As the Director of Single Central Record Ltd, I want to share why professional social media checks are crucial for schools, especially in light of the latest Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2024 guidance. Safeguarding our students is our top priority, and recruitment practices must evolve to meet new challenges. In this post, I’ll explain why social media checks should be a standard part of every school’s recruitment process and share insights from our data, which highlight the risks schools face when these checks aren’t carried out properly.
What Does KCSIE 2024 Say About Social Media Checks?
KCSIE 2024 has been clear about the need for schools to review candidates’ online presence during recruitment. Paragraph 226 of the guidance states:
“Schools and colleges should consider carrying out an online search as part of their due diligence on shortlisted candidates. This may help identify incidents or issues that are publicly available online, which the school might want to explore at interview.”
The key word here is should, which signals that schools are expected to conduct these online searches unless there is a valid reason not to. This requirement, part of KCSIE 2024, has been in effect since September 2022, and the Department for Education (DfE) has made it clear that this is now standard practice. Ofsted is also placing increasing emphasis on how schools manage online checks during inspections, making social media checks an essential part of your safeguarding processes.
Why Social Media Checks Matter for Safeguarding
We’re all familiar with DBS checks as part of recruitment, but they don’t cover everything. A DBS check won’t reveal a person’s online behaviour, and in today’s world, social media can be a massive red flag for issues like hate speech, inappropriate content, and even violent behaviour. These risks can have a serious impact on the school community and, more importantly, the safety of your students.
KCSIE 2024 isn’t about adding layers of bureaucracy; it’s about being proactive in safeguarding. It’s about looking beyond what’s visible on paper and ensuring that a candidate’s online activity is suitable and safe for a school environment.
Key Findings from the Last 500 Cases
Since we began conducting professional social media checks for schools, we’ve now analysed over 500 cases. The data highlights the ongoing risks that schools face when they don’t conduct thorough social media screening.
Here’s a summary of the key findings:
- Percentage of Cases Flagged with Concerning Content: 18.5% of candidates had flagged content on their social media profiles, representing a significant number of potential risks.
- Types of Content Flagged:
- Inappropriate/Undesirable Content: This was the most common issue, found in 43.7% of flagged cases. This includes offensive language, derogatory comments, and other inappropriate posts.
- Violent/Graphic Content: 12.2% of flagged cases contained violent or graphic imagery.
- Hate Speech or Discriminatory Behaviour: Found in 13.7% of flagged cases, including racist, sexist, or otherwise prejudiced comments.
- Sexually Explicit Content: This appeared in 27.5% of flagged cases, including explicit language or images.
- Signs of Potential Addiction/Substance Abuse: Indications of potential addiction or substance abuse were found in 4.6% of cases based on social media activity.
- Average Turnaround Time: Reports are delivered within an average of 2 days, providing fast and efficient results for schools.
These findings show just how much can be missed by doing a simple Google search or manual check. Without professional social media screening, these red flags could easily go unnoticed, putting your school at risk.
Why Schools Need Professional Screening
You might be wondering, “Why not just do these checks ourselves?” While manual checks seem like a practical solution, they miss critical details. Here’s why professional social media screening is vital:
- Wider Coverage Manual searches often only focus on a candidate’s main social media profiles. But professional screening covers multiple platforms and provides a more comprehensive view of an individual’s online presence.
- In-Depth Content Analysis A simple post might not seem problematic at first glance, but when analysed in full context, it could reveal concerning behaviour. Professional checks examine the tone and intent behind posts and comments, identifying risks like hate speech, inappropriate conduct, or discriminatory views.
- Time Efficiency Doing thorough social media checks manually can be time-consuming and often leads to missed red flags. Our service is fast, and our reports are clear and actionable, saving you time while ensuring that no potential risks are overlooked.
How Our Checks Help You Meet KCSIE Compliance
We’ve designed our social media screening service to help schools comply with KCSIE 2024 in an efficient, effective way. Here’s how we make it easier for schools:
- Focus on Safeguarding
Our reports focus solely on the risks that matter most for pupil safety, such as:
- Hate speech or discriminatory language
- Sexually explicit content
- Violent or aggressive behaviour
- GDPR-Compliant
Our checks are fully GDPR-compliant, processing only publicly available information. We operate under the lawful basis of “legitimate interest” as a third-party background screening provider, and we’re ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus certified, ensuring the highest levels of data security.
- Fast and Transparent Reports
We understand that schools need fast results. Our reports are delivered within an average of 2 days, and they use a simple red/green rating system to help schools make informed decisions quickly.
What Should Schools Do Next?
If you haven’t started using professional social media screening yet, here’s how to get started:
- Review Your Recruitment Process
Compare your current manual checks with a sample of our reports to see how much more thorough professional checks can be. Click here to view a sample report.
- Update Your Recruitment Policies
Make sure your school’s recruitment policies state that professional social media checks are a standard practice for shortlisted candidates. This ensures you’re meeting the KCSIE 2024 requirements and following best practice for safeguarding.
- Start Screening
If you’re ready to begin screening candidates professionally, you can easily register for our service and get started today. Click here to register.
The changes in KCSIE aren’t about complicating things; they’re about proactive safeguarding. By adding professional social media checks to your recruitment process, you can:
- Identify risks early and prevent harm.
- Stay compliant with KCSIE 2024 and Ofsted expectations.
- Protect your school’s reputation and the safety of your students.
Don’t leave your school vulnerable to risks that could easily be uncovered through professional screening. Let’s work together to keep your school safe and secure for both staff and students.
For more information, contact us at 0151 606 5101 or email oscr@onlinescr.co.uk.
Mark Gardner
Director of Single Central Record Ltd
