You said, we did for schools and partners (2022 – 2023)

2022-2023 Annual School and Partner Satisfaction Survey Analysis – ‘You said, we did’ (120 Responses)

Schools – 98 responses – 100% either very satisfied (78/98) or satisfied (20/98) with the service.

Partners –22 responses – 95% either very satisfied (18/22) or satisfied (3/22). 5% neither satisfied nor dissatisfied (1/22).

You said – comments taken from the survey

We did – our response

Themes:

Training

It would be great to have termly face-to-face network for the main DSLs in schools as well as the termly training sessions. I found both the attendance and LAC networks useful and supportive.

Our termly DSL sessions will remain virtual, but we will hold an annual face-to-face session for DSLs at Cantium House. This year, this will be held on 13^th July.

Event : COGNUS—Designated-Safeguarding-Lead-Network-Meeting – 15919 (event-booking.org)

This will be a drop-in session where the team are available to offer support and advice. There will also be the opportunity to network with other DSLs.

Develop a web page with frequently asked questions.

This will be available on the Cognus website for 2023-2024.

Create a route map of who does what.

A summary of this information is available on the contact sheet that is sent out each term. You can also find information on the Local Authority website. Information can also be found on the Cognus website under each service.

I miss the opportunity to speak to other DSLs face to face and share experiences between us.

There are still opportunities to meet face to face with other DSLs. Please attend the DSL event on 13^th July. Also consider signing up to our Group DSL Supervision. Although it is virtual, as requested by DSLs, DSLs have the opportunity to discuss good practice, themes and any issues arising.

I didn’t realise that there were bitesize videos. Can you please share how to access.

Bitesize materials can be accessed here:

Bitesize Safeguarding Training Videos and Accompanying Slides – Cognus

New content is added each half-term based on discussions with DSLs.

We need a wider range of support services to signpost families to. We definitely need more CAHMS support.

For further discussions around this, please contact deborah.ayodele@swlstg.nhs.uk. She holds a regular drop in for DSLs and also attends our DSL Network Meetings.

We need more practical support and guidance around CME. Often cases seem ‘stuck’ and we run out of things to encourage school attendance.

There is often confusion around children classed as CME and children who are not attending school regularly. There is currently a lot of work being undertaken in relation to the new Attendance Strategy which is due to be in place September 2023.

For further information on CME:

Children Missing Education – Cognus

Bitesize Safeguarding Training Videos and Accompanying Slides – Cognus

For further information on Attendance:

School Attendance – Cognus

We need more support around persistent absenteeism. It is a real concern and never meets Early Help Thresholds.

As above.

The Early Help Service is in demand, and it is now more difficult for families to meet the criteria. Training on meeting the criteria would be useful. More families would benefit from this support if there was more capacity.

Each school has an Early Help Coordinator, and they can be contacted to discuss thresholds: Schools EHC list .

The team also regularly come along to provide updates at our DSL Network Meetings and also offer bespoke training for schools.

More on supervision and how to handle it in schools.

You can contact the EP Service about general supervision in schools.

Educational Psychology – Cognus

You can also book on to our Group DSL Supervision here:

Event List : Safeguarding (event-booking.org)

We would appreciate training on DSL new to role – for those who may be aspiring DSLs.

We run 3 sessions each year bookable here:

Event List : Safeguarding (event-booking.org)

Training on how to support young people who are 18 but still having problems at home.

Please refer to:

Sutton_transitional_safeguarding_protocol (suttonlscp.org.uk)

Training for office staff dealing with admissions. This was last delivered three years ago, and I was unable to attend.

We have discussed this with Admissions. They are planning on organising a session for 2023-2024.

Please contact suttonadmissions@cognus.org.uk for more information.

Training related to dysregulated children – not directly related to safeguarding.

Jo Suchy from the EP Service has regularly attended our DSL Network Updates to provide training and guidance around this area. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss further: Jo.Suchy@cognus.org.uk.

Training and guidance for DSLs on admin requirements, policies needed, induction requirements, maintaining training records, reports for governors etc.

This is covered in our DSL New to Role training, but we will review this.

All requirements can also be found in KCSIE 2023 Keeping children safe in education 2023 (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Please also find more details on Andrew Hall’s website: Safeguarding In Schools

Training to reduce the size of policies so that they are more manageable.

Examples to support with this are available here: The Key | Whole school support – leadership, governance, safeguarding, CPD (thekeysupport.com)

Training on what to record on a safeguarding file.

This is covered in our DSL New to Role training.

Please also refer to our Bitesize training content as this is covered.

Training on how to talk to children when CFCS have asked you to question them about an incident. Also, how to question a parent when you have no background information available.

If CFCS ask you to do this, please ask for clarity and talk it through with them first so that you feel comfortable about ‘the ask’.

Although aimed at parents, this may also be useful: Talking about difficult topics | NSPCC.

Training on how to help with housing difficulties and supporting low-income families.

