School               Croft CE Primary Headteacher      Mrs Brenda Higgins.

 

Named personnel with designated responsibility for Child Protection

 

Academic year	Designated Senior Person	Deputy Designated Senior Person	Nominated Governor	Chair of Governors
2005-6	Mrs B Higgins	Mrs B Leggott	Mrs M Wolstenholme	Mrs A Russell
2006-7	Mrs B Higgins	Mrs B Leggott	Mrs M Wolstenholme	Mrs A Russell
2007-8	Mrs B Higgins	Mrs B Leggott	Mrs M Wolstenholme	Mrs A Russell
2008-9	Mrs B Higgins	Mrs B Leggott	Mrs M Wolstenholme	Mrs A Russell

 

Policy Review dates

 

Review Date	Changes made	By whom	Date Shared with staff
Oct 2006	New policy	All staff	23.11.06
Nov 2007	New Policy	All staff	22.11.07
Jan 2009	New Policy	All staff	29.1.09

 

Dates of Staff Training and details of course title and training provider

 

Whole School	Designated Senior Person	Deputy Designated Senior Person
All staff 23.11.06 by Mrs B Higgins	28.6.06 by LA CP team	Mrs B Leggott
	04.06 Online NCSL Safer Recruitment  (+ Chair of Govs)
	15.11.06 LA Safer recruitment
	7.12.07   LA CAF training	CAF training
	19.11.08 LA Looked after children

 

 

CONTENTS

 

 

            Introduction

            School Commitment     

 

SECTION 1 Providing a Safe and Supportive Environment

1.         Safer Recruitment and Selection

2.         Safe Practice

3.         Safeguarding Information for Pupils

4.         Partnership with Parents

5.         Partnership with Others

6.         School Training and Staff Induction

7.         Support, Advice and Guidance for Staff

8.         Related School Policies (inc. Children Missing from Education)

9.         Pupil Information

10.       Roles and Responsibilities:

            Governing Body

            Headteacher

            Designated Senior Person

            All Staff and Volunteers

 

SECTION 2 Identifying Children who are suffering or likely to suffer Significant Harm

            Definitions

 

SECTION 3 Taking Action to Ensure that Children are Safe at School and at Home

1.       Staff will immediately report

2.       Responding to Disclosure

3.       Action by Designated Senior Person

4.       Action following a Child Protection referral

5.       Recording and Monitoring

6.       Supporting the Child and Partnership with Parents

 

Allegations regarding person(s) working in or on behalf of school

 

INTRODUCTION

 

 

This policy was written by Rosemary Cannell and Karen Lewis, North Yorkshire Education Child Protection and Safeguarding Managers , with acknowledgement that they have included information from the CAPE sample school policy.

 

The policy updates the LA Sample policy issued 2007 and is in response to:

i) Sections 175 and 157 of the Education Act 2002, implemented June 2004

     ii) ‘Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education’ issued by DfES 2007

 

 

It is in line with the above, the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Board Child Protection Procedures www.safeguardingchildren.co.uk, “Working Together To Safeguard Children”

(1999 and 2006) and ‘What To Do If You Are Worried A Child is Being Abused’ (2006)   

 

 

This policy applies to all adults, including volunteers, working in or on behalf of the school.

 

 

‘Everyone in the education service shares an objective to help keep children and young people safe by contributing to:

 

·         Providing a safe environment for children and young people to learn in education settings; and

·         Identifying children and young people who are suffering or likely to suffer significant harm, and taking appropriate action with the aim of making sure they are kept safe both at home and in the education setting’

 

Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education DfES 2007

 

 

 

 

 SCHOOL COMMITMENT

 

Croft School is committed to Safeguarding and Promoting the Welfare of all of its pupils. Each pupil’s welfare is of paramount importance. We recognise that some children may be especially vulnerable to abuse e.g. those with Special Educational Needs, those living in adverse circumstances. We recognise that children who are abused or neglected may find it difficult to develop a sense of self worth and to view the world in a positive way. Whilst at school, their behaviour may be challenging. We recognise that some children who have experienced abuse may harm others. We will always take a considered and sensitive approach in order that we can support all of our pupils.

