues (coming soon)
- Support to create an effective action plan
- Monthly online seminars
- Personalised feedback for your school's Mental Health development plan
The whole package costs £397+vat and you can find out more here: https://www.smhl.pro/course
Grant Funding
State-funded schools and colleges in England, including those in receipt of ESFA pre-16 revenue, high needs block, or 16 to 19 programme funding are eligible to apply for a grant of £1200. These are available to schools that wish to commence training before 31 May 2022.
Further information about grant funding can be found be here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/senior-mental-health-lead-training
Vacancy: Safeguarding Advisor (thirtyone:eight)
Location: Kent/Home-based/Hybrid
Hours: Up to Full Time (will consider 21 - 35 hours)
Safeguarding advisors provide an expert and professional service on behalf of thirtyone:eight; including the provision of consultancy and engagement services, maintenance of policy, procedure and best practice guidance and contribute to the operation of the safeguarding helpline, and training as required.
Closing date: 29th April 2022
Thirtyone:eight is an organisation delivering services within a Christian ethos and context. The nature of this post and the context in which it is carried out, gives rise to an Occupational Requirement (under the Equality Act, 2010, Sch.9) for the post holder to be a committed and active Christian. Applicants will therefore be required to demonstrate a clear personal commitment to the Christian faith.
Further information: https://thirtyoneeight.org/get-involved/join-our-team/jobs/
Forthcoming Events
Advanced Safeguarding for DSLs
This is a four-session course for DSLs over a full-day. The course is offered live and as a recorded replay. When the course is live, there are plenty of opportunities to contribute with observations, questions or answers. As a recording, the interactions from other people are included and feedback notes that this makes it feel like you are not on your own.
"I came to a session in Birmingham back in 2019 (the day after the GE I think) and it was superb. Today [online] was just as good, if not better. The use of video mixed with live speaking was excellent and goes way beyond what other safeguarding courses provide. You've been there and done it, and your openness with your own story is inspirational."
LIVE ONLINE Wednesday 27th April 2022 BOOK NOW
LIVE ONLINE Thursday 12th May 2022 BOOK NOW
...and available online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your convenience BOOK NOW
Whole School Safeguarding CPD Online Session
In this two and half hour online presentation aimed at staff in all roles, specialist safeguarding consultant, Andrew Hall, explores important aspects of safeguarding in schools including child protection, learning from case studies and the latest version of Keeping Children Safe in Education.
"I would like to extend my thanks to Andrew for his fantastic online training. It was filmed so well - almost as if he were here with us! We were kept engaged throughout and felt so well informed - a huge thank you. It was a real success, and we look forward to booking you again in the future - with the staff team saying it was the best safeguarding training they have ever had. We really appreciated Andrew's real-life storytelling and the way such sensitive information was shared - it was excellent training."
You book your online session here: https://cpd.safeguardinginschools.co.uk/product/whole-school-safeguarding-course-online/
Until next time, keep safe and thank you for all the work you're doing,
Andrew Hall,
Specialist Safeguarding Consultant,
Success In Schools Ltd.
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