Somerset Local Safeguarding Children Board. Multi-agency E Safety Strategy

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1 Somerset Local Safeguarding Children Board Multi-agency E Safety Strategy Children and young people need to be empowered to keep themselves safe this isn t just about a top-down approach. Children will be children pushing boundaries and taking risks. At a public swimming pool we have gates, put up signs, have lifeguards and shallow ends, but we also teach children how to swim Safeguarding Children in a Digital World Tanya Byron, Introduction 1.1 The rapid growth of the Internet and digital electronic technology has opened an exciting world of opportunities for children and young people. It is possible for them to gain access to unlimited information worldwide, to receive entertainment via films and music and use social networking sites, allowing them to communicate easily with others. It is clear that children and young people use the Internet as an integral part of their learning and entertainment and this will only increase as technology and access progresses. 1.2 Alongside the many benefits are a number of risks. Whilst most children and young people are competent in using modern technology, their understanding and management of the risks is often low. They can access digital devices in a variety of locations, some which are not in protected environments and with few controls in place. 1.3 Many adults have less understanding of the technology and are not as able in their use as children and young people. Therefore, they are less likely to be able to support and protect them as they might in the real world. 1.4 Raising awareness of e safety issues and identifying and planning appropriate safeguards will help to ensure the safety of children and young people, whilst further supporting the adults around them. 1.5 The risks associated with e safety include: Reviewed March

2 Examples Content Contact Conduct Commerce Being Illegal Having their groomed in downloading identity stolen preparation for abuse Being exposed to inappropriate illegal content (Words and images) Being bullied on line or via mobile technology (cyber bullying) Being blackmailed Radicalisation and extremist Age inappropriate gaming Unhealthy screen time Being the subject of fraud Illegal copyright infringement 1.6 Children and young people need to be protected from these risks and they need to be helped to develop the skills, knowledge and awareness to keep themselves safe when they are on line. The Somerset Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) is committed to raising awareness of E Safety issues to all partner organisations and promoting good practice to reduce risks to children and young people as part of its statutory duty to promote and ensure the safety of children and young people within the county. This strategy is written to support the activity of the LSCB and associated subgroups, particularly the E safety Subgroup (see Appendix 1). 2. Principles The safety and welfare of the child is paramount All LSCB member organisations have a responsibility to contribute to the safety of children and young people Effective joint working and communication promotes the safeguarding and protection of children and young people Consultation with children and young people, their parents and carers contributes to good service development Multi-agency training must be available to support E Safety Support, advice and training must be available to adults in the safe use of digital and mobile technologies 3. Scope 3.1 The strategy will provide a framework for the LSCB and partner organisations that work with children and young people in order that those living in Somerset can be safe when using digital electronic technologies. It cannot, and does not attempt to, cover all arrangements for agencies working in the county and should be seen as guidance to help inform what local agencies and schools need to do to ensure they are equipped to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people in a digital age. The Reviewed March

3 strategy recognises that being safe on line is not just a matter of technology and that a comprehensive approach to e safety is necessary. 3.2 It is expected that each agency and school will have or develop polices and procedures to address e safety in their settings. Such policies will be in accord with this strategy. 3.3 E safety is concerned with behaviour that can be illegal, inappropriate, deliberate or accidental. It is primarily focussed on protecting and safeguarding children and young people, but it also needs to consider how adults (staff, parents, carers, volunteers) use technology and how this impacts upon children and young people. E safety must be the concern of all adults, including those who do not use digital technology themselves, who may need to know how to keep their children or grandchildren safe in the digital world. 3.4 Many of the safeguarding issues are not new it is that they are now taking place in a different environment. The strategy is about making sure that all are ready to deal with a continually changing aspect of safeguarding and child protection. 3.5 E Safety concerns behaviours associated with devices such as: Computers desktops, laptops and palm tops Mobile phones and other handheld devices Digital cameras Video and computer gaming E mail and other forms of digital communication, such as Social Networking, chat and Instant Messaging Use of the internet (browsing, downloading, uploading and file sharing) MP3 players 4. The Strategy 4.1 Key strategy aspects It is important that e safety is appropriately embedded in all activities of the LSCB including safeguarding policies, practices and responsibilities. It will be aligned with the work of other LSCB subgroups and task and complete groups in order to achieve maximum impact across the county Specific tasks include: To maintain a multi-agency E Safety subgroup of the LSCB in accord with the agreed Terms of Reference (see appendix 1) To raise awareness and understanding of E safety issues amongst children and young people, parents and carers and across LSCB partner organisations. To support agencies in developing E Safety policies where appropriate which are specific to those agencies and settings Reviewed March

4 To enable all partner organisations to respond appropriately to incidents as well as to risks posed to children and young people by their increased use of digital technology Improve the safety of children and young people when accessing the internet by providing appropriate education and information for safe use Monitor the effectiveness of the strategy itself. POLICIES AND PRACTICES INSPECTION AND STANDARDS EDUCATION AND TRAINING INFRASTRUCTURE AND TECHNOLOGY Figure 1: Model for reducing e-safety risks (BECTA, 2008) 4.2 Policy and practice The E Safety strategy promotes the need for a basis of agreed policies and practices which support and direct agencies, professionals, parents and carers and children and young people in the safe use of electronic technologies. All staff who have contact with children and young people should promote the safe and responsible use of technology, learn to recognise the behaviours that may indicate risky use and know where to go for help and guidance All staff should be aware of the appropriate response if a child or young person divulges an e safety incident, how to raise the concern and escalate it appropriately. Robust safeguarding and child protection policies, including reporting mechanisms that include the Internet Watch Foundation, CEOP and the police, will support this. Reviewed March