 

 

 

PROVIDING A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT 

 

1.  Safer Recruitment and Selection

 

Croft school pays full regard to DfES guidance ‘Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education’ Jan 2007. We ensure that all appropriate measures are applied in relation to everyone who works in the school who is likely to be perceived by the children as a safe and trustworthy adult including e.g. volunteers and staff employed by contractors. Safer recruitment practice includes scrutinising applicants, verifying identity and academic or vocational qualifications, obtaining professional and character references, checking previous employment history and ensuring that a candidate has the health and physical capacity for the job. It also includes undertaking interviews and, where appropriate, undertaking List 99 and Criminal Records Bureau checks.

 

Statutory changes, underpinned by regulations, are that:

 

• a CRB Enhanced Disclosure is obtained for all new paid appointments to the school’s workforce,
• a CRB Enhanced Disclosure is obtained for volunteers further to a risk assessment considering the regularity, frequency, duration and nature of contact  (see p.49 of above guidance)
• schools will ensure that any contracted staff  are CRB checked where appropriate (see p.53 of above guidance)

• schools must keep a single central record detailing a range of checks carried out on their staff
• all new appointments to the school workforce who have lived outside the UK are subject to additional checks as appropriate
• schools must satisfy themselves that supply staff have undergone the necessary checks
• identity checks must be carried out on all appointments to the school workforce before the appointment is made

 

 

Mrs B Higgins (Headteacher) and Mrs A Russell (School Governor) and have undertaken the National College for School Leadership Safe Recruitment training (www.ncsl.org.uk). One of the above will be involved in all staff and volunteer appointments and arrangements (including, where appropriate, contracted services).

 

 

2.   Safe Practice

 

Croft school has adopted IRSC “Guidance for Safe Working Practice for the Protection of Children and Staff in Education Settings”  (www.n-yorks.net/Protection) .and has undertaken Safe Practice training (available from  valerie.hutchinson@northyorks.gov.uk) to ensure that staff are safe and aware of behaviours which should be avoided.

 

Safe working practice ensures that pupils are safe and that all staff:

 

• are responsible for their own actions and behaviour and should avoid any conduct which would lead any reasonable person to question their motivation and intentions;

 

• work in an open and transparent way;

 

• discuss and/or take advice from school management over any incident which may give rise to concern;

 

• record any incidents or decisions made;

 

 

• apply the same professional standards regardless of gender or sexuality;

 

• are aware that breaches of the law and other professional guidelines could result in criminal or disciplinary action being taken against them.

 

 

3.   Safeguarding Information for pupils

 

The school is committed to ensuring that pupils are aware of behaviour towards them that is not acceptable and how they can keep themselves safe. All pupils know that we have a senior member of staff with responsibility for child protection and know who this is. We inform pupils of whom they might talk to, both in and out of school, their right to be listened to and heard and what steps can be taken to protect them from harm. P.S.H.C.E.E. materials we use to help pupils learn how to keep safe are (see Appendix 3) SEAL materials, library books and Childline Books with parental consent.

 

The following Information is made available to pupils:. helplines, posters, NSPCC and Childline ‘kidzone‘ website addresses, Miss dorothy.com, Crucial Crew, web safety

 

School’s arrangements for consulting with and listening to pupils are: school council, circle time, pupil self-eval;uations including the Health Related Behaviour Questionnaire, individual pastoral support by staff

 

We make pupils aware of these arrangements by PSHCE lessons, class assemblies/circle time, SEAL assemblies, collective worship, school councillor responsibility training, noticeboards/posters

 

 

4.   Partnership with Parents

The school shares a purpose with parents to keep children safe from harm and to have their welfare promoted. Links are provided via the school website to CIS, Extended Services information, school noticeboard and www.safeguardingchildren.co.uk

 

We are committed to working with parents positively, openly and honestly. We ensure that all parents are treated with respect, dignity and courtesy. We respect parents’ rights to privacy and confidentiality and will not share sensitive information unless we have permission or it is necessary to do so in order to protect a child.

School will share with parents any concerns we may have about their child unless to do so may place a child at risk of harm (see Section 3: 3 Action by Senior Designated Person)

We encourage parents to discuss any concerns they may have with the class teacher initially or the Headteacher.

We make parents aware of our policy in our school prospectus, newsletters, the school website and New Starters booklet.

Parents are made aware that they can view this policy on request.

 

 

Sample insert for school brochure

Croft School is committed to ensuring the welfare and safety of all children in school. All North Yorkshire schools, including Croft School, follow the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Board procedures. The school will, in most circumstances, endeavour to discuss all concerns with parents about their child/ren. However, there may be exceptional circumstances when the school will discuss concerns with Social Care and/or the Police without parental knowledge (in accordance with Child Protection procedures). The school will, of course, always aim to maintain a positive relationship with all parents. The school’s child protection policy is available on request.

