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Agencies are the external organisations your school works with on safeguarding cases. When an external organisation is involved in an incident — whether you have made a referral, received a report, or are working with them on an ongoing case — you link the relevant agency to the incident record. Tracking agency involvement helps your school maintain a clear picture of which cases have external support and which organisations are involved.
You need the DSL or Owner role to manage agencies.

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Managing agencies

Go to Settings > Agencies to view and manage your school’s agency list.

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Adding a new agency

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Open agency settings
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Navigate to Settings > Agencies.
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Click Add Agency
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Click the Add Agency button to open the creation form.
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Enter the agency details
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Provide the following:
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  • Name — the name of the organisation (e.g. “Local Authority Children’s Services”)
  • Description — an optional description of the agency and the services it provides
  • Contact details — phone numbers, email addresses, or other relevant contact information
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    Save
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    Click Save to create the agency. It is now available for staff to select when recording incidents.

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    Editing agencies

    Click on an existing agency to update its name or contact details. Changes take effect immediately.

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    Removing agencies

    If an agency is no longer relevant — for example, if a service has been restructured or renamed — you can remove it from the list. Existing incidents that reference the agency will retain the link in their records.

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    When agencies are used

    Agencies are linked to incidents when an external organisation is involved in the case. Common scenarios include:
    • You have made a referral to children’s social care
    • The police are investigating an allegation
    • A student is receiving support from CAMHS
    • The school nursing team is involved in a health-related concern
    • You have contacted the NSPCC helpline for advice
    When Signal’s AI analyses an incident description, it may suggest relevant agencies based on the content. You can accept, adjust, or dismiss these suggestions.

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    Common agencies to set up

    Every school’s list will be different depending on your local area and the services available, but most schools will want to include:

    Local Authority Children's Services

    Your local authority’s social care team for children. This is where you make referrals for child protection concerns and Children in Need assessments.

    Police

    Your local police force or the dedicated child protection unit. Involved when there are criminal allegations or immediate safety concerns.

    CAMHS

    Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. Involved when a student is receiving mental health support or when a referral is being considered.

    School Nursing

    The school nursing team or health visiting service. Involved in health-related safeguarding concerns and medical assessments.

    NSPCC

    The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Provides advice, guidance, and a helpline for safeguarding concerns.

    Early Help / Family Support

    Local early help or family support services. Involved when families need support before concerns reach the threshold for social care.
    Include contact details when you add an agency. Having phone numbers and email addresses readily available in Signal means staff can quickly find the information they need when making a referral or following up on a case.
    Review your agency list at the start of each academic year. Contact details, team names, and service structures can change. Keeping your list up to date ensures staff are reaching the right people.
    Your agency list is unique to your school. If you are part of a multi-academy trust, each school manages its own agencies independently, as local services may differ between areas.