A unique and powerful feature of digitising safeguarding prevention is its ability to give every child a voice that can be heard. Alongside our forms that follow universal Health Needs Assessments, free-text fields are a vital part of our digital assessments, that if managed, can be powerful.  

Free text fields provide children with a safe space to share their thoughts and feelings, which allows school nurses and other professionals to gain unprecedented insights into children’s inner experiences—insights that might otherwise remain hidden. 

For example, a child might reveal concerns about bullying, anxiety, or even self-harm—issues that require immediate attention.  

With the right algorithm, our digital platform can ensure alerts are immediately sent to case holders when ‘flags’ are detected, and fast action is required. These insights are enabling professionals to intervene with tailored support, connecting children to the resources they need when they need them most. 

We are proud that The Lancaster Model, built on the Aire Innovate platform, has helped school nursing teams identify children in need of urgent help, including:  

“The system automatically flagged a high-risk comment from a child, triggering immediate triage. This resulted in timely police and social services referrals, potentially averting danger escalation.”
Kent Community Health Foundation Trust. Read more.  

“A child’s home circumstance wasn’t known to the school, but through comments made on the assessment about how the child was feeling, it became clear that there was an issue, and a plan and intervention was put in place immediately.”
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Read more.  

“TLM uncovered that a child was finding things difficult. The child voiced she was having suicidal thoughts and thoughts about ending her life. Because of this information, I could reassure her and refer her to specialist support services straight away to help improve her emotional health. I also linked with the pastoral lead in her school, who was also able to provide emotional support and create further opportunities to talk about her feelings. Her mother thanked me and said she was pleased her daughter was able to voice how low she was feeling and get the right help”.
Specialist Community Public Health Nurse, Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust 

Every child deserves to have their voice heard and their needs identified and met earlier. Together—with the dedication of our professionals, the right tools, and a commitment to early intervention—we can ensure a brighter, safer future for all children. 

Derbyshire Healthcare recently shared their experience of digitising safeguarding prevention processes on a School and Public Health Nurses Association (SAPHNA) webinar. Please click here to watch the recording: https://youtu.be/WFIIq2mw9cA   

Or to discuss your needs, Get in touch today.