Safeguarding, Child Protection and Promotion of Welfare Policy

Safeguarding, Child Protection and Promotion of Welfare Policy

2015-16

Safeguarding, Child Protection and Promotion of Welfare Policy

Abbey College Cambridge

Designated Safeguarding Lead:Karen Lonsdale

Telephone:01223 578280

Email:

Designated Personnel: Helen Winter; Fiona McEwan-Cox; Carolyn Dunn; Bradley Derrick

This policy is reviewed on an annual basis

Annual Policy reviewed by:Karen Lonsdale

Annual Review date: September 2015

Updated:November 2015

Next date of Annual Review:August 2016

Governor Review Date:November 2016

Abbey College Cambridge fully recognises its responsibility for child protection and is aware that the safeguarding and promotion of the welfare of children is of paramount importance. This policy complies with DfE guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education (2015)’. ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children (2015) and DfE statutory guidance ‘Dealing with Allegations of Abuse against Teachers and Other Staff (2012)’. Our procedures are in line with our local safeguarding boardCambridge Local Education Authority.

This policy has been adopted by the governors, is addressed to all members of staff and volunteers, is available to parents on request and is published on the school's website. It applies wherever staff or volunteers are working with pupils, including when this involves being away from the school: for example, on an educational visit.

Printed copies of this policy available to parents on request.

Introduction

Abbey College Cambridge fully recognises the responsibility it has under Section 157 of the Education Act 2002 to have arrangements in place to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Safeguarding is every member of staffs’ responsibility and staff should consider that ‘it could happen here’ when it comes to safeguarding and child protection.

This responsibility is more fully explained in the statutory guidance for schools and colleges “Keeping Children Safe in Education” (March 2015). All staff must have read Part One of this document and be aware of their duties and responsibilities held within.

Staff should read the above document together with “What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused: Advice for practitioners” (March, 2015). Copies of the latest versions are found in this staff shared folder T:\Staff documents\Staff Policy Documents\2015-16 ACC\Other docs.

Staff members working are advised to maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here’ where safeguarding is concerned and 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 Children’s Services via the Cambridgeshire Direct Contact Centre (Designated Safeguarding Lead for Child Protection to refer).

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. The governors will respond to any deficiencies in the policy in light of learning through the annual review process and identified needs of children.

Our policy applies to all staff, paid and unpaid, working in the school including governors. Any member of teaching, support, boarding or cleaning and catering staff can be the first point of disclosure for a child. Concerned parents and carers may also contact the school and its governors.

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.

SUPPORTING VULNERABLE CHILDREN; those who may have been abused or witnessed violence towards others.

PREVENTING UNSUITABLE PEOPLE WORKING WITH CHILDREN.

Prevention

We recognise that high self-esteem, confidence, supportive friends and good lines of communication with trusted adults help protect children.
Abbey Cambridge will:

-Establish and maintain an environment where children feel safe in both the real and the virtual world, and are encouraged to talk and are listened to.

-Ensure children know that there are adults in the school whom they can approach if they are worried or in difficulty and their concerns will be taken seriously and acted upon as appropriate.

-Include in the curriculum activities and opportunities which equip children with the skills they need to stay safer from abuse both in the real and the virtual world and information about who to turn to for help.

-Include in the curriculum material which will help children develop realistic attitudes to the responsibilities of adult life.

Procedures

Abbey Cambridge follow the procedures set out in the Cambridgeshire Local Safeguarding Children Board ‘core Inter-Agency Procedures’ ( and in line with the APG Policy for all schools.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead for Child Protection is Karen Lonsdale.
The Deputy staff who have also received the Designate Person training (only to contact when Karen Lonsdale is on leave) Anona Cram, Fiona McEwan-Cox and Helen Winter.
The nominated governor for Safeguarding and Child Protection is Jenny Aviss.
The designated safeguarding lead will receive updated training every two years in accordance with government guidance and will have the time, training and support necessary to undertake their duties, which include providing advice and support to staff, taking part in inter-agency meetings and contributing to the assessment of children in need.
The school will ensure every member of staff, paid and unpaid, and the governing body, knows who the designated members of staff are and the procedures for passing on concerns, from the point of induction.
Staff are duty-bound to pass on information to the Designated Safeguarding Lead if they have a concern about the welfare of students.
The school will ensure that the designated members of staff take advice from a child protection specialist when managing complex cases. The Designated Persons have access to both the Advice Line run by the Education Child Protection Service and Children’s Services. The Emergency Duty Team is also available.

