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Safeguarding Briefing for Schools / 28.04.20
Dear colleagues,
I am receiving many updates and resources on safeguarding and am bringing to you what I feel are the most important ones for you to be aware of. Please pay particular attention to the Covid-19 CYP Response Plan which supports schools in fulfilling their safeguarding responsibilities during this period.
Take care everyone
Jo Jo BarclaySafeguarding Manager for Schools and Early YearsSchool Effectiveness Service, People Commissioning
Essex County Council www.essex.gov.uk | telephone: 03330 131078 | mobile: 07775 030021 | email: [email protected]
Covid-19 CYP Response Plan for Education Settings – Summer 2020
Hopefully you will have seen by now the plan shared in Clare’s briefing earlier this week. We know that staff form part of the wider safeguarding system for children and young people and that they play a vital role in safeguarding children during the current emergency arrangements due to COVID-19. During this period, settings retain their statutory duties to safeguard children and must adapt their existing processes to the current situation to ensure they continue to operate effectively. As well as supporting safeguarding, regular contact with children and families will enable settings to provide important support, address any relatively minor concerns before they escalate and to maintain relationships with their children. This will be of immense value as part of re-opening arrangements as settings will be able to identify any additional interventions required to support children when they return. All staff should understand the importance and purpose of contact during this period as part of their role to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children.
The purpose of the Children and Young People Covid-19 Response Plan is to provide a framework to support settings in fulfilling their safeguarding responsibilities during the closure period. A series of FAQs and some examples of how settings are already implementing the plan will be shared later this week.
Support with risk assessments
I want to make you aware of some additional support with risk assessments. A team of social workers to support settings with this work has been identified and they will be making contact over the coming weeks. This is intended to be a supportive measure to build 1 | P a g eA u t h o r : J o B a r c l a y , S a f e g u a r d i n g M a n a g e r f o r S c h o o l s a n d E Y F SD a t e : 2 7 . 0 4 . 2 0
Safeguarding Briefing for Schools / 28.04.20
capacity and expertise around assessing risk and to support Designated Leads and Deputy Designated Leads who may be managing cases with high levels of risk involved. This team will be phoning schools to discuss children with a social worker (‘vulnerable’ children). However, settings may also wish to discuss risk assessments for other vulnerable children (those below the threshold for an intervention from Social Care). The team is also happy to support with this and can be contacted via Lynne Hooper at: [email protected].
Mental health and wellbeing
We have produced guidance for schools on mental health and wellbeing, the aim of which is to bring together multiple guidance and resources. The latest version is available on the Essex School Infolink - safeguarding notice board
The government has produced advice for parents on COVID-19: guidance on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing and also and information leaflet on Covid-19 - an easy read - looking after your feelings and_body which schools may find useful to share with parents and / or pupils
Team Around the Family (TAF) meetings
The TAFSO team have produced a guide on how to hold a virtual TAF meeting. This is available on the Effective Support website
As a reminder the TAFSOs are continuing to support wider partners who feel that a family could benefit from a virtual TAF, they are contactable [email protected]
Arrangements for sending children to or receiving children from another school due to closure
We are producing some guidance for settings to cover arrangements for children attending another school due to closure of their own school during this period because of low numbers or non-availablity of staff. Before closing due to low numbers, schools should ensure risk assessments are in place for all vulnerable pupils and those with an EHCP to ensure they reflect current need in terms of whether they are safer at home or in school.
Where a setting does send pupils to another school, it is important that they share any relevant information with the receiving Designated Lead (perhaps a copy of the chronology, plus a summary of concerns). The receiving setting should ensure they ask the sending setting if there have been any previous child protection concerns and if there is a CP file.
The model child protection policy to cover the closure period includes information on this (to inform parents that information will be shared). If you are using your own policy, it is advisable to ensure this is included.
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Safeguarding Briefing for Schools / 28.04.20
Where schools are sending children to another school, it is strongly recommended that staff from their own school accompany them to support them while they are there. This will help the child to settle during these ‘emergency’ arrangements and ensures there can be a consistent approach to the child in terms of managing behaviour, for example.
Essex Child and Family Well-being Service (ECFWS)
To support families during the COVID-19 pandemic and in recognition of the challenges to families due to school closure, the Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service has created a brand new resource hub. The COVID-19 Pandemic Resource Hub includes guidance and information on:
Talking with children about COVID-19 Emotional and physical wellbeing – keeping positive Support for young people Home schooling Relationships at home Safeguarding yourself and others Dealing with a very young baby Home safety tips Families with children with SEND Financial welfare
The latest ECFWS bulletins are available here:
The Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service (ECFWS) is also available to support settings with vulnerable children. They will continue to contact settings over this period to discuss vulnerable children (those with and without social workers) and will form part of the safeguarding arrangements for them.
Advice for parents on when to seek medical help for their children
There is an increasing concern regarding the reduction in children attending A&E and seeking medical advice during the COVID 19 crisis. Much of this is due to the misunderstanding that all NHS services are focusing on COVID and normal services are not ‘open’. This poster has been approved by NHS England for dissemination to support parents and carers of when to seek help and advice and which service they should contact.
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Safeguarding Briefing for Schools / 28.04.20
Domestic abuse online training
The Southend, Essex and Thurrock Domestic Abuse Board (SETDAB) has produced an basic awareness online training programme for professionals to support understanding of domestic abuse and related processes
Joint planning document from Social Care
This document has been produced by Social Care and sets out the process for Interim Support Plans for children and young people with a disability (CYPWD)
Essex Welfare Service (EWS)
The EWS is a new service to help vulnerable people in the community who are staying at home during the coronavirus period, are in need of support and unable to access the support they need at this time: https://www.essexwelfareservice.org.uk/ It would be helpful if schools could share this with parents for information and / or on the website as they are able to ‘self-refer if they are experiencing difficulties
EWS Contact: Call: 0300 303 9988Email: [email protected] Website: www.essexwelfareservice.org Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 2pm
Effective Support Directory The Effective Support on-line Directory is regularly updated and now has a section dedicated to Covid19 response: Effective Support Directory of Services
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Safeguarding Briefing for Schools / 28.04.20
Youth Service – support with domestic abuse
Good Man Project: Good Man is a five week male mentoring programme for boys and young men who are at risk of entering into abusive relationships in the future and/or are at current risk within an abusive relationship. It can be delivered on either a group work or 1:1 basis, depending on need.
Further details of the programme and referrals can be made here.
Sisters In Strength: This is the female version of the Good Man project for girls and young women who are at risk of entering into an abusive relationship, becoming a potential perpetrator within a relationship or are currently in an abusive relationship. Covering areas including
Further details of the programme and referrals for anyone needing online support can be made here.
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