Introduction

We are taking part in this national project, made possible by £400,000 of funding from the Department for Education (DfE), which involves 8 social workers working in secondary schools across Somerset. There is at least one selected school in each of the county’s 4 districts and the project will initially run for 18 months starting January 2021.

This is a new way of working to ensure children and young people identified as at risk of exploitation receive effective support from the right people. Social workers will work collaboratively with school colleagues including Designated Safeguarding Leads to support children, young people and their families. Work will include identifying issues and strengthening our partnership response to exploitation.

How it will help

Our Children’s Social Care teams will work with eight identified schools to build good relationships with children and their families to understand their needs and develop effective support and plans.

This way of working provides an opportunity for social care teams and schools to learn more about each other and their roles while improving the way they work together to effectively support children and young people.

Social workers will support schools to strengthen confidence in spotting signs of exploitation and responding to safeguarding issues.

Data collected from the 8 identified schools will be compared to data collected from a control group to help demonstrate how this approach makes a difference.

Get in touch

If you would like any more information, please contact the Safeguarding Team Manager for the relevant area.

Taunton and West Somerset – Jessica King – JKing@somerset.gov.uk
Mendip – Lorna Mawbey – LAMawbey@somerset.gov.uk
Sedgemoor – Rachel Bovingdon – RBovingdon@somerset.gov.uk
South Somerset – Nigel Larcombe-Williams – nlarcombewilliams@somerset.gov.uk