You said – comments taken from the survey
We did – our response
Themes:
Training
- Support with adult learners with complex needs in mainstream settings
Reflective learning event held in March 2022. SEN preparation for adulthood training available on LSCP website.
Event List : Safeguarding Children (LSCP)
- Induction for Safeguarding for new heads/ leads regarding Sutton’s procedures and contacts.
Currently developing Induction for staff new to Sutton through the Learning and Improvement Sub-group. We could also offer a combined safeguarding/ educational visits induction – either for individuals or a group depending on demand/ numbers of new heads.
- Training for governors would be very helpful.
We run 3 sessions a year and this is bookable via the Merton/Sutton Governors training site.
- Guidance about actions we can take when attendance is low, leading us to have safeguarding concerns, but when we do not have enough concern to reach threshold for a CFCS referral.
Last year we held a multi-agency webinar with colleagues from schools, health, social care, attendance, and education psychology around this issue. Our attendance service is currently being developed considering the new guidance and further information will follow.
- More on up-to-date issues in the community.
We regularly send out the bulletin from Safer Partnerships Team. We have attendance from the school’s police teams at our DSL network meetings, Vulnerable Pupil Panel and Contextual Safeguarding – Education Group. A working party is currently being developed to see how information sharing on local risks can be better improved.
- More around eating disorders.
This work is ongoing and is addressed regularly at the Helping Early Network and CYP Emotional Wellbeing Meetings. As this is a specialist area, it is important to link in with School Nursing. Representatives from the School Nursing Team recently attended our DSL Network Meeting to present on this area.
- Supporting mental health concerns in school including self-harm suicidal ideation and low mood, supporting sixth form students.
Jo Suchy and Danielle Shbero now have regular slots during DSL network meetings. A survey was recently sent out for schools to suggest ideas for future content. If you haven’t yet sent in a response, please do so via this link
Megan Kent, Self-harm Nurse, also regularly attends our DSL network meetings and has also set up a self-harm working party for schools to discuss concerns. Although Megan has recently left the service, there will be someone new in role for September. Contact information was recently sent out via the Sutton Contact Sheet.
- More on suicide prevention.
The Education Safeguarding Manager is now a part of the Suicide Prevention Partnership and will disseminate relevant information to schools. Training is also available here:
Event List : Safeguarding Children (LSCP).
- Sutton approach to low level concerns.
Bitesize training materials are available on the Cognus website Bitesize Safeguarding Training Videos and Accompanying Slides – Cognus.
The LADO is currently working on an e-learning module which will be available to all via the LSCP website.
- Lockdown in the event of an intruder.
Guidance is available from the Health and Safety Leads in the Local Authority.
- Clarity around the role of the DSL in terms of racist/homophobic incidents.
This is regularly covered in training, signposting to LADO, Stop Hate UK, and Abu Ullah. Multi-agency partners regularly come along to inform schools around these topics at our DSL network meetings.
- Managing behaviour to prevent exclusions.
Please refer to the Cognus website for information from the Inclusion team. Sarah Westall regularly attends our network meetings to offer support and guidance.
- Perhaps filtering what information and resources are accessible for primary/secondary.
Information that goes out is accessible to all unless stated.
- More on Hate Crime.
Abu Ullah and Stop Hate UK regularly attend our DSL network sessions to give advice on this area.
- I would like to see a yearly multi agency meeting in school to discuss key students (max 5) this may speed up access to support and allow quicker intervention to avoid suspension/ high tier social care.
This may be something to take forward with the Inclusion Team. Pupils are also regularly discussed at VPP.
- Review of EHAT and the role and purpose between multi-agencies.
Paul Lenaghan – Early Help Manager – regularly attends DSL network meetings along with the coordinators. A video is currently being produced as part of the LSCP Induction Programme.
- Harmful sexual behaviour, supporting and helping transgender students in schools.
A Working party was set up around HSB last year and the CSA Protocol subsequently updated. This is available on the LSCP website. Training on supporting transgender pupils recently took place and resources shared with schools for those that couldn’t attend.
- Substance misuse, increase risk to gangs and anti-social behaviour, anxiety from lockdown and non-attendance, ASD.
