Blaenau Gwent Guidelines

for

Safeguarding/

Child Protection

January 2012

This policy was accepted and adopted by the

Governing Body of Pen-y-Cwm School, September 2012

CONTENTS

Page
3 / Introductory
4 / Welsh Assembly Documentation
5 / Directorate Responsibilities
5 / Designated Personnel for Safeguarding
6/7
8 / Designated Teacher responsibilities
Parent/Carer involvement
8 / Allegations of abuse against staff
9 / Allegations of abuse against a Headteacher
9 / Nominated Governor for Safeguarding: Role and responsibilities
9 / LA Officer for Safeguarding: Role and responsibilities
10 / Training
11
11 / Model Safeguarding / Child Protection Policy for Schools:
- Introduction
11 / - Safe Recruitment
12 / - Children with Additional Learning Needs
12 / - Designated Teacher for Safeguarding
13 / - Nominated Governor for Safeguarding
13 / - Action to be Taken by Our School
13/14 / - Referral
14 / - Record Keeping
14 / - Care Guidance and Support for Children & Young People
Prevention
Other Policies
15 / - Supporting Staff
15 / - Confidentiality
16 / - Allegations Against Staff
16 / - Whistle-blowing
16 / - Monitoring & Review
17 / Appendix 1: Types of Abuse
18 / Appendix 2: Confidential Interviews with Children
19/20 / Appendix 3: Safeguarding Children in Education
21 / Appendix 4: The Role of the Child Safeguarding Governor
22 / Appendix 5: Safeguarding Issue / Event Record
23
24 / Appendix 6: Safeguarding Record
Appendix 7: Safeguarding Children in Education Record Keeping

Issued January 2012

This guide was produced following consultation with Head teachers in Blaenau Gwent and members of the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB).

Preface

This document clarifies the procedures for safeguarding children in Blaenau Gwent as agreed by the Blaenau Gwent Education Authority, and subsequently the LSCB. The document outlines the responsibilities for the Blaenau Gwent Educational establishments and governors as described later in this document.

This guide applies to all those working with children in schools or educational establishments delivering the broader range of educational or vocational experiences (e.g. Early Years settings, Proteus) who are required to contribute to the safeguarding of children and statutory child protection processes.

  • All schools and educational establishments have a statutory duty to exercise their functions with a view to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of their children and young people.
  • All schools and educational establishments should create and maintain a safe environment for children and young people, and should be able to manage situations where there are child welfare concerns. This includes safeguarding arrangements, pupil health and safety and bullying.
  • All staff share the responsibility for being aware of and alert to the signs of child abuse. Regular and frequent contact allows staff to observe outward signs or unexplained changes in behaviour or performance which may indicate abuse (see Appendix 1 for definitions of types of abuse).
  • All education staff play a crucial role in addressing safeguarding concerns, in partnership with other agencies, normally social services.

Introduction

Safeguarding children is the responsibility of all agencies. To safeguard children all staff should comply with the Welsh Assembly Government’s ‘Working Together Under the Children Act 2004’ and follow the All Wales Child Protection Procedures and any other local protocols developed and approved by Blaenau Gwent Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB). Copies of all the documents can be found on the Blaenau Gwent LSCB website under the professional’s page
It is the responsibility of each organisation/agency to ensure that all adults working with, and looking after children are able to put safeguarding procedures into practice.

  • The needs of the child and young people are paramount and should underpin all safeguarding work.
  • All children deserve the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
  • All children have the right to be safeguarded from harm and exploitation, whatever their:

race, religion, first language or ethnicity

gender or sexuality

age

health or disability

location or placement

any criminal behaviour

political or immigration status

  • Responsibility for protecting children and young people must be shared because children are safeguarded only when all relevant agencies and individuals accept responsibility and co-operate with one another.
  • Statements about or allegations of abuse or neglect made by children must always be taken seriously.
  • The well being and welfare of the child and young people is of prime concern and it is incumbent upon all those working with children to ensure that their needs are continually monitored and reviewed.

Documentation from which education establishments should be working:

  1. Safeguarding Children: Working Together Under the Children Act 2004

This document is the national framework for all child protection work. The philosophy on which it is based is explicit in its title “Working Together”emphasising the need for collaborative work between agencies.

It is very important therefore that schools promote and maintain good liaison with Blaenau Gwent social services department.

  1. Safeguarding Children in Education(Welsh Assembly Government Circular No: 005/2008)
    This circular is aimed specifically at the education service containing guidance on arrangements that need to be in place as required by Section 175 of the 2002 Act;
  1. All Wales Child Protection Procedures (Welsh Assembly Government)

This document has been issued to schools and will be updated from time to time.

