ACE Schools Multi Academy Trust

ACE Schools Multi Academy Trust

Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy

Author / Chris Humphries
Signed By
Date Adopted By Trustees / 15th November 2017

Date of Amendments:

This policy has been developed in accordance with the principles established by the Children’s Act 1989; and in line with all subsequent relevant government publications. As new guidance is received this will be incorporated through specific staff training and included within this policy as appropriate.

Scope of this policy

This policy covers all schools within ACE Schools MAT operating across the three Local Authority areas of Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall. Specific guidance as to local procedures for reporting CP concerns is detailed under Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall sections.

This policy has been developed in accordance with the principles established by the Children Act 1989; and in line with government publications named below:

o “Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families” 2000

o “Safeguarding Children in Education”, DfES Guidance, September 2004

• DCSF guidance “Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education” January 2007
• Plymouth City Council Guidance – Managing a Child Protection Incident Involving Allegations of Abuse Against Teachers, Other Staff and Volunteers (March 2008)”
• Equalities Act 2010

o “What To Do If You Are Worried A Child Is Being Abused” 2015

o “Working Together to Safeguard Children” March 2015

o “Child Protection in Plymouth, Notes and Information for Designated Persons.”

o “South West Child Protection Procedures” website.

o “Common Assessment Framework for children and young people supporting tools.”

o “Safeguarding Children in Education: Dealing with Allegations of Abuse Against Teachers and Other Staff”

o DCSF Non-Statutory Guidance for Schools in England. “THE USE OF FORCE TO CONTROL OR RESTRAIN PUPILS”

o Keeping children safe in education March 2015

o Information sharing March 2015

o Female genital mutilation risk and safeguarding March 2015

• The Plymouth Assessment Framework and Threshold Guidance for Safeguarding Children, Young People and their Families 2016

o Keeping children safe in education September 2016

1.Introduction and Aims

ACE Schools MAT fully recognises; its responsibilities for child protection and safeguarding, that all staff have a full and active part to play in protecting our pupils from harm and that the pupil’s welfare is our paramount concern. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families and carers has a role to play in safeguarding children. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all professionals should make sure their approach is pupil-centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the pupil. This policy applies to all staff, including; temporary, supply, ancillary staff and volunteers working in the school. It also includes all ACE Schools MAT Governing bodies, Trustees and Members.

Aims:

1.1The Trust takes seriously its responsibility under section 175 of the Education Act 2002 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children; and to work together with other agencies to ensure adequate arrangements within our schools to identify, assess, and support those children who are suffering harm.

1.2To provide a caring, positive, safe and stimulating environment that promotes the social, physical and moral development of the individual pupil.

1.3The pupil’s development should be supported in ways that will foster security, confidence and resilience.

1.4To provide an environment in which children and young people feel safe, secure, valued and respected, feel confident and know how to approach adults if they are in difficulties.

1.5To raise the awareness of all teaching and non-teaching staff of the need to safeguard children and of their responsibilities in identifying and reporting possible cases of abuse and equipping pupils with the skills needed to keep them safe

1.6To provide a systematic means of monitoring pupils known or thought to be at risk of harm, and ensure we, the school, contribute to assessments of need and protection support plans for those pupils.

1.7To acknowledge the need for effective and appropriate communication between all members of staff in relation to safeguarding pupils.

1.8To usetheCPOMS online program within ACE Schools MAT which will be followed by all members of the school community for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse. This enables common reporting systems and monitoring to be used by staff across all schools.

1.9To develop effective working relationships with all other agencies involved in safeguarding children.

1.10To ensure we practice safer recruitment and that all adults within our school who have access to children have been checked as to their suitability.

1.11To ensure that pupils within our school feel safe at all times

1.12To ensure that all stakeholders are safe and feel that they are able to put the welfare of the pupils first without concern that there will be any negative consequences attached to their actions

1.13To ensure that all adults who have contact with pupils in school have been properly vetted and cleared as suitable to work and support the young people in our care/charge.

1.14To ensure that all adults who have contact with pupils in school have been trained to undertake their safeguarding responsibilities effectively.

1.15Providing a Safe and Supportive Environment

2. Definitions

2.1.Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children refers to the process of protecting children from abuse or neglect, preventing the impairment of their health or development, ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective and nurturing care and undertaking that role so as to enable those children to have optimum life chances and to enter adulthood successfully. Statutory guidance is provided in Keeping Children Safe In Education 2016

2.2.Child protection refers to the processes undertaken to meet statutory obligations laid out in the Children Act 1989 and associated guidance (see Working Together to Safeguard Children , An Interagency Guide to Safeguard and Promote the Welfare of Children ) in respect of those children who have been identified as suffering, or being at risk of suffering harm.