 

 

5.   Partnerships with others

The school recognises that it is essential to  establish positive and effective working relationships with other agencies. LA, Social Care, Barnardo’s, Police, Health, Childline in Partnership with schools, NSPCC, Extended Schools

 

 

6.   School Training and Staff Induction

 

Croft School’s senior member of staff with designated responsibility for child protection undertakes basic child protection training and training in inter–agency working, (that is provided by, or to standards agreed by, the NYSCB) and refresher training at 2 yearly interval (www.safeguardingchildren.co.uk/training-courses.html ).

The Headteacher and all other school staff, including non teaching staff, undertake appropriate induction training to equip them to carry out their responsibilities for child protection effectively, which is kept up to date by refresher training at 3 yearly intervals.

 

Basic Awareness online training www.safeguardingchildren.co.uk/course-signup.html

Whole School training materials www.n-yorks.net/Protection or contact Valerie.hutchinson@northyorks.gov.uk  if you require support to deliver whole school training.

All staff (including temporary staff and volunteers) are provided with the school’s child protection policy and informed of school’s child protection arrangements on induction.

 

 

7.   Support, Advice and Guidance for Staff

 

Staff will be supported by Mrs B Higigns

The designated senior person will be supported by Mrs M Wolstenholme and Mrs A Russell

Advice and support is always available from the Educational Social Work Service:

CP Manager/LADO Karen Lewis  01609 534200          Hambleton & Richmondshire

Senior ESW              Sue Doughty 01609 536866/        Hambleton & Richmondshire

                                                            07980 846408

Advice is available from Children’s Social Care duty social worker and the Police Child Abuse Investigation Team

Duty Officer, The Close, Northallerton     01609 779922

 

 

 

 

 

8.  Related School Policies

 ‘…..safeguarding covers more than the contribution made to child protection in relation to individual children.  It also encompasses issues such as pupil health and safety and bullying……and a range of other issues, for example, arrangements for meeting the medical needs of children ….providing first aid, school security, drugs and substance misuse, etc.  There may also be other safeguarding issues that are specific to the local area or population’

Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education DfES 2007

 

Related school policies and arrangements e.g. Confidentiality, Admissions, Exclusions, Drugs and substances, Equality Scheme, Behvaiour and Bullying, Medicines in School, Security

 

Children Missing from Education

The school follows the North Yorkshire LA procedures “Children Who May Be Missing/Lost From Education ” Contact: cmecoordinator@northyorks.gov.uk

 

Confidentiality

 

School has regard to “Information Sharing: Practitioner’s guide” HM Government, 2008 www.ecm.gov.uk/deliveringservices/informationsharing

“Where there is a concern that the child may be suffering or is at risk of suffering significant harm, the child’s safety and welfare must be the overriding consideration. “

 

Schools has a clear and explicit confidentiality policy.

 

The school policy should indicate:

 

a)    when information must be shared with police and Social Care where the child/young person is / may be at risk of significant harm

b)   when the pupil’s and/or parent’s confidentiality must not be breached

 

 

9. Pupil Information

 

In order to keep children safe and provide appropriate care for them the school requires accurate and up to date information regarding:

 

·         Names ( including any previous names), address and date of birth of child

 

·         Names and contact details of persons with whom the child normally lives

 

·         Names and contact details of all persons with parental responsibility (if different from above)

 

·         Emergency contact details (if different from above)

 

·         Details of any persons authorised to collect the child from school (if different from above)

 

·         Any relevant court orders in place including those which affect any person’s access to the child (e.g. Residence Order, Contact Order, Care Order, Injunctions etc.)

 

·         If the child is or has a Child Protection Plan (formerly known as being on the Child Protection Register)

 

·         Name and contact detail of key  persons in other agencies, including GP

 

·         Any other factors which may impact on the safety and welfare of the child

 

 

The school will collate, store and agree access to this information as stated in the Data Protection and Fair Processing Notice.

