SUMMIT SCHOOL - SAFEGUARDING - Cygnet Health Care

SUMMIT SCHOOL – SAFEGUARDING
                    ‘Where the sky’s the limit’                                          Feb 2022

 Summit School, within Joyce Parker Hospital is committed to safeguarding and ensuring the
 welfare of children and young people and expects all of our staff to share the same commitment.
 Summit Schools aims to promote a collaborative approach with our young people and their
 families to ensure clear communication and safety for all. This newsletter is designed to keep you
 updated with resources and information that you, as parents may find useful in keeping your child
 safe.

            KEY CONTACTS (Designated Safeguarding Leads)
       SUMMIT SCHOOL DSL                                           SUMMIT SCHOOL DEPUTY DSL
       EDWARD HALL                                                 MAISIE BOYD
       HEAD OF EDUCATION                                           EDUCATION OFFICER
       EDWARDHALL@CYGNETHEALTH.CO.UK                               MAISIEBOYD@CYGNETHEALTH.CO.UK

       DESIGNATED LAC TEACHER                                      HOSPITAL DSL
       FELICITY GRAY                                               JODIE MANN
       TEACHER OF SCIENCE                                          LEAD SOCIAL WORKER
       FELICITYGRAY@CYGNETHEALTH.CO.UK                             JODIEMANN@CYGNETHEALTH.CO.UK

                 SEE THE FULL CYGNET SAFEGUARDING IN SCHOOLS POLICY HERE:
  https://www.cygnethealth.co.uk/content/uploads/2022/02/4-17-Safeguarding-in-Schools-Policy-
                              NEW-for-SUMMIT-SCHOOL-Feb-22.pdf

 HOW DO WE PROMOTE SAFEGUARDING WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE?
 When the young people are at Joyce Parker Hospital, they are asked to partake in an education
 induction with Maisie. This consists of finding out about previous school history, exploring ways in
 which the young person likes to be supported as well as an e-safety induction. During this e-safety
 induction, Maisie will talk with the young person about safe internet usage and how they are
 expected the use the computers appropriately in Summit School. Maisie will also contact the
 young person’s community school to ask for a handover of up to date academic history and any
 relevant safeguarding concerns that Summit School should be aware of.

Every other Monday, our two wards each have a visit from
our local police officer, PC Chris Turner. ‘Big Chris’ joins the
wards’ community meeting every other week to allow a
space for the young people to ask any questions they may
have, reinforcing expectations of behaviours in the
community as well as promoting positive relationships with
the police.

ONLINE SAFETY AND ADVICE
Trying to understand the new age of social media and
technology can be really overwhelming. It is everyone’s
responsibility to safeguard young people in their use of
the internet. At Summit School, we pledge to keep the
conversation around safer internet use going – and we
hope to encourage families, parents, guardians and
young people to do the same!

Linked below are some really useful websites that can give specialised
advice on guidance for parents managing their child’s internet safety.

How to set up parental settings on new devices, social media and apps:
https://www.internetmatters.org/parental-controls/
Supporting your child with SEND/SEMH with online wellbeing:                               LET’S TALK
https://www.net-aware.org.uk/news/supporting-your-send-childs-wellbeing-online/
                                                                                            ABOUT
Top questions for parents to open conversations with their young people about e-safety:
https://cyberbullying.org/Questions-Parents-Should-Ask.pdf                                  ONLINE
An example and blank PDF of a family e-safety agreement:                                   SAFETY…
https://www.childnet.com/ufiles/Family-Agreement.pdf

Advice on filters and selfies:
https://www.internetmatters.org/hub/news-blogs/can-selfies-affect-childs-mental-health/
Internet filters that can be provided by your home network:
https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-centre/parents-and-carers/parental-controls-offered-your-home-
internet-provider
Showing your child how to report/block inappropriate accounts and comments:
https://www.maketecheasier.com/report-offensive-behavior-on-social-media/
How to check/turn off any apps using your child’s location settings:
- Apple https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT207092
- Android https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/3467281?hl=en
Digital Parenting – Safer Internet Day Film 2018
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmPO6NkY2jQ

APPS AND WESBITES TO BE AWARE OF

 Technology has been a big part of 2020 and 2021, helping families and friends to stay connected.
   When used safely, these websites and apps can be a lot of fun for young people and families,
    however it is important to also recognise their risks. The intention of this page is not to worry
  parents, but to raise awareness. Many of these apps have safety and privacy features that can
       be heightened, which the links below can support parents and young people with.

              SNAPCHAT Snapchat is an image/video and chat messaging app that allows for chats
              and images to be sent and deleted in seconds of someone receiving it. The seemingly
              temporary nature of Snapchat could lead to teens being left vulnerable for sending
 ‘sexts’ or explicit images, in the thought that they can’t be stored. However, teens are easily able
 to ‘screenshot’ or store all media sent in an app called ‘Keepchat’. Further to this, Snapchat has a
 secondary feature called ‘Snapmaps’ in which your child’s location can be seen and shared on a
 detailed map, if not turned off.

