Tahlia Blow’s Post

Have you observed or been subjected to restricted practices in schools? A few weeks ago, I released a story to @juliecross the Daily Telegraph and the Herald Sun outlining my deep concerns about children being locked in cages and cells, in seclusion multiple times a day, often without access to water, toilets or communication devices. https://lnkd.in/gdnUdqQ7 Then I did an interview with Vision Australia that explored this issue further. https://lnkd.in/ghHC6hyS Today, I have been contacted by an SBS reporter, Zacharias Szumer (his contact details are below) who is interested in doing an in-depth report into the restricted practices being used in schools right across Australia. This is about seclusion, and all other types of restraint. He has a number of sources in NSW and WA, however, he wants to hear from parents and children who may have been subjected to these practices who would like to share their story and also behaviour practitioners and allied health staff who have seen this in schools. About 30 Behaviour practitioners (from memory) reported that they knew of this occurring in a poll recently and I wonder how many more of us exist. Unless we speak about these practices in schools and share the images that add a human face to the practices, principally the use of seclusion, cages, cells, physical restraint etc, the policies that allow this to occur won't change and other more evidenced based policies and strategies that are aligned with Child Safety legislation and NDIS Restricted Practices authorization and safeguarding will remain poles apart. I would like to know why a child cannot be locked in their bedroom by their parents without risking a mandatory report to Child protection agencies, while a staff member in a school for specific purposes can lock a child in a cage for 15 minutes with nothing but concrete, metal bars and their own distress. I know this is happening. I have been in the cages with my clients. We need to do better. If you would like to contribute to this story or if you know a parent/client who would like to share their voice, please contact [email protected] or- call 0413267397 Jordon Steele-John The Australian Neurodivergent Parents Association Bill Shorten Laurie Leigh @jasonclaremp Jacqui Lambie The Hon Natasha Maclaren-Jones MLC #disabilityleadership #endseclusion #safeguards #NDIS #advocacy

The Fidelity model is centered around four key elements that is demonstrated by the care coordinator across each of the phases of the FOCUS planning process: 1. family-anchored 2.individualized 3. accountable 4. comprehensive The goal of a FOCUS planning process is to ensure that the care coordination team is spread out across child welfare, behavioral health, juvenile justice and/or education. Care coordinaters should be well-trained and consistently implementing best practices as they achieve sustainability of FOCUS across their states, agencies, and/or organizations

Smart employers are giving their workforce dedicated time DURING the workday to build their skills. It’s not time management, it’s TIME when you are balancing family and work. There are just not enough hours in the day. #Workingnation

Ensuring Safe and Effective Transitions: Utilizing Domains and Benchmarks in Case Management. Transitioning children from residential care to a family and community-based model requires a structured and comprehensive approach to ensure their safety and well-being. By effectively using specific domains and benchmarks in the case management process, case managers, case workers, and social workers can enhance the success and safety of these transitions. Below are the key domains and benchmarks to focus on: 1. Development and Education Nourished, Developing, and Access: Ensure children receive adequate nutrition, have opportunities for development, and access necessary resources. Accessing, Attending/Progressing, and Inclusive: Support children in accessing education, attending regularly, progressing in their studies, and being included in all educational activities. 2. Protection and Safety Safe: Create and maintain a safe environment for children, free from harm and neglect. 3. Relationship and Attachment Quality Time/Positive Communication and Consistency: Foster strong, positive relationships and consistent, supportive communication between children and caregivers. 4. Economic Stability Stable: Ensure families have the economic stability needed to provide a secure and supportive home environment. 5. Psychosocial Well-being and Community Belonging Self-Esteem/Resilience, Accessing Social Support Services, and Acceptance: Promote children’s self-esteem, resilience, and access to social support services to ensure their acceptance and belonging in the community. By focusing on these domains and benchmarks, case managers, case workers, and social workers can ensure a holistic and effective approach to transitioning children to family and community-based care. Let us work together to make every transition safe and successful. #CaseManagement #ChildProtection #SocialWork #FamilyCare #CommunityBasedModel #ChildWelfare #HolisticCare #EffectiveTransition

Reflecting on a transformative training session with the Hull Safeguarding Children and Hull City Council led by the remarkable Keerie. I gained invaluable insights into safeguarding versus protection, delved into the nuances of various types of harm, and dissected the complexities of bias through engaging group activities. We also explored the distinction between the fast and slow thinking brain, as outlined by psychologist Daniel Kahneman. The fast brain operates swiftly and intuitively, often leading to biases and snap judgments, while the slow brain engages in deliberate, analytical reasoning. Understanding this dynamic is crucial in safeguarding contexts, as it allows professionals to recognize and mitigate biases, ensuring more objective decision-making processes for the welfare of children. One highlight was a storytelling exercise, where we navigated through true or false scenarios, uncovering our own biases and assumptions, and realizing the importance of active listening. Keerie’s facilitation made this experience truly enlightening. A poignant moment was the case study involving a child expressing emotions through the '3 houses' activity – happy, worry, dream. Witnessing firsthand the power of such interventions was profound. What struck me most was the diverse array of professionals, each with years of experience and a shared commitment to safeguarding children. Together, we are united in our mission to make a tangible difference in our communities. Grateful for the opportunity to learn and collaborate with such dedicated individuals. #SafeguardingChildren #ChildProtection #ProfessionalDevelopment

One thing moving to Texas I discovered was the expansive programs the North Central Texas Workforce offers job seekers. From education support-working with the colleges, to child care assistance, to job placement. Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas

