This Policy Applies to All Adults, Including Volunteers, Working in Or on Behalf of The

Charlton Park Academy and Rainbow House

Safeguarding Policy – Child Protection June 2017

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

Everyone working in or for our academyshares an objective to help keep children and young people stay safe by contributing to:

• providing and recognising 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, and taking appropriate action with the aim of making sure they are kept safe both at home and in our school setting
• no hesitation, if in doubt, to share a concern with a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).

Health & Safety

• The school Health & Safety policy, set out in a separate document, reflects the consideration we give to the safeguarding of our children both within the school environment and when away from the school when undertaking school trips and visits.

Other Relevant Policies

• The Governing Body’s legal responsibility for safeguarding the welfare of children goes beyond basic child protection procedures.
• The duty is now to ensure that safeguarding permeates all activity and functions.
• Ensuring we practise safe recruitment in line with national legislation byusing at least one suitably trained recruiter on all interview panels andby checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work with childrenand ensuring any unsuitable behaviour is reported and managed usingthe Allegations Management procedures.
• We will maintain close links with the Headteacher of the Virtual School (currentlySally Kelly, for children who are looked after. (, 02089213877).
• K Stowell, teacher responsible for children who are looked after will ensure that no child is disadvantaged in any way with regard to their looked after status by closely monitoring progress data, co-ordinating LAC/PEP meetings. Ensuring access to after school and enrichment activities and by fostering positive relationships with carers.

This document needs to be read in conjunction with the policies below, however, this list is not exhaustive: (copies to be found on the Intranet Fronter and School website)

•The Staff Code of Conduct

•Whistle Blowing Policy

•The Anti-Bullying Policy

•The Intimate Care Policy

•E-safety Policy

•Health and Safety Policy May 2017

•Children Missing from Education

•Screening and Searching

•Visiting Professionals

•Physical Intervention

•Behaviour

•Attendance Policy

•Medication recording and reporting procedures

We believe every student should be able to participate in all relevant school activities in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from harm. This is the responsibility of every adult employed by, or service provider invited to deliver services at, Charlton Park Academy. This policy has been developed using the following documentation:

• Governance handbook January 2017 (DEFE 2017)
• Keeping Children Safe in Education, DFE (2016)
• Working Together to Safeguard Children, DFE (2015)
• Disqualification under the Childcare Act 2006 guidance, DFE (2015)
• Inspecting Safeguarding in early years, education and skills settings, Ofsted (2016)
• Safeguarding children, young people and adults policy, Ofsted (2015)
• CHANNEL Duty guidance, HM Government (2015)
• Prevent Duty guidance for England and Wales, HM Government (2015)
• Counter Terrorism and Security Act (2015)
• Mandatory Reporting of Female Genital Mutilation- procedural information, HM Government, (2015)
• Serious Crime Act (2015)
• Mandatory Reporting of Female Genital Mutilation- procedural information, Home Office (2015)
• Safeguarding Pro- Andrew Hall and weekly updates circulated electronically.

As an organisation, we recognise that child abuse can be an emotive subject and therefore it is important to understand the feelings involved and not to allow them to interfere with judgment about any action that needs to be taken. We recognize our responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all our students by protecting them fromall abuse, includingphysical, sexual or emotional abuse, neglect, bullying and risk of radicalisation.

Aims of the Policy

•To raise awareness of all academystaff of the need to safeguard all children and of their responsibilities in identifying and reporting possible cases of abuse.

•To emphasise the need for good communication between all members of staff in matters relating to Child Protection.

•To use and apply a structured procedure within the academy which will be followed by all members of the school community in cases of suspected abuse.

•To provide a systematic means of monitoring students known or thought to be at risk of significant harm.

•To work adverselyand in partnership with parents /carers in relation to Child Protection concerns

•To support all students’ development in ways that will foster security, confidence and independence

•To promote safety and challenge poor and unsafe practice

•To develop and promote effective working relationships with other agencies involved with safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

•To be compliant, all adults working within our school have been checked as to their suitability to work with children.

•Creating an environment where our studentsfeel safe and secure tohave their viewpoints valued and are encouraged to talk/communicate while being listened to.

•To integrate opportunities into the curriculum for all studentsto develop the skills they need to recognise and stay safe from abuse, allowing for continuity and progression through the key stages.

•To take account of and inform policy in related areas, such as anti-bullying; discipline and behaviour; health and safety; restraint procedures; procedures for dealing with allegations against staff and saferecruitment practice.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead’s (DSL) are:

Mark Dale-Emberton, Principal

Niall Fallon, SeniorVice Principal

Sue Batstone, Associate Deputy Head

Assistant Principals: KS3 Rachel Dunlop, KS4 Deborah Reid, KS5 Jo Zarb

Rainbow HouseTeresa Funa and Kathryn Stowell

After school clubs Chris Ether

All DSL staff attending off site locations are to ensure school has the necessary contact information.