We regularly have guest speakers along to our DSL Network Updates to discuss these areas.

For further support and advice, please see below:

Together for Sutton – Together for Sutton

Housing support – Sutton Council

Training on supporting SEN children when they are distressed.

Training is available here:

Event List : Safeguarding Children (LSCP) (event-booking.org)

Please also contact the SEN Service for further support or advice:

sen.team@cognus.org.uk

More training around the local picture for Prevent and online issues/local risks.

Statutory Prevent Duty – Sutton Council

For more information on Prevent, please contact:

Abu Ullah, Hate Crime and Prevent Manager: abu.ullah@sutton.gov.uk

For online safety trends, please refer to our bitesize training materials.

Steve Welding regularly visits schools to talk about online safety issues. Please get in touch if you have a specific question: Stephen.welding@cognus.org.uk

Training on supporting people with mental health concerns who also have SEND. Also, information on what resources are available for young people when they do not meet threshold.

For further support:

Educational Psychology – Cognus

Special Educational Needs – Cognus

Sutton_LSCP_Escalation_Policy.docx (suttonlscp.org.uk)

Training and support around parenting.

For further support:

parenting@sutton.gov.uk

Sutton Local Safeguarding Children Partnership – Parents & Carers (suttonlscp.org.uk)

Sutton Family Hubs | Sutton Health and Care

Training and support around peer mapping in order to address trends and contagions.

Support with peer mapping is available here:

Peers | Contextual Safeguarding

5b-laying-the-foundations.pdf (contextualsafeguarding.org.uk)

Training on managing relationships with parents when you have concerns.

Training is available here:

Event : Working-with-Conflict-and-Hostility-2324 – 18633 (event-booking.org)

Training on addressing physical chastisement in families where it is more culturally acceptable.

We are currently working with Social Care and the Police around this area. Threshold documents will be updated to reflect changes, taking all feedback from DSLs into consideration. The CFCS Manager will be attending all DSL Network Updates in the autumn term to discuss further and answer any questions.

We are also starting our termly locality meetings in the summer term, if you have recognised this as a theme, please use this platform to raise with the locality teams.

A letter template to parents from social care was shared with schools last year around physical chastisement and the expectations in Sutton.

Please also refer to: Parents’ leaflets | NSPCC Learning

More information on the rise in knife crime, gangs and anti-social behaviour within Sutton.

We have provided regular updates via the safeguarding briefing after attending the community safety meetings.

We are also working with the police to provide a termly update on risks in the local area which can be shared with young people and parents. The first newsletter will be shared before the summer holidays.

More training on substance misuse and trends in the local area.

Information on how to access support has been provided in our fortnightly safeguarding briefings.

For further support, please contact: jkelly@cranstoun.org.uk

www.cranstoun.org

More on supporting mental health of adults and staff.

Information available here:

Reaching out to our Designated Safeguarding Leads – Cognus

Please contact our EP Service for further support or advice around this area: ep.service@cognus.org.uk

We would like training on LADO and allegations against staff.

This is available here:

Sutton Local Safeguarding Children Partnership – Induction Modules (suttonlscp.org.uk)

More guidance when we have concerns regarding the safety of pupils who are persistently absent from school, where parental engagement is low or near inexistent and then parents opt to home educate. Our fear is too many children are going off grid and there are no follow up safeguarding mechanisms currently known to schools that would reassure that these children are protected from home or neglect.

Further support and guidance can be found here:

School Attendance – Cognus

Elective Home Education – Cognus

Sutton_LSCP_Escalation_Policy.docx (suttonlscp.org.uk)

I found the information that came through from Andrew Hall relating to disadvantaged learners and how those from wealthy backgrounds can be affected and victim to neglect really interesting, and maybe worth raising the profile within Sutton.

This is covered in our DSL New to Role training and will be reviewed.

Further training around CCE and money laundering, also county lines.

This is available here:

Event List : Safeguarding Children (LSCP) (event-booking.org)

Please also refer to our Bitesize traing materials

For further support, advice and training around money laundering, please discuss with your school’s police officer or youth engagement officer.

Training on provision for transgender pupils.

We arranged a webinar on this topic from Browne Jacobson last year. If you would like something bespoke, please contact: www.brownejacobson.com

Training is also available here:

Event : Understanding-and-Supporting-LGBT-Children–Young-People-2324 – 19066 (event-booking.org)

In terms of the bitesize training – how can we prove staff have actually watched them?

That would have to be a discussion between you and your staff. We would suggest using some time in a weekly CPD session or INSET to show the materials. The PowerPoints can be adapted and personalised by your safeguarding team to suit need.

Can we have a regular briefing of risks in the local area?

As above. The first newsletter will be shared just before the summer holiday.

For specific detail on individual cases, please discuss with your Schools Police Officer or contact: sarah.tynan@met.police.uk

More sessions for parents that are available online.

