1. Safeguarding Update for Schools Summer Term 2015 Jo Barclay Safeguarding Adviser to Schools Standards & Excellence Service

2. Updated documents: Keeping Children Safe in Education (DfE, March 2015)Keeping Children Safe in Education Keeping Children Safe in Education - information for all school and college staff (DfE, March 2015)Keeping Children Safe in Education - information for all school and college staff SET Procedures (ESCB, 2015)SET Procedures Working Together to Safeguard Children (HM Government, March 2015)Working Together to Safeguard Children Inspecting Safeguarding in Maintained Schools and Academies (Ofsted April 2015)Inspecting Safeguarding in Maintained Schools and Academies 2

3. Keeping Children Safe in Education (March 2015) Clarifies that a member of staff should discuss any concerns with the Designated Lead in the first instance (not Social Care) Clarifies arrangements for reporting concerns about members of staff (to Headteacher / Principal rather than Designated Lead) Additional information on preventing radicalisation (to include The Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015) which places a duty on specified authorities (including local authorities and children’s services providers) 3

4. Keeping Children Safe in Education (March 2015) Additional information about ‘staff behaviour / code of conduct’ policy and what should be included – both should be provided to all staff (including temporary and volunteers) on induction Additional information about safer recruitment (DBS Update Service and regulated activity) Additional information about Single Central Record Additional information to Annex A (Legislation) 4

5. SET Procedures 2015: Updated in response to new statutory guidance ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ (HMG, 2015) and also to reflect current practice No substantial changes to the way practitioners work together to safeguard children Now in two sections: – Section A – ‘Core’ statutory procedures – Section B – Additional guidance A change from initial and core assessments to single social work assessments 5

6. SET Procedures (2015) With effect from 16 th March 2015 Part A – Section 7: Allegations against staff or volunteers, who work with children Part B – Section 2.3.5: Designated safeguarding children lead Part B – Section 2.11.20: Schools and further education institutions Part B – Section 3: Sharing information Part B – Section 12.1.1: Safer recruitment Part B – Section 21: Children not attending school 6

7. SET Procedures (2015) Part B – Section 24: CSE Part B – Section 32: Children harming others Part B – Section 33: Bullying Part B – Section 35: Self-harming and suicidal behaviour Part B – Section 36.10: Foreign exchange visits Part B – Section 40: Child Abuse linked to faith or culture Part B4 - appendices 7

8. Working Together 2015 Aims to help professionals understand what they need to do, and what they can expect of one another, to safeguard children focuses on core legal requirements, making it clear what individuals and organisations should do to keep children safe Effective safeguarding of children can only be achieved by putting children at the centre of the system, and by every individual and agency playing their full part, working together to meet the needs of our most vulnerable children. 8

9. Ofsted : ‘Inspecting Safeguarding in Maintained Schools and Academies’ briefing paper to support inspectors in reviewing schools’ safeguarding arrangements for section 5 inspections updated April 2015 Available on Essex School Infolink (ESI) Main amendment is around ‘disqualification by association’ 9

10. What To Do If You’re Worried a Child is Being Abused (March 2015) New document from HMG – non-statutory advice for practitioners: Be alert to signs of abuse Question the behaviour of children and parents / carers Make sure you know where to go if you need to ask for help (refers school staff to Designated Lead) Outlines signs of abuse

11. Mental Health / Emotional Well-being DfE has updated its document Mental Health and Behaviour in School’ – latest version March 2015 is available on Essex School Infolink Prevention of Youth Suicide Toolkit Guidance for Schools was distributed in January 2015 – available on Essex School Infolink 11

12. Safeguarding Audit for schools Audit went ‘live’ October 2014 Around 55% of schools have started the audit Average of over 80% score on each category (and over 90% in 10 of the 12 categories) Completion date for schools is 31 st July 2015 Format will be reviewed August 2015 12

13. Safeguarding Audit for schools: Enables schools to: Rate themselves against county-wide safeguarding standards agreed by ESCB and ECC Upload documentary evidence to be held in one place for easy reference Create action plans for any standards which are not fully met Use it throughout the year to monitor the progress of actions and record improvements Provide summary charts and tables which can printed out and used in reports for governing bodies, Ofsted etc.

14. Radicalisation / extremism Schools can help to protect children from extremist and violent views in the same ways that they help to safeguard children from drugs, gang violence or alcohol. ‘Promoting fundamental British values as part of SMSC in schools’ (DfE, 2014) ‘Tackling extremism in the UK’ (HM Government, 2013) PREVENT referrals should be reported in line with other safeguarding procedures. You can contact the Essex Police to discuss any concerns on PREVENT@essex.pnn.police.uk. 14

15. New Family Operations Hub During Spring 2015 the Initial Response Team (IRT) and the Early help and Advice Hub (EHAH) will be merging to become the Family Operations Hub. This will be a single point of contact for all those requiring support from Children`s Social Care, Family Solutions and advice / guidance / consultation for needs at level 2/3. It is hoped this streamlining of access to services will: o Increase capacity to ensure that timescales are met; o Reduce call waiting times; o Provide advice and guidance to those seeking support at the appropriate level The phone number to access the hub will not change: 0845 6037627 15

16. Other work: Development of Level 2 training programme for schools with the ESCB CSE Guidance Toolkit for Schools – due autumn term Domestic abuse notification work Reporting / recording concerns and information governance for schools Work with ESCB school representatives to strengthen school participation and contribution 16

17. Contact for Safeguarding Adviser to Schools: jo.barclay@essex.gov.uk 033301 31078 http://schools.essex.gov.uk/Pages/EssexSchoolsInfolink.aspx