Contacts

-Education Child Protection Service Advice Line 01223 703800

-Cambridgeshire Direct Contact Centre (Social Care)0345 0455203

-Emergency Duty Team (Out of Hours)01733 234724

-Police child Abuse Investigation Unit101 or 01480 847743

The school will develop effective links with relevant services to promote the safety and welfare of all pupils and co-operate as require, in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015, with key agencies in their enquiries regarding child protection matters.

The school will keep clear, detailed, accurate, written records of concerns about children even where there is no need to refer the matter to Children’s Services immediately. Child Protection information will be sorted and handled in line with the Data Protection Act principles and this does not prevent schools from sharing information with relevant agencies, where that information may help to protect a child. If any member of staff receives a request from a pupil or parents to see child protection requests they should refer to request to the Designated Safeguarding Lead as child protection records are normally exempt from the disclosure provisions of the Data Protection Act, which means that children and parents do not have an automatic right to see them.

The school will ensure all records are kept securely and away from the main pupil file in a locked location and that all student files are sent to the receiving school when a pupil moves in accordance with guidance.

The Designated Safeguarding lead and Principal will only disclose any information about a pupil to other members of staff on a ‘need to know’ basis, including domestic violence notifications.

Staff are not to promise to keep secrets and to make this clear to students.

The school will undertake appropriate discussion with parents and carers under the directive of the Designated Safeguarding Lead, prior to involvement of another agency unless the circumstances preclude this action. If the school believes that notifying parents could increase the risk to the child or exacerbate the situation, advice will be sought from Children’s Services.

Every member of staff and every governor must know:

-The name of the Designated Safeguarding Lead and their role.

-How to identify the signs of abuse and neglect.

-How to pass on and record concerns about a pupil.

-They have an individual responsibility to be alert of the signs and indicators of abuse and for referring child protection and safeguarding and wellbeing concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

-Staff have a responsibility to provide a safe environment in which children can learn.

-Staff should know where to find the Core Inter-Agency Procedures on the LSCB website.

Child Protection Refresher training will be offered annually for all staff so that they are confident about:

-The school’s legislative responsibility.

-Their personal responsibility.

-The school’s policies and procedures.

-The need to be alert to the signs and indicators of abuse, including possible child sexual exploitation, female genital mutilation and radicalisation.

-The need to record concerns.

-How to support and respond to a child who tells of abuse.

All staff must recognise their duty to raise concerns about poor or unsafe practice in regard to children and that such concerns are addressed sensitively and in an effectively timely manner.

-Abbey Cambridge will publish this policy on the school website

Liaison with Other Agencies

The school will:

-Work to develop effective links with relevant services to promote the safety and welfare of all pupils.

-Co-operate as required, in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015, with key agencies in their enquiries regarding child protection matters including attendance and providing written reports at child protection conferences and core groups.

-notify the relevant Children’s Service immediately if:

It should have to exclude a pupil who is subject to a Child Protection Plan (whether fixed term or permanently).

There is an unexplained absence of a pupil who is subject to a Child Protection Plan.

There is any change in circumstances to a pupil who is subject to a Child Protection Plan.

Record Keeping

The school will:

-Keep clear, detailed, accurate, written records of concerns about children (noting the date, event and action taken), even where there is no need to refer the matter to Children’s Services immediately.

-Ensure all records are kept securely, separate from the main pupil file, and in a locked location.

-Ensure all relevant child protection records are sent to the receiving school or establishment when a pupil moves schools in accordance with the Education Child Protection Record Keeping Guidance.

-Make parents aware that such records exist except where to do so would place the child at risk of harm.

Confidentiality and information sharing

Child protection information will be stored and handled in line with the Data Protection Act 1998 principles. The Data Protection Act does not prevent school staff from sharing information with relevant agencies, where that information may help to protect a child.

Child protection records are subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act, 1998. This means that a parent, or young person of sufficient age and understanding, may make a request to see the child protection record. If any member of staff receives a request from a pupil or parents to see child protection requests, they will refer the request to the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Principal.
The Designated Safeguarding Lead will take advice from the Information Governance Team and together a decision will be made about what information to share. This decision will consider the balance between the potential risk to the child and the principle of working openly and honestly with parents.

The school will:

-Ensure confidentiality protocols are adhered to and information is shared appropriately. If in any doubt about confidentiality, staff will seek advice from a senior manager or Children’s Services as required.

(See “Information sharing: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers”, DfE 2015).