Please contact: parenting@sutton.gov.uk

Steve Welding also delivers online safety workshops for parents online. Please get in touch to discuss further or to discuss any other bespoke requests.

We were given the wrong advice to call the police on a 999 call rather than the situation being picked up by a social worker. This led to time being lost.

Consider organising a whole day DSL Conference.

We will look at arranging this in the future. In the meantime, please come along to our event on 13^th July at Cantium House.

Suggestions for bitesize content/podcasts on:

SEND and Safeguarding
Overseas visits and work placements
How to navigate EVOLVE – pre-recorded video.
Managing relationships with parents when you have concerns. Parents who are difficult and refuse any support.
Consent
FGM
What to record on a child’s safeguarding file
The role of School Governor’s on Educational Visits
Domestic abuse and coercive control – where best to signpost.
Physical chastisement and addressing this in a multi-cultural school community.
How to support young people who are 18 but still having problems at home.
Guidance for DSLs on admin requirements, policies needed, induction requirements, maintaining training records, reports for governors etc.
Addressing physical chastisement in families where it is more culturally acceptable.
How to talk to children when CFCS have asked you to question them about an incident. Also, how to question a parent when you have no background information available.
Local picture for Prevent and online issues/local risks.

New Bitesize content will be added to our website each half-term.

Please also access the training resources and e-learning content available on these themes here:

Event List : Safeguarding Children (LSCP) (event-booking.org)

Event List : Safeguarding (event-booking.org)

https://safetraining.lgfl.net/

Bitesize Safeguarding Training Videos and Accompanying Slides – Cognus

General Communication

We need updates on CFCS referrals and from Social Care – as to what is happening and any next steps. Getting information back to tell us if the case is being looked into or closed would be helpful. We often have to chase for any information. When we call into CFCS, it would be good if the person answering the phone could give their name, as it can be awkward asking but we need it for our records.

Please feedback in the new termly locality meetings which have planned for this purpose – to further improve communication and problem solve together. Also please raise with the CFCS Manager (Mike Montrose-Francis) who regularly attends the DSL Network Meetings to give updates and discuss any issues. In terms of getting the name of the CFCS worker that you are talking to, it is fine to just ask, we have to do this regularly.

Sometimes I am not sure who my question is most suitable for. In time I will learn but some of the job titles on the contact sheet are very similar.

If you are unsure, please just ask. We are always happy to signpost you.

We need more feedback from CFCS around concerns. There needs to be better working practices with CFCS and social care. They don’t always agree.

Please feedback in the new termly locality meetings. Also please raise with the CFCS Manager (Mike Montrose-Francis) who regularly attends the DSL Network Meetings to give updates and discuss any issues. In terms of getting the name of the CFCS worker that you are talking to, it is fine to just ask, we have to do this regularly.

We need more consistency in advice from CFCS as it is often social worker dependent.

As above.

We need greater access to Early Help Services and CFCS. The information on the LSCP website needs updating and relevant policies linked. There needs to be a central place for all information.

This has been fed back and the website is regularly updated.

If you identify an issue, please contact: suttonlscb@sutton.gov.uk.

In summary:

We are committed to maintaining the following:

Staff have always been very responsive and bespoke training has been provided where requested. It is great to know that we can go to the team with anything without being judged.
Thank you for all you do and the resources you provide so regularly. We always feel up to date with the regular communication you share.
I couldn’t do my job without the support you all give me and my team. I get so much support from you when compared to what some of my colleagues in other boroughs receive.
I always get a very timely response. The team are always helpful and supportive. Nothing is too much for them and this makes me more confident to ask questions.
Keep up the great work and positive relationships with schools.
Advice and updates from the team has ensured that we are able to act in the best ways to support children.
Training from the team has provided me with the reassurance and confidence needed as a new DSL.
I have found the supervision sessions very supportive.
The advice received increased my knowledge of how to help support my school to organise and manage a successful trip safely. It helped me to feel confident in setting expectations from teaching staff when organising a visit.
Please continue to roll through key safeguarding issues in bitesize chunks – really useful and great to share with staff to compliment what is already in place!
A positive on safeguarding education across all agencies delivering multi-agency training. Sharing information about safeguarding challenges which can support all agencies. Always delivered in a friendly and approachable way.
I am really happy with the service – do not change anything. Excellent partnership working. Long may it continue.
The team may need additional staff (although they are fantastic) as the workload is increasing and will not be reversing. Staff in place are amazing.
Excellent service. Intelligent, informed, and responsive.
A real jewel in the crown as a service and your interpersonal relationship work, integrity and clarity are outstanding. Thank you – it is really appreciated.
The team do a fantastic job in supporting so many teams, schools and families and go above and beyond to protect the children and young people we support.
Thank you to the whole team for always working so hard and making such a difference. You’re always professional, helpful and go that extra mile to support people.

We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with you and to maintain effective safeguarding policies, practices, and procedures across Sutton.