CHILD PROTECTION/SAFEGUARDING POLICY FOR BRANKSOME HEATH MIDDLE SCHOOL
Karen Wrixon - DSCP and Andy Watson Deputy Headteacher
INTRODUCTION
Branksome Heath Middle School recognises the responsibility it has under section 175 of the Education Act 2002 to have arrangements about safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
Through their day to day contact with pupils and direct work with families, staff at the school have a crucial role to play in noticing indicators of possible abuse or neglect and referring them to the appropriate agency, normally children's social services.
This policy sets out how the school's governing body discharges its statutory responsibilities relating to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children who are pupils at the school.
There are four main elements to our policy:
PREVENTION through the teaching and pastoral support offered to pupils and the creation and maintenance of a whole school protective ethos
PROCEDURES for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse.
SUPPORT TO PUPILS who may have been abused.
PREVENTING UNSUITABLE PEOPLE WORKING WITH CHILDREN
Our policy applies to all staff and volunteers working in the school including community education staff and governors. Teaching assistants, mid-day supervisors, secretaries as well as teachers can be the first point of disclosure for a child. Concerned parents may also contact school governors.
1) PREVENTION
o We recognise that high self-esteem, confidence, supportive friends and good lines of communication with a trusted adult helps prevention.
The school will therefore:
o Establish and maintain an ethos where children feel secure and are encouraged to talk, and are listened to;
o Ensure children know that there are adults in the school whom they can approach if they are worried or in difficulty;
o Include in the curriculum, activities and opportunities for PSHE which equip children with the skills they need to stay safe from abuse and to know to whom to turn for help;
o Include, in the curriculum, material which will help children develop realistic attitudes to the responsibilities of adult life, particularly with regard to child care and parenting skills
2) PROCEDURES
The Designated Senior Member of Staff for Child Protection
The school will:
o Ensure it has a designated senior member of staff, who has undertaken as a minimum, the accredited 2 day child protection training course and updates.
o Ensure this training is updated every two years in accordance with government guidance
o Recognise the importance of the role of the designated teacher and ensure s/he has the time and training to undertake her/his duties
o Ensure there are contingency arrangements should the designated member of staff not be available.
o That the designated member of staff will take advice from a child protection specialist when managing complex cases.
The Role of Governors and School Staff
The school will:
o Ensure every member of staff and every governor knows:
o The name of the designated person and her/his role
o That they have an individual responsibility for referring child protection concerns using the proper channels and within the timescales set out in the Inter-Agency Safeguarding Procedures.
o Where the Inter-Agency Safeguarding Procedures containing Education Child Protection Procedures is located
o Provide training for all staff from the point of their induction, and updated every three years at a minimum, so that they know
o Their personal responsibility
o The Inter Agency Safeguarding procedures
o The need to be vigilant in identifying cases of abuse
o How to support and to respond to a child who tells of abuse
o Ensure that all staff and volunteers recognise their duty and feel able to raise concerns about poor or unsafe practice in regard to children and that such concerns are addressed sensitively and effectively in a timely manner in accordance with agreed whistle blowing policies.
Liaison with Other Agencies
The school will:
o Work to develop effective links with relevant agencies and co-operate as required with their enquiries regarding child protection matters including attendance and written reports at initial case conferences, core groups and child protection review conferences.
o Notify the local Social Services team if:
o It should have to exclude a pupil on the child protection register (whether fixed term or permanently)
o If there is an unexplained absence of a pupil on the child protection register of more than two days duration from school (or one day following a weekend); (or as agreed as part of any child protection or core group plan).
Record Keeping
The school will:
o Keep clear detailed written records of concerns about children (noting the date, event and action taken), even where there is no need to refer the matter to Social Services immediately:
o Ensure all records are kept secure and in locked locations.
Confidentiality and information sharing
o Staff will ensure confidentiality protocols are adhered to and information is shared appropriately. If in any doubts about confidentiality, staff will seek advice from a senior manager or outside agency as required.
o The Headteacher or Designated Teacher will disclose any information about a pupil to other members of staff on a need to know basis only.
o All staff must be aware that they have a professional responsibility to share information with other agencies in order to safeguard children.
o All staff must be aware that they cannot promise a child to keep secrets.
Communication with Parents
The school will:
o Undertake appropriate discussion with parents prior to involvement of another agency unless the circumstances preclude this. (Further guidance on this can be found in the Education Child Protection Procedures section 4.27)
o Ensure that parents have an understanding of the responsibility placed on the school and staff for child protection by setting out its obligations in the school brochure.
3) SUPPORTING THE PUPIL AT RISK
o We recognise that children who are abused or witness violence may find it difficult to develop a sense of self worth and to view the world as benevolent and meaningful. They may feel helplessness, humiliation and some sense of self-blame.
o This school may be the only stable, secure and predictable element in the lives of children at risk. Nevertheless, when at school their behaviour may be challenging and defiant or they may be withdrawn.
o We recognise that some children actually adopt abusive behaviours and that these children must be referred on for appropriate support and intervention.
