Welcome to Season 9 of the ISS EDUlearn AMA podcast! 🎉
This episode features a powerful conversation with Sian Jorgensen, Director of Encompass Safeguarding, and an educator dedicated to protecting children everywhere.
With over 20 years of experience as a child abuse investigator and safeguarding leader, Sian argues that effective crisis management goes beyond security protocols. She challenges school leaders to put the child at the absolute center of every response plan. Learn why a well-rounded crisis team is crucial, how to communicate with families to build trust, and how proactive planning is the key to preventing long-term trauma. This episode is a vital guide for any educator committed to creating a truly safe and prepared school community.
💬 Key Quotes
- "My mission is protecting children everywhere." – Sian Jorgensen 🌍
- "I always naturally put the child and the children at the center." – Sian Jorgensen ❤️
- "It's harder to take away trauma than it is to avoid trauma." – Sian Jorgensen 🛡️
- "Safeguarding should run through everything at the school. It shouldn't be a little tick box add-on." – Sian Jorgensen ✅
- "Is my child okay? Maybe that's a priority, right?" – Sian Jorgensen 👩👧👦
- "If you can control 80% of the messaging that's going out externally, you're onto a winner." – Sian Jorgensen 📢
🎯 Key Insights
Put the Child at the Center 🛡️: Effective crisis management is not just about logistics and security. A truly comprehensive plan must prioritize the well-being and needs of the children, as a poor response can lead to lifelong trauma.
Build a Holistic Crisis Team 🤝: Your crisis management team needs diverse perspectives. In addition to security and leadership, include a counselor or safeguarding lead who can advocate for the child's emotional and psychological needs.
Proactive Planning Prevents Trauma 🧠: The best time to have difficult conversations about a potential crisis is before it happens. By practicing and planning for the worst-case scenarios, a school can reduce the long-term impact on its students.
Mastering Communication with Parents 🗣️: During a crisis, parents have two core needs: "Is my child okay?" and "When can I see them?" Focus your messaging on these priorities, and give clear directives to prevent panic and maintain trust.
Support Your Staff 🤗: Acknowledge that teachers who are also parents face a unique internal conflict during a crisis. A solid crisis plan must consider how to support and reassure these staff members about their own children while they are focused on the students in their care.
✨ Conclusion & Next Steps
Thank you for tuning in to this powerful conversation. By embedding safeguarding into every aspect of a school's operations and planning, a community can build resilience and ensure every member feels safe and supported.
If you found this episode inspiring and informative, please be sure to like, subscribe, and share AMA with your educator friends. Stay tuned for more exciting episodes on Season 9!🔗 Resources & Contact
Sian Jorgensen:
Website: encompass-safeguarding.com
New Course: Check out Sian's new "Safe Interviewing" training, a course on how to ask the right questions to children in a safe and effective way.
ISS:
Safeguarding & Crisis Response is available for purchase at iss.edu/events.
Find other virtual events, certifications, and PD resources at iss.edu/events.
Explore career opportunities at ISS virtual and in-person job fairs.