Rowdeford School as part of Wiltshire Council

Department for Children and Education

Safeguarding – Child Protection Policy, Procedures and Guidelines

Rowdeford School fully recognises its responsibilities for child protection.

1. Purpose of policy

We recognise that because of their day to day contact with children, school staff are well placed to observe the outward signs of abuse. The school will therefore:

·  Establish and maintain anenvironment where children feel secure, are encouraged to talk, and are listened to.

·  Ensure children know that there are adults in the school who they can approach if they are worried.

·  Include opportunities throughout the curriculum, including ICT and PSHE, for children to develop the skills they need to recognise, and stay safe from, abuse.

2. Aims

This policy applies to all staff, governors and volunteers working in the school. The policy has five main elements:

·  Ensuring we practice safe recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work with children.

·  Raising awareness of child protection issues and equipping children with the skills needed to keep them safe.

·  Developing and then implementing procedures for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse.

·  Supportingpupils whohave been abused in accordance with their agreed child protection plan.

·  Establishing a safe environment in which children canlearn and develop.

3. Action to be taken by the school (based on s.175 Education Act 2002)

We will follow the child protection procedures set out by the Wiltshire Local Safeguarding Children Board and available at www.swcpp.org.uk and will take account of guidance issued by the Department for Children Schools and Families to:

·  Ensure we have a designated senior person for child protection who has received appropriate training and support for this role (the Head of Care; the Deputy Head of Care will deputise in the Head of Care’s absence)

·  Ensure we have a nominated governor taking a lead role for child protection, including:

·  Championing child protection issues within the school and liaising with the headteacher

·  Having an overview of the Child Protection and all related policies

·  Auditing safeguarding measures annually alongside the Headteacher

This is Tanya Curtis

·  Ensure every member of staff, volunteer and governor knows the name of the designated teacher responsible for child protection and their role

·  Ensure all staff and volunteersunderstand their responsibilities in being alert to the signs of abuse and responsibility for recording any concerns and referring any concerns to the designated teacher responsible for child protection.

·  Notify the appropriate social care locality team if there is an unexplained absence of more than two days of a pupil who is on the child protection register.

·  Ensure all staff receive child protection training every three years, and that lead people (Designated Child Protection Teacher and Nominated Child Protection Governor) are trained every two years (in accordance with Wiltshire Schools Child Protection Training guidance)

·  Develop effective links with relevant agencies and co-operate as required with their enquiries regarding child protection matters including attendance at case conferences.

·  Keep written records of child welfare and child protection concerns about children, even where there is no need to refer the matter immediately.

·  Ensure all child welfare and child protection records are kept securely,and in locked locations.

·  Ensure safer recruitment practices are always followed.

·  Ensure staff and volunteers understand their responsibilities for safer working practices, as outlined in Appendix 1 of this policy.

·  Ensure that any allegations against members of staff with a child protection aspect are dealt with following local procedures – all such concerns to be dealt with urgently, with concerns about staff to be reported to the Head, but concerns about the Head reported to the Chair of Governors

·  Ensure that the school building and site are appropriately secure, with a clear record kept of any risk assessments carried out

·  Ensure that other school policies which have a safeguarding element (eg health and safety; anti-bullying; e-safety; behaviour) are all consistent with this policy and with each other and where appropriate make cross-reference to this policy

·  Carry out an annual child protection and safeguarding audit, and track progress against a safeguarding action plan, reviewed mid-year. Governing Body will receive a safeguarding and child protection report at least twice a year (based on the annual audit and review)

·  Ensure all staff, governors and volunteers receive and sign for a copy of this policy

·  Ensure that parents receive information from the school about the responsibility placed on the school and staff for child protection

4.  Support to pupils at risk

We recognise that children who are abused or witness violence may find it difficult to develop a sense of self worth. They may feel helplessness, humiliation and some sense of blame. The school may be the only stable, secure and predictable element in the lives of children at risk. When at school their behaviour may be challenging and defiant or they may be withdrawn. The school will endeavour to support the pupil through:

·  The content of the curriculum.

