Local Authority
Swale Borough Council
Author: Stephanie Curtis, Head of Safeguarding
The Challenge
Swale Borough Council has a population of around 130,000 people. It is largely a rural borough made up of three distinct towns and an island, which sees a large influx of holidaymakers during the summer months. Swale is one of the most deprived areas of Kent.
Prior to adopting MyConcern, Swale were using an intranet-based site to manage their safeguarding responsibilities.
It wasn't easy to track individual referrals, as case notes were added to a free flow text box, which meant any amends could not be easily tracked nor updates made clear.
Furthermore, performance reporting had to be undertaken using a separate system which was a very time-consuming process.
The Solution - MyConcern
Swale wanted to introduce a more efficient system that enabled them to meet their legislative requirements. They started searching for companies that could deliver this to them and found The Safeguarding Company's product: MyConcern.
Swale hoped that by implementing MyConcern, they would benefit from a system that made it easier to log, track and manage the safeguarding concerns raised by Council staff across all of its departments in respect of children, young people and adults at risk along with being able to easily create performance reports for management.
Implementing MyConcern
Using MyConcern enables Swale to meet its legislative requirements. The council found it easy to set up and were impressed by the bespoke version of the site that The Safeguarding Company created for them. The safeguarding team were also impressed by the training provided by The Safeguarding Company, and the support offered should they ever need it.
The system is used by all departments in the council, such as housing. This enables Swale to build a team around vulnerable people in their area, and ensure that they are making every effort to protect them from harm.
Perhaps most useful, was the way they were able to suggest additional functionality to the system so that it could be tailored to their continually evolving needs. For example, by adding the ability to create reports based on the number of referrals made to external agencies. Every safeguarding requirement is met fully, and securely.
The Outcomes
- Time effective
- More efficient
- Enables Swale to protect vulnerable people
- Able to suggest developments to tailor the system to their requirements
- Better insight into what types of onward referrals have been made
- More accurate visibility of outcomes
- Improved audit functionality to determine review periods on concerns and action taken
- Enables Swale to meet legislative requirements
Solutions
Our suite of safeguarding solutions to support local authorities is ever growing, so we can help with your safeguarding processes in a number of ways. Explore our products below:
For Concerns about Children and Young Adults
Easy-to-use, centralised, secure record-keeping and case management for all types of safeguarding concerns
Find out moreFor Safer Recruitment
A safer recruitment and personnel vetting tool that acts as your Single Central Record. Designed to guide you through the recruitment process and to ensure that no check is missed
Find out moreFor Multi-establishment Reporting
A powerful reporting tool designed exclusively for multi-establishment safeguarding. Paired with MyConcern and Confide to provide high-level, anonymised reporting across groups of establishments
Find out moreFor Allegations Against Staff
One of the most sensitive issues facing any leader is how to handle serious allegations about their staff. Confide is the answer
Find out moreWe Are Safeguardians
Let's Work Together
You might also like...
Children with Disabilities - Safeguarding our most Vulnerable
Did you know that children and young people who live with disabilities are more likely to experience violence and abuse than non-disabled children? Read our blog to find out our advice regarding keeping some of the most vulnerable people in society safe from harm.
Keeping children safe during community activities, after-school clubs and tuition
Download our free handbook on this non-statutory guidance from the Department for Education aiming to help providers of out-of-school settings understand best practice for creating a safe environment for the children and young people in their care.
Digging Deeper: Practical Applications of Safeguarding Best Practice
A free webinar for child protection, safeguarding & pastoral leads in international schools. We take a detailed look at some example scenarios and discuss practical approaches to recording and managing concerns with our guest speaker from ACS Doha.
