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EssexSchoolsCollegesSafeguardingAudit2015-16

This document comprises the categories, standards and guidance included in the Online Safeguarding Audit 2015-16, and can be used as a Pre-Online Auditchecking and discussion document with space provided for your own notes.

The Essex Schools and Colleges Safeguarding Audit is hosted online by Virtual College, and made available to all schools and colleges across Essex, whether operating in the private or state education sector. Full guidance is available via the ESCB website the Essex Schools Infolink

Schools and Colleges have a key role to play in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. In Chapter 2 of ‘Working together to safeguard children’ (HMG, March 2015)page 55 paras 10 – 12 state that the governing bodies, management committees or proprietors of the following schools have duties in relation to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils: maintained schools (including maintained nursery schools), further education colleges and sixth form colleges, and pupil referral units; independent schools (including academy schools, free schools and alternative provision academies) and non-maintained special schools.

In order to fulfil their safeguarding duties, these bodies should have in place the arrangements set out in Chapter 2 paragraph 4 of ‘Working together’. Schools and colleges must also have regard to statutory guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education (2015), which provides further guidance as to how they should fulfil their duties in respect of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in their care.

The Local Safeguarding Children Board is required under Chapter 3 of ‘Working together’ to use data in order to assess whether LSCB partners (which includes the educational establishments listed above) are fulfilling their obligations in Chapter 2 to safeguard children. The Essex Safeguarding Children Board has made an online Safeguarding Audit available in order to support Essex schools and colleges in these responsibilities, and also to gain the necessary oversight of safeguarding effectiveness across schools and colleges in Essex, in partnership with Essex County Council.

Legislative Framework
The school or college, at all times, works in accordance with the following guidance;
Essex Safeguarding Children Board guidelines: the SET (Southend, Essex and Thurrock) Child Protection Procedures (2015)
Keeping Children Safe in Education (DfE, 2015)
Working Together to Safeguard Children (DfE, March 2015)
‘Effective Support for Children and Families in Essex’ (ESCB, 2013)
PREVENT Duty - Counter-Terrorism and Security Act (HMG, 2015)
All documents are available on Essex School Infolink (ESI):