Safeguarding concerns regarding The Principal are to be taken to The Chair of Governors or the Local Authority Designated Officer (L.A.D.O.).

Section 175 Education Act 2002

“Requires the governing bodies of maintained schools and further education institutions and local authorities to make arrangements to ensure that their functions are carried out with a view to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children”. The named governors for safeguarding at Charlton Park Academy are Sarah Mctigue and Graham Harknett.

Charlton Park Academy is a Group 8 Community Special School (ages 11–19) for students with low incidence special educational needs. “Good assessments support professionals to understand whether a child has needs relating to their care or a disability and/or is suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm. The specific needs of disabled children and young carers should be given sufficient recognition and priority in the assessment process.” (Working Together to Safeguard Children, 2013)

Disabled children more vulnerable because:

•Many are socially isolated – fewer contacts than non-disabled

•Dependency on parent/cares for activities of daily living increases their risk of exposure to abuse

•Impaired capacity to resist or avoid abuse

•Speech and language issues – unable to communicate

•Communication impairment

•May not have access to a trusted adult

•Vulnerable to bullying and intimidation

•LAC are more susceptible because of the additional dependency on residential and hospital staff

This of course is not an exhaustive list but are some key reasons.

The practice guidance 'Safeguarding disabled children' (2009) makes clear that 'disabled children have exactly the same human rights to be safe from abuse and neglect to be protected from harm and achieve the Every Child Mattersoutcomes as non-disabled children’.

Disabled children do however require additional action. This is because they experience greater and created vulnerability as a result of negative attitudes about disabled children and unequal access to services and resources, and because they may have additional needs relating to physical, sensory, cognitive and/ or communication impairments.'

Due to their disabilities they may experience greater vulnerability as a result of negative attitudes and unequal access to services and resources.

They may have additional needs relating to physical, sensory, cognitive and/ or communication impairments.'

The Role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

• To ensure all staff know that the Principal –is responsible for Child Protection issues and in the absence of the Principal DSL, staff refer concerns via `MyConcern` to a member of the Senior Leadership Team (Vice Principal Niall Fallon; Associate Deputy Head Sue Batstone; KS3Rachel Dunlop; KS4 Deborah Reid; KS5 Jo Zarb; Rainbow House Teresa Funa and Kathryn Stowell; After school clubs Chris Ether)
• To refer promptly all cases of suspected child abuse to the local Social Services department using ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ 2016.

NB. If the case requires the social worker to visit the child before going home and a parent arrives to

collect the child before the social worker has arrived then it must be remembered that we have no right

to prevent the removal of the child by the parent. However, if there are clear signs of physical risk or

threat, the Police should be called.

• To co-ordinate action where child abuse is suspected.

• To attend case conferences or nominate an appropriate member of staff to attend on their behalf.

• To maintain records of case conferences and other sensitive information in a secure, locked and confidential file and to disseminate the information only on a 'need to know basis'.

• To pass on records and inform the key staff when there has been child protection concerns regarding a child who is leaving the academy following the guidance and recording system for Greenwich Local Authority.

• To maintain and update as necessary Safeguarding procedures in line with up to date guidance and legislation and to ensure that staff are aware of and have access to the government guidance ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ 2015.

• To organize cyclical training regarding Child Protection for school staff ensuring new staff access this training promptly.

• To facilitate and support the development of a whole school policy on Safeguarding – ensuring it is reviewed and updated annually.

• To keep up to date with current practice and procedures by participating in training opportunities wherever possible and to attend DSL training every 3 years as a minimum.

• To liaise with The Principal Registrar to ensure all staff and volunteers that work in school are DBS checked to enhanced level.

The Role of Governors:

• The Governing Body has set out its commitment to safeguarding in this policy and it will continue to do all it can to ensure that the school is a safe environment for staff, pupils and members of the public accessing the site;
• The Governing Body will appoint a named governor for safeguarding and review an annual report on all safeguarding related matters;
• The Governing Body will ensure that safeguarding is considered as part of all recruitment procedures;
• The governors will take all reasonable steps to ensure that all statutory health and safety responsibilities are met. This will include a timetabled review of all related policies and action plans.

The role of all staff: teaching and non-teaching:

• All staff will be made aware of and have access to school’s Safeguarding Policy. (Child Protection, protocols and procedures)
• All staff will attend annual safeguardingchild protectiontraining;
• All staff will strive to safeguard pupils in all aspects of the learning environment on-site and on educational visits;
• All staff will challenge any incidents of prejudice, racism or homophobia and record any serious incidents, drawing them to the attention of the Principal;
• All staff will challenge the use of discriminatory and derogatory language;
• Teachers will support teaching assistants, support staff and volunteers working in their classrooms or on educational visits;
• All staff have a responsibility to monitor and, where necessary, guide the practice of volunteers, visitors or contractors working in school. Any concerns will be reported to the Principal or Assistant Principals.