This year has been a rollercoaster of a ride, we have experienced a whole Country crisis and we continue to lose young lifes As I’ve returned to Educations working back with under 16 year olds, it has made me realise, there is still major marginalisations between the children, within London, including across all the Boroughs of London, it’s really so frustrating, when you put MASH referral through and they come back with “it doesn’t meet the threshold” or you call the local school police officer and he does not turn up for two incidents so I report it over the phone to the police and we receive the police presence we require to support the safeguarding strategies we have put in place to support us to keep the young person safe or Social Services tell us in strategy meetings they have completed their work, when all the professionals around the table explain why we all believe all professionals should remain, as the risks are still high and nothing has changed Who or how are we ALL going to protect our children and continue to keep the children safe, if all professionals drop off, as there is an opening, rather than when the work is completed …. Been back in Education for 5 weeks and we still have loads of work to do #secondaryeducation #alternativeprovision #safeguarding #safeguardingchildren #childprotection #protectourchildren #support #help #professionalsworkingtogethertosavethechildren #youngpeoplematter #youngpeopleneedus

What a week so far. I've been front of house and presenting to lots of schools which is one of the things I love most about my job. Having worked in the Comms industry for nearly 10 years there is nothing quite like adding real value and services that truly make a difference. You have to understand many factors with schools, not only focusing on the way they operate and communicate, but understanding the fundamentals that underpin everything that is paramount within their setting and essential for them to keep running and ensuring everyone's safety at all time on a daily basis - that's right I'm going to start talking about policies and being compliant! It's dipping into the challenge of Risk Assessments, Safeguarding, Emergency Planning, Children on Care Plans, helping staff to communicate anywhere in an emergency and being underpinned by the 'Every Child Matters Act' with lots to consider. Having worked in Education and Social Services before my career being propelled into IT it is something very dear to my heart....So years ago I decided that the approach to comms within schools needed to change and we started to focus on a solution that was 'not just a phone system' but one that offered so much more.... What are some of the main points of focus within Schools? ·Risk reduction. ·Policy compliance and support. ·Emergency planning and lockdown procedures. ·Time management and efficiency improvement. ·Accessibility and productivity enhancement. ·Support for the welfare of children and staff. ·Alarms and safety measures.   How do we ensure the above? By delivering specific features that are built for Schools! ·Security lockdown for intruder alerts. ·Paging alerts for emergencies and public announcements. ·Dedicated welfare support lines for students and their families. ·Detailed call reporting with insights - including automated reports for unreturned missed calls. ·Night mode for optimized functionality ·Conference calls with PIN codes for secure communication with children on EHCP (Education & Health Care Plans) When you understand the audience you can purely focus on the things that matter most and what they need from us to provide a solution that they love! Ryan Kersey Ollie Carnell Lorraine Smyth Mark Chivers Lisa Broad MSyI Jodie Read Ella Buck Ben Parsons Giles Bryant Jesal Shah Rich Williams Steven Funai Mark Shraga #keepingchildrensafeineducation #communication #emergencyplanning #lockdown #evacuation #reporting #hostedtelephony #safeguarding #welfare #mentalhealth #careplans #schools #academies #SCG #Evonex #presenting #work #riskassessments #emergencies

Wichita Tribe and Child Care Facilities Closed Monday, January 22, 2024 Due to Inclement Weather The Wichita and Affiliated Tribes and Child Care Facilities will be closed on Monday, January 22, 2024 due to inclement weather. The policy is if the local public schools close for inclement weather, the Tribe will be closed also. We will be monitoring the weather and road conditions for Tuesday. Please stay off the roads if they become slick and hazardous and keep your family safe.-Terri Parton, President-Wichita and Affiliated Tribes From the policy: A. Other Circumstances: Administrative leave is given under certain conditions when normal operations are interrupted by events beyond the control of management or employees, i.e., inclement weather, etc. If the schools are closed in the area where the employee lives, due to inclement weather, then those employees do not have to come into work. Employees must notify their Supervisor of the school closing. If Anadarko Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather, then the Tribe will close also.

🔒 Ensuring Child Safety: Collaborating with Law Enforcement 🔒 As corporate parents, it's incumbent upon us to recognize the pivotal role various stakeholders play in safeguarding our children, especially those transitioning from care. Among these stakeholders, the police force occupies a crucial position in ensuring the protection of vulnerable young individuals. When a young person leaves care, they often embark on a journey fraught with confusion and vulnerability, rendering them susceptible to exploitation. It's imperative that we, as a collective, acknowledge that their lack of contact does not equate to a desire for disengagement. Rather, it may signify their struggle to navigate the complexities of independence amidst lingering uncertainties. One significant concern in this realm is the issue of missing episodes among care leavers. These instances not only heighten the risk of exploitation but also pose serious threats to the overall well-being of these individuals. Thus, it is paramount that law enforcement agencies receive adequate training to understand the unique challenges faced by care leavers, regardless of their cultural or geographical background. It's disheartening to ponder whether practitioners encounter lukewarm responses from the police force when reporting such incidents, particularly in the absence of concrete evidence indicating immediate risk to themselves or others. This underscores the critical need for heightened awareness within law enforcement circles regarding the potential dangers care leavers may encounter. Moreover, it's imperative to acknowledge that the safety of care leavers extends beyond their own actions; they may also be at risk due to external factors or individuals. Failing to recognize this reality can have dire consequences for their safety and well-being. In light of these concerns, I strongly advocate for comprehensive training programs aimed at equipping law enforcement personnel with the necessary tools and insights to effectively respond to missing episodes involving care leavers. By fostering a deeper understanding of the challenges these individuals face, we can collectively work towards creating a safer and more supportive environment for all vulnerable children. Together, let's strive to ensure that every child, regardless of their circumstances, receives the protection and support they rightfully deserve. #ChildProtection #LawEnforcement #CareLeavers #SafetyFirst #Collaboration #SupportingVulnerableChildren