Brighouse High School

The Headteacher is – Mrs E Cresswell
This policy was developed in October 2014
This policy was signed off by the Governing Body on –20th October 2014
The policy will be reviewed on –20th October 2015
The Designated Safeguarding lead (DSL) who takes the lead for Child Protection is Miss A Haslem
The Deputy Designated Safeguarding lead is -
Ms F Wardle
The name of the Designated Teacher for Children in Care is – Miss A Haslem
The named Member of the Governing Body for safeguarding is – Mrs M Brearley

Contents

Introduction

Section 1School Commitment

Section 2Providing a Safe and Supportive Environment

2.1Safer Recruitment and Selection

2.2Safe Practice & Risk Assessment

2.3Safeguarding Information for Pupils

2.4Partnership with Parents

2.5Partnership with Others

2.6School Training and Staff Induction

2.7Support, Advice and Guidance for Staff

2.8Related School Policies

- Children Missing from Education

- Confidentiality

2.9Pupil Information

2.10Roles and Responsibilities:

- Governing Body

- Head teacher

- Designated Safeguarding lead

- All Staff and Volunteers

Section 3Identifying Children who are Suffering or Likely to suffer Significant Harm

-Definitions

Section 4Taking Action to ensure that Children are Safe at School and at Home

4.1 Concerns that staff must immediately report

4.2 Responding to disclosure

4.3 Action by the Designated Safeguarding lead

4.4 Action following a child protection referral

4.5 Recording and monitoring

4.6 Supporting the child and partnership with parents

4.7Preventing violent extremism

Section 5Allegations regarding Person(s) Working in or on behalf of School (including Volunteers)

Appendix 1 – Contacts

Appendix 2 – DBS Flowchart

Appendix 3 – Example Record of Concern form

Appendix 4 – Referral flowchart

Appendix 5 – Sample insert for school brochure/prospectus

Introduction

The policy is in line with:

  • West Yorkshire Consortium Safeguarding Children Procedures:
  • Working Together to Safeguard Children(2013)
  • Keeping Children Safe in Education (2014)
  • Children Act 1989 (as amended 2004)
  • Education Act 2002

Safeguarding is defined as:

•Protecting children from maltreatment;

•Preventing impairment of children’s health or development;

•Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care;

•Taking action to enable children in need to have optimum life chances

(Working Together to Safeguard Children, 2013)

We believe that:

  • Schools play a key role in the prevention of abuse.
  • All children have the right to be protected from harm.
  • Children need support which matches their individual needs, including those who may have experienced abuse.

Section 1:School Commitment

This policy applies to all adults, including volunteers, working in or on behalf of the school.

The purpose of this policy is:

  • To inform staff, parents, volunteers and governors about the school’s responsibility for safeguarding children and to develop awareness and identification of abuse
  • To enable everyone to have a clear understanding of how these responsibilities should be carried out
  • To establish and maintain an environment where children are and feel safe, can learn, and are encouraged to talk and are listened to.

Everyone working in or for our school service shares an objective to help keep children and young people safe by contributing to:

  • providing a safe environment for children and young people to learn and develop in our school setting, and
  • identifying children and young people who are suffering or likely to suffer significant harm at the earliest opportunity, and taking appropriate action with the aim of making sure they are kept safe both at home and in our school setting

Brighouse HighSchool is committed to safeguarding and promoting the well being of all of its pupils. Each pupil’s welfare is of paramount importance. We recognise that some children may be especially vulnerable to abuse. We recognise that children who are abused or neglected may find it difficult to develop a sense of self worth and to view the world in a positive way. Whilst at school, their behaviour may be challenging. We recognise that some children who have experienced abuse may harm others. We will always take a considered and sensitive approach in order that we can support all of our pupils.

Section 2:Providing a Safe and Supportive Environment

2.1 Safer Recruitment and Selection

The school pays full regard to DfE guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ April 2014. We ensure that all appropriate measures are applied in relation to everyone who works in the school, who is likely to be perceived by the children as a safe and trustworthy adult including e.g. volunteers and staff employed by contractors. Safer recruitment practice includes scrutinising applicants by:

  • verifying identity;
  • verifying academic and vocational qualifications, and checking that a candidate to be employed as a teacher is not subject to a prohibition order issued by the Secretary of State;
  • obtaining a certificate for an enhanced DBS check with barred list information where the person will be engaging in regulated activity;
  • obtaining professional references;
  • checking previous employment history and seeking references;
  • ensuring that a candidate has the health and physical capacity for the job;
  • verifying the person’s right to work in the UK

The level of DBS check required, and whether a prohibition check is required, will depend on the role and duties of the person applying for a role in the school. We therefore ensure that all checks made are appropriate and in line with KCSE 2014. For most appointments, an enhanced DBS check with barred list information will be appropriate as the majority of staff will be engaging in regulated activity. However there will be some, for example a supervised volunteer who regularly teaches or looks after children who is not in regulated activity. The Department for Education (DfE) published separate statutory guidance on supervision and regulated activity which we will have regard to when considering which checks should be undertaken on volunteers. This is set out in Appendix 2.

