Social media screening is a key change in Keeping Children Safe in Education 2022 guidance

Social media screening a key change in the new in the Keeping children safe in education 2022 guidance

What is Keeping Children Safe in Education 2022?

Keeping Children Safe in Education 2022 is the Statutory guidance for schools and colleges which comes into force from 1 September 2022. This statutory guidance is issued from the Department for Education (‘the Department’) under Section 175 of the Education Act 2002, the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014, the Non-Maintained Special Schools (England) Regulations 2015 and the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (as amended). Schools and colleges in England must have regard for it when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. For the purposes of this guidance, children include everyone who is under the age of 18.

What is change 220 of the Keeping children safe in education 2022 guidance?

Para 220 which is part of the Shortlisting section (page 53) of the Keeping children safe in education 2022 guidance state that:

‘In addition, as part of the shortlisting process schools and colleges should consider carrying out an online search as part of their due diligence on the shortlisted candidates. This may help identify any incidents or issues that have happened, and are publicly available online, which the school or college might want to explore with the applicant at interview.’

In high level what it means that all potential applicants should be subject to a Social Media Screening before the interview stage. So that any red flag/concern can be discussed with the job seeker.

What school/college needs to do before requesting the social media screening?

As soon as school/college have identified a suitable candidate there should be signed consent letter before requesting any social media search. Also, it would be prudent to add a disclaimer that this job is subject to social media screening (before interview), shortlist candidates should also be asked to complete a self-declaration regarding following:

• criminal history
• children’s barred list
• prohibited from teaching
• prohibited from taking part in the management of an independent school
• information about any criminal offences committed in any country in line with the law as applicable in England and Wales, not the law in their country of origin or where they were convicted
• known to the police and children’s local authority social care
• disqualified from providing childcare
• any relevant overseas information

The purpose of a self-declaration is so that candidates will have the opportunity to share relevant information with the school/college and allow this to be discussed and considered at interview before the Enhanced DBS certificate is received.

Mandatory pre-employment checks for schools/colleges which all schools and colleges must request:

Social Media check (Before interview)

Employment references (Before interview)

Identity Check

Enhanced DBS check including children’s barred list

Verify mental and physical fitness

Right to work check

Overseas criminal record check, if applicable

Professional qualification and the completion of teacher induction or probation

Section 128 direction, if applicable

How does Complygate Social Media Screening works for school/college paragraph 220?

Define filters

Not a score. Configure your account to escalate job relevant candidate behaviours that reflect your screening policy.

Integrated experience

Integrations mean no disruption to candidate experience, same consent workflow. Results appear in the dashboard.

Review hits

Complygate’s combination of AI and people means you only review reports that contain relevant information

What risks Complygate Social Media Screening can identify?

• Crime
• Harassment
• Intolerance
• Threat
• Sex
• Violence
• Others as required

Reference

Keeping children safe in education 2022 Guidance

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1080047/KCSIE_2022_revised.pdf