Cliftonville Integrated Primary School

CLIFTONVILLE INTEGRATED PRIMARY SCHOOL /

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY AND PROCEDURES

DESIGNATED TEACHER :Mrs. J. Gray

DEPUTY DESIGNATED TEACHER: Miss M.Thompson

CliftonvilleIntegratedPrimary School is committed to fostering the physical, spiritual, moral, social and emotional development of its pupils. It seeks to create an ethos which is caring and safeguarding of children.

The school is mindful of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child (1991) which states that children have the right to protection from violence and harmful treatment. The school accepts the central thrust of The Children Order (1995) which states that the welfare of the child must be paramount.

This policy is informed by the guidance and procedures outlined by DE ‘Pastoral Care in Schools: Child Protection (1999) and the Area Child Protection Committees’ (ACPC) Regional Policy and Procedures (2005).

CliftonvilleIntegratedPrimary School accepts that it has a pastoral responsibility towards the children in its charge and is committed to taking all reasonable steps to ensure that their welfare is safeguarded and safety preserved.

Our policy applies to all staff, governors and volunteers working in the school. The purpose of the procedures set out in this policy is to safeguard and protect the children by ensuring that every adult who works in our school- teachers, non-teaching staff and volunteers- has clear guidance on the action which is required where abuse or neglect of a child is suspected.

To this end the following procedures have been put in place:

The Safeguarding Team

Chair of Governors: .Rev. J. Williamson

Designated Governor for Child Protection:Mrs. D. Carrigan

Principal:Miss B. McMullen

Designated Teacher for Child Protection:Mrs. J. Gray

Deputy Designated Teacher for Child Protection:Miss M. Thompson

1. DESIGNATED TEACHER

The Designated Teacher (DT) and the Deputy Designated Teacher (DDT) with specific responsibility for child protection have received appropriate training (from BELB) in this area. When the designated teacher Mrs. J. Gray is unavailable the responsibilities will be carried out by the deputy designated teacher Miss M Thompson. On the rare occasion that neither the DT or DDT is available, the Principal Miss B. McMullen will assume responsibility for child protection.

2. IDENTIFICATION OF ABUSE

Definition of child abuse: Child abuse occurs when ‘a child is neglected, harmed or not provided with proper care. Children may be abused in many settings, in a family, in an institutional or community setting, by those known to them, or more rarely by a stranger.’ (ACPC, 2005)

(a child is a person under 18 years as defined by the Children Order)

Abuse may take a number of forms including neglect, physical injury, sexual and emotional. (These are outlined in Appendix 1)

Teaching and non-teaching staff are well placed to observe symptoms of abnormality or change in appearance, behaviour, learning pattern or development. Where signs causing concern are observed:

(i)teachers should:

seek some clarification with tact and understanding
NOT ask leading questions or impose their own assumptions
reassure the child
listen to the child and make a note of the discussion to pass on to the designated teacher
never ask the child to make a written statement

(ii)non-teaching staff should bring concerns either to the class

teacher or the designated teacher or deputy designated teacher.

Non-teaching staff should:

(a) NOT ask leading questions or impose their own

assumptions

(b) listen to the child and make a note of the discussion to pass on to the designated teacher

(c)reassure the child

(d) never ask the child to make a written statement

Where abuse is suspected or an allegation made or where serious concerns exist about the welfare of a child, teaching or non-teaching staff should report the information to the designated teacher or deputy designated teacher.

If a child discloses abuse to a staff member they should:

stay calm
listen
accept information
reassure the child
let the child know it’s not his/her fault
give the child time to explain or express emotions
explain that the Designated Teacher know will be informed, so that help can be given to child/family
make notes as soon as possible (include child’s words) and give these- signed & dated- to the Designated Teacher (see Appendix A)

The staff member should not:

ask leading questions
ask the child to repeat the disclosure to another member of staff or volunteer
ask the child to write a statement

In order to assist with identifying signs and symptoms of abuse, reference should be made to Appendix 1 of this policy.

If any member of staff feels unsure about what to do if he or she has concerns about a child, or unsure about being able to recognise signs or symptoms of possible child abuse, he/she should talk with the DT. It should be noted that information given to staff about possible child abuse cannot be held ‘in confidence’.

In the interests of the child, staff may need to share this information with other professionals on a ‘need to know basis’.

How a parent can raise a Child Protection concern

If a parent has a child protection concern they can follow the guide below:

3.ROLE OF THE DESIGNATED TEACHER

Where significant concern/information is reported to the designated teacher she may consult with BELB designated officers for child protection. She will refer these cases to or may consult with social services or where physical or sexual abuse is suspected or alleged, may refer the case to the Police. The principal will be notified. If a referral is made then a copy of the referral is sent to the BELB designated officers (on the UNOCINI form).

4.CONFIDENTIALITY

All staff should understand that:

they have professional responsibility to share relevant information with other professionals;

where physical or sexual abuse is suspected they have a legal duty to report this;

if a child confides in a member of staff and requests that the information be kept secret the member of staff should tell the child sensitively that s/he has a responsibility to refer the matter to appropriate agencies - assurance should be given that the matter will be disclosed only to people who need to know about it;

information about children and families should be shared only within appropriate professional contexts;

records should be kept under secure conditions.

CONDUCT OF STAFF

Given the school’s commitment to the welfare of the children in its care the conduct of staff will at all times be expected to be above reproach. Any abuse of the position of trust by the Principal, teaching or non-teaching staff will be regarded with the utmost gravity. Teachers will be expected to be sensitive to a child’s reaction to physical contact and to act appropriately. Where a teacher has to restrain a pupil physically the minimum necessary force will be used. Staff will be issued with clear guidelines for residential trips: such guidelines will have the full approval of the Board of Governors and will be made clear to parents of participating pupils in advance of such trips.

6.ALLEGATIONS AGAINST STAFF

In all cases, the Chair Person of the Board of Governors will be informed. Where there is a complaint against the Principal the Chair of the Board of Governors, in consultation with other governors, will ensure that any complaint is investigated by the instigation of normal procedures.

Where the school carries out preliminary enquiries these should be carried out with an open mind and with regard to the:

welfare of the pupil
efficient functioning of the school, and
rights of the individual against whom the complaint has been made, especially the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.