Henry Grierson

Dear Madam, The College will always do anything we can to support our students, and we welcome the Coroner’s findings. We agree with the Coroner’s conclusion that steps need to be taken to enhance the communication from organisations such as CAMHS to schools and colleges, but consider this to be a conversation that needs to be had at a much higher level. Given that the College does not have the power to make and implement changes on behalf of other organisations, we have met with representatives of the Department for Education to explain the issues and to bring their attention to the challenges regarding multi-agency communication. The provision of clearer guidance about what triggers communication from such organisations would provide valuable clarity for the whole sector. Notwithstanding our view that the discussion around multi-agency co-operation is not completely within our purview, representatives from the College have discussed the issue with their counterparts at the NHS South West Yorkshire Partnership Foundation Trust who have responsibility for CAMHS. In terms of steps that may be taken locally to improve the communication of information we can only act on matters within our control. We understand that the Trust have agreed in principle to write to you to set out the steps they will take as the provider of CAMHS services to address the concern you have raised. In terms of matters that are within our control, the College has reviewed and amended relevant policies and processes for contacting external agencies, particularly where a Welfare Plan has been created or when permanent exclusion is being implemented as a last resort. Included in this review of processes is College staff requesting and expecting updates from the external agencies involved in the safeguarding of a student, as identified and specified in their Welfare Plan. The College’s safeguarding team will remind external agencies of the responsibilities that they have to share safeguarding information, as detailed in ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ and ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023’. Since the Coroner’s issuing of the Regulation 28 Report, the College’s safeguarding team have found that information-sharing from external agencies to the College has already improved, specifically external agencies informing us when they have discharged a student under their care.