Safeguarding and Child Protection

Safeguarding and Child Protection

Policy and Procedures

1. Regulatory status

1.1 This is policy is a regulatory requirement.

1.2 It provides evidence of the School’s compliance with the regulatory requirements, Part 3, Welfare, health and safety of pupils, paragraph 7 (a) & (b), Independent School Standards (England) Regulations 2014, as amended February 2016.

This policy is available to parents from both schools via their websites and upon request, and will be made available in large print or other accessible format as required.

2. Introduction

2.1 The Gregg & St Winifred’s School Trust (Trust) fully recognises the contribution its schools make to the safeguarding of children and the responsibility it has under Section 157 of the Education Act 2002 and the Education (Independent Schools Standards) (England) Regulations 2010 (as amended in 2015) to have arrangements in place to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

2.2 The Trust and The Gregg and St Winifred’s* Schools (the schools) recognise their responsibility to ‘safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people’ and adhere to the most recent guidance on Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education (1 January 2013 and revised “Working Together” document, March 2015), together with the requirements of “Keeping Children Safe in Education” (KCSIE 2016). And the Prevent policy guidance 2015. Consideration is given to SEND 2014.

2.3 We aim to encourage children to be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution for life in the 21st century. We recognise that these aims will only be realised if our school environments are those in which the safety and well-being of our students is of paramount importance.

3. THE POLICY

3.1 Our policy applies to trustees, all staff, governors and volunteers working in our schools. Children and young people have a right to feel safe and protected from any form of abuse, regardless of age, gender, race, culture, language, religion, sexual identity or disability.

3.2 The staff and governors will ensure that this Safeguarding and Child protection policy is made widely known and is adhered to.

3.3 We include our safeguarding concerns about the Prevent duty, Honour Based Violence (HBV) which includes Female Genital Mutilation (FGB) and Forced Marriage, Child Sexual Exploitation, and Missing Child in Education. We recognise their importance and presence in our locality.

3.4 This policy is reviewed annually by the Trust and Governing Body and its procedures apply wherever staff, Governors or volunteers are working with students, even where this is away from school, for example on an educational visit.

3.5 The Trust recognises that the schools play a significant part in the prevention of harm to our children by providing them with good lines of communication with trusted adults, supportive friends and an ethos of protection. All staff must be vigilant and aware of their duty to raise concerns, where they exist, about the attitude or actions of colleagues.

3.6 Both schools will always work in the best interests of the child and take all reasonable measures to promote the welfare and safety of our students/students by:

· Establishing and maintaining an environment where children feel secure, are encouraged to talk, and are always listened to

· Ensuring children know that there are adults in the school whom they can approach if they are worried or in difficulty

· Including in the curriculum opportunities that equip children with the skills they need to recognise and stay safe from abuse by teaching students about safeguarding, for example through use of online resources, through the wider curriculum and Personal, Social Development (PSD) programmes

· Ensuring we practise safer recruitment in checking the suitability of staff Governors and volunteers; DBS (including staff employed by another organisation) to work with children and young people in accordance with: the guidance given in Keeping Children Safe in Education; the Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2010 (as amended)

· Following the local inter-agency procedures of the Southampton and Hampshire Local Safeguarding Children Boards

· Being alert to signs of abuse, both in school and from outside and to protect each student from any form of abuse, whether from an adult or another student; Definition and signs of abuse can be found in Appendix 2 www.nspcc.org.uk/signsofabuse. And KCSIE Part 1 paragraph 35-40.

· Supporting students who have been abused in accordance with his / her agreed child protection plan

· Raising awareness of child protection issues and equipping children with the skills needed to keep them safe, healthy and able to make a positive contribution to school life, enabling them to reach social, emotional and economic well-being

· Establishing a safe environment in which children can learn and develop and achieve their full potential including the school premises as circumstances permit

· Being alert to the medical needs of children with medical conditions.

4. SAFEGUARDING PROCEDURES FOR PROTECTING CHILDREN

4.1 The Trust and schools will follow the procedures set out by the Southampton and Hampshire Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCB) and take account of guidance issued by the Department for Education (DfE) and the local authority (LA).

