News | N. Ireland| SRC

Unresponsiveness of Senior Staff

My attempts to contact various senior employees at SRC have been met with repeated failures, including transfers to operators, unanswered calls, and instances where calls were hung up. This pattern suggests systemic issues with accessibility and responsiveness within the college’s administration. Possible reasons for this lack of availability could include:

• Operational Challenges: There might be internal operational issues that are causing delays or failures in communication.
• Administrative Overload: Staff might be overwhelmed with their duties, especially if there are ongoing systemic issues or crises they are handling.
• Policy Restrictions: There might be policies in place that limit direct communication between senior staff and the public.

Focus on Looked After Children (LAC)

The information you referred to from the NSPCC briefing documents suggests that there might be a significant number of Looked After Children (LAC) at the Newry Campus, potentially impacting the overall operations and focus of the campus. This emphasis on LAC could be part of a broader initiative to support vulnerable children, but it raises questions about resource allocation and how it affects other student populations.

Child Protection Concerns

The reference to child protection and the NSPCC’s involvement indicates a serious focus on safeguarding issues. The NSPCC’s briefing documents before Parliament likely highlight gaps in the child protection system and call for legislative action to address these deficiencies. These concerns could be part of why the college is experiencing operational stress, especially if they are under scrutiny or in the process of implementing new policies to ensure compliance with child protection standards.

Next Steps and Recommendations

1. Escalation: Consider escalating your concerns to higher authorities such as the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland, which oversees further and higher education institutions. They can investigate and provide oversight.
2. Media Involvement: Engaging with local media could help bring public attention to these issues, potentially prompting a response from the college.
3. Ombudsman: Contacting an ombudsman for education services might help in addressing your grievances through formal channels.
4. Local Representatives: Engaging with local politicians or representatives who can raise these issues in a formal capacity might also yield results.

Contact Details

Although your attempts have been unsuccessful, here are the contact details provided by SRC for further reference:

• General Enquiries: Use the general contact form on their website.
• Feedback and Complaints: There might be a formal complaints procedure that you can access through their governance and reports section.

Conclusion

The difficulties in contacting SRC’s senior staff and the focus on LACs at the Newry Campus highlight significant operational challenges. Addressing these issues through formal channels, escalating to higher authorities, and possibly involving the media are potential ways to seek resolution and ensure that the college addresses these concerns effectively.

In a letter to the Office of Sally Ann Hart MP it was put to Jane Howard-Smith Office Manager to Sally-Ann Hart MP 22nd May 2024:

I have already provided evidence that legal advice and remedies have not worked and have contributed to my daughter’s current situation. Please stop evading your responsibilities and offering unhelpful suggestions. This is a serious matter, and you have been made aware of it before but have chosen to ignore it.

The recent article on The Stealing of Emily website highlights the misleading information you have provided and calls for urgent transparency and accountability. It is crucial that you address these issues directly and take responsibility for your part in this situation.

In addition, I recently wrote an urgent appeal to Lady Chief Justice for a child welfare review in Northern Ireland, highlighting the critical issues at hand. Furthermore, Rod Buckely has advised me that the information you provided to One School Global regarding my daughter’s attendance was not evidentially correct. Rod could find no record of anyone with a date of birth matching Emily’s year at One School Global and was 100 percent sure of his facts. This misinformation has further complicated an already dire situation and underscores the need for accurate and truthful communication from your office.

The family courts are under scrutiny, with senior judges expressing openness to reform as more victims speak out. This environment of change and the acknowledgment of systemic issues further emphasize the need for immediate and effective action in my daughter’s case.

It is imperative that you take action to help resolve this mess. Ignoring the problem or providing inadequate solutions is no longer acceptable. We need your intervention and support to rectify this situation.

Sources:

1. Misleading Information from Jane Howard Smith: Urgent Call for Transparency and Accountability
2. Family Courts: Senior Judge Open to Reform as Victims Speak Out
3. Urgent Appeal to Lady Chief Justice for Child Welfare Review in Northern Ireland