SoSafe!

Visual and Conceptual Tools for Promoting Social Safety

• The SoSAFE! Programme is a visual teaching tool which enables pupils to develop their abilities in managing; and communicating about their relationships.
• The program covers all degrees of interaction; from a pupil’s expectations of strangers, to the intricacies of an intimate relationship.
• The teaching tools provide a consistent approach between school, home and care support.
• SoSafe! is not delivered as a stand-alone subject it requires a sustained programme of implementation with short frequent training sessions.
• It can help to reduce staff and carer discomfort in speaking about sexual matters.
• The concept of stranger is defined differently as, community workers I don’t know, other people I don’t know.

The aims of SOSAFE is to promote social safety through:

• The provision of a simplified model of social reality
• Teaching the type and degree of verbal and physical intimacy appropriate with different categories of people
• Teaching strategies for moving into intimate relationships in a safe and measured manner
• Providing visual communication tools for reporting physical or sexual abuse
• Facilitating and maintaining support networks

SOSAFE is designed to achieve these aims through a standardised framework of symbols, visual teaching tools and concepts for instruction of social skills, social safety and sexuality education.

Talk Touch Triangle

This chart is a visual gradation of verbal and physical behaviour and is used to show pupils with whom and what degree we talk to and touch other people.

Steps to relationship booklet

This tool teaches pupils how to move into intimate relationships in a gradual and safe manner.

My people and relationships booklet

This is a symbol and photo resource for teaching the application of concepts. This is a personal book which will include a pupil’s, OK and private helpers and people categories.