Summary of Safeguarding Requirements

  • All staff should be mindful always of the welfare and safety of children in their work.
  • Everybody who works with or has contact with children should be able to recognise, and know how to act upon, evidence that a child’s health or development is or may be being impaired and especially when they are suffering or at risk of suffering significant harm.
  • All staff should be alert to the signs of abuse and neglect, and know the agreed procedure for reporting concerns or suspicions.
  • All staff who become aware of or have concerns about the welfare or safety of a child or children should know when and how to make a referral to social services.
  • All schools and educational establishments should have a designated child safeguarding person, with appropriate training, who is appointed as the person with responsibility for co-ordinating action where safeguarding/child protection concerns arise and providing advice.
  • All schools and educational establishments should have in place safeguarding policies and procedures in accordance with this guidance in liaison with the local LSCB.
  • Schools and educational settings should operate safe recruitment procedures and management, induction and training procedures for staff and volunteers to ensure that the welfare of children is always of paramount concern.

Creating a Safe Learning Environment

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, bullying, behaviour management, arrangements for meeting the needs of children with additional learning needs and a range of other issues. These related issues will be documented in separate policies. It also means having in place effective recruitment, induction, disciplinary and reporting arrangements to ensure the suitability of staff and volunteers working at the establishment in line with guidance issued by the Welsh Assembly Government. The LSCB and the Authority monitor recruitment processesto ensure the suitability of staff working in schools.

Directorate Responsibilities

To safeguard children and young people it is essential that all agencies work together to:

  • ​create an ethos within the Directorate which helps children and young people to feel secure and able to talk freely, in the belief that they will be listened to and that their point of view will be valued;
  • raise the awareness of all staff about their responsibility to identify and report concerns and possible cases of abuse;
  • develop a structured procedure to be followed by all members of staff to ensure children and young people are safeguarded; and
  • promote good communication between staff over concerns about children and young people.

Staff within Education and Leisure Services will have various degrees of contact with children and each service area should have in place working practices and procedures to minimise situations where abuse of children may occur, such as unobserved contact. Staff should be enabled to understand the importance of reporting any concerns they have that a child may be in need of protection and the process of referral.

​Designated Personnel for Safeguarding

All schools and educational establishments must have a designated person/teacher and deputy with responsibilities for dealing with child protection issues and providing advice and support to other staff. All schools must also have a nominated ‘child protection governor’ who should ensure that the school has an effective child protection policy that is consistent with the All Wales Child Protection Procedures (2002.)

The Head Teacher, Mrs Darya Brill-Williams is accountable for all matters of Child Protection.

The designated person in Pen-y-Cwm School: Mrs Sian Blackmore

The deputies: Mrs Theresa Evans-Rickards and Mrs Cheryl Buck

Basic information can be found on the back of most internal doors in school.

You are required to re-familiarise yourself with this policy at the start of every term and are reminded of this on the staff activity calendar published each year.

Similarly each sport or recreation centre, and youth and community learning centre will have a nominated person designated to fulfil the role. It is essential that the designated person has received specific training to carry out this role.

Designated Teacher/Person Responsibilities in Schools

To be effective the designated safeguarding person must:

ensure there are procedures in place if the designated person is absent;

have received training on safeguarding and how to identify abuse once every three years, through the LSCB;

know when it is appropriate to refer a case;

act as a source of advice, support and expertise within the school;

take responsibility for coordinating action regarding referrals by liaising with social services, the LA officer for safeguarding and other relevant agencies over cases of abuse and allegations of abuse, regarding both children and members of staff;

make themselves (and any deputies) known to the LA officer for safeguarding and all members of school staff;

ensure members of staff and other members of the school have had training in safeguarding relevant to their needs and are able to identify and report any concerns they have to the designated person immediately they arise;

ensure each member of staff has access to and understands the school’s safeguarding policy and procedures.

Action to be taken where there are safeguarding/child protection concerns

One of the main roles of the designated teacher/person is to coordinate the referral of cases of suspected abuse or allegations without delay to:

  • Social Services: Duty Team; Tel: 01495 315700
  • The LA officer for safeguarding (LADO) : Sarah Dixon - Tel: 01495 356016 or 07815 005241
  • The deputy officer for safeguarding: Lynn Philips - Tel: 01495 355603 or 07772379795

If a member of staff sees signs that give cause for concern, a 'natural' opportunity should be sought to obtain explanatory information from the child or young person using tact, sympathy and understanding. No promise of confidentiality should be given. If the opportunity to obtain information does not arise, or if the information given does not allay concern, the designated person for safeguarding should be informed immediately. Every member of staff should know how to deal with the situation when approached by a child in confidence (see Appendix 2 for further guidance). Any relevant information should be passed on to the designated person for safeguarding. This person will coordinate the response; however, the referrer will remain involved in the processes that follow.

