Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy

January 2017

Important Sources of Further Information

1.  ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’, DfE (Statutory Guidance revised in May 2016) with effect from 5th September 2016 replaces ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ 2015 and Safeguarding Children & Safer Recruitment in Education DCSF (2006) and former DCSF Guidance, and makes clear roles and responsibilities of education professionals, establishments and organisations[1].

All staff in education settings should have read and have an understanding of at least Part 1 of this statutory guidance.

2.  The Greater Manchester Safeguarding Children procedures can be found on the Rochdale Borough Safeguarding Children Board website www.rbscb.org and make explicit what action should be taken at the point of referral to the Multi Agency Screening Service (MASS) or the police and thereafter[2]

3.  Working Together To Safeguard Children: A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children (HM Government, 2015);

4.  What to do if you are worried a child is being abused – Advice for practitioners (DfE, 2015)

5.  In addition schools/colleges should have regard to specific guidance given by the Secretary of State under sections 157 and 175 of the Education Act 2002.

6.  Appendix 3 also contains updated information that informs the creation of this Child Protection Policy

Child Protection

A. Named staff/personnel with specific responsibility for Child Protection
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) & Deputy DSL / Nominated Governor
Rob Andrew (DSL)
Stuart Booth (Deputy DSL) / Nigel Castledine (Child Protection and Safeguarding)
Howard Munson (Health and Safety)
Rebecca Caygill (Attendance)
Dena Longdon (Behaviour / Bullying)

B. Designated Safeguarding Leads & Deputies in School/College (DSLs) should refresh their multi-agency training every 2 years)

Name of Staff Member / Governor / Date when last attended Safeguarding Training / Provided by (e.g. RBSCB, Governor Support Services, REAL Trust, Fair Access Team)
Rob Andrew / 18/04/2016 / RBSCB
Stuart Booth / 15/11/2016 / RBSCB / REAL Trust

C. Whole School/College Staff Safeguarding Children Training (all staff should receive induction and a training update at regular intervals)

Who attended (e.g. all teaching and welfare / support staff, Governors, volunteers) / Date / Training and delivery body
All school based staff / October 2015 / Basic Introduction to Safeguarding children and safe working practice – RMBC / Jude Crabtree
All school based staff / 1st September 2016 / Safeguarding updates - R. Andrew
Rob Andrew
Lindsey Buckley / 10th March 2016 / Prevent Duty – Helen Youngman
All school based staff / November 2016 / Online Prevent Module – Home Office Training
All school based staff / January 2017 / Prevent Training – Yasin Khan (RMBC)
D. Annual Review date for this policy
Review Date / Changes made / By whom
September 2017 / R. Andrew
1.  PURPOSE OF A CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

1.1. An effective whole school Safeguarding policy is one which provides clear direction to staff and others about expected codes of behaviour in dealing with Safeguarding issues. An effective policy also makes explicit the school/college’s commitment to the development of good practice and sound procedures. This ensures that Safeguarding concerns and Child Protection referrals may be handled sensitively, professionally and in ways which prioritise the needs of the child.

2. INTRODUCTION

2.1. Our school fully recognises the contribution it can make to protect children and support pupils in school.

There are three main elements to our Safeguarding Policy

(a) Prevention:

(e.g. positive school atmosphere, teaching and pastoral support to pupils).

(b) Protection:

(By following agreed procedures, ensuring staff are trained and supported to respond appropriately and sensitively to Child Protection concerns/disclosures).

(c) Support:

(To pupils and school staff and to children who may have been abused).

2.2  This policy applies to all members of staff, volunteers and visitors to the school.

3. SCHOOL COMMITMENT

3.1. We recognise that high self-esteem, confidence, peer support and clear lines of communication with trusted adults helps all children, and especially those at risk of or who are suffering significant harm.

Our school will therefore:

(a) Establish and maintain an ethos where children feel secure and are encouraged to talk, and are listened to. This is underpinned by our behaviour policy and Christian values.

(b) Ensure that children know that there are adults in the school who they can approach if they are worried or are in difficulty. There is also a system in place for confidential reporting, via our worry slips.

(c) Include in the curriculum activities and opportunities for PSHE which equip children with the skills they need to stay safe and / or communicate their fears or concerns about abuse. Further information can be found from our curriculum overview documents. Please request from the school office.

(d) Include in the curriculum material which will help children develop realistic attitudes to the responsibilities of adult life, particularly with regard to childcare and parenting skills.

(e) Ensure that every effort will be made to establish effective working relationships with parents and colleagues from other agencies.

4. FRAMEWORK

Education staff have a crucial role to play in helping identify welfare concerns and indicators of possible abuse or neglect, at an early stage: referring those concerns to the appropriate organisation, contributing to the assessment of a child’s needs using the Children’s Needs and Response Framework and, in particular, using and embedding the Common Assessment Framework as an early intervention assessment tool where the Child Protection threshold is not met. They will also be well place to give a view on the impact of treatment or intervention on the child’s care or behaviour.’

4.1 Safeguarding is the responsibility of all adults and especially those working with children. The development of appropriate procedures and the monitoring of good practice are the responsibilities of the Rochdale Borough Safeguarding Children Board (RBSCB).

www.rbscb.org will provide you with all of the information you need about the local safeguarding board.

5. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

5.1. All adults working with or on behalf of children have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. There are, however, key people within schools/colleges and the Local Authority who have specific responsibilities under Child Protection procedures. The names of those carrying these responsibilities in school for the current year are listed on the cover sheet of this document.

