Rationale
Hope is an integrated service which combines both Surrey County Council and Surrey and Borders Partnership National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust Policies and Procedures. As issues arise the response process to be followed will be that of the most appropriate organisation. The Hope Service Manager is to be contacted in the first instance and will direct the query to ensure the appropriate application of policies and procedures of each organisation.
What is remote learning?
There are different definitions of remote learning. However, in the Ofsted Guidance 'What's working well in remote education' (January 2021) they identify the following for use:
- A broad term encompassing any learning that happens outside the classroom, with the teacher not present in the same location as the pupils
- Digital remote learning: often known as online learning
- Blended learning: a mix of face to face and remote methods
Attendance expectations
The Hope Service is a multi-agency service for young people aged 11 to 18 who are experiencing complex mental health, emotional, social and behavioural needs which could cause a placement breakdown or may require a psychiatric hospital admission.
Due to the high levels of need and the vulnerability of each young person, the expectation is that the young people will continue to attend and work face to face with the staff team of social workers, nurses, teachers, psychologists, therapists, psychiatrists and activity workers.
Teacher Absence
Where a teacher is absent from the day programme due to sickness, the young person will be reallocated to other staff and activities or education sessions as per usual.
Non-attendance in the day programme
Please refer to our attendance policy for further information regarding how we support young people to attend the day programme.
Remote Learning
The Ofsted Guidance 'What's working well in remote education' (Jan 2021) refers to some unhelpful myths about remote education which include the following:
- The best forms of remote education are digital
- The best way to deliver remote education is always through live lessons
For those young people who cannot attend the day programme, a variety of options are available to support their learning at home. These include;
- Bespoke work emailed, posted or delivered home
- Workbooks (for example, Functional Skills) emailed, posted or delivered home
- Scope for email, phone or Microsoft Teams calls to discuss work
- Suggested websites to access for subject specific learning (See Appendices 1-3)
- Learning discussions and reviews through phone calls and email
Due the nature of the young people who are referred into, and attend, the day programme our remote learning offer is determined by what will work best and what is safest for each young person. For some of the young people, a live session does not work well due to their levels of anxiety, vulnerability and the pressure of it being one to one. Staff will liaise with young people and their parents and carers to ensure they are delivered learning materials and input, in the way that works best for them.
The Hope Service will work in conjunction with young peoples home schools to ensure that suitable remote learning is offered through both or one provision, taking into account what is suitable for each young person.
Site closure
In the event of one or both day programmes closing for a period of time, with young people unable to access the building(s), teachers will communicate with each young person they teach on the days that they would teach them. This will be through phone calls and / or Microsoft Teams calls as appropriate to discuss work that has been set, to review and feedback on work that has been completed.
Microsoft Teams calls
If a young person requests a 'live' session, and teaching staff feel it is safe to do so, this will be offered as a short catch up conversation about the work that has been set and it will take place at a mutually convenient time. Before a live session takes place, the following will be agreed with the young person and their parents/carers:
- There is an appropriate space for the young person to access during the call
- The young person does not need to use the video function during the call
- If the young person wishes to use the video function, they must select an appropriate background
- The young person does not record or take photographs during the call
- Parents / carers do not appear on the camera
- All live sessions between teachers and young people will be recorded for safeguarding purposes
Staff remain sensitive to the difficulties faced by some young people working at home and they monitor the quantity of work that they are sending home and the amount that is completed. The amount of work is then adjusted accordingly each week.
Access to Laptops
When a young person starts in the day programme staff check whether they have access to a computer or a laptop and Wi-Fi at home to access remote learning if necessary. Where there is no access to a laptop or computer at home suitable alternative arrangements will be put in place.
How much work will be set?
Teachers will set work which will be the equivalent length to the education that each young person would receive in the day programme each week. Their main education provider is expected to do the same for the days that they are not allocated to attend the day programme.
Support for young people not coming into the day programme
There is an agreed and coordinated approach to contacting the young people who are unable to come into the day programme. Staff are aware of the number of different professionals who may be involved with each young person and that too much contact can be overwhelming.
Teachers
Teachers ensure that on their allocated days in the day programme, the young people have work that can be accessed at home and will follow up with an email, phone call or a Microsoft Teams call to discuss the work that has been set and to feedback on the work that has been completed, if this appropriate.
Where work has not been attempted, the teacher will work with the young person and their Care Coordinator to see what additional support they need or to offer alternative work that might engage them. Teachers also liaise with the main education provider to ensure that they are not doubling up on work set or putting too much pressure on the young person.
Care Coordinators
Care Coordinators will continue to contact the young person at least once a week with outreach visits. Contact can also be made virtually or via phone contact, if appropriate. This contact focuses upon assessing and managing risk, ensuring support is in place and speaking to parents and carers as well as the young person.
Keyworkers
Keyworkers may also contact any young person that should be in the day programme. They will seek to speak with the young person or the parent / carer to 'check in' and may offer a virtual session and share activities that can be done at home
Therapists
Therapists will contact each young person and their parents / carers to determine how best to deliver sessions remotely. Although most sessions are likely to be offered through Microsoft Teams, some may be offered over the phone.
What if there is no response when trying to communicate with a young person, or their family, who is not attending the day programme?
The Care Coordinator will liaise with the professional network to establish whether there has been another professional who has contacted the young person or their parents / carers and to confirm that they have not been able to establish contact. They will then write to the parents/ carers expressing concerns about the lack of contact and confirm that they will be completing an outreach visit.
A range of weblinks and online learning opportunities can be provided directly by the Hope Service on request.
Initial policy: January 2021
Next review: December 2025
Key person: J Roberts