Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is the responsibility of everyone working with young people. The Education Act 2002 section 175 places a duty on the Lead Teacher and Governing Body to ensure their functions are carried out with a view to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
This is reinforced in ‘Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment in Education' (2007). Safeguarding encompasses the range of policies and measures schools have in place for all children. It includes elements that are designed to protect children from harm as well as preventative measures.
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined in Working Together (2015) 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; and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.
Keeping Children Safe in Education 2016 (KCSE 2016) outlines: Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsible. Everyone who comes in to contact with children and their families and carers has a role, to play in safeguarding children. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively all professionals should make sure their approach is child centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child. School and college staff are particularly important as they are in a position to identify concerns early, provide help for children, and prevent concerns from escalating. All school staff should be prepared to identify children who may benefit from early help. Early help means providing support as soon as a problem emerges at any point in a child’s life, from the foundation years through to the teenage years.
In our school, safeguarding children includes the following.
This may be used where certain children have any unmet needs under the five Every Child Matters Outcomes:
Our general safeguarding measures lead on to other specific procedures and guidance: CAF (The Common Assessment Framework) Operational Guidance for Practitioners August 2008, Children in Need (LSCB website) and Child Protection.
All ACT 2 CAM employees have a responsibility to protect children from bullying, harassment, physical, sexual and emotional abuse and/or neglect. It is of paramount importance that children at ACT 2 CAM feel safe, secure and free from any form of abuse. Our School is committed to the protection and promotion of the children’s welfare and to providing an environment in which they may thrive.
All staff, teaching and non-teaching, are involved in a rolling programme of child protection training. Appointments policies and procedures acknowledge the importance of addressing issues involving the safeguarding of children. Every adult who has unsupervised contact with children is subject to UK Enhanced CRB checking procedures (to work with young people and vulnerable adults).
The primary Nominated Officer for ACT 2 CAM is Stephen Woods. Liaison with appropriate authorities (Safeguarding Children Officers, Social Services, Police, etc) is his responsibility entirely. Louise Woods is also trained in Child Protection issues and will deputise in Stephen Woods' absence.
Louise Woods, Stephen Woods
Key contacts with regard to child protection are:
In the event of serious allegations the Nominated Officer will refer the matter to the Police Family Protection Unit or Social Services Department the same day. The Interdependent Agencies will provide immediate guidance.
Never presume that abuse is an impossibility. Children may confide in young people or other children rather than adults. An awareness amongst peer mentors of these referral procedures is imperative.
Child Protection measures always operate in the best interest of the child. Child Protection Records will be confidential and access limited to a ‘need to know’ basis.
This policy is available to all staff and parents.
ALL CHILD PROTECTION REFERRALS SHOULD BE IMMEDIATE AND CERTAINLY WITHIN 24 HOURS OF ANY INCIDENT.
The Safeguarding Children guidelines and other relevant current legislation is available at any time on our website and at central office.
If you know or suspect that a young person is being abused you must refer the matter immediately to Stephen or Louise Woods.
Any person having suspicion of child abuse involving Stephen Woods or Louise Woods must report such to Front Door: 0345 2000 109
If a young person asks to speak to you about a confidential matter you must hold the interview in a room which allows for appropriate privacy. It is advisable to suggest to the young person that another adult is present. If the young person is unwilling to have another adult present, try to ensure that a colleague knows that the interview is taking place.
Always point out to the young person that you cannot guarantee complete confidentiality. Depending on the problem other colleagues may ‘need to know’.
There will be occasions when a distressed young person needs comfort and reassurance which may include physical comforting such as that given by a parent. It should be ensured that what is – and what is seen by others to be – normal and natural does not become unnecessary and unjustified contact. Stephen Woods advises male members of staff to avoid all forms of physical contact, for their own protection.
If a young person makes some disclosures to you which fall within the defined categories of abuse, always use the RECEIVE, REASSURE, REACT, RECORD, SUPPORT procedure:
RECEIVE what is said: accept what you are told – you do not need to decide whether it is true or not. Listen without showing shock or disbelief.
REASSURE the young person: acknowledge her/his courage in telling; do not promise confidentiality; remind them that she/he is not to blame (but avoid criticising the alleged perpetrator – young people often love adults who abuse them); reassure her/him but do not promise what you may not be able to deliver: ‘everything will be all right now’ (it may not be).
REACT: respond to what the young person has said but do not interrogate; avoid leading questions such as ‘Was it your father? Did he touch your breasts?’ Questions such as this can be used by defence counsel in a subsequent court case to suggest that you contaminated the young person’s evidence; ask open-ended questions: ‘Do you want to tell me anything else?’ ‘And?’ ‘Yes?’ Where necessary, clarify what has been said to you so that you are clear and able to decide whether this is an abusive situation. There is a careful judgement to be made in ensuring that you have enough information to make an appropriate referral and allowing a young person to talk without being silenced, while making sure that you have not inadvertently led the young person, perhaps by an assumption behind the question. For example, asking ‘Were you sitting up or lying down when this happened?’ contains the answer in the question. Explain what you will do next.
RECORD: Make brief notes as soon as possible, during the interview if you can. Write up a subsequent record – include time, date, place. Describe observable behaviour. Record the actual words the young person used as far as possible. Do not destroy your original notes, however scrappy or incomplete, as these can be required as evidence.
SUPPORT: consider what support is necessary for the young person (refer to Headmistress or her deputies). Ensure that you get support, as such interviews can be stressful. PROCEDURES
WHEN A YOUNG PERSON IS MISSING DURING ACT 2 CAM RESIDENTIAL COURSE
Staff should:
Children achieve their maximum potential in an environment which is safe, secure and supportive of all their needs, including any needs they have for protection from abuse. Our school is committed to promoting the welfare of all children by working in partnership with parents, with the Local Authority (LA) and with all relevant agencies and partners in child protection, in accordance with locally agreed procedures and practices.
Our policy applies to all members of the ACT 2 CAM community in its widest sense, including children and young people, their parents/carers, staff, governors, visitors, specialist staff, and all the local and wider community where they interface with the school. Within its framework, the policy outlines their entitlements and responsibilities in securing the protection of children who attend the ACT 2 CAM.
Where a Local Authority has reasonable cause to suspect that a child who lives, or is found, in their area is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm, the Children Act states that: "the Authority shall make, or cause to be made, such enquiries as they consider necessary to enable them to decide whether they should take any action to safeguard or promote the child's welfare". (Section 47, Children Act 1989).
ACT 2 CAM will work with the LA in assisting in identification, recording and communicating concerns and offering support in cases where children are suffering from, or vulnerable to, harm. In support of the ethos of our school, the staff and governors are committed to the following principles:
Last reviewed: January 2020 Next review: January 2021