·  The school ethos which promotes a positive, supportive and secure environment and gives pupils a sense of being valued.

·  The school behaviour policy which is aimed at supporting vulnerable pupils in the school. The school will ensure that the pupil knows that some behaviour is unacceptable but they are valued and not to be blamed for any abuse which has occurred.

·  Liaison with other agencies that support the pupil such as social services, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, education welfare service and educational psychology service.

·  Ensuring that, where a pupil who is subject to a child protection plan leaves the school, theirinformation is transferred to the new school immediately and the child's social worker is informed.

5. Safer working practice

The most recent government version of the government’s ‘Guidance for Safer Working Practice for Adults who Work with Children and Young People’ is attached as Appendix 1. This indicates that there must be clear professional reason for all conduct of staff and volunteers.

6. Policy review

This policy will be reviewed annually by the governing body

7.  Consistency of policies

This policy should be read alongside the following other school policies:

·  Anti-bullying

·  Behaviour

·  E-Safety

·  Intimate Care

·  Physical Intervention and Serious Incidents

This policy was reviewed in April 2012

and endorsed by the Full Governing Body at their meeting of 22 May 2012

Signed ………………………………………………… Date ……………………

(Clerk to the Governors)

APPENDIX 1:

Updated from an original document produced by a DCSF network of Advisors

This guidance is based upon an original IRSC [1]document - ‘Guidance for Safe Working Practice for the Protection of Children and Adults in Education Settings, [2]commissioned by DfES[3].


Contents

Section 1 Overview
1.1 / Background………………………………………………………………… / 5
1.2 / What to do if you are worried a child is being abused…………………... / 6
Section 2 Using the Guidance
2.1 / Status of Document…………………………………………………………. / 7
2.2 / Purpose of the Guidance………………………………………………….. / 7
2.3 / Underlying Principles……………………………………………………….. / 7
2.4 / Definitions……………………………………………………………………. / 8
2.5 / How to Use the Document………………………………………………….. / 8
Section 3 Guidance for Safer Working Practices
1 / Context………………………………………………………………………. / 11
2 / ‘Unsuitability’………………………………………………………………… / 11
3 / Duty of Care / 11
4 / Confidentiality / 12
5 / Making a Professional Judgement / 13
6 / Power and Positions of Trust / 13
7 / Propriety and Behaviour / 14
8 / Dress and Appearance…………………………………………………….. / 14
9 / Personal Living Space……………………………………………………… / 14
10 / Gifts, Rewards and Favouritism…………………………………………… / 15
11 / Infatuations / 15
12 / Communication with Children and Young People (including Use of Technology)…………………………………………………………………... / 16
13 / Social Contact / 16
14 / Sexual Contact………………………………………………………………. / 17
15 / Physical Contact…………………………………………………………….. / 18
16 / Other Activities that Require Physical Contact / 19
17 / Behaviour Management / 20
18 / Use of Physical Intervention / 20
19 / Children and Young People in Distress…………………………………... / 21
20 / Intimate Care………………………………………………………………… / 22
21 / Personal Care / 22
22 / First Aid and Administration of Medication……………………………….. / 22
23 / One to One Situations……………………………………………………… / 23
24 / Home Visits………………………………………………………………….. / 24
25 / Transporting Children and Young People / 25
26 / Trips and Outings…………………………………………………………… / 25
27 / Photography and Video / 26
28 / Access to Inappropriate Images and Internet Usage / 26
29 / Whistle Blowing…………………………………………………………...…. / 27
30 / Sharing Concerns and Recording Incidents / 27
Appendices / 29

For further information, please contact you Local Safeguarding Children Board or the Safeguarding Adviser at your local Government Office.

