School leaders face the daunting task of safeguarding amidst rising mental health referrals—here is how to tackle it effectively.
CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on Tes Magazine
Recent reports from mental health charity Young Minds have revealed an alarming surge in mental health referrals for children in crisis. In May 2023, the number of urgent referrals for those under 18 tripled compared to the same month in 2019.
Tragically, many of these children in crisis may not receive the support they desperately need. Schools are increasingly finding themselves in a challenging position as more referrals are sent back to them with no action taken by external services. This places immense strain on the safeguarding and pastoral teams within schools.
As school business leaders, the responsibility of safeguarding weighs heavily, especially in the face of rising mental health referrals. By carefully managing resources, time, and support networks, and by fostering positivity and self-care, safeguarding leaders can navigate these challenges while ensuring the wellbeing of their students and themselves.
Staffing: Ensuring adequate resources
Do you have enough staff dedicated to safeguarding? Have you appointed deputy designated safeguarding leads (DDSLs) or other team members who can share the workload? In these challenging budgetary times, consider the possibility of redistributing responsibilities among existing staff if hiring is not an option.
Time management
In a role where unpredictability is the norm, finding “free” time can be challenging but not impossible. Explore opportunities for your deputy designated safeguarding leads to take the lead during certain periods, granting you valuable time for strategic tasks. Evaluate the necessity of lengthy meetings; shorter, more focused discussions might suffice.
Building a robust support system
A robust support system is the cornerstone of effective safeguarding. This network starts within your school, encompassing your team and the headteacher. If you operate within a trust, rely on the trust’s safeguarding lead, and maintain a connection with the local authority safeguarding lead for guidance.
Additionally, ensure that each team member benefits from supervision, preferably with an external agency. Encourage your team to seek support outside the school environment, allowing them to share openly and reducing the burden on the designated safeguarding lead.
Embracing positivity in safeguarding
Despite the challenges safeguarding professionals face, there are moments of positivity. Create a repository for uplifting emails from parents, students, and external services. Keep cards from students and parents as reminders of the impact of your work. Spread positivity within your team by highlighting successes and discussing what has gone well during team meetings.
Setting boundaries: Self-care matters
As dedicated as safeguarding leaders may be, it’s essential to recognise that you can’t do everything. There is no expectation for designated safeguarding leads to be available during school holidays unless specific events or trips are taking place. Prioritise your own wellbeing, rest, and rejuvenation. Remember the airplane oxygen mask analogy: ensure you put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others.
As school business leaders, the responsibility of safeguarding weighs heavily, but by carefully managing resources, time, and support networks, safeguarding leaders can navigate these challenges while ensuring the wellbeing of their students and themselves.
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