Colleagues from Inspire regularly attend the DSL network meetings, our School’s Police Team also regularly attend. We could ask them to specifically share some strategies to support schools in terms of gangs and anti-social behaviours. Jo Suchy and Danielle Shbero attend each DSL network meeting and discuss strategies to support emotional wellbeing and anxiety. We will also invite Rebecca Duffus along to DSL meetings next year to offer support and guidance around Autism. Information is readily available on the Cognus website.
- Online safety – students and staff; CME.
CME bitesize content recently produced. Online safety e-learning module currently being developed.
- Prevention work around Gangs / county lines.
Schools police to share strategies at DSL network meetings. We could also look at producing bitesize content around county lines.
- Guidance on a safeguarding rota of training.
This is available from Andrew Hall – Safeguarding in Schools. Once updated for September 2022, we will send out to schools.
- Trauma, ACE, criminal activity.
Sasha Gay-Brown regularly attends our DSL network meetings and information is available on the Cognus website. School’s police can support with advice around criminal activity.
- Legal planning process. What happens when this level of concern has been hit?
We will invite someone from social care along to discuss this at our DSL network meetings, to provide clarity on the process.
- Do DSLs still have to complete 1 course a year from the LSCP?
We would expect that DSLs engage with the offer from the LSCP and attempt to attend 1 course a year as a minimum.
- More comprehensive CLA training.
This has been fed back to the virtual school – please also refer to resources available on the Cognus website.
- Difficult conversations with parents regarding safeguarding issues, child to parent violence, parental capacity and parenting complex needs.
This can be incorporated into our bitesize training materials. Please also contact Lorna Jacques for further support and advice on what is available in terms of parenting support (lorna.jacques@sutton.gov.uk).
- Many families are significantly struggling with their child’s behaviour at home, which can be aggression to parents or siblings/ destruction in the house. As a school we are not seeing these behaviours. Schools cannot support in the family home, yet these cases don’t always meet threshold for services. How can we help them?
Training is available on the LSCP website – parent to child violence – resources shared with schools. Information from the behaviour support team available on the Cognus website.
- I would really value some simple guidance from CAMHS, police and CFCS on the broad structures of their different teams – it can be very difficult to understand as an outsider. Even terms like Tier 2/Tier 3 within CAMHS – CAMHS professional often assume understanding. Perhaps an “idiot’s guide” to the overall structures in each organisation and key contact details?
Please refer to the Threshold Guidance on the LSCP website and information on the CAMHS website.
- More on Prevent, FGM, talking to a child to get the most out of a disclosure. domestic abuse.
We can consider this when arranging speakers for DSL network and planning bitesize content.
- Mental health awareness, particularly in non-neurotypical students.
Jo and Danielle can cover this in their slots at the DSL network meetings – please remember to complete their survey suggesting this.
- I would like further training on the completion of PEPs and supporting LAC pupils.
This will be shared with the virtual school.
- It would be good to have two levels of training at the start of the year (virtual bitesize), one which is a safeguarding recap and changes to KCSIE for staff that are experienced and then the longer one that is more suitable for new and less experienced staff.
We have one level of training available. However, you can amend the slides provided, depending on who they are being shared with. Basic safeguarding awareness training for new members of staff can be delivered by the DSL in school.
Bitesize content/podcasts on:
- Transgender issues and how schools can support.
Bespoke training developed and led by Browne Jacobson.
- School avoidance and emotionally based anxiety.
EP Service have shared resources and attended all DSL network meetings.
- Dealing with physical chastisement with parents.
CFCS manager attended DSL networks to talk specifically about this area and this regularly features in all training – we won’t currently do anything specific on this as guidance must come from CFCS.
- Dealing with emotional pressure pupils are put under to succeed by parents.
Jo Suchy and Danielle Shbero to address in network meetings.
- Linking outcomes to trip planning to help teachers select outcomes to different activities and subjects, this can help encourage teachers to extend the students learning by adding outcomes they may not have focused on otherwise for that activity.
We can consider this in future content where possible.
- A check list for planning a residential. Including what information to collect from parents.
We can consider this in future content where possible.
- Trips and visits with covid.
Guidance has been shared.