The school will endeavour to support the pupil through:
o The content of the curriculum to encourage self esteem and self motivation.
o The school ethos which promotes a positive, supportive and secure environment, gives pupils a sense of being valued.
o The school's behaviour policy is aimed at supporting vulnerable pupils in the school. All staff will agree on a consistent approach, which focuses on the behaviour of the offence committed by the child but does not damage the pupil's sense of self worth. The school will endeavour to ensure that the pupil knows that some behaviour is unacceptable but s/he is valued and not to be blamed for any abuse which has occurred.
o Liaison with other agencies which support the pupils such as Social Services, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, the Educational Psychology Service, Behaviour Support Services and the Education Welfare Service.
o A commitment to develop productive and supportive relationships with parents whenever it is in a pupil's best interest to do so.
o Recognition that children living in a home environment where there is domestic violence, drug or alcohol abuse are vulnerable and in need of support and protection.
o Vigilantly monitoring children's welfare, keeping records and notifying Social Services as soon as there is a recurrence of a concern.
When a pupil on the child protection register leaves, information will be transferred to the new school immediately. The Child Review Manager will also be informed.
Drug Use and Child Protection
o The discovery that a young person is using illegal drugs or reported evidence of their drug use is not necessarily sufficient in itself to initiate child protection proceedings but the school will consider such action in the following situations:
When there is evidence or reasonable cause:
o To believe the young person's drug misuse may cause him or her to be vulnerable to other abuse such as sexual abuse.
o To believe the pupil's drug related behaviour is a result of abusing or endangering pressure or incentives from others particularly adults.
o Where the misuse is suspected of being prompted by serious parent/carer drug misuse.
Children of Drug Using Parents
o Further enquiries and or further action will be taken when the school receives reliable information about drug and alcohol abuse by a child's parents/carers in the following circumstances:
o The parental misuse is regarded as problematic (ie multiple drug use including injection)
o A chaotic and unpredictable home environment which can be attributed to drug or alcohol misuse
o Children are not being provided with acceptable or consistent levels of social and health care
o Children are exposed to criminal behaviour.
4) PREVENTING UNSUITABLE PEOPLE FROM WORKING WITH CHILDREN
o The school will operate safe recruitment practices including ensuring appropriate CRB and reference checks are undertaken according to Circular DfES/0278/2002 Child Protection: Preventing Unsuitable People from Working with Children and Young People in the Education Service.
o The school will consult with the designated LA Officer for Child Protection in the event of an allegation being made against a member of staff and adhere to the relevant procedures set out in the Education Child Protection Procedures, the Inter Agency Safeguarding Procedure and the school's Personnel Manual (ie the Manual produced by EPM Ltd for subscribing schools).
o The school will ensure that any disciplinary proceedings against staff relating to child protection matters are concluded in full even when the member of staff is no longer employed at the school and that notification of any concerns is made to the relevant authorities and professional bodies and included in references where applicable.
o The school will ensure that all staff and volunteers are aware of the need for maintaining appropriate and professional boundaries in their relationships with pupils and parents as advised by the Local Authority's Code of Conduct.
5) OTHER RELATED POLICIES
o Physical Intervention
Our policy on physical intervention by staff is set out in a separate document and is reviewed regularly by the governing body. We acknowledge that staff must only ever use physical intervention as a last resort, and that at all times it must be the minimum force necessary to prevent injury themselves, another person or property.
o Anti Bullying
Our policy on bullying is set out in a separate document and is reviewed annually by the governing body. We acknowledge that to allow or condone bullying may lead to consideration under child protection procedures.
o Racist Incidents
Our policy on racist incidents is set out in a separate document and is reviewed annually by the governing body. We acknowledge that repeated racist incidents or a single serious incident may lead to consideration under child protection procedures.
o Health & Safety
Our Health & Safety policy, set out in a separate document and is reviewed regularly by the governing body. It reflects the consideration we give to the protection of our children both within the school environment and when away from the school when undertaking school trips and visits.
o Children with Statements of Special Educational Needs (SEN Policy)
We recognise that statistically children with behavioural difficulties and disabilities are most vulnerable to abuse. School staff who deal with children with profound and multiple disabilities, cerebral palsy, sensory impairment and or emotional and behaviour problems are particularly sensitive to signs of abuse.
6) GOVERNING BODY CHILD PROTECTION RESPONSIBILITIES
o The governing body fully recognises its responsibilities with regard to child protection and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
It will:
o Designate a governor for child protection who will oversee the school's child protection policy and practice and champion child protection issues
o Ensure an annual report is made to the governing body, and copied to the Education Child Protection Service, on child protection matters to include changes affecting CP policy and procedures, child protection training received, the number of incidents/cases (no names) and child protection in the curriculum
o Ensure that this policy is annually updated and reviewed
o Extended Schools and Before and After School Activities
If the governing body provides extended school facilities or before or after school activities directly under the supervision or management of school staff, the school's arrangements for child protection as written in this policy shall apply.
Where services or activities are provided separately by another body, the governing body will seek assurance that the body concerned has appropriate policies and procedures in place for safeguarding children and child protection and there are arrangements to liaise with the school on these matters where appropriate.
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