3. ACE Schools MAT Responsibilities

ACESchools MATResponsibilities are:

3.1 Ensuring for each schoolthere is a Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads, who have undertaken role specific training, and also multi agency Child Protection Awareness Training, delivered through therelevant Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB). All Safeguarding Leads will undertake other training as recommended by the LSCB every two years. For schools with multiple sites there will be two designated deputy Safeguarding Leads for each base.

3.2 The lettings policy will seek to ensure the suitability of adults working with children on school sites at any time and community users organising activities for children are aware of and understand the need for compliance with the school’s child protection guidelines and procedures.

3.3 All parents are made aware of the school’s responsibilities in regard to child protection procedures, through publication of the school’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy, and reference will be made to it in prospectus/brochures and home school agreements.

3.4 Recruitment and selection policy/code of practice includes all appropriate checks on staff suitability including Disclosure and Barring Service checks. A minimum of two individuals have completed Safer Recruitment Training (e.g. Head teacher, Member of School Leadership Team or a nominated Governor) and we will ensure that at least one trained individual participates in all recruitment within the school;

3.5 The name of any member of staff considered not suitable to work with children (and the rationale for this decision) will be notified to the Disclosure and Barring Service and/or the relevant Government Department/Agency (where appropriate), depending on the nature of the concern, with the advice and support of the school’s Human Resources Provider and/or the Local Authority Designated Officer;

3.6 All relevant staff, visiting officers etc. will have been vetted in accordance with the ‘Childcare Disqualification Requirements’ and ‘Disqualification by Association’ statutory guidance, and been deemed suitable for working with the relevant age range of children within the school.

3.7The name of the Designated Safeguarding Lead, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and Board level Safeguarding lead will be clearly displayed in the school and on our website, with a statement explaining the school’s role in referring and monitoring cases of suspected abuse.

3.8 The child protection and safeguarding procedures will be reviewed annually and up-dated as necessary.

4.Responsibilities for Designated Safeguarding Lead

4.1 Acting as a focal point for staff to discuss concerns and liaising with other agencies and professionals.

4.2 Attending (or delegating this requirement to another appropriately informed member of staff) case conferences, family support meetings, core groups, or other multi-agency planning meetings, contributing to the Framework for Assessments process, and providing a report which has been shared with the parents.

4.3 Ensuring that any pupil who currently has a Child Protection Plan who is absent without explanation for two days is referred to their key worker’s Social Care Team.

4.4 Ensuring that all school staff are aware of this policy and know how to recognise and refer any concerns. All staff (including those from a supply agency) new to the school, will be given or directed to a copy of the Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy, the induction booklet, and the name and contact details of the Designated Safeguarding Lead will be explained.

4.5 Providing, with the Head Teacher, an annual report for the governing bodies and Trustees, detailing; training undertaken by the Designated Person and by all staff and relevant curricular issues, number and type of incidents/cases, and number of children referred to Children ’s Social Care and having a Child Protection Plan(anonymised).

4.6 Keeping themselves up to date with knowledge to enable them to fulfil their role, including attending relevant training provided by the LSCB, or the LA.

4.7 Ensuring that all staff attend safeguarding and child protection training and receive updates at least annually to provide them with relevant skills and knowledge to safe guard children effectively.

4.8 All staff members undergo safeguarding and child protection training as part of their induction. Staff are required to read “Keeping children safe I education Part1: Information for all school and college staff September 2016”.

4.9 All staff will receive appropriate safeguarding and child protection training in order to develop their understanding of child protection and, in particular, the signs and indicators of abuse andthat is regularly updated at least annually. In addition, all staff will receive safeguarding and child protection updates (for example via email, e-bulletins and staff meetings), as required, to provide them with relevant skills and knowledge to safeguard children effectively;

4.10 All staff will receive training on CPOMS system and know how to submit a CP report electronically. If this system is unavailable for any reason all staff will be aware of the backup paper system and also the process for making referrals to Children , Young People and Families Services. It is their responsibility to follow up on reported concerns if they don’t hear back.

4.11 All staff will receive training on preventing radicalisation and extremism as part of the PREVENT duty.

4.12 All staff are aware of the early help process, and understand their role in it. Thisincludes identifying emerging problems, liaising with the Designated Safeguarding Lead/deputies, sharing information with other professionals to support early identification and assessment, and in some cases, acting as the lead professional in undertaking an early help assessment.

5. Child protection Procedures

Any child in any family in any school could become a victim of abuse. Staff should always maintainan attitude of “it could happen here”.