-Ensure that the Principal or Designated Safeguarding Lead will only disclose any information about a pupil to other members of staff on a ‘need to know’ basis, including Domestic Violence notifications.

-Make all staff aware that they have a professional responsibility to share information with other agencies in order to safeguard children.

-Ensure staff are clear with children that they cannot promise to keep secrets.

Communication with Parents/Carers

The school will:

-ensure that parents/carers are informed of the responsibility placed on the school and staff in relation to child protection by setting out its duties in the school prospectus/website.

-undertake appropriate discussion with parents/carers prior to involvement of another agency unless the circumstances preclude this action. If the school believes that notifying parents could increase the risk to the child or exacerbate the situation, advice will be sought from Children’s Services. (Further guidance on this can be found in the Inter-agency Procedures of the Local Safeguarding Children Board)

-record what discussions have taken place with parents on the Log of Concern about a Child’s Welfare or if a decision has been made not to discuss it with parents, record the reasons why.

Abbey Cambridge Procedures - Summary of Level One Training

There is no notion of confidentiality between an individual staff and a student. Staff members have a duty to inform the Designated Safeguarding of any welfare and safeguarding issues immediately.Likewise, if it is suspected that a child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm then it is the staff member’s duty to report any concerns, suspicions or disclosures to the Designated Safeguarding Lead immediately:

Share concerns immediately with your Designated Safeguarding Lead for Child Protection.

Record all concerns clearly and factually. These records are confidential and must only be shared with Designated Safeguarding Lead and any other persons who need to know. Add the time and date to your records. Arrange to have staff cover your duties so you can prioritise safeguarding.

Persist – If you feel the problem has not be dealt with or has continued be persistent. Speak to the Designated Safeguarding Lead about your concerns regarding the abuse or handling of the situation. If you are still worried all members of staff have a duty and responsibility to safeguard the child. Speak to the Principal, manager or Children’s Services. Never give up!

Action following a Disclosure

Where a child discloses concerns or makes an allegation no judgement should be made or enquiries initiated by the staff member; merely listening and seeking clarification is required then an account must be recorded by the member of staff no later than an hour following disclosure. Guidance on the response by the staff member who is the initial recipient of the disclosure is to be found in Appendix 1 to this policy. The Designated Safeguarding Lead, Karen Lonsdale, must be contacted immediately. Where the child requires urgent medical treatment an ambulance should be called to take him/her to hospital and alert the Designated Safeguarding. Possible concerns about other staff members, it is important that no discussion should take place with individual named in the disclosure.

Action for the Designated Safeguarding Lead

Following a disclosure, the Designated Safeguarding Leadwill take action to remove the student from harm and notify police and/or Children’s Services if necessary. The Designated Safeguarding Lead is to report the matter as soon as possible and ask for the LADO should the student be at immediate risk of significant harm or whenever an allegation or disclosure of abuse is made.

Procedure in the event of an accusation made by a child or parent against a serving member of staff or volunteer

See the APG policy on the college network

Supporting Vulnerable Children

At Abbey Cambridge we recognise in the contect of the promotion of welfare that due to the intake of our students many are vulnerable in terms of welfare and safeguarding due to the following factors:

-Being an international student living in a city.

-Level of English.

-Living in a more independent setting.

-Naivety and sheltered background.

-Difference in cultures and attitudes to corporal punishment.

-Immense pressure to succeed and achieve top marks for families.

We recognise that abuse or witnessing violence may have an adverse impact on those children which may last into adulthood without appropriate intervention and support.

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 become withdrawn.

We recognise that some vulnerable children may develop abusive behaviours and that these children may need to be referred on for appropriate support and intervention.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead will make timely appropriate referrals to Children’s Services if Female Genital Mutilation is suspected and parents will not be informed before seeking advice. The case will still be referred even if it is against the student’s wishes.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead will complete the LSCB Child Sexual Exploitation Risk Assessment Tool if there is a concern that a student is at risk of exploitative situations, contexts and relationships where young people receive something as a result of engaging in sexual activities, and refer to the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) if there is a concern that a child is at risk.

We recognise that, statistically, children with emotional and behavioural difficulties and disabilities are most vulnerable to abuse. School staff who deal with children with complex and multiple disabilities and/or emotional and behavioural problems should be particularly sensitive to indicators of abuse.

The school has pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties and/or challenging behaviours. The school will support staff to decide appropriate strategies that will reduce anxiety for the individual child and raise self–esteem as part of an overall behaviour support plan agreed with parents/carers.

Prevention of Radicalisation