The school is committed to checking on a 5 yearly basis, a sample of staff DBS/CRB records and updating those on CRB to DBS.

This school is committed to keeping an up to date Single Central Record (SCR)which covers the following people:

  • all staff (including supply staff) who work at the school;
  • all others who work in regular contact with children in the school, including Governors and volunteers;

The Single Central Record (SCR) records the safer recruitment checks as listed previously and states whether the checks have been carried out or certificates obtained, the date on which the checks were completed and by whom.

If we have staff from an agency or third-party organisation, we will obtain written notification from that agency or organisation that they have carried out the checks, and we will ensure that we check the identification of the person presenting themselves for work and that this is the same person on whom the checks have been made.

The Headteacher, Deputy Headteachers and Business Managerhave undertaken Safer Recruitment Training within the last 5 years, and at least one of the above will be involved in all staff and volunteer appointments and arrangements (including, where appropriate, contracted services).

2.2Safer Practice & Risk Assessment

Safe working practices in our school ensure that pupils are safe and that all staff:

  • are responsible for their own actions and behaviour and should avoid any conduct which would lead any reasonable person to question their motivation and intentions;
  • work in an open and transparent way;
  • work with other colleagues where possible in situations open to question
  • discuss and/or take advice from school management over any incident which may give rise to concern;
  • record any incidents or decisions made;
  • apply the same professional standards regardless of gender, sexualityor disability
  • comply and are aware of the confidentiality policy
  • are aware that breaches of the law and other professional guidelines could result in criminal or disciplinary action being taken against them.

Risk assessments are taken seriously and used to good effect to promote safety. Risk assessments are available for all aspects of the school’s work, (such as premises and equipment, on-site activities, off-site activities, venues used, transport). Where relevant, risk assessments are carried out for individual pupils, and supported by action plans identifying how potential risks would be managed. The school uses the Local Authority Evolve system to monitor and log risk assessment of external visits and trips. All trips which involve overnight stays are sent via Evolve for Local Authority screening

Individual risk assessments are also used when deciding a response to a child demonstrating potentially harmful behavioursuch as sexually harmful behaviour or when identifying whether a child who may be particularly vulnerable such as a child at risk of Child Sexual Exploitation.

2.3Safeguarding Information for pupils

All pupils in our school are aware of a number of staff who they can talk to. The school is committed to ensuring that pupils are aware of behaviour towards them that is not acceptable and how they can keep themselves safe. All pupils know that we have a designated safeguarding lead(DSL), who is a senior member of staffwith responsibility for child protection and know who this is. Likewise all pupils know that there is a Deputy DSL who they would talk to if the DSL was not in school, We inform pupils of whom they might talk to, both in and out of school, their right to be listened to and heard and what steps can be taken to protect them from harm.

Our school will ensure that pupils are made aware that information can be found at the followingCEOP, poster campaigns, helplines (via information in planner).

Pupils in our school are treated with dignity and respect and their views are listened to. School’s arrangements for consulting with and listening to pupils areYear and school council, EHNA, pupil survey and subject board pupil area.

We make pupils aware of these arrangements by feedback given to them in assemblies or school council.Safeguarding is a priority which is reflected in the curriculum, which is used to promote safeguarding and is tailored to local concerns.

2.4 Partnership with Parents

The school shares a purpose with parents to educate and keep children safe from harm. Information evenings are held on keeping children safe on the internet and parent evenings for residential trips to inform them of risk assessment and safety measures.

We are committed to working with parents positively, openly and honestly. We ensure that all parents are treated with respect, dignity and courtesy. We respect parents’ rights to privacy and confidentiality and will not share sensitive information unless we have permission to do so, or it is necessary to do so, in order to protect a child.

Brighouse High School will share with parents any concerns we may have about their child unless to do so may place a child at risk of harm (see 3. Action by Designated Safeguarding lead)

We encourage parents to discuss any concerns they may have with the school.

We make parents aware of our policy via the website andparents are made aware this policy is available and accessible at all times. Posters and displays also ensure that Safeguarding has a high profile within the whole school community.

2.5 Partnerships with others

Our school recognises that it is essential to establish positive and effective working relationships with other agencies. e.g. LA, CAMHS, Police, School Nursing Service, Health, Social Services etc.

There is a joint responsibility on all these agencies to share information to ensure the safeguarding of all children.

As a school we will cooperate with Social Care where they are conducting child protection enquiries. Furthermore school will endeavour to attend appropriate inter-agency meetings such as Early Intervention Panels, CAF and TAC meetings, Child In Need reviews and Initial and Review Child Protection Case Conferences. We will provide written reports as required for these meetings and, wherever possible, these reports will be shared with parents prior to the meetings.

