Hopeman Primary School

/ EDUCATIONAL SERVICES

Hopeman Primary School

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

DOCUMENT HISTORY
Draft August 2006,Sept 2007, Aug 2008, Aug 2009
AUTHORISATION AND REVIEW DATES
Davina Farquhar Headteacher To be reviewed August 2010
1.INTRODUCTION
All children have the right not to be abused and to be protected from abuse and neglect, therefore child protection is the responsibility of everyone.
‘It’s everyone’s job to make sure I’m all right’ (Scottish Executive, Nov 2002) underlines the need for us all to take responsibility in order to protect children.
Child abuse is a criminal offence. All staff have an ethical duty to report any reasonable concern that a child may be being abused.
In child protection matters The Moray Council is guided by the North East of Scotland Child Protection Committee. The following statement applies to all Moray schools.
“It is the duty of The Moray Council and all its staff to ensure, as far as possible, that all children are protected from the danger of child abuse in all its forms. These include:
emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, non-organic failure to thrive and neglect.
Where school staff have concerns about a pupil, which suggests the possibility of abuse, then these concerns will be discussed with a member of the Social Work Department to determine what, if any, action needs to be taken. In these circumstances, parents will not normally be consulted first.”
2.RATIONALE
In Hopeman Primary we are committed to creating an environment in which children are safe from abuse and in which any suspicion of abuse is responded to promptly and appropriately. The well being of children in our care takes precedence over any other consideration. It is the clear responsibility of all those involved in our school to adopt good practice throughout our work.
3.AIMS
HopemanPrimary Schoolaims to:
work in partnership with parents, carers and other agencies to promote good practice in the area of child protection
follow the guidance given by The Moray Council (APPENDIX A)
ensure that all staff have access to appropriate child protection training, supervision and support in order to implement this policy effectively
4.IMPLEMENTATION PROCEDURES
When a child tells an adult about possible abuse, his or her statements should not be dismissed or ignored. The adult should listen carefully to what the child is communicating. The adult should allow the child to say what he or she wants without being drawn into detailed questioning.
The member of staff must record in detail what has been seen or heard.
In the black folder with Classroom Procedures, each classroom has a supply of forms entitled ‘Personal and Social Issues’(APPENDIX B).These forms can be used to record the detail.
The member of staff must report immediately to the Child Protection Coordinator,Mrs Kathleen Thomson. ( In her absence Mrs Davina Farquhar Headteacher)
Discussion and decision making is recorded in chronological order using The Moray Council’s form CPR1 (APPENDIX C).
5.ROLES/RESPONSIBILITIES
Members of staff should inform the Child Protection Coordinator, Depute Headteacher, Mrs Kathleen Thomson, of any instance which suggests that abuse is taking place.
The member of staff should not wait for proof, investigate or gather evidence of abuse.
Members of staff have access to a checklist (APPENDIX D) to assist them in following correct procedures.
All members of staff have a responsibility to undertake training in child protection issues.
The Headteacher has a responsibility to ensure that members of staff are trained appropriately.
6.RESOURCES
Staff have access to a child protection checklist and forms on which to record detail.
Filed in the main office there is a folder containing Child Protection/Incident forms.
Filed in the main office is a copy of each of the following
The NESCPC Child Protection Guidelines -
The Charter - Scottish Executive -
Safe and Well - Scottish Executive-
Framework for Standards - Scottish Executive -
The Moray Council Child Protection Policy-
Training is available at different times through the Moray Council’s CPD programme and through NESCPC.
7.LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
We are required to have an up to date policy in place and to ensure that all members of staff are trained appropriately.
Any agency working with young people needs to demonstrate that they are familiar with The Charter for Protecting Children and Young People.
8.QUALITY IMPROVEMENT, MONITORING ANDEVALUATION
The school willreview the policy every year to take account of changes.
Monitoring of staff training is undertaken annually and discussed during professional reviews ( PR& D and ERDP).
9.STAFF DEVELOPMENT
Training is available at different times through the Moray Council’s CPD programme and through NESSPC. All members of staff completed Basic Training in August 2007 August 2008 and August 2009.
10.CONSULTATIONS
The policy for this school is based on the advice given by The Moray Council Educational Services in the policy document ‘Child Protection’.
The Parent Counciland all members of staff have been consulted.

