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Record a short-lived warning signal

Log an overnight police notice, a council flag or a school exclusion, and promote it to a concern if it matters.

Checked against the screens:

Every organisation can choose its own words for the people and roles it works with. When you are signed in, this guide uses your organisation’s words. Otherwise it uses the product’s own.

For DSLs, senior staff and admins. A marker is a signal that expires on its own, normally after 72 hours. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999 and phone your DSL directly.

Steps

  1. Open the register and press Record new marker.
  2. Choose the young person.
  3. Pick the Source: police, the commissioning school, another council, the LADO or a council alert.
  4. Pick the Kind, such as an overnight police notice or an exclusion.
  5. Write the signal in Narrative, as it was told to you.
  6. Set Expires in (hours) if it should not last the usual 72.
  7. Press Record marker.
  8. Later, press Acknowledge when you have read it, or Promote → to make a concern.

If it goes wrong

  • Markers drop off the list when they expire. Nothing is deleted, but they stop being active.
  • If a signal needs action, do not wait. Promote it or raise a concern now.
  • Promoting level 3 or 4 needs a follow-up date. Pick one before you confirm.
  • If you cannot open the page, it needs a DSL, senior or admin role.

How it links together

A promoted marker becomes a normal concern, so the DSL is told and it joins the queue. An expired marker is not deleted. Exclusion notices can also go on the suspension form.

Life of a context markerA marker fades unless someone acts on it.
  1. Signal arrivesPolice, school, council
  2. RecordSource, kind, narrative
  3. AcknowledgeSeen by the lead
  4. PromoteBecomes a concern
  5. ExpiresLeaves the list

What a marker is

A marker is information that matters for a short time. An example is a police notice that a child was in the house during a domestic incident overnight. It tells the team to look out for the child that day.

The sources

  • Police, including overnight notices.
  • The commissioning school.
  • Another council.
  • The LADO.
  • A multi-agency alert.
  • An exclusion or suspension notice.

The register

The register lists each active marker with its source, kind, narrative, when it was received, when it expires and its status. Expired markers leave the list.

Acknowledging

Acknowledging says that someone has read it. It keeps the marker visible until it expires, but marks it as seen.

Promoting

Promote turns a marker into a formal concern. Choose this when the signal gives a reason for action. Level 3 and 4 need a follow-up date.

When it matters most

Treat the first hours as the important ones. Tell the mentor who sees the child that day, in the way your procedure allows.

Questions people ask

What happens when a marker expires?

It leaves the active list. If it needed action, promote it to a concern before it does.

What is the difference from a concern?

A concern is a formal, lasting record. A marker is a short signal that fades unless you promote it.

Can I change how long it lasts?

Yes. Set the hours when you record it. The usual time is 72.

Who can see markers?

DSLs, senior staff and admins.

Who should I tell about a marker?

The people who will see the child that day, as your procedure allows. Do not copy the narrative into email.

Where do exclusion notices go?

Record them as a context marker, or on the suspension intake form. Use both if you need the longer record.