OSQA

OSQA is a digital safeguarding and online access management platform designed to help organisations create safer, more protective and supportive digital environments for children and young people. Built around the principle of “educate, not facilitate”, OSQA helps professionals protect, understand and educate. It combines practical internet controls with clearer insight into online activity, helping teams respond proportionately to risk while supporting safer choices, healthier digital habits and greater independence. OSQA can be used across supported accommodation, children’s residential services, foster care, education, community services and other organisations with safeguarding responsibilities for children and young people. PROTECT OSQA gives authorised staff practical tools to manage internet access and respond to changing safeguarding needs. Depending on the organisation’s network configuration, users can: * Create and manage internet access schedules * Temporarily enable or disable internet access * Apply different access arrangements to individual users or groups * Block individual applications * Block individual websites * Apply YouTube safety controls * Enable SafeSearch * Manage young person, staff and guest Wi-Fi access * Adjust controls when safeguarding needs or circumstances change This allows organisations to move beyond a simple “internet on or off” approach and use more targeted, proportionate controls around specific applications, websites and online services. UNDERSTAND OSQA helps professionals build a clearer picture of how the digital environment is being used. Where supported network and safeguarding services are connected, OSQA can help teams understand: * Internet activity and usage * Applications and online services being accessed * Content, applications or websites that have been blocked * Why content has been restricted * Devices requiring further investigation * Patterns of activity that may require professional consideration OSQA is designed to present digital information in a way that is easier for safeguarding professionals to understand and use, without requiring specialist networking knowledge. EDUCATE Digital safeguarding should support learning as well as protection. OSQA helps professionals use digital boundaries, routines and online activity as part of safeguarding conversations, key work and support planning. This can help children and young people develop: * Healthier digital routines * Safer online decision making * Greater awareness of online risk * Self-regulation * Responsible internet use * Digital confidence * Greater digital independence The aim is to help children and young people understand risk, make safer choices and build the skills they need to navigate the online world more safely. SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL JUDGEMENT Technology does not replace professional judgement. OSQA supports safeguarding practice by giving professionals greater visibility and practical controls while allowing arrangements to be reviewed as needs, risks and circumstances change. PRIVACY BY DESIGN OSQA is designed around data minimisation. Children and young people do not need to be identified within the platform by their full name. Organisations can use initials, references or other identifiers appropriate to their own information governance arrangements. Access to OSQA is provided to authorised professionals through organisational accounts. ONE PLATFORM FOR SAFER DIGITAL LIVES OSQA brings together digital safeguarding, internet controls, application and website management, search safety features and learning support in one place. From responding to an emerging online risk to supporting greater independence, OSQA helps professionals protect, understand and educate around the digital lives of children and young people. Seeing beyond the screen. Protect. Understand. Educate.