Categories andstandards includedinonline Safeguarding Audit 2015-16

1 / SafeguardingGovernance / Pre-audit notes / comments
Essex EducationServices
providetrainingfor GovernorsandClerksincludingan overview of safeguarding, and a two session (or full day) safeguarding children course specifically for those with responsibility for child protection and safeguarding.
1.1 / There is a nominated governor to link with the LA in the event of allegations of abuse made against the Headteacher.
1.2 / There is a named linkgovernorfor childprotection.
1.3 / The Governing Body meets the requirements of current statutory guidance.
1.4 / Governorsreceiveappropriatesafeguardingtraining.
1.5 / The governingbodyorproprietorreceivesareportatleastannually onthe effectivenessof safeguardingprocedures
1.6 / Safeguardingisaregularagendaitem onfullgoverningbodyagendas and committeeagendaswhererequired.
2 / DesignatedSafeguardingleads
For information on the role of the Designated Lead see p 52 KeepingChildren Safe in Education (DfE, July 2015)
Thereisarequirementfor designatedsafeguardingleads toundergo appropriatetrainingevery2years.Thiscanbe accessedthrough Professional Development Essex Education Services .Schools are free to commission an alternative trainingprovider.
2.1 / There is a designated safeguarding lead and deputy in place who have appropriate status and authority to undertake the role.
2.2 / The role of the designated safeguarding lead is explicit in their job description.
2.3 / The role of the designated safeguarding lead meets the requirements of the statutory guidance.
2.4 / The designated lead delivers level 2 training for all staff.
Resources are available at
2.5 / The designated safeguarding leadand deputy attend level 3 training at least every two years.
The lead and deputy should be appropriately trained in a range of safeguarding issues
3 / Safeguarding Policies
A modelEssex CountyCouncil childprotectionpolicyfor schoolsisavailable viaEssex School Infolink (ESI)
Safeguardingismuch widerthanchildprotection,andeachschoolorcollegeshould ensurethatany relatedpoliciesareregularlyreviewedandconsistentwith thechild protectionpolicy. Other safeguarding policies may include:AntiBullyingpolicye-SafetypolicyWhistle-blowingpolicyCode ofconductpolicy *Safe RecruitmentpolicyEqualityandanti-discriminationpolicyUseof physicalinterventionpolicyMeetingtheneedsof pupilswithmedicalconditionsandIntimatecarepolicyProvidingfirstaidpolicyDrug andsubstancemisusepolicyEducationalvisitspolicyUnexplainedabsences/poorattendancepolicy *Behaviourmanagementpolicy *HealthandSafetypolicyExtendedschoolactivitiespolicyLettingarrangementspolicyWorkplacementspolicy * Useof photographs/video /otherimagesSchoolsecuritypolicy
3.1 / Thereisa childprotectionpolicyapprovedby theGoverningBody andreviewedannually.
3.2 / The child protection policy is available publicly on the school / college website or by other means.
3.3 / There is a staff behaviour / code of conduct policy approvedby theGoverningBody andreviewedannually.
4 / Saferrecruitment
See Part3 (para 43)Safer RecruitmentinKeepingChildrenSafe inEducation (DfE, July 2015)
1 dayaccreditedSaferRecruitmenttrainingisavailablethroughProfessional Development EEStoallorganisationsworkingwithchildren,youngpeopleand families inEssex andshould berefreshedevery3 to 5 years.
4.1 / ThereisaRecruitmentpolicyin place approvedby theGoverningBody andreviewedannually.
4.2 / At leastonememberof anyrecruitmentpanel has undertakensaferrecruitment training
see Para43Keeping Children Safe in Education
4.3 / All pre-appointmentchecksare carriedoutinaccordancewithstatutoryguidance.
see Para63-64Keeping Children Safe in Education
4.4 / The appropriatelevelsof DBS checksareundertaken.
see Para51, 62Keeping Children Safe in Education
4.5 / Referencesaresoughtin accordancewithstatutoryguidance.see Para69Keeping Children Safe in Education
4.6 / The SingleCentral Recordismaintained inaccordancewithstatutoryguidance.
see Para73Keeping Children Safe in Education
5 / What staff need to know
Training presentations are available on ESI safeguarding pages and may be used by Designated Leads to deliver safeguarding training Schools may also commission alternative training providers. All staff should be aware of systems in school to support safeguarding, and be provided either electronically or in hard copy with The Child Protection policy, The Staff Behaviour / Code of Conduct policy, and information on the role of the Designated Lead and how to access them.
5.1 / All staff have been provided with the CP policy, Code of Conduct policy, and KeepingChildren Safe in Education 2015
5.2 / Safeguarding is included in the induction of new staff.
5.3 / All staff receive child protection training which is regularly updated and in line with ESCB guidance.
5.4 / A recordof allsafeguardingtrainingcourses and datescompletedismaintained.
6 / Inter-Agencyworking
It is vital that the school or college works collaboratively with all agencies to ensure that children get the right help at the right time. The Southend Essex and Thurrock (SET) multi-agency child protection procedures provide full guidance for professionals on working in partnership.
Schools should also work in accordance with Working Together to Safeguard Children (HMG, March 2015)
TheEssex EffectiveSupport Windscreencategorisessupport orservicesfor childrenand youngpeopleasUniversal(level1),Additional(level2),Intensive(level3)andSpecialist (level4)accordingtotheidentifiedneedsof thechildor youngperson.
6.1 / Thereisasystemforensuringthat childprotectioncontactnumbersare keptuptodate and canbe accessedeasily
Key safeguarding contact details are available at

6.2 / Staff haveaccesstothelatestguidanceonthresholdsof needandreferral criteriaandprocedures
See ‘Effective Support’ document
6.3 / Any childprotectionconcernsarerecorded,and progressofanyreferralsmade monitored.
Templates are available on ESI:
6.4 / Allmulti agencyChild Protection, Child in Needor Childin Caremeetingreportsare provided within requiredtimescale.
6.5 / Appropriate staffattendmulti-agencyChildProtection, Child in Needor ChildinCaremeetings whenrequested.
6.6 / AnyactionsarisingfromChildProtection, Child in NeedorChildreninCaremeetingsare undertakenwithinrequiredtimescale
6.7 / Designated Leads and governors respond to any learning from Serious Case Reviews by implementing any required changes
7 / Allegationsagainststaff,andWhistle-blowing
Guidanceonmanagingallegations againststaffisavailableontheEssex SchoolsInfolinkSafeguardingarea

