Safeguarding Briefing - 26th June 2023

FAO: School to University: Sharing Safeguarding Information - Farrer & Co

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From school to university: sharing safeguarding information - Farrer & Co 

A question that I'm often asked at this time of year is whether safeguarding information can or even should be shared with a university. Education lawyers, Farrer & Co, have written a really useful article, from the perspective of both the school and the university in answer to this question.

'Practically speaking, the line between a 17 and 18-year-old is largely an arbitrary one, but legally it is hugely important. Overnight, a 17-year-old child becomes an 18-year-old adult and is no longer covered by the safeguarding protections afforded to a legal “child”. What are the roles, and mutual responsibilities, of schools and universities when a pupil about whom there are safeguarding concerns transitions to higher education?'

Further reading: https://www.farrer.co.uk/news-and-insights/from-school-to-university-sharing-safeguarding-information/

Keeping Children Safe in Education Video Guide 

In the past couple of weeks we have been talking about the changes to Keeping Children Safe in Education. This are wide-ranging changes, and we have written a great deal on the topic. We now have a new video aimed at all members of staff about these changes. The video comes with downloadable slides over on Safeguarding.Pro. If you're a member of Safeguarding.Pro, you can follow the link below to gain access. If you haven't yet joined us on Safeguarding.Pro then click on the second link, and sign up. 

KCSIE Video:
https://www.safeguardinginschools.co.uk/products/safeguarding-pro-resources/categories/2153110691

Join Safeguarding.Pro: 
https://www.safeguardinginschools.co.uk/offers/g9HCKJXM/checkout

Cybersecurity in Schools a Snapshot - London Grid for Learning

May this year saw the London Grid for Learning publish their Cybersecurity Schools Audit. Across the UK 805 schools participated, aimed at looking at the cybersecurity threats to the UK school sector. It also looked at ways to prevent these threats, and the efficacy of measures already in place. The overall objective of the study was to shape UK educational cybersecurity policy, to that end it was carried out in conjunction with the National Cyber Security Centre, a body which forms part of the UK's GCHQ.

The findings and subsequent analysis of the report, are of an excellent calibre and should be taken seriously by all in the education sector. On their site you can find two downloadable documents, which deal with the report's main findings and the analysis of said findings respectively.

You can find these documents by following the link below, as well as advice on how to act on the report's findings. 

https://national.lgfl.net/security/securityaudit

'Safeguarding for Everyone' Online Presentation - Andrew Hall

For the last few years, I have been producing an online presentation aimed at all members of staff. This video is often used as the safeguarding INSET at the beginning of September, although it is useful at anytime of year. Initially created for use during the pandemic, the course has become an annual event for a number of schools. This means that it has been re-created three times now.

The presentation is filmed and presented by Andrew in the studio and on location using case studies and documentary-style storytelling to illustrate the importance of our safeguarding and child protection. 

I thought it would be helpful to show how this presentation differs from many other approaches, so I've edited up a 9 minute 'trailer' of last year's presentation.

To watch the presentation extracts, go to: https://www.safeguardinglearning.co.uk/findoutmore

To book the presentation, go to: https://www.safeguardinginschools.co.uk/sendwholeschool

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Safeguarding for Everyone Online Presentation click to watch last year's extracts

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Deputy DSL/Deputy Year Leader Vacancy - The Beacon School 

There is currently a job opening at The Beacon School in Banstead, Surrey. The position is full time with a salary advertised at £30,900 to £34,000. The successful candidate will join the school's pastoral team. The advertised role combines that of Deputy Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Year Leader. The window for applications closes at 12:00 on the 27th of June 2023, and the successful applicant will be expected to start in September 2023. To find out more, and to see how to apply, please follow the link below: 

https://www.eteach.com/careers/beaconschool/job/pastoral-leader-1345217/?lang=en-GB

Cyber and Information Security Training - Southwest Grid for Learning 

In the safeguarding briefing we frequently touch on cyber security and information security. The reason for this is that every computer in an educational setting, is inevitably a risk enhancer. At its most basic an internet connected computer is a window to a sphere fraught with dangers. Whether it's scammers aiming to steal funds from your school, unscrupulous data miners seeking to use your servers or criminals desiring to exploit children, these devices contain an open door to all of it. At the same time these platforms are indispensable for the modern education sector. Be it keeping track of your school's expenses, to teaching children mathematics, their utility is inescapable. Balancing these realities requires a close engagement with cyber and information security. The Southwest Grid for Learning currently has training enabling you to do just that. To find out more please follow the link below: 

https://swgfl.org.uk/training/information-security-training/

Did Someone Forward this Safeguarding Briefing to You?

