AGENDA
1.00pm Welcome
1.30pm Lunch
1.30 – 2.00pm Neil Coyle MP
2.00 – 2.30pm Case studies 1 and 2
2.30 – 2.40pm Coffee break
2.40 – 3.10pm Case studies 3 and 4
3.10 – 3.30pm SASH 2016/17
§ Future meetings
§ Subscriptions
§ fund holder school
§ additional services
§ Suggestions for future activities
3.30 – 4.00pm Informal reflection on the academic year – celebrating successes.
MINUTES FROM LAST MEETING/MATTERS ARISING
Minutes approved as a true copy
ATTENDEE’S & CONTACT – Please see last page.
ITEM / ACTION
Neil Coyle MP
Welcome – to Neil Coyle MP for Southwark and Bermondsey.
Neil Coyle expressed that many schools had taken up the invitation to visit the Houses of Parliament.
NC also mentioned that he was willing to visit schools and constituents to answer questions. He is also seeking additional venues for outreach surgery sessions because this would speed up responses in regards to housing and benefits questions. In addition, if there are any areas in which assistance can be provided in accelerating questions in Parliament, or improve feedback from other agencies, to contact Neil Coyle.
Neil informed SASH that knife crime was increasing again and that the statistics are very worrying. It is questioned whether the PREVENT agenda is working. Hate crime has also increased since BREXIT.
In response to offering his support, the following issues were raised as concerns for schools:
· National funding formula – it was asked that London MPs lobby on behalf of London Schools.
· Housing for staff and retaining them in employment is an ongoing issue within London and Southwark.
In response to these concerns Neil Coyle suggested that there is an opportunity to meet with the London group of Labour MPs and that he would be happy to pass on any personal letters to members.
Sr Anne Marie offered to forward a letter that had been sent onto the Mayor on behalf of Schools Forum.
It was agreed that SASH will draft a letter for Neil Coyle in relation to the NFF issue.
In relation to the housing issue, it was felt important to prioritise local people and key workers for housing that is affordable. The law has also changed to charge landlords for houses of multiple occupancy which inevitably will reduce the amount of shared accommodation available for those starting out or on low incomes.
It was suggested to invite relevant council members to meet with SASH to provide details of what is being undertaken to alleviate the housing issue. The members most able to provide information regarding this issue are Victoria Mills and Mark Williams.
Richard Bannister raised the issue of air pollution which is a major concern for schools, staff and pupils. Schools in Southwark have one of the highest levels of air pollution. The request is to monitor the air pollution in Southwark Schools and investigate how the council is responding to making the environment cleaner and safer. In response Neil Coyle explained that the new Mayor is addressing this issue and information will be forwarded to the group by Neil. It was suggested that attracting media attention and making the issue more public would certainly raise awareness, particularly from the viewpoint of the students (student councils), and by writing to the Mayor. The Mayor could be invited to visit a Southwark school. It was proposed to contact Southwark Primary Schools with the information and include them in raising awareness and lobbying for change.
It was also agreed that SASH will write a formal letter regarding this issue to be passed on at Parliament. The issue is not confined to Southwark but is also a concern of neighbouring boroughs. / · Write a letter on behalf of SASH and also to contact the press highlighting the affects of air pollution.
· Students to write to the Mayor and invite him to visit a Southwark School.
· Contact Southwark Primary Schools and Schools in Neighbouring boroughs to increase awareness and support.
· Neil Coyle will provide information on Sadiq Khan’s plans on tackling air pollution.
HATE CRIME
Since Brexit there has been an increase of hate crime towards students and staff.
Children are depressed as they are worried about their future and if they will be able to stay in school in the UK.
Southwark school students voted overwhelmingly to remain.
PRESENTATION OF CASE STUDIES – (LOCAL AUTHORITY MEMBERS JOINED THE MEETING)
Case studies were presented to address meeting the needs of the most vulnerable children and the strategies to address these issues. The concerns also stem from the most recent SCR in which two SASH schools were involved in presenting evidence.
There is an obvious need for agencies to work better together and to share information and strategies.
Lauren Thorpe attended the most recent safeguarding meeting which focused on the most recent SCR.
Specifically, there were questions regarding CAFs and whether a concern meets the threshold to trigger an action. Also, looking beyond the impediments that using CAFs presents and thinking beyond this process. The meeting considered that a possible new approach would be to identify the issue as a “managed risk” and be able to call a multi-agency meeting together with calling in professional help.
However, despite being a positive meeting, the biggest single impediment is that schools and other agencies do not have access to the information presented including: local hot spots; knife crime numbers; hospital attendances and so forth.
Presentation of three case studies followed. In each case the agencies involved were identified (these agencies have been recorded separately for SASH members to access).
There were questions raised in how and who are contacted by the school, pre CAFs, social care and family support teams. The Youth Offending Service is part of the Social Care team.
Alastair Smith – welcomed that the MASH is involved as needs would be assessed and agencies contacted. He also appreciated that beyond the Early Help, additional agencies were difficult to identify and access.
Matt Jones suggested that it would be helpful to have a provision map.
What schools need to know is that if a student does not meet a threshold, what is in place to support and prevent the situation escalating? When will a situation be interceded before it reaches far more damaging consequences? Schools need to know that should things escalate they know where and who to seek support from.
It was agreed that how quickly actions are progressed depends on who is present at the TAC meeting or the case lead who will coordinate the next meeting and follow up on the actions. They will also take responsibility to ensure progression and call others to account.