2.6 School Training and Staff Induction

The school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead undertakes refresher training at 2 yearly intervals, provided by Calderdale MBC’s Schools Safeguarding Advisor. The DSL also attends other opportunities such as the DSL Network events and Multi-Agency Training to ensure that they are up to date with current practices and procedures and in order to further their continuous professional development.

The Head teacher and all other school staff, including non teaching staff and volunteers, undertake appropriate induction training to equip them to carry out their responsibilities for child protection effectively, which is kept up to date by refresher training in Basis Safeguarding Awareness at regular intervals (minimum every 3 years).Brighouse High School ensure that this takes place by (the DSL provides annual updates through face-to-face delivery or by coordinating online training, and the school accesses external whole school face-to-face training every three years, as recommended by Calderdale Safeguarding Children Board.

The online training also provides a mop-up arrangement for any staff or volunteers unable to attend whole school training. All staff (including temporary staff and volunteers) are provided with the school’s child protection policy and informed of school’s child protection arrangements on induction.

2.7 Support, Advice and Guidance for Staff

Staff will be supported by DSL, LA and local professional association connected to safeguarding

The designated safeguarding lead for Safeguarding/Child Protection will be supported by Deputy Headteacher and nominated governor. Advice is available from the Schools Safeguarding Advisor (Rezina Kelly 01422 392134).

Safeguarding is also a regular agenda itemat staff meetings and governor meetingsand therefore there is an opportunity for discussion and to raise concerns.

2.8Related School Policies

There are other policies in school which relate to Safeguarding, such as the E-Safety Policy, the school ensures that all policies are cross-referenced and reviewed annually. All policies are available to staff, and a register is kept and signed by staff as evidence that they have read and thus agreed to adhere to any policies.

Children Missing from Education

  • The school follows the Calderdale Council ‘Children Missing Education – Guidance and Procedure (July 2012) Where children on roll at our school do not arrive and attend, and the school has made the usual enquiries, we will refer the case to the appropriate local authority body e.g. EWO, local Safeguarding Officer, Social Services or Police if serious concerns.

Confidentiality

Schoolhas regard to “Information Sharing: Practitioner’s guide” HM Government, 2006

“Where there is a concern that the child may be suffering or is at risk of suffering significant harm, the child’s safety and welfare must be the overriding consideration. “

The School has a clear and explicit confidentiality policy.

The school policy indicates:

a)When information must be shared with police and Multi-Agency Screening Team (MAST) where the child/young person is / may be at risk of significant harm

b)When the pupil’s and/or parent’s confidentiality must not be breached

c)Information is shared on a need to know basis

Photography and Images

The vast majority of people who take or view photographs or films of children do so for entirely innocent, understandable and acceptable reasons. Sadly, some people abuse children through taking or using images, so we must ensure that we have some safeguards in place. To protect children we will:

  • Seek their consent for photographs to be taken or published (for example on our website or in newspapers or publications)
  • Seek parental consenton enrolment form.
  • Use only the child’s first name with an image
  • Ensure that they children are appropriately dressed
  • Encourage children to tell us if they are worried about any photographs that are taken of them

Further information about any images or films taken is referred to in the school’s E-Safety Policy.

2.9Pupil Information

Our schoolwill endeavour to keep up to date and accurate informationin order to keep children safe and provide appropriate care for them the school requires accurate and up to date information regarding:

  • names and contact details of persons with whom the child normally lives
  • names and contact details of all persons with parental responsibility (if different from above)
  • emergency contact details (if different from above), ensuring that should the person(s) with parental responsibility be unable to collect this person could collect the child and keep them safe until either the person(s) with parental responsibility is available or a more suitable arrangement is made
  • details of any persons authorised to collect the child from school (if different from above)
  • any relevant court orders in place including those which affect any person’s access to the child (e.g. Residence Order, Contact Order, Care Order, Injunctions etc.)
  • if the child is or has been subject to a Child Protection Plan
  • if the child is or has been subject to Common Assessment Framework (CAF) or Child In Need (CIN) processes.
  • name and contact detail of G.P.
  • any other factors which may impact on the safety and welfare of the child

The school will collate, store and agree access to this information, ensuring all information held electronically is stored securely with due regard to meeting data protection and safeguarding requirements.

2.10Roles and Responsibilities

Our Governing Bodywill ensure that:

  • the school has an effective child protection policy and procedures in place that are in accordance with local authority guidance and locally agreed inter-agency procedures, and the policy is available publically via the school website or other means
  • the school has a staff behaviour policy or code of conduct and that this is provided to all staff on induction
  • the school operates safer recruitment procedures and makes sure that all appropriate checks are carried out on staff and volunteers who work with children;

and that any panel involved in the recruitment of staff has at least one member who has undertaken the Safer Recruitment Training.