 

 

10. Roles and Responsibilities

 

Governing Body ensures that:

 

• the school has a child protection policy and procedures in place that are in accordance with local authority guidance and locally agreed inter-agency procedures, and the policy is made available to parents on request;
• the school operates safe recruitment procedures and makes sure that all appropriate checks are carried out on staff and volunteers who work with children;
• the school has procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse against staff and volunteers that comply with guidance from the local authority and locally agreed inter-agency procedures;
• a senior member of the school’s leadership team is designated to take lead responsibility for child protection (and deputy);

• staff undertake appropriate child protection training;
• they remedy, without delay, any deficiencies or weaknesses regarding child protection arrangements;
• a governor is nominated to be responsible for liaising with the LA and /or partner agencies in the event of allegations of abuse being made against the head teacher
• `where services or activities are provided on the school premises by another body, the body concerned has appropriate policies and procedures in place in regard to safeguarding children and child protection and liaises with the school on these matters where appropriate.
• they review their policies and procedures annually and provide information to the LA about them and about how the above duties have been discharged

 

Headteacher should ensure that:

 

·         the policies and procedures adopted by the Governing Body or Proprietor are fully implemented, and followed by all staff;

·         sufficient resources and time are allocated to enable the designated person and other staff to discharge their responsibilities; and

·         all staff and volunteers feel able to raise concerns about poor or unsafe practice in regard to children, and such concerns are addressed sensitively and

      effectively in a timely manner in accordance with agreed whistle blowing policies.

 

 

Senior Member of Staff with Designated Responsibility for Child Protection: the Headteacher

 

  Referrals

·         Refer cases of suspected abuse or allegations to the relevant investigating agencies;

·         Act as a source of support, advice and expertise within the educational establishment;

·         Liaise with head teacher to inform her of any issues and ongoing investigations and ensure there is always cover for this role.

  

  Training

 

·         To recognise how to identify signs of abuse and when it is appropriate to make a referral;

·         Have a working knowledge of how LSCBs operate, the conduct of a child protection case conference and be able to attend and contribute to these;

·         Ensure that all staff have access to and understand the school’s child protection policy;

·         Ensure that all staff have induction training;

·         Keep detailed accurate secure written records and/or concerns

·         Obtain access to resources and attend any relevant or refresher training courses at least every two years.

 

 Raising Awareness

 

·         Ensure the child protection policy is updated and reviewed annually and work with the governing body regarding this;

• Ensure parents are made aware of the child protection policy which alerts them to the fact that referrals may be made and the role of the establishment in this to avoid conflict later;
• Where a child leaves the establishment, ensure the child protection file is copied for the new establishment asap and transferred  to the new school separately from the main pupil file. If a child goes missing or leaves to be educated at home, then the child protection file should be copied and the copy forwarded to the Principal Education Social Worker, County Hall, Northallerton, DL7 8AE

 

All staff and volunteers

 

·         fully comply with the school’s policies and procedures

·         attend appropriate training

·         inform the designated person of any concerns

 

 

 

IDENTIFYING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WHO MAY BE SUFFERING SIGNIFICANT HARM

 

Teachers and other adults in school are well placed to observe any physical, emotional or behavioural signs which indicate that a child may be suffering significant harm. The relationships between staff, pupils, parents and the public which foster respect, confidence and trust can lead to disclosures of abuse, and/or school staff being alerted to concerns.

 

Definitions

 

As in the Children Acts 1989 and 2004, a child is anyone who has not yet reached his/her 18^th birthday.

 

 

Harm means ill-treatment or impairment of health and development, including, for example, impairment suffered from seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another; Development means physical, intellectual, emotional, social or behavioural development; Health includes physical and mental health; Ill-treatment includes sexual abuse and other forms of ill-treatment which are not physical.

 

 

Abuse and Neglect are forms of maltreatment. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm or failing to act to prevent harm. Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting; by those known to them, or, more rarely, by a stranger. They may be abused by an adult or adults or another child or children. 

 

 

Physical Abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of or deliberately induces illness in a child.

 

 

Sexual Abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, including prostitution, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative (e.g. rape, buggery or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts. They may include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual online images, watching sexual activities, or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.

 

 

Emotional Abuse is the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to children that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions that are beyond the child’s developmental capability, as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the child participating in normal social interaction. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill treatment of another. It may involve serious bullying causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, though it may occur alone.

 

         Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development. Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse. Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to:

• provide adequate food and clothing, shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment)
• protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger
• ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate caretakers)
• ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment.

It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.

