Advanced Certificate in Online Safety for Mental Health Leads

New Keeping children safe in education guidance has been published and will become statutory from 1 September 2022.

Mental health leads have a responsibility to promote and support mental health and wellbeing in schools. They should work closely with the safeguarding team to bring an additional layer of support to children who may be vulnerable to online harms, many of which can impact their confidence, self-esteem, social and emotional health.

Developed by Lorna Ponambalum, independent safeguarding and inclusion consultant, and Anna Bateman, mental health and wellbeing expert who works in an advisory role for the DfE, our brand new online safety course for mental health leads covers the latest updates from Keeping children safe in education 2022 and has been designed to provide you with the expertise and capability to effectively carry out your role and keep children safe online.

All schools should continue to adhere to the current Keeping children safe in guidance until 1 September 2022.

Please note: This course consists of learning through video, task completion and further reading/research. Please consider this when planning and allocating your time. To successfully understand and achieve the objectives of the course, learners are expected to engage in all aspects of the learning process to ensure they can successfully apply the knowledge and skills they have gained in their own setting.

Designed in line with the following policies

Keeping children safe in education
Relationships education, relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education
Teaching online safety in schools
Sharing nudes and semi-nudes: advice for education settings working with children and young people
Harmful online challenges and online hoaxes

Learning outcomes

Developing up-to-date knowledge and skills in order to carry out your role effectively and provide advice and support on online safety matters
Understanding how the mental health lead plays a key role in helping schools meet their online safety statutory safeguarding requirements and Ofsted expectations
Recognising the importance of developing a whole-school approach to online safety and ensuring all staff receive the appropriate training
Identifying and responding to different categories of online harm and abuse, reporting safeguarding concerns and supporting children and young people
Understanding the importance of engaging parents and carers and developing and implementing policies to help build a culture of online safety

Course Units

Introduction

Module 1: Understanding the online safety landscape

Module 1 provides the background and context to online safety today and explores what challenges young people, teachers, parents and carers may face while keeping children safe online.

Module 2: Statutory guidance and legislation

In module 2, you’ll look at the key policy documents that you need to be aware of with respect to your online safety responsibilities and how Ofsted view online safety in education settings.

Module 3: Developing an online safety policy

Module 3 discusses the need to develop and implement an online safety policy that will support your school's online safety provision, including how it should be drafted and how often it should be reviewed.

Module 4: Understanding online risks – unsafe communications

In module 4, you’ll explore the different types of online harms and risks associated with unsafe communications including the dangers around who children might engage with online (and how they might do it).

Module 5: Understanding online risks – managing online information

Module 5 will cover the associated risks and basic steps you can take to support children around managing online content and the types of activities which can place their own online information in danger.

Module 6: Understanding online risks – effects on health, wellbeing and lifestyle

In module 6, you’ll learn about how technology and social media can negatively impact children’s mental health, wellbeing and lifestyle and how to support children who may be experiencing harmful behaviour.

Module 7: Building a culture of online safety

In module 7, you’ll understand your role in developing a whole-school approach to online safety, looking at reporting mechanisms, referrals, compliance, promoting good practice, teaching online safety and providing the necessary support to children.

Module 8: Safeguarding remote learners

Module 8 will cover what your responsibilities are with respect to safeguarding remote learners in line with DfE requirements and best practice.

Module 9: Staff use of digital technologies

In module 9, you’ll explore your role in ensuring effective staff use of digital technologies, particularly in supporting enhanced teaching and learning and in complying with relevant safeguarding requirements.

Module 10: Your role as a mental health lead in online safety

The final module discusses what you must be aware of and understand in your role as the mental health lead, including working with others such as the DSL and parents and carers, to keep learners safe online.

About The Expert

Lorna Ponambalum

Senior leader and safeguarding consultant with over 15 years’ experience as a DSL in education.

Find out more

Annual Advanced Certificate in Online Safety for Mental Health Leads (2022-23)

About The Course