School Procedures

What to look for, be alert and aware

Dealing with Disclosures of Abuse

If a child chooses to tell a member of staff known legally as ‘a disclosure’ about possible abuse there are a number of things that must be carried out to support the child:

i)Stay calm and be available to listen

ii)Inform the child early on that you cannot keep secrets and that you may have to pass this information on to the DSL but it will remain confidential

iii)Listen with the utmost care to what the child is saying

iv)Do not ask any leading questions throughout the discussion

v)Ask if you can make some notes to ensure you use the students’ exact terminology

vi)Keep a full written record - date, time, of what the child said etc.

vii)Immediately inform therelevantDSL and if unavailable one of the other DSL's as listed. The concern should be clearly reported via MyConcen. The information mustbe as detailed as possible.

What to do if you are concerned about a child?

Try to sort out in your mind why you are worried, based on:

What you have seen

What you have heard from others

What has been said to you directly

Try to be as clear as you can about why you are worried but do not be afraid to listen to your instinct that something just does not seem to be right.

Record your concern on MyConcern as soon as possible, and provide further information and clarification upon request by a DSL, and follow-up as asked, including working with the DSL to make a referral to Social Services. If the concern is urgent all adults must report direct and in person to a DSL, as well as recording on My Concern.

Allegations of child abuse.

All concerns of possible child abuse must always be given the highest priority and referred immediately to the DSL. It should also be made clear to students that SECRETS CANNOT BE KEPT, HOWEVER CONFIDENTIALITY WILL BE KEPT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE CONCERNING CHILD PROTECTION ISSUES.

The DSL will then decide an appropriate course of action based on the ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ (2015) document.

Information for parents/carers will be readily available on the Academy website. Information informing them that all staff are required to follow procedures laid down by the ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ (2015).

Allegations against school staff.

Teachers and all other staff involved in student support must protect themselves especially when meeting on a one to one basis with students. At all times staff must consider professional boundaries. Staff should bear in mind that even perfectly innocent actions can sometimes be misconstrued. If a member of staff becomes aware another member of staff is not following the

Staff Code of Conduct and there is a possibility of a safeguarding breach, they should report the matter immediately to The Principal who will consider the ‘Guidance for safer working practice for those working with children and young people in education settings’ 2015. If the allegation is against The Principal, itshouldthen be taken directly to an alternate DSL and through them to the Chair of Governors.

Practical actions if you are concerned

Inform the Designated Safeguarding Lead in school, Mark Dale-Emberton (Principal) or if not available inform a member of the Senior Leadership Team: Niall Fallon, Sue Batstone, Rachel Dunlop-KS3; Deborah Reid-KS4; Jo Zarb- KS5; and, Teresa Funa and Kathryn Stowell – for Rainbow House; Chris Eather – for After school clubs)

Record on MyConcern – clear, comprehensive and concise information, including the student‘s full name and the date.

If an immediate response is needed, ensure that the relevant DSL or the alternate DSL are also informed – do not leave it under the door as urgent action may need to be taken

Referral

Sharing a concern will not automatically trigger the referral process. When the designated named person(s) feel it appropriate to make a referral, this will be made to the local Social Care - Child Protection Unit. Where concerns include vulnerability to extremism or being drawn into terrorism, referral will also be made to the Single Point of Contact within the Police force in line with Prevent duties.

In some cases, the academy may need to protect a studentimmediately- in these situations emergency action will be taken by dialing 999. The Police are the only agency with statutory powers for the immediate protection of children.

We stress it is not academy’s responsibility to investigate or decide whether abuse has taken place or not. However, any concerns will be raised and if deemed appropriate information will be referred to the appropriate authority immediately. This action will be discussed with parents/ guardians unless doing so is deemed to put the pupil at further risk. The best interest of the pupil is the academy’s paramount concern.

Please note: Bespoke mandatory reporting requirements relating to Female Genital Mutilation were introduced in October 2015. For reporting and referral details please refer to our Safeguarding- Female Genital Mutilation policy.

Child Abuse includes:-

Female Genital Mutilation

The legal situation

FGM is illegal in the UK. It is also illegal to arrange for a child to be taken abroad for FGM. If caught, offenders face a large fine and a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

Section 5B of the 2003 Act1 introduces a mandatory reporting duty which requires regulated health and social care professionals and teachers in England and Wales to report ‘known’ cases of FGM in under 18s which they identify in the course of their professional work to the police. The duty applies from 31 October 2015 onwards.

What is FGM?

FGM is a cultural practice that involves a procedure to remove part or all of a young girl’s female genital organs. UK law regards FGM as violence against women and girls and forbids the practice in the UK or the removal of a woman or girl to another country for the purpose of carrying out the procedure.