5 4.3 Education and training The e safety strategy needs to read in conjunction with the LSCB training strategy that describes the current training framework. There is specific e safety training within the LSCB annual programme that is offered to a multi-agency audience. In addition, the South West Grid for Learning (SWGfL) provides training directly to schools and colleges that is, on occasion, commissioned by the LSCB The majority of children and young people will be educated about issues of e safety through their educational settings. This will form part of their general education so that the habits of safe practice will become a part of their behaviour when they are using the internet at school, home and in other settings, thus promoting safe behaviour out of school Awareness raising for parents is largely achieved through events held in schools, colleges and other educational settings delivered by the school or college, the police, SWGfL or other training providers. The LSCB does not deliver training directly to parents and carers but does provide training for professionals who, in turn, will be working directly with them Specific tasks covered by this strategy include: Auditing and informing the provision of e safety training delivered to parents and carers and professionals Developing a training and communication strand specifically relating to e safety as part of the LSCB training strategy and the Communication Plan. Providing comprehensive safe internet use advice to all maintained, Academy and independent schools in Somerset Providing awareness materials for other providers and settings such as internet cafes, church groups and private youth groups. 4.4 Inspection and standards Monitoring and reporting on e safety issues will form a key part of the activity of the LSCB, linking to the anti-bullying strategy. It will give a record of trends of reported incidents, outcomes and actions taken and will provide an important tool to use when reviewing and revising guidance. It will enable the identification of trends that can then be addressed before they become problematic Specific tasks include: The provision of an annual report on e safety to the LSCB Where appropriate, using existing opportunities, consult with children and young people, their parents and carers about e safety in order to collate their views and opinions on practice. Reviewed March

6 In discussion with the LSCB Audit, Policy and Procedures subgroup, develop an e safety dataset which will allow partner agencies to be audited for e safety requirements this should include o Policies, practice and procedure o Organisational internet safety reporting o Infrastructure arrangements o Training Appendix 1 Terms of Reference of the LSCB E Safety Subgroup Appendix 2 Flowchart to follow Appendix 3 Useful links South West Grid for Learning, Staying Safe Site - CEOP - Childnet - Somerset ICT Curriculum e safety area - Reviewed March

7 Appendix 1 Somerset Local Safeguarding Children Board E Safety Subgroup Terms of Reference E Safety stands for Electronic Safety and it relates to safe use of computer and internet technology, mobile phones, gaming, television and other electronic media. Purpose of group 1. To ensure that the specific electronic safeguarding and child protection needs of children and young people are adequately recognised and responded to. 2. To provide strategic support and guidance regarding E Safety to LSCB partners who are working with, or may come into contact with children or young people. 3. Where required and appropriate, to develop practice guidance and policy in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children (2010), The Byron Report Safer Children in a Digital World (2008) and the subsequent review, Do We Have Safer Children in a Digital World? (2010) 4. Ensure that the above guidance is reflected in all associated training offered by organisations in Somerset. 5. To meet regularly to consider national and local developments relating to E Safety and child protection and the wider safeguarding agenda for children and young people. Accountability 1. This is a subgroup of the Local Safeguarding Children Board and has a responsibility to report any significant concerns or developmental work to the LSCB on a regular basis. 2. The LSCB reports to the Somerset Children s Trust and, therefore, this group is also indirectly accountable to the Trust. 3. Activity will be reflected in the LSCB Annual Work Plan and Annual Report. This will form the routine reporting route of the subgroup. Reviewed March

8 Appendix 1 4. There will also be regular reporting of the work of the subgroup to the Departmental Management Team of the Somerset Children and Young People s Directorate (CYPD). Meetings and administration 1. Meetings will be held 3 times a year, dates to be agreed in advance. Additional meetings can be convened as required. 2. There will be agreed chairing and minute taking arrangements. Minutes will be typed and distributed by the LSCB Central Team unless other arrangements are agreed on a meeting-by-meeting basis. 3. Minutes will be distributed within two weeks of the meeting and agendas distributed two weeks before a meeting. Membership 1. Core membership will be as follows: Representative of Avon and Somerset Police (TA) Chair Every Child Matters Officer, Police (AC) LSCB Coordinator (MT) - Minutes Senior ICT Advisor, CYPD (LS) Representative of Colleges (BY) South West Grid for Learning Representative of Independent Schools (KMcS) Representative of CYPD, Education (HMcD) Representative of Children s Social care (PVHS) Designated Nurse (GM) 2. Others invited Fostering Service Manager (JM/BH) Representative of the Fire Service (JH) 3. Where individuals are not able to attend a meeting, they should nominate a representative to attend in their place. 4. The group will be considered quorate when there are four people present. 5. Others will be invited to attend meetings where there is a particular business item to be discussed and where specific knowledge or expertise is required. Matthew Turner LSCB Coordinator August 2010 Reviewed March