Detailed investigations of suspicions should not be undertaken by any member of staff. In no circumstances should the suspicions be discussed with any member of the child's family. A detailed investigation will be carried out by other agencies (normally, the social services department or the police). If relevant information is volunteered by a child, young person, parent, guardian or some other person, it should be recorded and the designated safeguarding person informed immediately.

The nominated safeguarding person, when informed of a possible concern for a child or young person will consider the full circumstances of the case and decide what action should be taken. Depending on the individual circumstances, the decision might be:

1)that no further action appears to be justified, except that the report should be logged;

2)that the child should be discretely monitored and further information about the home background sought from other appropriate sources (e.g. the education welfare officer);

3)that the case should be referred immediately to the duty social worker in social services.

If it is known that the name of the child has already been entered in the Child Protection Register, the social services department should be informed.

All staff have a role in assisting social services and/or the police by providing information for safeguarding/child protection enquiries. Sharing information for the purposes of safeguarding is essential. In some cases it is only when information from a range of sources is put together that a vulnerable child or young person can be seen to be in need or at risk of harm. In terms of the legal and ethical restrictions on sharing information, safeguarding the individual overrides the need to keep information confidential.

When cases are referred to the social services department, this should be done without delay by telephone, with the referral confirmed as soon as practically possible in writing or within 2 working days.

After any referral to the social services department and / or the police the designated safeguarding person should follow up the referral to ensure that appropriate action has been taken.

When a referral is made to the social services department the person taking the referral within social services will record details of the concern. An initial assessment will be completed and if appropriate a strategy discussion will follow involving the referrer, the police and other professionals as appropriate.

The strategy discussion may agree the child protection Section 47 enquiries (CA1989) need to be undertaken and information gathered during these enquiries may result in a child protection conference being convened.

Where a child or young person is being monitored for possible abuse, care should be taken to ensure that the monitoring is carried out in a natural, unobtrusive manner.

If a child is absent from school without a known or satisfactory explanation, the education welfare officer should be advised of the fact and asked to investigate immediately. The social services department should also be informed where the child is know to the service.

In all cases of monitoring, information should be kept about the pupil’s progress and welfare.

Parent/Carer Involvement

All parents and carers need to understand that schools and education establishments have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children who are their pupils, that this responsibility necessitates a safeguarding policy and procedures, and that a school may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child’s welfare. It may be helpful to include a reference to this in the prospectus or other information provided to parents/carers and pupils/students.

Action to be taken where there are allegations of abuse against staff

If an allegation of abuse is made against a member of staff, by either a child or an adult, it should be treated as a serious matter and referred to the social services department Duty Team in the first instance who will discuss with the police and arrange a strategy meeting. At the strategy meeting it is decided whether an investigation of the allegation is required and which agency should undertake this. If appropriate, the Head teacher should put interim safeguarding arrangements in place pending the outcome of the decision of the strategy meeting. This should ensure that there is no contact between the person making the allegation and the person who is the subject of the allegation.

After the investigation, the strategy meeting is reconvened to agree actions to be taken. The matter is then passed to the governing body to complete any staff disciplinary process at school level. Governing bodies are responsible for staff disciplinary matters in all maintained schools.

Action to be taken where there are allegations of abuse against a Head Teacher

Responses to allegations against a Head Teacher must be guided by the ‘Education Employers Bulletin No. 467’ previously issued to schools which specify the role of the Chair or designated Governor for safeguarding. The LA officer responsible for safeguarding should be informed of all such allegations at an early stage.

In dealing with staff disciplinary issues involving child protection allegations, governing bodies of maintained schools in Wales must also comply with the Government of Maintained Schools (Wales) Regulations 2005; and the Staffing of Maintained Schools (Wales) Regulations 2006. Where allegations are made against a member of the school’s staff that involves issues of safeguarding, the governing body must appoint an independent investigator.

Nominated Governor for Safeguarding: Roles and Responsibilities

The nominated Governor for Safeguarding: Mr Wayne Evans (Chairperson)

  • Support their Head teacher/designated person in ensuring policies and systems in school fulfil the safeguarding responsibilities.
  • Ensure there is a senior member of school’s leadership team who is designated to take lead responsibility for safeguarding.
  • Ensure, in liaison with the Head teacher/senior designated teacher, that the school has a safeguarding policy and procedures in place, which are consistent with LA guidelines and LSCB procedures and made available to parents.
  • The oversight of procedures relating to handling allegations against staff and volunteers, including the Head teacher.
  • Taking action according to LA procedures, where there are allegations against the Head teacher.
  • Ensure recruitment of staff and volunteers in line with safe recruitment procedures and checks are carried out.
  • Ensure the named governor for Child Protection attends safeguarding training once every 3 years.

Blaenau Gwent Officer for Safeguarding: Roles and Responsibilities