- Wellbeing in the classroom – how to reduce anxiety.
Jo Suchy and Danielle Shbero to address in network meetings.
- Supporting students that experience domestic abuse.
LSCP training is available. This is regularly addressed in our own training sessions. Resources are also available on the Not Alone in Sutton Website.
- Developing professional curiosity.
Bitesize training now available.
- Contextual safeguarding.
Training has now been developed and is available via the LSCP Website.
In terms of Educational Visits:
- A link set within the system for new users to watch how to use the site effectively. Also, if adding bulk staff can be made easier.
- Better risk assessment templates for Education Visits.
- Update on international travel with Covid.
- Choosing a residential provider (In the light of the PGL Ofsted).
- Planning residential visits for SEND learners
- Use of school minibuses, trips to the beach or local visits by the river.
Mick is currently in the process of developing resources around the areas suggested above. For more information, please contact mick.bradshaw@cognus.org.uk.
General Communication
- Think of a way to encourage more schools to be more open about their practices and share good practice.
This can be discussed in your buddy meetings and via the WhatsApp group. Good news stories will also be shared in the fortnightly safeguarding briefing going forward. We trialled a termly newsletter where good news stories were shared but DSLs felt that this was duplication and asked for the information to be incorporated into the fortnightly briefings.
- Feedback from referrals into CFCS.
We have fed this back in leadership meetings with Children’s Social Care.
- Improve response times from CFCS.
This is beyond the control of the Education Safeguarding Team but has been fed back to CFCS.
- Having a named social worker who we can go to for advice, so we develop and build a professional relationship with them.
We have fed this back to Children’s Social Care but due to the frequent changes this may not be possible to take forward. CFCS should always be first point of contact for advice.
- Provide updates over the weekend for serious child protection cases, especially when a disclosure has been made on a Friday. This will help school to act accordingly on the Monday.
This has been fed back to Children’s Social Care.
- It would be useful to know whether schools use mainly My Concern or CPOMS particularly for transfer on information to high schools.
This is shared during the transfer process and was shared again recently.
- Opportunities for DSLs to discuss procedures and practice within their settings would be useful.
This can be taken forward during the buddy meetings. We also held a DSL end of year network event at Cantium House in July for this purpose. This will be an annual event going forward.
- Consider a ‘Safeguarding Portal’ – an online platform that collects resources that are currently mailed out regularly.
The safeguarding briefing is sent out fortnightly. There is now also a link on the Cognus website to all historical briefings Safeguarding Briefings from the Education Safeguarding Team – Cognus.
In summary:
We are committed to maintaining the following:
‘Don’t change anything. The service is the best it has ever been! ‘
‘Thank you so much for all you do, and you are so appreciated!’
‘It’s so reassuring to have such brilliant support at the end of a telephone. Always helpful and understanding so thank you so much’.
‘Thank you to the team for all their support – day & night, including holidays! It is greatly appreciated’.
‘Thank you to all team members for responding to all our queries so promptly’.
‘We appreciate the help to navigate the uncertainty we have around trips and visits’.
‘Thanks to the team – always there when you need them’.
‘It is always good to know that you have someone to turn to for advice as and when required’.
‘Thank you for all you do in keeping us up to date. Have great confidence in the support and advice that is available’.
‘Thank you for your prompt support and guidance whenever I have a query – it’s very much appreciated’.
‘The team have provided prompt and valuable support to the school following any requests or enquiries and can always find a different approach if one has not been successful. The bank of resources available is also very useful and has enabled us to further develop safeguarding across the school’.
‘Meetings have been excellent this year – very informative and full of good initiatives and support’.
‘The service has been invaluable to me and the school for support and guidance and not sure how we would cope without it’.
‘The knowledge and advice provided by the Safeguarding team has been invaluable; and the ability to ask for help or to discuss individual cases or situations with members of the team has ensured that I feel we are carrying out our safeguarding duties effectively’.
‘The regular updates and DSL forums are invaluable’.
‘The service provides a full 360 degree of support’.
‘The content produced by the team is of a high quality and I have used the bitesize training videos with staff’.
We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with you and to maintain effective safeguarding policies, practices, and procedures across Sutton.