See also SET child protection procedures Section 7.
7.1 / The Headteacher/ Principal is familiar with, and follows SET procedures and Keeping Children Safeon managing allegations against members of the workforce.
7.2 / The Headteacher/ Principal is aware of the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and how to contact them
7.3 / Thereare written procedures on ‘Whistle Blowing’ approvedby theGoverningBody andreviewedannually.
7.4 / Information isavailabletoallstaff and the wider school community topublicisethewhistleblowing procedure.
8 / Helpingpupilsandstudentstokeep themselvessafe
8.1 / Thereareregular opportunities withinthecurriculumforlearnersto considerrisksituations andwaysofkeepingsafe.
8.2 / Pupilsorstudentsunderstandhowtokeepthemselvessafeovertheinternet, mobiles or otherelectronicdevice.
8.3 / Pupilsandstudentsareinformedabouthowtheycanreport concernsandtowhomtheycantalk.
8.4 / Therearesystemsinplaceto regularlygatherfeedbackfrompupilsand studentsonsafeguarding issues.
8.5 / Feedbackfromstudentsor pupilsisresponded to by the school or college.
9 / Recordkeepingandinformationsharing
Essex Schools Infolink provides guidance on Information Governance

See also section 9 of the Model school Child Protection policy.
9.1 / Thereisa clearunderstandingby Designated SafeguardingLeads ofwhatinformationcan be sharedwithotheragencies.
9.2 / Child protectionrecordsaremaintainedin linewiththeschoolor college policies and local and statutory guidance.
10 / ChildSexual Exploitation
The ESCB provides free access to a CSE online learning package, aimed at anyone working with children, young people and their families in Essex.
In addition the ESCB provides training for CSE Agency champions.
10.1 / There is a named CSE champion in place.
10.2 / The CSE champion has undertaken ESCB CSE champion training.
10.3 / All staff have been made aware of the signs of child sexual exploitation, and would report concerns to the Designated Lead.
10.4 / Pupils and students are educated around personal safety and safe relationships through the curriculum and other means.
11 / Prevention of Extremism and Radicalisation
As of July 2015, the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act (HMG, 2015) placed a new duty on schools and other education providers. Under section 26 of the Act, schools are required, in the exercise of their functions, to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. This duty is known as the Prevent duty. See p 15 ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’.
The Prevent duty: Departmental Advice for schools and childcare providers (DfE 2015)
WRAP is a Home-Office approved training package (Workshop to Raise Awareness of Prevent)
Channel is a Home Office safeguarding project which aims to prevent children and adults being drawn into violent radicalisation or becoming involved in terrorist related activity
Training presentations are available on ESI:
11.1 / The Designated Safeguarding Lead has attended WRAP or other Prevent Awareness training
11.2 / All staff have been made aware of Prevent and Channel by the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
11.3 / The curriculum promotes spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development, and community cohesion
12 / FGM, Forced Marriage, Honour Based Abuse
FGM refers to Female Genital Mutilation. Honour Based Abuse is a crime or incident committed in order to protect or defend the family or community ‘honour’. Forced Marriage is a marriage in which one or both spouses do not (or, in the case of some adults with learning or physical disabilities, cannot) consent to the marriage and duress is involved.
For FGM see p 14 of ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’. Also ‘FGM Multi-agency practice guidelines’, HMG, 2014 (especially p42-44) and ‘Handling cases of Forced Marriage; multi-agency practice guidelines’, HMG, 2009, p54. Guidance docs and links to online learning re: Forced Marriage, FGM and Honour Based Abuse can be accessed via ESI level 2 child protection training programme resources
12.1 / The Designated Safeguarding Lead is familiar with national FGM and Forced Marriage multi-agency practice guidelines
12.2 / Level 2 child protection training for all staff includes FGM, Forced Marriage and Honour Based Abuse

Essex Schools & Colleges 15_16 Safeguarding Audit standards & check sheet_Oct 2015