 

TAKING ACTION TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN ARE SAFE

AT SCHOOL AND AT HOME

 

All staff follow the North Yorkshire SCB Child Protection Procedures which are consistent with ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ and ‘What To Do If You Are Worried A Child is Being Abused’

 

It is not the responsibility of the school staff to investigate welfare concerns or determine the truth of any disclosure or allegation. All staff, however, have a duty to recognise concerns and maintain an open mind. Accordingly all concerns regarding the welfare of pupils will be recorded and discussed with the designated senior person with responsibility for child protection (or another senior member of staff in the absence of the designated person) prior to any discussion with parents.

 

1.   Staff must immediately report:

 

·         any suspicion that a child is injured, marked, or bruised in a way which is not readily attributable to the normal knocks or scrapes received in play

 

 

·         any explanation given which appears inconsistent or suspicious

 

 

·         any behaviours which give rise to suspicions that a child may have suffered harm (e.g. worrying drawings or play)

 

 

·         any concerns that a child may be suffering from inadequate care, ill treatment, or emotional maltreatment

 

 

·         any concerns that a child is presenting signs or symptoms of abuse or neglect

 

 

·         any significant changes in a child’s presentation, including non-attendance

 

 

·         any hint or disclosure of abuse from any person

 

·         any concerns regarding person(s) who may pose a risk to children (e.g. living in a household with children present)

2. Responding to Disclosure

 

Disclosures or information may be received from pupils, parents or other members of the public. School recognises that those who disclose such information may do so with difficulty, having chosen carefully to whom they will speak. Accordingly all staff will handle disclosures with sensitivity. Support staff working with children with communication difficulties will be alerted to possible difficulties of disclosure of information by those children and would be asked to seek advice from the senior designated Child Protection Officer – the Headteacher.

 

Such information cannot remain confidential and staff will immediately communicate what they have been told to the designated person and make a contemporaneous record.

 

 

Principles

 

Staff will not investigate but will, wherever possible, elicit enough information to pass on to the designated person in order that s/he can make an informed decision of what to do next.

 

Staff will:

 

• listen to and take seriously any disclosure or information that a child may be at risk of harm

 

 

• try to ensure that the person disclosing does not have to speak to another member of school staff

 

 

• clarify the information

 

 

• try to keep questions to a minimum and of an ‘open’ nature e.g. ‘Can you tell me what happened ?’ rather than ‘Did x hit you?’

 

 

• try not to show signs of shock, horror or surprise

 

 

• not express feelings or judgements regarding any person alleged to have harmed the child

 

 

• explain sensitively to the person that they have a responsibility to refer the information to the senior designated person

 

 

• reassure and support the person as far as possible

• explain that only those who ‘need to know’ will be told

 

• explain what will happen next and that the person  will be involved as appropriate

 

 

 

3. Action by the Designated Senior Person (or other senior person in their absence)

 

Following any information raising concern, the senior designated person will consider:

 

• any urgent medical needs of the child

 

• making an enquiry to the Central Database     01609 774298

(formerly known as Child Protection Register)

 

• discussing the matter with other agencies involved with the family

 

• consulting with appropriate persons e.g. ESW service, Social Care

 

• the child‘s wishes

 

Then decide:

 

• wherever possible, to talk to parents, unless to do so may place a child at risk of significant harm, impede any police investigation and/or place the member of staff or others at risk
• whether to make a child protection referral to social care because a child is suffering or is likely  to suffer significant harm and if this needs to be undertaken immediately

           OR

• not to make a referral at this stage

• if further monitoring is necessary
• if it would be appropriate to undertake an assessment (e.g. CAF) and/or make a referral for other services

 

All information and actions taken, including the reasons for any decisions made, will be fully documented. All referrals to social care will be accompanied by a standard referral form.

 

 

4. Action following a child protection referral

 

The designated senior person or other appropriate member of staff will:

 

·         make regular contact with Social Care

• contribute to the Strategy Discussion and Initial Assessment

·         provide a report for, attend and contribute to any subsequent Child Protection Conference

·         if the child or children has a Child Protection Plan (formerly placed on the Child Protection Register), contribute to the Child Protection Plan and attend Core Group Meetings and Review Child Protection Conferences

·         share all reports with parents prior to meetings

·         where in disagreement with a decision made e.g. not to apply Child Protection Procedures or not to convene a Child Protection Conference, discuss this with the Education Safeguarding and Child Protection Manager

• where a child having a Child Protection Plan moves from the school or goes missing, immediately inform the key worker in Social Care

 

5.   Recording and monitoring

 

School will record:

