Overview
Categories help you classify and organize safeguarding incidents in Signal. Setting up a clear category structure makes it easier to track, report, and analyze incidents across your organization.What Are Categories?
Categories are labels that define the type or nature of a safeguarding incident. Common examples include:- Bullying
- Attendance concerns
- Mental health
- Physical harm
- Online safety
- Substance abuse
- Family issues
Creating Your First Category
- Navigate to Settings in the main menu
- Select Categories from the settings options
- Click Add Category
- Enter the category details:
- Name: A clear, descriptive name (e.g., “Bullying”)
- Description: Optional details about when to use this category
- Color: Choose a color to help identify incidents visually
- Click Save
Categories are organization-wide. All users will see and can use the categories you create.
Best Practices for Categories
Keep It Simple
Keep It Simple
Start with a small set of broad categories. You can always add more specific categories later as your needs grow. Aim for 8-15 categories initially.
Use Clear Names
Use Clear Names
Choose names that are immediately understandable to all staff members. Avoid jargon or acronyms that might confuse users.
Align with Your Policies
Align with Your Policies
Base your categories on your organization’s safeguarding policies and reporting requirements. This ensures consistency in how incidents are classified.
Consider Reporting Needs
Consider Reporting Needs
Think about how you’ll need to report on incidents. Categories should support the analysis and reporting your organization requires.
Managing Categories
Editing Categories
- Navigate to Settings > Categories
- Find the category you want to edit
- Click the Edit button
- Make your changes
- Click Save
Enabling and Disabling Categories
You can disable categories that are no longer needed while preserving historical data:
What happens when a category is disabled:
- The category is hidden from new incident forms and cannot be selected
- It is excluded from AI analysis and insights
- Historical incidents using the category remain unchanged
- The category appears greyed out in the settings list
By default, disabled categories are hidden in the category settings list. Use the Show Disabled toggle at the top of the page to view them.
Archiving Categories
If you no longer need a category but want to preserve historical data:- Navigate to Settings > Categories
- Find the category you want to archive
- Click Archive
- Confirm the action
- Are hidden from new incident forms
- Remain visible on existing incidents
- Can be unarchived if needed later
Custom Fields
Categories can have custom fields that capture additional information when recording incidents. This allows you to collect structured data specific to certain incident types.Adding Custom Fields to a Category
Open Custom Fields
Find the category and click the Custom Fields icon (or click Edit then select the Custom Fields tab)
Add a Field
Click Add Field and configure:
- Field Name: A clear label for the field
- Field Type: Choose from Text, Number, Date, Dropdown, or Yes/No
- Required: Whether the field must be completed
- Guidance Text: Help text shown when hovering over the field label
Field Types
| Type | Description | Example Use |
|---|---|---|
| Text | Free-form text entry | Additional context, names of others involved |
| Number | Numeric values only | Number of incidents, duration in minutes |
| Date | Date picker | When an incident was first reported elsewhere |
| Dropdown | Select from predefined options | Severity level, location type |
| Yes/No | Simple toggle switch | Was parent contacted? Was first aid given? |
Guidance Text
Each custom field can have guidance text that helps staff understand what information to enter. This text appears:- As a help icon next to the field label
- When hovering over the field label
Managing Custom Fields
- Reorder fields: Drag and drop to change the order fields appear
- Edit fields: Click on a field to modify its settings
- Delete fields: Remove fields that are no longer needed
Parent Mode Visibility
You can control which categories are visible when reviewing incidents with parents or guardians. This is useful for maintaining appropriate boundaries during parent meetings. Learn more in the Parent Mode guide.Using Categories with Incidents
Once your categories are set up, you can assign them when creating or editing incidents. Incidents can have multiple categories to capture their full nature. For more details, see Creating Incidents.Example Category Structure
Here’s a suggested starting structure for a typical school:| Category | Description | Use For |
|---|---|---|
| Bullying | Peer-on-peer harmful behavior | Physical, verbal, cyber bullying incidents |
| Attendance | Absence and punctuality concerns | Unexplained absences, patterns of lateness |
| Mental Health | Emotional wellbeing concerns | Anxiety, depression, self-harm concerns |
| Physical Safety | Risk of physical harm | Injuries, violence, dangerous behavior |
| Online Safety | Internet and digital concerns | Cyberbullying, inappropriate content |
| Family Issues | Home environment concerns | Domestic issues, parental concerns |
| Substance Use | Drugs, alcohol, smoking | Suspected or confirmed substance use |
| Medical | Health-related issues | Medical conditions, medication |
Next Steps
Set Up Locations
Continue by configuring locations where incidents occur