This is not a matter of personal choice.

You may observe, or are told about, a concern regarding someone at risk of harm. This could be a learner on a course at college or a sibling/relative at home. You should consider who else may be at risk.

Consider what evidence you have, this could include a disclosure, your own observation or information someone else has given you (e.g. photo or email).

· There must be no leading questions; 

· The account must be factual with no emotive language or subjective interpretations;

· If someone has made a disclosure, record what they in their exact words. Do not paraphrase;

· Do not use your phone or a college device to take any photographs;

· It is your duty to report the concern, not investigate it.

On My Concern you will be asked to record: 

· The date and time; 

·  The name of the person you are concerned about; 

·  Any other people involved;

·   The place where the incident occurred;

·  A summary of the concern (this can just be a few words, for example ‘Risk of Sexual Abuse’;

· A detailed account, including a factual description of any injuries you have seen. 

There is also an opportunity for you to attach any screenshots or evidence that will support the disclosure.

Following reporting a concern:

· Log in to My Concern to track progress and see what action has been taken. It is your responsibility to ensure you are satisfied that the concern has been appropriately addressed;

· Check your tasks and complete them within the time set;

· Update the concern if you have any new information or have taken any action.

Vale of Glamorgan - Intake and Family Support Team 01446 725 202

Emergency Duty Team (out of office hours) - 029 2078 8570

Vale of Glamorgan Adult Services– 01446 700111

Out of Hours– 02920 788570
 

Following reporting concerns to the MASH team, you may not be informed of any actions they have taken. This is due to their responsibility regarding safeguarding, Child Protection and confidentiality regulations. However, it is your responsibility to ensure you are satisfied that action has been taken, even if you are not told of what the action is.

In some cases, the SL will ask a member of the wellbeing team or the person’s tutor, to provide ongoing pastoral support. This will be done by allocating a task for that person on My Concern.

Each time any member of staff takes any action in relation to your concern it will be recorded on My Concern. This enables you to track the progress of the concern and also provides Social Services or Police with a chronology if needed. This is another reason why it is so important for reports to be factual and accurate.

Welsh Government Guidance for Keeping Safe Online

Welsh Government Live-Streaming Safeguarding Principles and Practice for Education Practitioners

Welsh Government Keeping Learners Safe – Guidance and online training modules

Get Safe Online – Free Expert Advice

Thinkuknow  - CEOPS Education Programme 

Childline - Remove an Online Image – Support on how to remove a nude image shared online

 

Eleanor Rowe Safeguarding Officer, erowe@cavc.ac.uk 

 Eleanor contacts all learners known to the college and refers them for support as needed. She is in regular contact with   Wellbeing Officers, Counsellors and Student Services who can offer a wide range of support.

Eleanor is also in regular contact with the learners’ social workers and contributes to their Looked After reviews, either by attending or sending a report.   This means that Eleanor is also in regular contact with the learners’ tutors, helping them to support the learners as well as seeking information from them for reviews.

·       Liaison with Student Services to identify YAC and arrange financial support

·       Creation of Support Plans and Crisis Plans as needed

·       Learner forums/working parties

·       Visits from external organisations and signposting to these agencies for support

·       Regular staff training to raise awareness and develop staff skills in identifying and supporting YAC in their tutor groups

Suicide is a rare event, but the chances of staff encountering a learner who is expressing thoughts of suicide are becoming increasingly common. It’s important that all staff know what can be done and where to turn to for support.

For more information on how to safeguard our learners, see the Wales Safeguarding Procedures and visit the Cardiff and Vale Regional Safeguarding Board website. 

· Stay non-judgemental. Don’t make the young person feel ‘bad’.

· Use neutral terms like ‘trying to end your life’ rather than ‘commit suicide’, which implies an offence.

· Treat the young person with respect – don’t ‘talk down’ to them. 

· Be patient and give the young person time. Don’t pressure them.
 

· Listen to what they have to say.
 

· Don’t try to use authority to force them to stop any self-harm. Don’t threaten or try to coerce them.

· Be aware of body language – eye rolls, folded arms, a cross look, sighs can make a young person seeking help feel like they are wasting your time. 

· Be aware of any preconceptions and prejudices you may hold about suicidal thoughts.

· Don’t make assumptions about the young person based on any disclosure. Even if the young person has disclosed self-harm and/or suicidal thoughts before, their reasons and motivation may be different.

· Be honest with the young person about your role and the limits of confidentiality. If you feel that they are at immediate risk of harm, it is your responsibility to inform people who can help.

· Don’t dismiss ‘minor wounds’ or non-lethal attempts to end life as unimportant. The severity of injury has no relation to the degree of distress that led to it. 

· Use a safe place to discuss suicidal thoughts – somewhere private, calm and quiet, where you are unlikely to be interrupted
 

· Try to make sure you have enough time for a conversation.

· Report to your Line Manager/HoD as necessary and notify all those who need to know, in order to keep the learner safe in the future.

· Check in with the learner regularly and chase up promptly if any lessons are missed.

· Following a referral on My Concern, someone from the Safeguarding or Wellbeing team will be in touch with the learner to offer ongoing support.

· If you have any concerns about the learner's friends/peers who may have been affected by the incident, complete a referral for them on My Concern. 

[1] See Code of Conduct – Guidance to Safeguard Staff - Learners requiring hospital attention should be escorted to the hospital by a member of staff (a support worker may be available to do this), and remain with the learner until a responsible adult (family, friend or guardian) arrives to accompany the learner.

· Ring someone on the safeguarding team (see contacts page) and telephone the learner’s emergency contact,

· Get an emergency appointment with the learner’s GP or take the learner to A&E[1] if you are able to do so safely. If neither of these options are possible (for example, the learner is not in college), call 999. 

· Record the incident on My Concern as soon as possible and within 24 hours.

Click here for Gateway Training - this gives those who are interested a taster of how to approach someone who is struggling and takes 5 - 10 minutes.

Click here for Advanced Training - this takes around 25 minutes to complete and gives you the skills and awareness to recognise when someone may be contemplating taking their own life.

 

Meic is an online helpine service for children and young people up to the age of 25 in Wales. They provide free advocacy, information and advice.

The Regional Safeguarding Board is a Multi-Agency Partnership that has responsibility for working together to oversee the safety and well-being of children and young people throughout Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.

This website provides information, advice and guidance and is designed to help agencies, organisations and individuals working with children, to help keep our children and young people safe.

These are the national Wales Safeguarding Procedures. They detail the essential roles and responsibilities for practitioners to ensure that they safeguard children and adults who are at risk of abuse and neglect.