4.2 The Trust will:

· Ensure both schools have a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) who undertake training every two years for this role, compliant with current legislation

· Remedy any deficiencies or weaknesses in Child Protection arrangements without delay

· Ensure both schools have a member of staff who will act in the absence of the DSL

· Ensure that both schools have a nominated governor who oversees safeguarding children policies and procedures

· Ensure staff (including temporary and supply staff and volunteers) know the name of the DSL in their school and understand their role; and that the Governing Body and Trustees know this for both schools

· Provide suitable training for all staff relating to Safeguarding Children every year or as appropriate to include updates.

· Ensure staff and volunteers understand their responsibilities in being alert to the signs of abuse and for referring any concerns to the DSL

· Ensure that parents are made aware of the safeguarding procedures in both schools, by publishing this policy on the Schools’ website

· Develop effective links with relevant agencies and co-operate as required with their enquiries regarding safeguarding matters such as attendance at strategy meetings, initial case conferences, core group and `child in need` review meetings etc.

· Promote the duty of care towards our students and staff by raising awareness of issues and good practice, and to assist staff in monitoring their own standards and behaviour via appropriate training

· Be aware of and follow procedures set out by Children’s Services and the LSCB where an allegation is made against a member of staff or volunteer.

4.3 Our policy and procedures will be reviewed annually by the Full Governing Body and up-dated in accordance with current legislation. Governors will also review the efficiency with which the related duties have been discharged. The Trust will be responsible for monitoring this takes place, and final approval of the annual review process.

4.4 As part of our recruitment process to ensure ‘Safer Recruitment Procedures’ are always followed, applicants will be informed of the arrangements in place for safeguarding children. They will also be given a copy of this policy.

4.5 The Trust’s child protection procedures are not intended to prevent any person from making an immediate referral to children's social care, the Police or NSPCC if there is a risk of immediate serious harm to a child.

5. SAFEGUARDING INDUCTION AND TRAINING

5.1 Induction (in conjunction with our Safer Recruitment Policy)

All staff, including temporary staff, regular visitors and volunteers, will be provided with induction training that includes:

· A copy of this Policy

· The policy for Staff Behaviour and Code of Conduct and appropriate advice and guidance from the relevant Staff Handbook. (Guidance regarding staff communications with students may be found in Appendix 4 of this policy)

· The identity and contact details of the Designated Safeguarding Lead DSL ( Appendix 1) and informed of school’s procedure in reporting concerns

· A copy of Part 1 and Annex A of Keeping Children Safe in Education together needs to be read and understood detailing how to recognise the signs and symptoms of possible physical, emotional and sexual abuse along with neglect and are aware of the local authority guidelines for making referrals

· Our Whistleblowing policy

· Guidance for safer working practice for those working with children and young people in education settings (September 2015) available at http://www.thegrid.org.uk/info/welfare/child_protection/allegations/safe.shtml

· Advice on Disqualification by Association

Regulation on Disqualification by Association makes 3 demands of schools:

· A requirement to inform relevant people of the legislation, including that they may be disqualified “by association” (or ensure they have been informed by others such as their supply agency)

· A requirement to “take steps to gather sufficient and accurate information about whether any member of staff in a relevant childcare setting is disqualified by association”

· A requirement to keep records, including “the date disqualification checks were completed”, whether on the Single Central Register (optional) or elsewhere.

5.1.2 After initial induction all staff members will undertake appropriate Child Protection training which usually takes place within the first few weeks of employment. This will relate to basic safeguarding information which includes signs and symptoms of abuse, how to manage a disclosure from a child, when and how to record a concern about the welfare of a child.

5.1.3 All staff will sign to confirm that they have read and understood these policies and undergone induction and a copy is kept on a central register by the Bursar.