Key points for staff to remember for taking action are:

5.1 If you are concerned about a pupil’s welfare:

5.1.1 There will be occasions when staff may suspect that a pupil may be at risk. The pupil’s behaviour may have changed, their artwork could be bizarre, they may write stories or poetry that reveal confusion or distress, or physical signs may have been noticed. In these circumstances, staff will try to talk to the pupil and ask if they are okay or if they can help in any way. Following an initial conversation with the pupil, if the member of staff has concerns, they should discuss their concerns with the DSL.

5.1.2 Staff should use the CPOM systemto record these early concerns. If the pupil does reveal that they are being harmed, staff should follow the advice below.

5.2If a pupil discloses to you

5.2.1It takes a lot of courage for a pupil to disclose that they are being abused. They may feel ashamed, particularly if the abuse is sexual; their abuser may have threatened what will happen if they tell; they may have lost all trust in adults; or they may believe, or have been told, that the abuse is their own fault. Sometimes they may not be aware that what is happening is abusive.

5.2.2If a pupil talks to a member of staff about any risks to their safety or wellbeing, the staff member will, at the appropriate time, let the pupil know that in order to help them they must pass the information on to the DSL. The point at which they tell the pupil this is a matter for professional judgement. During their conversations with the pupils staff will:

• allow them to speak freely, remain calm and not overreact
• give reassuring nods or words of comfort – ‘I’m so sorry this has happened’, ‘I want to help’, ‘This isn’t your fault’, ‘You are doing the right thing in talking to me’
• not be afraid of silences
• under no circumstances ask investigative questions – such as how many times this has happened, whether it happens to siblings, or what does the pupil’s mother think about it
• at an appropriate time tell the pupil that in order to help them, the member of staff must pass the information on and explain to whom and why
• Ensure the safety of the pupil if you feel they are at immediate risk
• not automatically offer any physical touch as comfort
• avoid admonishing the pupil for not disclosing earlier. Saying things such as ‘I do wish you had told me about this when it started’ may be interpreted by the pupil to mean that they have done something wrong
• tell the pupil what will happen next
• report verbally to the DSL even if the pupil has promised to do it by themselves
• complete the CPOM concern electronically or on paper system if access is unavailable to the DSL as soon as possible
• seek support if they feel distressed.

5.3Notifying parents

5.3.1The School will normally seek to discuss any concerns about a pupil with their parents. This must be handled sensitively and the DSL or deputy will determine who should make contact with the parent in the event of a concern, suspicion or disclosure.

5.3.2The focus is the safety and wellbeing of the pupil. Therefore, if the School believes that notifying parents could increase the risk to the pupil or exacerbate the problem, advice will first be sought from children’s social care and/or the police before parents are contacted.

6. Process of Reporting

The ACE Schools MAT reporting system is based upon CPOMS (Child Protection Online Management System). All concerns should be reported on CPOMS at the earliest opportunity but if the child is at immediate risk you should report to the police or Children’s Social Care for their local authority, either personally or through the pastoral team. If a referral is made to police or CSC the DSL must be informed. All staff will have a login and training for CPOMS provided as part of their induction. Include in your report any actions you have already taken. If CPOMS is unavailable you can use the CP reporting form to record your concern and refer to a DSL or deputy DSL please see appendix 4.

6.1 Plymouth Schools

6.1.1 ACE Schools Plymouth Details

Designated Safeguarding Lead : Ruth Westwood
Location / Deputy DP person / Additional DP person/s
Bretonside (and associated sites) / Tim Mathias / Adam Wood, Jessica Longhurst
Dover Road / Richard Nunn / Phil Rowe
Ford / Lucy Robinson / Nik Upham
Plymbridge / Kirsty Lambert / Richard Nunn
WRAP/Seymour / Danny Kings / Sarah Dodds, Tom Bunnell
Outreach / Richard Nunn / Kirsty Lambert

6.1.2Courtlands Special School details

Designated Safeguarding Lead : Mr Lee Earnshaw
Location / Deputy DP person / Additional DP person/s
Courtlands Special School / TBC / Mrs Ward, Mrs Hardwick and Mrs Jarvis-Holberton

6.1.3 Plymouth reporting LA details

The Local Authority Designated Officer for Child Protection oversees all allegations involving adults working with children and can be contacted at any time. The Designated Officer for Child Protection (LADO) is Mr Simon White on 01752 307144.. Advice and guidance about Child Protection and Early Help and Support can be obtained from: The Gateway Team on 01752 668000, they have a line for professionals only which is 01752 307160; their email address is . Referrals to CSC in Plymouth for children we believe meet threshold for assessment and intervention, should be made to 01752 305200 for professionals or 01752 668000 for the general public. Should you require general advice about a pupil care situation you should contact The Gateway