If you would like to receive your own copy of the Safeguarding Briefing, simply go to: www.safeguardingbriefing.co.uk

Single Central Record FAQs - Safeguarding.Pro

There was a really good members-only seminar last week with our guest, Louis Donald, Director of Safeguarding at The Creative Education Trust. Earlier this year, Louis had presented a seminar for the DfE. After that seminar, the DfE created a document covering some of the answers to question that people ask. 

Download the DfE's FAQ on the SCR here: https://6282.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/KCSIE+Series+Webinar+2+SCR+FAQs+7th+February+2023.pdf

To watch the replay of our SCR seminar, go to: https://www.safeguardinginschools.co.uk/products/safeguarding-pro-resources/categories/2149313100/posts/2168550509

Information Sharing Consultation - Department of Education 

Safeguarding practice reviews constantly underline both the importance of information sharing and that people share information too slowly. Most recently, the independent report into the murders of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson said there had been 'confusion, anxieties and poor practices' among practitioners when sharing information to protect children.

There is often poor information sharing because there is a concern about the perceived legal barriers to sharing. There have been several attempts to clarify the position, but barriers remain. The changes to Working Together in 2020 said that consent is not necessary to share information for the purposes of safeguarding, so long as there is another lawful basis to do so. However, the current Information Sharing guidance, last updated in 2018, says agencies should 'where possible, share information with consent”.

The DfE's recently published consultation on information sharing acknowledges that there is still a lack of clarity for practitioners who often 'assume, incorrectly, that no information can be shared because no consent has been provided'. The draft update, now being consulted on, says that consent should 'not be seen as the default lawful basis” for sharing personal information in a child safeguarding context, as it is “unlikely to be appropriate in most cases”. This because the person may withdraw consent at any time, or, if a practitioner believes a child is being neglected or abused, seeking consent could “undermine safeguarding procedures” and may increase risk.

For further information and to share your views, please follow the link below: 

https://consult.education.gov.uk/childrens-social-care-data-and-digital-division/information-sharing-advice-safeguarding-practition/consultation/subpage.2023-06-14.3544629176/

Working Together to Safeguard Children Consultation - Department of Education

Working Together to Safeguard Children is the multi-agency statutory guidance that sets out expectations for the system that provides help, support and protection for children and their families. It applies at every level from senior leaders to those in direct practice with families, and across all agencies and organisations that come into contact with children. Working Together to Safeguard Children was last revised in 2018, although there was a limited factual update in 2020. 

The DfE said that updating Working Together is central to delivering on the first phase of their plans to transform Children's Social Care, set out in 'Stable Homes, Built on Love'. It expected that the review will be completed early next year, with an intention to a provide an annual update “to make sure it’s accurate and to see what extra changes we may need to make”. 

Key areas in the consultation include:

  • “A shared endeavour” - expectations for effective multi-agency working
  • Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements to clarify roles and responsibilities to deepen accountability and transparency
  • Stronger expectations on Early Help and family networks, clarifies permissions on working with children under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 and emphasises support for disabled children
  • Decisive multi-agency child protection introduces new national multi-agency child protection standards for practitioners and approaches to harm outside the home
  • Learning from serious child safeguarding incidents

You can find out more about the consultation, and share your views here: https://consult.education.gov.uk/child-protection-safeguarding-division/working-together-to-safeguard-children-changes-to/

Forthcoming Courses

Implementing the role of the Senior Mental Health Lead (DfE Course Code SMHL105)

This is our DfE Quality Assured course for Senior Mental Health Leads. The course offers self-paced learning using the resources in our SMHL.Pro Hub, which is available for 12 months. Each month there is a live online member check-in to catch up with your tutors and each other. The course cost £397+VAT, some schools are eligible for a grant to cover this cost.

For more details, go to: https://www.smhl.pro/course

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 ON LOCATION remember that you can book Andrew to visit your school, cluster or MAT to share his DSL course. Please contact us for details and bookings.

Next Advanced Safeguarding for DSLs Course (Online) Wednesday 13th September 2023 10am - 4pm Book Online

The on-demand course is always available and has been updated for September 2023 Book Online

Whole School Safeguarding CPD Online Session for 2022/2023

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.

"In my excitement, I forgot to add our star rating to the Safeguarding training we have just watched. If we could, we would give it 10 stars! That was the best Safeguarding training we have ever had, thank you so much. Feedback from staff has, so far, been overwhelmingly positive…I can't thank you enough."

"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."

Watch extracts from last year's presentation here: https://www.safeguardinglearning.co.uk/findoutmore

You book your online session here: www.safeguardinginschools.co.uk/availablecourses

 

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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