Matt Jones proposed that the following framework be agreed:
When a meeting is called the Chair will nominate a person to ensure that everyone is held to account and communication will go to the lead professional of each service. They will know the contact details of the named person who will drive the process and report back within the agreed timeframe.
In addition, the role of the lead professional is clarified and denoted together with what the responsibilities are in relation to their role.
If a parent or child were to be arrested or presented at A & E, how then do agencies identify whether there is a child alone at home? What actions would follow?
The school has submitted two CAFs and doing its best to keep this student safe and make good choices.
The MASH should be notified and that, within 24 hours maximum, a response should be made and the person and all referees be kept informed on what actions will follow.
When schools do not get support, and where cases are not being picked up by external agencies, the school feels responsible in spite of lacking the skills and resources to respond.
The lack of leisure facilities was also identified as a contributing factor as students have nowhere to go after school or at weekends. A feed into to other support organisations should be provided.
Nina Dohel explained that the Youth and Play Service is currently being moved from Education to Leisure and that there is an opportunity for SASH and Schools to contribute to how the package is developed in partnership with the Local Authority.
It was also accepted that the data and information being received and presented at the safeguarding meetings by the LA was much sharper, but that there needs to be more done to prevent similar cases to those presented today - escalating to the MASH and taking earlier action.
The information provided at the safeguarding meeting is not circulated publicly, however, Nina Dohel suggested that a separate meeting date be agreed with SASH, Alasdair Smith, Simon Messinger to look at this information, how it is shared and create some protocols.
Communication is key and remains a fundamental problem in ensuring information on what is available to young people is received. It was noted that there is an offer for free swimming and gym for schools and young people.
Following the third and final case study, the view is that it is the schools that are taking the lead and initiating TAC meetings. They are also maintaining contact with students to provide support even after they have left school.
Apart from engaging the YOT team and monitoring the movements of vulnerable students by implementing variable levels of regular contact by enforcement, other engagement on a social level also needs to be considered.
Catherine Verida participation education and training programme to support post 16, said that this is not funded over the summer, Easter or Christmas holiday periods.
Fiona Dean is the lead for the Youth Service and is a point of contact to discuss any gaps and how additional services might be provided. However, there is a need to undertake some mapping to find out what provision is there, what is being covered and where the gaps are. Nina Dohel said that this could be covered during the proposed meeting and also to commission some partnership work with a handful of young people and this group.
Information on what provision is available does not reach the schools in time for it to be circulated to students, therefore communication needs to be improved. However, this may not guarantee the attendance of those who would most benefit as some students would need to be accompanied to ensure attendance. / · Set up a meeting for the September term with SASH, LA/Social Care and the Police
· Set up protocols
· Discuss funding support for the most vulnerable over the summer
· Information sharing on summer holiday provision
· Information on groups, contacts and other agencies working with children
· Safeguarding meeting MACE (Alasdair Smith) feedback
· TAC meetings the chair will identify the lead person to communicate and hold others to account.
· MASH – decision will be made within 24 hours maximum and feedback to schools. If cases need escalating to contact Jenny Brennan
· E mail to share information and cc others into mail
Revisit the meeting in September.
SASH 2016/17
SASH is no longer affiliated with the Headteachers Executive Council to which a subscription fee of £500 per annum per school was paid. The Chair suggested that a fund holder school for SASH be agreed and that SASH members would pay the subscription for services to be provided for the group.
Notre Dame currently pays for the hire of the meeting space which is funded through a grant. It was agreed that as these funds were already held at Notre Dame that they would be the fund holder School.
A recent report from the Education Policy Institute on where Local Authorities perform as well as Academies and Southwark is number 4. Publicise the reviewing how we are dealing with issues and that we are the fourth best borough – in the local press, newsletter PR and so forth.
Additional services – pupil transfer, open days, website etc.
Draft of letter for Child Sexual Exploitation Yvonne Powell to circulate to parents from the group. NSPCC guide for parents. To be circulated jointly in September.
MEETING DATES 2016/17
7 October 16
9 December 17 (Notre Dame Christmas Lunch)
20 January 17
12 May 17
7 July 17
SASH - ATTENDEES - 8 JULY 2016Matt Jones (chair) - Globe Academy /
Lauren Thorpe - Compass /
Yvonne Powell - Walworth Academy /
Christian Hicks - The Charter /
Grainne Grabowski - St Michals College /
Sr Anne-Marie Niblock - Notre Dame /
Lucy Frame - Ark All Saints /
Richard Bannister - City of London Academy /
Catherine May - St Saviours & St Olaves /
Jane Rowlands - University Academy Engineering /
Yolanda Houston - School Business Director /
Alasdair Smith - Director of Social Care Southwark /
Jenny Brennan - Head of Youth Offending Service /
Simon Messenger - Borough Commander /
Robert Davidson - NHS Clinical Commissioning Board /
Nina Dohel - Director of Education Southwark /
Ian Morris - Senior Advisor SEN/Inclusion /
Surma Shah - Early Help /
Liz Britton Lead Officer, Secondary & Further Education, Employment & Inclusion /
Apologies and other SASH members
Steve Morrison /
Alex Crossman - The Charter East D /
Heidi Tully - Tuke School (SEND) /
Simon Eccles - Spa School (SEND) /
Yomi Adewoye - SILS /
Serge Cefai - Sacred Heart /
Eileen Oilleuz /
Alan Dane - Harris Bermondsey /
Carol Ann Allcock - Harris Peckham /
Carrie Senior - Harris Dulwich Girls /
Chris Everitt - Harris Dulwich Boys /
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