APPENDIX A

DOCUMENT / SUBJECT / DATE
SS/015/03 / Child Protection Guidelines / 06.02.05
Please address any enquiries to: / Alan Dunsire
Telephone: / (01343) 563174
Email: /
The NESCPC Child Protection guidelines advise that “schools should ensure that parents are aware that in situations where there is the possibility that a child could be at risk of abuse or neglect, the school is required to refer the child to social work, the Police or the Authority Reporter, and that under these circumstances, the parents would not normally be consulted first. Schools will include a statement prepared by their Local Authority Education Service to this effect in their school prospectus”.
On next revision, all school handbooks should include:-

Child Protection

In child protection matters The Moray Council is guided by the North East of Scotland Child Protection Committee. The following statement applies to all Moray schools.
“It is the duty of The Moray Council and all its staff to ensure, as far as possible, that all children are protected from the danger of child abuse in all its forms. These include:

emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, non-organic failure to thrive and neglect.

Where school staff have concerns about a pupil, which suggests the possibility of abuse, then these concerns will be discussed with a member of the Social Work Department to determine what, if any, action needs to be taken. In these circumstances, parents will not normally be consulted first.”
Schools should also make reference to “Safe and Well, a handbook for staff, schools and education authorities”, published by the Scottish Executive where there are children missing from education and/or child protection issues.
All schools should ensure that their systems and procedures are robust, and serve to keep children safe and well.
All referrals to the Social Work Department, Police or the Authority Reporter as above should be notified to Educational Services on the attached form (CPR1). A list of important contact numbers is included below. Also attached is Form CPR2, which gives guidance on the steps to take in Child Protection matters. Please print and display this form if helpful.
SOCIAL WORK
Elgin Area
Tel: 01343 557222
Forres, Speyside & Tomintoul Area
Tel: 01309 694000
Lossiemouth & Fochabers Area
Tel: 01343 557222
Buckie Area
Tel: 01542 837200
Keith Area
Tel: 01542 886174
Out of Hours Service
Tel: 08457 565656 / POLICE
Grampian
Tel: 0845 600 5700
Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration
Tel: 01343 550015
Childline
Tel: 0800 1111
Parentline
Tel: 0808 800 2222
Your local Health Visitor, who can be contacted through
your local surgery or health centre
The information contained within this Admin Handbook document replaces SS/015/02. For information, the following changes have been made:-

Change of contact officer
Amended child protection statement for school handbooks
Addition of list of important contact numbers
Form CPR1 updated
New – Form CPR2

Donald M Duncan

Director of Educational Services

Attached:Form CPR1

Form CPR2

APPENDIX B
PERSONAL & SOCIAL ISSUES
PUPIL’S NAME: ______CLASS:______
Date / Issue / Action
/ The Moray Council
Educational Services / APPENDIX C
Form: CPR1

CHILD PROTECTION REFERRAL/INCIDENT FORM

Name of initiating member of staff

Post
Name of pupil
Date of birth
Gender
Class
Nature of abuse
Nature of evidence
OR reasons for suspicion
Date and time evidence obtained OR suspicion formed
Date and time this form received by Child Protection Co-ordinator
Signature
Action taken
Reason(s) for actions taken
Decision acknowledged by initiating staff member
Date and time

CHILD PROTECTION

Children should get the help when they need it

APPENDIX D

CHILD PROTECTION CHECKLIST FOR STAFF

in HopemanPrimary School

A child discloses abuse
You notice any of the warning signs of harm or abuse - physical, neglect, emotional, sexual
You suspect a child may have been abused
A third party expresses concern
You witness an abusive situation involving another staff member

YOU MUST RECORD and REPORT

RRespond without showing any signs of disquiet,

anxiety or shock

EEnquire casually about how an injury was sustained

or why a child appears upset

CConfidentiality must not be promised to children or

adults in this situation

OObserve carefully the demeanour of the child

RRecord in detail what has been seen or heard

DDo not interrogate or enter into detailed investigations: just encourage the child to say what he/she wants until enough information is gained

REPORT to Mrs Thomson immediately.

DO NOT DISCUSS the matter with anyone other than

Mrs Thomson ( or in her absence, Mrs Farquhar