 Find out more here - https://www.net-aware.org.uk/networks/snapchat/

            INSTAGRAM Instagram is a picture and video sharing and discovery app. Individuals
            have their own profile which images they post remaining on their grid for people to
            see. You can post images or videos on your story which remain for 24 hours, if not
 saved. However, it is easy for people to make false accounts on Instagram, intended to stalk or
 give abuse through messages and comments, known as ‘trolls’.

 Find out more here - https://www.net-aware.org.uk/networks/instagram/

             FACEBOOK Facebook it a website that young people have started to move away
             from. It is now more often used by adults. However, something to be mindful about is
             the possibility of oversharing. Be aware of who you have on your Facebook profiles
             before sharing information and photos of your children.

             TIKTOK Tiktok is an app made for creating and sharing short videos. It encourages users
            to express themselves creatively. Thirteen in the minimum age, however there is no
            way to validate age on the app. Further to this, it is easy for young people to come
            across videos with explicit content including song lyrics or inappropriate images.
 Find out more here - https://www.net-aware.org.uk/networks/tiktok/

APPS AND WESBITES TO BE AWARE OF

                       SECRET ALBUM/SECRET PIANO These decoy apps used by young people to
                       hide different types of media. A decoy app can’t be accessed without the
                       knowledge of the code or password, with some decoy apps even having
 two ‘layers’ or passwords to get through. One way to discourage the use of these apps is through
 Apple and Android, they both have options to create a ‘parental purchase’ option which asks for
 parents to approve apps before they are downloaded onto their child’s phone.
 Find out more here - https://www.mcafee.com/blogs/consumer/family-safety/kids-use-secret-decoy-apps-
 parents-care/

             ASK.FM Ask.fm is an anonymous question and answer site in which individuals can ask
             users to ‘rate’ them or ask them questions about themselves. Children have young
             people who have used this app have unfortunately been subject to extreme cyber
             bullying that has led to suicide.

 Find out more here - https://www.webwise.ie/parents/ask-fm-a-guide-for-parents-and-teachers-2/

             OMEGLE Omegle is a website in which users turn on their video cameras and circulate
             onto random chatrooms with strangers. The websites own tagline is in fact ‘Talk to
             strangers!’ Conversation is initiated by the acronym ‘ASL?’ translating to ‘age, sex,
             and location?’ The site allows users to remain anonymous and has no way of
 validating age, meaning that often young people enter a chat room to adult men or women,
 often exposing themselves sexually.
 Find out more here - https://www.cyberwise.org/post/2018/07/31/is-omegle-ok-for-kids-what-every-
 parent-should-know

ADVICE ON HELPING YOUR CHILD
            WITH PEER PRESSURE

Social media has it’s pros and cons, however it has been argued that frequent use of social
media use among teenagers can have negative consequences such as distorted self-image, low
self-esteem, cyberbullying, comparison with themselves against others and much less time spent
doing health, real life activities. 1

So, here are some useful tips for helping your young person to cope
with the pressures of social media today… 2
         Aim to always create a safe space to talk.
          Make sure you, as a family have the dedicated time to talk without interruptions or
          distractions. Try to create a relaxed environment – get your pyjamas on and a cup
          of tea to hand! Remember, it is a conversation, not an interrogation.
         Listen to what they are worried about and acknowledge their worries.
          Allow your child time to talk, this may be difficult for them. Do not dismiss their
          worries as this will only shut down the conversation and make them reluctant to
          open up again.
         Get to know your child’s friends and openly talk with them about what makes a
          good friend.
          Encourage your child to invite their friends to your home. Knowing your child’s
          friends and being able to have relevant conversations with them will help to discuss
          what makes healthy friendships.
         Help them to practise ways of saying NO.
          Rehearsing situations with them, in which they are presented with a space to stand
          up to peer pressure will help build their confidence.
         Encourage them to turn off their phone notifications.
          This will allow your young person to regain a sense of control over their social media,
          and we’re sure they will be surprised at how relaxed they will feel because of it. It
          will allow them time to focus on other, healthier activities and
          relationships.
         Make a plan to reduce their screen time.
          Try to create a plan for all members of the family, including parents –
          leading by example and creating a team effort will make it easier for
          your child. Explain the benefits of reduced screen time, including
          what they could be doing otherwise and the studies that suggest improved sleep!

1
    https://www.newportacademy.com/resources/well-being/effect-of-social-media-on-teenagers/
2
    https://www.olive-anderson.lincs.sch.uk/Peer-Pressure-NSPCC-Tips.pdf