Section 1: Overview
1.1.  Background

All adults who come into contact with children and young people in their work have a duty of care[4] to safeguard and promote their welfare.

The Children Act 2004, through the Stay Safe outcome of the Every Child Matters Change for Children programme[5], places a duty on organisations to safeguard[6] and promote the well-being of children and young people. This includes the need to ensure that all adults who work with or on behalf of children and young people in these organisations are competent, confident and safe to do so.

The vast majority of adults who work with children act professionally and aim to provide a safe and supportive environment which secures the well-being and very best outcomes for children and young people in their care. However, it is recognised that in this area of work tensions and misunderstandings can occur. It is here that the behaviour of adults can give rise to allegations of abuse being made against them. Allegations may be malicious or misplaced. They may arise from differing perceptions of the same event, but when they occur, they are inevitably distressing and difficult for all concerned. Equally, it must be recognised that some allegations will be genuine and there are adults who will deliberately seek out, create or exploit opportunities to abuse children. It is therefore essential that all possible steps are taken to safeguard children and young people and ensure that the adults working with them are safe to do so.

Some concerns have been raised about the potential vulnerability of adults in this area of work. It was suggested that there was a need for clearer advice about what constitutes illegal behaviour and what might be considered as misconduct. This document has been produced in response to these concerns. It was written by a team of individuals from various backgrounds who are knowledgeable about allegation procedures and the circumstances in which allegations might arise and provides practical guidance for anyone who works with, or on behalf of children and young people regardless of their role, responsibilities or status. It seeks to ensure that the duty to promote and safeguard the wellbeing of children is in part, achieved by raising awareness of illegal, unsafe and inappropriate behaviours.

Whilst every attempt has been made to cover a wide range of situations, it is recognised that this guidance cannot cover all eventualities. There may be times when professional judgements are made in situations not covered by this document, or which directly contravene the guidance given by their employer. It is expected that in these circumstances adults will always advise their senior colleagues of the justification for any such action already taken or proposed.

It is also recognised that not all adults who work with children and young people work as paid or contracted employees. The principles and guidance outlined in this document still apply and should be followed by all adults adult whose work brings them into contact with children and young people.

The guidance contained in this document has due regard to current legislation and statutory guidance.

1.2. What to do if you are worried a child is being abused[7]

Everyone working with children and young people should be familiar with local procedures and protocols for safeguarding the welfare of children and young people. Adults have a duty to report any child protection or welfare concerns to a designated member of staff in their organisation and/or report any concerns to the local social care office. Anyone who has concerns or is in doubt should refer to the document ’What To Do If You're Worried a Child Is Being Abused’ and follow that guidance.


Section 2: Using the Guidance
2.1. Status of Document

This guidance document was commissioned by the Department for Children, Schools and Families. (DCSF). It is intended to supplement but not replace or take priority over advice or codes of conduct produced by employers or national bodies.

This is a generic document that should complement existing professional procedures, protocols and guidance which relate to specific roles, responsibilities or professional practices.

2.2. Purpose of Guidance

It is important that all adults working with children understand that the nature of their work and the responsibilities related to it, place them in a position of trust. This practice guidance provides clear advice on appropriate and safe behaviours for all adults working with children in paid or unpaid capacities, in all settings and in all contexts. The guidance aims to:

keep children safe by clarifying which behaviours constitute safe practice and which behaviours should be avoided;

assist adults working with children to work safely and responsibly and to monitor their own standards and practice;

support managers and employers in setting clear expectations of behaviour and/or codes of practice relevant to the services being provided;

support employers in giving a clear message that unlawful or unsafe behaviour is unacceptable and that, where appropriate, disciplinary or legal action will be taken;

support safer recruitment practice;

minimise the risk of misplaced or malicious allegations made against adults who work with children and young people;

reduce the incidence of positions of trust being abused or misused.

Employers should be familiar with, and know how to access, their Local Safeguarding Children’s Board’s policy and procedures for managing allegations against staff.