 

•         Information about the child : name (aka) address, d.o.b., those with parental responsibility, primary carers, emergency contacts, names of persons authorised to collect from school, any court orders, if a child is or has been subject to a CP Plan (been on the CP Register)

•         Key contacts in other agencies including GP details

•         Any disclosures/accounts from child or others, including parents (and keep original notes)

•         All concerns, discussions, decisions, actions taken (dated, timed and signed) and arrangements for monitoring/review

 

All records should be objective and include:

 

•         Statements, facts and observable things (what was seen/heard)

•         Diagram indicating position, size and colour of any injuries (not photograph)

•         Words child uses, (not translated into ‘proper’ words)

•         Non-verbal behaviours

 

All C.P. documents will be retained in a ‘Child Protection’ file, separate from the child’s main file. This will be locked away and only accessible to the headteacher and senior designated person. These records will be copied and transferred to any school or setting the child moves to, clearly marked ‘Child Protection, Confidential, for attention of Designated Senior Person Child Protection.’

If the child goes missing from education or is removed from roll to be educated at home then any Child Protection file should be copied and the copy sent to the Principal Education Social Worker, County Hall, Northallerton, DL7 8AE.  

We will retain all original copies of C.P. files until the child’s 25^th birthday.

 

School will monitor:

 

Any cause for concern including where there could be serious child welfare concerns:

 

•   Injuries/marks

•   Attendance                                                        

•   Changes e.g. mood/ academic functioning                       

•   Relationships

•   Language                                                           

•   Behaviour

•   Demeanour and appearance                             

•   Statements, comments                                       

•   Medicals

•   Stories, ‘news’, drawings                                   

•   Response to P.E./Sport  

•   Family circumstances

•   Parental behaviour/ care of child

 

The DSP will review all monitoring arrangements in the timescale and manner determined by circumstances, recorded and clearly understood by all concerned

 

                             

 6. Supporting the Child and Partnership with Parents

 

 

• School recognises that the child’s welfare is paramount, however good child protection practice and outcome relies on a positive, open and honest working partnership with parents

 

 

 

• Whilst we may, on occasion, need to make referrals without consultation with parents, we will make every effort to maintain a positive working relationship with them whilst fulfilling our duties to protect any child

 

 

 

• We will provide a secure, caring, supportive and protective relationship for the child

 

 

 

• Children will be given a proper explanation (appropriate to age & understanding) of what action is being taken on their behalf and why

 

 

 

• We will endeavour always to preserve the privacy, dignity and right to confidentiality of the child and parents. The Designated Senior Person will determine which members of staff “need to know” personal information and what they “need to know” for the purpose of supporting and protecting the child

Allegations regarding person(s) working in or on behalf of school (including volunteers)

Where an allegation is made against any person working in or on behalf of the school, that  he or she has:

a.    behaved in a way that has harmed a child or may have harmed a child

b.    possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child or

c.    has behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates s/he is unsuitable to work with children.                                                                                       

we will apply the same principles as in the rest of this document.

We will always follow the NYSCB procedures www.safeguardingchildren.co.uk

8.0 “Child Protection in Specific Circumstances” section 8.13 “Allegations Made Against a Person who Works with Children”

And we will follow the Guidance www.n-yorks.net/1595

Detailed records will be made to include decisions, actions taken, and reasons for these. All records will be retained securely (insert arrangements………………………..)

 Whilst we acknowledge such allegations, (as all others), may be false, malicious or misplaced, we also acknowledge they may be founded. It is, therefore, essential that all allegations are investigated properly and in line with agreed procedures.

 

Initial Action

·         The person who has received an allegation or witnessed an event will immediately  inform the headteacher and make a record

·         In the event that an allegation is made against the headteacher the matter will be reported to the Chair of Governors who will  proceed as the ‘headteacher’

·         The headteacher will take steps, where necessary, to secure the immediate safety of children and any urgent medical needs

·         The member of staff will not be approached at this stage unless it is necessary to address the immediate safety of children

·         The headteacher may need to clarify any information regarding the allegation, however no person will be interviewed at this stage

·         The headteacher will consult with Education LADO (see Contacts List) in order to determine if it is appropriate for the allegation to be  dealt with by school or if there needs to be a referral to social care and/or the police for investigation  

·         Consideration will be given throughout to the support and information needs of pupils, parents and staff

·         The headteacher will inform the Chair of Governors of any allegation.