CPOMS Safeguarding Software: What Teachers Should Know

What is CPOMS and how does it work in schools?

CPOMS (Child Protection Online Management System) is a digital platform that helps schools record, monitor, and manage safeguarding incidents involving pupils. The system replaces paper-based recording with a secure online database that tracks patterns of concern, enables early intervention, and ensures vital safeguarding information follows pupils if they change schools. Schools use it to document everything from minor concerns to serious child protection issues in one centralized, searchable system.

Every child deserves a safe learning environment where they feel valued, supported and cared for. This means ensuring that every child has access to high-quality education and experiences opportunities to develop their potential.

CPOMS (Child Protection Online Management System) is the leading provider of student safeguarding software to schools in the UK. It helps schools record incidents of harm and abuse so that they can learn from past mistakes and prevent future occurrences. It also enables schools to identify trends and patterns of harm and abuse, allowing them to intervene earlier and better support wellbeing for vulnerable pupils.

CPOMS Systems-by Raptor Technologies, the leading provider of school safety software in the US-is an edtech business trusted by over 20,000 schools worldwide. Schools use it to keep track of incidents of harm and abuse against children, and to monitor the effectiveness of their responses to those incidents in school. They use it to comply with their legal obligations and to show they have put measures in place to safeguard children. 

Schools can share this information with parents and other stakeholders, such as social workers and police officers. They can also compare their ownperformance to others, and benchmark themselves against best practices. Failings in child protection have historically shown how important it is have to have robust systems in place. A service provider is required to provide the best care for children and the senior leaders will need to keep track of all the important information they collect and receive. Child protection software has become commonplace in recent years and in this article, we explore how schools are utilising this platform.

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Why should schools use CPOMS for safeguarding?

Schools use CPOMS because it transforms scattered incident notes into practical safeguarding intelligence that helps identify at-risk pupils before situations escalate. The system saves staff time by automating reporting workflows, ensures nothing gets missed through chronological tracking, and helps schools meet their legal safeguarding obligations. Most importantly, it creates a complete safeguarding history that can reveal patterns of concern that paper systems would miss.

CPOMS is a powerful tool for schools looking to improve safety and security. It allows them to keep track of every aspect of their safeguarding policies and procedures and ensures that they are followed by all staff in school, supporting engagement with proper protocols. 

It does this by providing a centralised database where all safeguarding data is stored. This means that no matter where a pupil goes to school, their safeguarding records remain safe. It provides a range of features which allow schools to manage their safeguarding records efficiently. These include:

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• Every institution has its own unique requirements and processes. That's why a fully customisable interface like the found in CPOMS makes sense when adapting to different curriculum needs.
• The chronology function provides a timeline view of all the events that have occurred in a student's life. School staff can see the key details of these events, such as date, location, type of incident, incident timeline, severity, etc., in a rich visual format. They can also add notes to each event, which can include information such as the reason behind the event, whether it was reported to the authorities, helping staff maintain attention to critical details. 
• Parents are often busy juggling multiple commitments and responsibilities. CPOMS has a system where you can send messages to all members of staff at your child's school via email alerts. This means that you can keep track of everything from the moment your child starts school until he/she leaves it. All internal communication is also sent via email alerts than on bits of paper, supporting effective emotional intelligence in handling sensitive situations. 
• CPOMS has automatic integration for Arbor, Bromcom, Engage, Facility/CMIS, Integris G2, iSAMS, Progresso, PupilAsset, ScholarPack, SchoolBase, SchoolPod, SIMS.NET, Teacher Centre, Veracross, VS & WCBS. CPOMS also offers manual integration for other MIS service providers. 
• CPOMS provides a secure way to share information across schools. It allows you to keep track of all the children in your care. This includes their D.O.B, Gender, SENstatus, Medical Conditions, Incidents, Document Vault and more. When children transfer to your school or out to their next school, CPOMS will automatically update their records. So if they were previously enroled at another school, it will show up in CPOMS. It's easy to download the data from CPOMS to your computer so you can send it to the new school- if their new school doesn't use CPOMS, ensuring SEL support continues smoothly.
• You can choose to generate a summary report, incident report, or a combination of both. In addition, you can filter the results by date range, location, and category, which requires effective thinking skill development to analyse patterns.
• We all know that the Safeguarding Policy and Training Documents are essential parts of the school's safeguarding procedures. However, sometimes you need to remind people to read these documents. You may also want to check whether they have signed off on the latest version of the document, which connects to the Learning Fundamentals of effective staff training. If you want to find out if anyone has already read it, then CPOMS will let you know.

CPOMS is a valuable tool for schools and educational organisations that are committed to safeguarding their students. It improves school management and accountability, helping to ensure that all staff are aware of their responsibilities when it comes to child protection. Let's explore some ways it can be used.

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How does CPOMS contribute to a safer school environment?

CPOMS contributes to a safer school environment by creating a central repository for all safeguarding concerns, improving communication between staff, and providing detailed reporting capabilities. The system allows for early identification of potential risks and enables timely interventions. It also provides a clear audit trail of actions taken, which is essential for accountability and compliance.

By digitising safeguarding processes, CPOMS reduces the risk of information being lost or overlooked. It also makes it easier for staff to share information with relevant external agencies, such as social services or the police, when necessary. The system’s chronological view of events helps to build a comprehensive picture of a child’s experiences, enabling schools to make informed decisions about how best to support them.

Moreover, CPOMS can help schools to identify trends and patterns of concern across the school population. This information can be used to inform school-wide safeguarding policies and practices, ensuring that all pupils are protected from harm. By providing staff with the tools and information they need to respond effectively to safeguarding concerns, CPOMS helps to create a culture of vigilance and care within the school community.

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Conclusion

CPOMS safeguarding software offers a robust solution for schools seeking to enhance their child protection measures. By centralising safeguarding information, improving communication, and providing comprehensive reporting capabilities, CPOMS enables schools to create a safer and more supportive environment for their pupils. Its user-friendly interface and customisable features make it a valuable tool for schools of all sizes and types.

Investing in safeguarding software like CPOMS is an investment in the well-being of pupils and staff. It demonstrates a commitment to creating a culture of safety and care, where everyone feels valued, respected, and protected. As safeguarding challenges continue to evolve, schools must embrace effective solutions to ensure that they are equipped to meet the needs of their students and fulfil their legal and moral obligations.

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Further Reading

1. Brandon, M., Thoburn, J., & Lewis, A. (2013). *Safeguarding Children: A Multi-professional Approach*. Policy Press.
2. Sidebotham, P., Brandon, M., Bailey, S., & Belderson, K. (2016). *Patterns of Serious Case Reviews: Learning Lessons*. Department for Education.
3. Horwath, J. (2018). *Child Neglect: Practice Issues for Health and Social Care*. Policy Press.
4. Munro, E. (2011). *The Munro Review of Child Protection: Final Report - A child-centred system*. Department for Education.
5. Ofsted. (2023). *Inspecting safeguarding in early years, education and skills settings*. Ofsted.