5.2 The role of the DSL (Rob Andrew) is:

Managing referrals

 Refer all cases of suspected abuse to the local authority children’s social care and: ◦The designated officer(s) for child protection concerns (all cases which concern a staff member),

 Disclosure and Barring Service (cases where a person is dismissed or left due to risk/harm to a child); and/or

 Police (cases where a crime may have been committed).

 Act as a source of support, advice and expertise to staff on matters of safety and safeguarding and when deciding whether to make a referral by liaising with relevant agencies.

Training

The designated safeguarding lead should receive appropriate training carried out every two years in order to:

 Understand the assessment process for providing early help and intervention, for example through locally agreed common and shared assessment processes such as early help assessments.

 Have a working knowledge of how local authorities conduct a child protection case conference and a child protection review conference and be able to attend and contribute to these effectively when required to do so.

 Ensure each member of staff has access to and understands the school’s child protection policy and procedures, especially new and part time staff.

 Be alert to the specific needs of children in need, those with special educational needs and young carers.

 Be able to keep detailed, accurate, secure written records of concerns and referrals.

 Obtain access to resources and attend any relevant or refresher training courses.

· Encourage a culture of listening to children and taking account of their wishes and feelings, among all staff, in any measures the school or college may put in place to protect them.

Raising Awareness

The designated safeguarding lead should ensure the school or college’s policies are known and used appropriately:

 Ensure the school’s child protection policy is reviewed annually and the procedures and implementation are updated and reviewed regularly, and work with governing bodies or proprietors regarding this.

 Ensure the child protection policy is available publicly and parents are aware of the fact that referrals about suspected abuse or neglect may be made and the role of the school or college in this.

 Link with the local LSCB to make sure staff are aware of training opportunities and the latest local policies on safeguarding.

 Where children leave the school or college ensure their child protection file is transferred to the new school or college as soon as possible. This should be transferred separately from the main pupil file, ensuring secure transit and confirmation of receipt should be obtained.

5.3. The Governing body is accountable for ensuring that the education setting has effective policies and procedures in place in accordance with this guidance, and for monitoring the school/college’s compliance with them. Neither the governing body, nor individual governors, have a role in dealing with individual cases or a right to know details of cases (except when exercising their disciplinary functions in respect of allegations against a member of staff). Some governing bodies have found it helpful for an individual member of the governing body to champion child protection issues within the school/college, liaise with the head teacher about them, and provide information and reports to the governing body. However, it is not appropriate for that person to take the lead in dealing with allegations of abuse made against the head teacher. That is the role of the chair of governors or, in the absence of a chair, the vice or deputy chair. Whether the governing body acts collectively or an individual member takes the lead, it is helpful if all members of the governing body undertake training about child protection to ensure they have the knowledge and information needed to perform their functions and understand their responsibilities.

5.4 Who is available within the Local Authority to offer advice and support?

Education Safeguarding Officer - 01706 925384

Education Welfare Service - Tel: 01706 925115

Multi Agency Screening Service - Tel: 0300 303 0440

Out of Hours, Emergency Duty Social Work Team - Tel: 0300 303 8875

Local Authority Designated Officer (Allegations of Professional Abuse) -

Tel: 01706 925365

Safeguarding Unit – 0300 303 0350

External Agency

Police Protection and Investigation Unit (PPIU) –

Tel: 0161 856 4810 (CP) 0161 856 8757 (DV)

6. PROCEDURES

6.1  Where it is believed that a child is suffering from, or is at risk of significant harm, we will follow the Rochdale Borough Multi-Agency Safeguarding Children procedures located at www.rbscb.org

 Staff will be kept informed about Child Protection procedures through regular training and staff meeting notices.

 Other adults in school will know what to do if there are Child Protection concerns through providing a brief guide to any visitor who may be placed in a position of working with or alongside children.

 We will inform parents of the school’s duties and responsibilities under the Child Protection procedures through newsletters and parent guides as well as ensuring that there is a clear statement in the school prospectus.

(see attached Child Protection Procedures)

7. TRAINING AND SUPPORT

7.1. Our school will ensure that the Head Teacher, the Designated Safeguarding Lead and the nominated governor for Child Protection attend training relevant to their role at regular intervals. The school/college will encourage all members of the governing body to access safeguarding training both that which is offered in-house or by attendance at courses run via the REAL trust or RBSCB. The Designated Safeguarding Lead will also attend Multi-Agency Child Protection training within this timescale.

 Our staff receives basic training on Child Protection upon induction and an update at least every three years which is delivered by the Local Education Safeguarding Officer.

 The DSP and/ or deputy DSP regularly attends the LA safeguarding network meetings and they are available to staff if there are concerns or queries.

 There is a cycle of safeguarding training for all staff relating to themed areas such as e-safety and issues as they arise i.e. CSE, Prevent Duty…

8. CONFIDENTIALITY

8.1. Confidentiality is an issue which needs to be discussed and fully understood by all those working with children, particularly in the context of Child Protection’.

All adults working in, and associated with, the school understand the need for confidentiality. This is done through staff training and case by case discussions.

An adult must never guarantee confidentiality to a child because such a guarantee could prevent the teacher from involving the appropriate outside agencies. If a teacher guarantees confidentiality and then breaks this there could be a serious breakdown in the relationship between the pupil and the teacher or the pupil and the school. The teacher should explain to the child that he or she may have to ask advice from other people on the best way to help the child and to improve their current situation.

Any disclosure should be referred to the DSL or deputy DSL who will determine the next course of action and will determine who needs to be given information relating to a child on the basis of a ‘need to know’ where the safeguarding of a child is of paramount importance.