Workers and Volunteers
Covid-19 Information for workers & volunteers
During the Covid-19 pandemic the Safeguarding Partnership is working to support frontline services to safeguard and protect children and adults at risk in these very challenging circumstances.
This page is intended to provide staff from across the partnership with information about how services are managing the impact of the pandemic on service delivery and to host information and guidance from national and local organisations. Whilst each agency will have their own protocols that staff should follow, information about multi-agency and partnership working will be held here.
If you have information about the way in which your service is adapting its work at this time please let us know and we can share it with others on your behalf. Email us at safeguardingpartnership@swindon.gov.uk
National Lockdown Safeguarding updates from Department for Education
The UK government has announced a national lockdown from 6th January 2020. The Department for Education has updated their Safeguarding procedures that schools and FE colleges must follow when teaching remotely, including information about video lessons and live streaming, and planning remote education strategies.
Full guidance and information issued by the government can be found here: https://get-help-with-remote-education.education.gov.uk/safeguarding.html
Remote learning
The use of remote learning is required for all children in education. Education providers should take this opportunity to remind parents of the importance of online safety and to encourage parents to set parental controls on their devices.
Platform specific advice is available from London Grid for Learning.
Staff are encouraged to find an appropriate area to deliver online lessons. Consider what students, parents and carers may be able to see in the background.
Consideration for one to one lessons for pupils with Special Educational Needs.
The Department for Education has created a number of useful webinars to support teachers deliver online learning. These webinars can be found here.
Remote Learning for Vulnerable Children
Schools should have procedures to check if a vulnerable child is able to access remote education support, to support them to access it (as far as possible) and to regularly check if they are doing so.
The Department for Education recommends education provides more focussed pastoral care. Schools should also consider the needs of particular groups that may need further support such as those with Special Educational Needs or Social Worker.
MindEd is a free platform for professionals which contains materials for peer support, stress, trauma and resilience.
MindEd have also created a COVID19 staff resilience hub with tips for frontline staff.
Reporting concerns
It is essential to have and communicate clear reporting routes so that children, teachers, parents and carers can raise any safeguarding concerns in relation to remote online education.
Schools may wish to review the existing arrangements (including their child protection policy) to ensure they are appropriate and reflect remote online education, or whether additional or alternative arrangements need to be put in place.
General Information
NHS - Covid-19: Symptoms & what to do
Government Advice - Covid-19: What you need to do
Government advice on Social Distancing
Government advice to households with suspected Covid-19
Government Stay at Home explanatory diagram
Alcohol Change UK's information and advice hub
Covid-19 in 20 different languages available at this link: https://www.doctorsoftheworld.org.uk/coronavirus-information/#
Covid-19 in easy-to-read format from the MENCAP website at: https://www.mencap.org.uk/advice-and-support/health/coronavirus
Information and advice for parents on talking to their children about Covid-19: Talking to a child about Covid-19
Unfortunately the pandemic has seen the rise of a number of scams that exploit people's fears and vulnerabilities. Friends Against Scams have more information about this on their website at: Friends Against Scams
- If you think you’ve been scammed, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 and if you need advice, call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133. If you are in immediate danger, contact the police on 999.
- Contact your bank if you think you have been scammed.
You might want to share this leaflet about scams (Click here leaflet) with people you are working with.
Service Specific
Child Protection Conferences
Due to the Covid–19 pandemic, we are working in a different way to ensure that child protection conferences continue to take place in a way which manages the health and well- being of all professionals and their families alongside the children and their families who are at risk of significant harm.
From the 23rd March conferences will take place via Skype/phone. The following sets out how partners can help ensure that this vital work continues continue:
- Professionals are expected to provide their report to the SQAteam@swindon.gov.uk inbox as usual. It is crucial that you ensure staff adhere to the timescales for this i.e 3 working days prior to an ICPC and 5 working days prior to an RCPC. On sending their report please can the individual who will be attending the conference be confirmed including their email address. This is essential to ensure the correct attendee will receive all the professionals reports in advance of the Skype meeting. We will no longer be in a room to physically share reports so this is mandatory.
- The SQA Business Administrator will send an invite for a Skype meeting to the professionals to participate in the meeting.
- If the professional is not able to access Skype a phone conference call will be arranged. They should notify the SQA Business Administrator if this is required.
- We will aim to email all the reports (apart from Police reports) to professionals within 2 days of the conference (provided they have been received in timescale).
- We will offer parents and children over 12 years old 3 options to participate a) to attend the conference in Clarence House with the Social Worker and the Chair. (A note taker may be also present or taking notes remotely. ) b) Skype into the meeting or c) have a conference call.
The following documents (which are also available on the forms page) are for use during the period of the pandemic:
CP Conference Skype Guide for Parents & Children over 12yrs
Skype Guidance for CP Chairs & Professionals
Core Group Guidance (Covid-19)
Children in Need Guidance (Covid-19)
Missing Children
Whilst the procedures for responding to children who go missing from home and care have not changed because of the Covid-19 pandemic there are some additional considerations that parents and those who care for children need to take into account. Workers should familiarise themselves with this addendum to the substantive guidance.
Missing Children Guidance (Covid-19)
Children Missing from Home & Care Guidance (2019)
Adult Safeguarding
Safeguarding adults remains a statutory duty of Local Authorities to keep the most vulnerable safe from abuse or neglect. The Coronavirus Act 2020 does not affect the safeguarding protections in the Care Act, particularly at Section 42 of the Care Act. It is vital that Local Authorities continue to offer the same level of safeguarding oversight and application of Section 42. However, it is also important that safeguarding teams are proportionate in their responses and mindful of the pressure social care providers are likely to be under. Below is a precis of the guidance and a link to the full guidance under the Coronavirus Act 2020.
Care Act Easements Safeguarding Guidance
Practice Guidance - Safeguarding Adults during COVID-19 Outbreak - v0.1
ADASS Guidance - Safeguarding people in ‘closed’ environments
Health
Safeguarding Guidance to Health Professionals conducting NFFHAR
This guidance which is primarily aimed at health professionals contains useful guidance to all those working with children and adults where non face to face assessments and reviews (NFFHAR) might be necessary. In the first instance you should follow your own agency guidance on safe working practices but this may be of interest to those looking to supplement their own knowledge and practice.