5.2 Training for Staff

· All new staff are trained when they take up their posts at the School within the first few weeks

· All staff have Safeguarding and Child Protection training at the start of every academic year in line with advice from our LCSB and refresher training and updates as required during the year

· All staff read KSCIE part 1 together with Annex A at training and sign to say they have read and understood it

· A record of the staff training in safeguarding/ child protection is kept as an attachment on our central register by the Bursar.

5.3 Training for Safeguarding Designated Person(s)

The Safeguarding Designated Persons for each school are:

· The Gregg School - Cathy Goodchild (Assistant Headteacher), Principle DSL

Sheri Sellers (Headteacher) Deputy

Steve Gillespie (Deputy Headteacher) Deputy

· St Winifred’s School – Jan Caddy (Headteacher), Principle DSL

Matt Pascoe (Assistant Headteacher) Deputy

They will receive child protection training and training in inter-agency working, and will attend refresher training at two-yearly intervals at Level 3 and will include:

· Their detailed roles and responsibilities relating to the management of disclosures, allegations and referrals.

· Participation in Child Protection case conferences

· Supporting children at risk of abuse or those in need of further support as a result of abuse

· Ensure each member of staff has access to and understands the policy and procedures, especially new and part time staff;

· Are alert to the specific needs of children in need, those with special educational needs and young carers;[1]

· Understand and support the school with regards to the requirements of the Prevent duty and are able to provide advice and support to staff on protecting children from the risk of radicalisation;

· Obtain access to resources and attend any relevant or refresher training courses

· Encourage a culture of listening to children and taking account of their wishes and feelings, among all staff, in any measures the school may put in place to protect them.

· Record keeping.

6. ROLES and RESPONSIBILITIES

6.1 Duty of staff, Governors and volunteers

All staff, Governors and volunteers of the School are under a general legal duty to protect children from abuse and:

· To be aware of the terms and procedures in this Policy and to follow them

· To have read and understood part 1 and Annex A of Keeping Children Safe in Education 2016

· To abide by the guidance given in the policy for Staff Behaviour and Code of Conduct relating to appropriate staff behaviour. This document gives clear guidance about behaviour so as to avoid placing students or staff at risk of harm, or at risk of allegations of harm

· To be aware of the signs of abuse and neglect, so that they are able to identify potential issues

· To report any matters of concern to the DSL in their school.

6.2 Role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead(s)

The DSLs for each school are:

· The Gregg School

Principal DSL - Cathy Goodchild (Assistant Headteacher)

Deputy DSLs – Sheri Sellers (Headteacher), Steve Gillespie (Deputy Headteacher)

· St Winifred’s School including EYFS

Principal DSL - Jan Caddy (Headteacher)

Deputy DSL - Matt Pascoe (Deputy Headteacher)

6.2.1 Manage referrals

The DSL is expected to:

· Refer cases of suspected abuse to the local authority children’s social care as required;

· Support staff who make referrals to local authority children’s social care;

· Refer cases to the Channel programme where there is a radicalisation concern as required;

· Support staff who make referrals to the Channel programme;

· Refer cases where a person is dismissed or left due to risk/harm to a child to the Disclosure and Barring Service as required; and

· Refer cases where a crime may have been committed to the Police as required.

6.2.2 Work with others

· Liaise with the headteacher or principal to inform him or her of issues especially ongoing enquiries under section 47 of the Children Act 1989 and police investigations;

· As required, liaise with the “case manager” (as per Part four) and the designated officer(s) at the local authority for child protection concerns (all cases which concern a staff member); and

· Liaise with staff on matters of safety and safeguarding and when deciding whether to make a referral by liaising with relevant agencies. Act as a source of support, advice and expertise for staff.

6.2.3 Raising awareness

· Ensure the detail of the policy are known, understood and used appropriately;

· Ensure this Policy is reviewed annually and the procedures and implementation are updated and reviewed regularly, and work with the Governing Body regarding this.

· Ensure this Policy is available publicly.

· Ensure that parents are aware that referrals about suspected abuse or neglect may be made to children’s social care and the School’s role in this. (Specific reference is made to this at our Parents’ Safeguarding Evenings and on the Year 6 induction evening.)