Safeguarding Children

Named personnel with designated responsibility for Safeguarding

Policy review dates

Dates of Staff training and details of course title and training provider

Governor Review of policy dates

INTRODUCTION

We would like to thank North Yorkshire County Council for sharing with us with their model policy.

It is in line with the Kirklees Safeguarding Children Board Child Protection Procedures www.kirkleessafeguardingchildren.co.uk, “Working Together to Safeguard Children” (1999 and 2006) and ‘What to do if you are worried a child is being abused’ (2006)  

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

'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, and taking appropriate action with the aim of making sure they are kept safe both at home and in our school setting’

SCHOOL COMMITMENT

Whitcliffe Mount Business and Enterprise College is committed to Safeguarding and Promoting the Welfare 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.

PROVIDING A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT 

 1.  Safer Recruitment and Selection

The school pays full regard to current DCSF guidance ‘Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education’ Jan 2007. 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, verifying identity and academic or vocational qualifications, obtaining professional references, checking previous employment history and ensuring that a candidate has the health and physical capacity for the job. It also includes undertaking interviews and, where appropriate, undertaking List 99 and Criminal Records Bureau checks.

In line with statutory changes, underpinned by regulations, the following will apply:

• a CRB Enhanced Disclosure is obtained for all new appointments to our school’s workforce through staffing personnel and payroll, from October 2009 there will be a requirement for employees to be registered with the Independent Safeguarding Authority
• this school is committed to keep an up to date single central record detailing a range of checks carried out on our staff – a copy is also held at the Personnel and Payroll Unit, Kirklees Council
• all new appointments to our school workforce who have lived outside the UK will be subject to additional checks as appropriate
• our school ensures that supply staff have undergone the necessary checks and will be made aware of this policy
• identity checks must be carried out on all appointments to our school workforce before the appointment is made, in partnership with the LA

John McGee            (Headteacher)
Dorothy Matthews    (School Governor) and
Kate Baxter            (Assistant Headteacher)

have undertaken the National College for School Leadership Safe Recruitment training (www.ncsl.org.uk). One of the above will be involved in all staff and volunteer appointments and arrangements (including, where appropriate, contracted services).

2.   Safe Practice

Our school will comply with the current Safe Practice guidance to be found in Kirklees Safeguarding Procedures at www.kirkleessafeguardingchildren.co.uk

Safe working practice ensures 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 or sexuality;
• be aware of confidentiality policy
• are aware that breaches of the law and other professional guidelines could result in criminal or disciplinary action being taken against them. 

3.   Safeguarding 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 senior members of staff with responsibility for child protection and know who this is. 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 on our website.

School’s arrangements for consulting with and listening to pupils are through the School Council.  We make pupils aware of these arrangements by announcements in form periods and assemblies.

 4.   Partnership with Parents

 The school shares a purpose with parents to educate and keep children safe from harm and to have their welfare promoted.  Parents with concerns can refer to: www.kirkleessafeguardingchildren.co.uk;  www.nspcc.org.uk;  www.ceop.gov.uk ) or Kirklees Duty and Assessment Team on 01924 326093

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 or it is necessary to do so in order to protect a child.

Whitcliffe Mount Business and Enterprise College 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 Senior Designated Person)

We encourage parents to discuss any concerns they may have with Whitcliffe Mount Business and Enterprise College.  We make parents aware of our policy through our school brochure.andparents are made aware that they can view this policy on request.

Whitcliffe Mount Business and Enterprise College is committed to ensuring the welfare and safety of all children in school. All Kirklees schools, including Whitcliffe Mount Business and Enterprise College, follow the Kirklees Safeguarding Children Board procedures. The school will, in most circumstances, endeavour to discuss all concerns with parents about their children. However, there may be exceptional circumstances when the school will discuss concerns with Social Care and/or the Police without parental knowledge (in accordance with Child Protection procedures). The school will, of course, always aim to maintain a positive relationship with all parents. The school’s child protection policy is available on request.

5.   Partnerships with others

Our school recognises that it is essential to establish positive and effective working relationships with other agencies who are partners in the Kirklees Safeguarding Children Board.  There is a joint responsibility on all these agencies to share information to ensure the safeguarding of all children.

6.   School Training and Staff Induction

The school’s senior member of staff with designated responsibility for child protection undertakes basic child protection training and training in inter–agency working, (that is provided by the Kirklees Safeguarding Children Board) and refresher training at 2 yearly intervals (inter-agency courses can be booked on line at: www.kirkleessafeguardingchildren.co.uk)

The Headteacher and all other school staff, including non teaching staff, 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 at 3 yearly intervals.

Basic Awareness online training www.kirkleessafeguardingchildren.co.uk/course-signup.html

Whole school Basic Awareness Training can be booked via the Kirklees Safeguarding Children Board on 01924 482161.

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.

7.   Support, Advice and Guidance for Staff

Staff will be supported by Whitcliffe Mount Business and Enterprise College LA and professional associations.
The designated senior person for Safeguarding/Child Protection will be supported by the Headteacher.  Advice is available from Kirklees Duty & Assessment Team CP Unit and the Police Child Abuse Investigation Team (Contacts list Appendix 1).

8.  Related School Policies

 ‘…..safeguarding covers more than the contribution made to child protection in relation to individual children.  It also encompasses issues such as pupil health and safety and bullying……and a range of other issues, for example, arrangements for meeting the medical needs of children ….providing first aid, school security, drugs and substance misuse, positive behaviour etc.  There may also be other safeguarding issues that are specific to the local area or population’

Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education DfES 2007

Relevant Policies are available in the Policies Handbook.

Children Missing from Education

The school follows the Kirklees LA procedures “Children Who May Be Missing/Lost From Education ”. Contact Missing Education Team on: 01274 336509.  Where children on roll at a school do not turn up, the school will make enquiries and then refer the case to the Education Social Work Service in the usual way.  If the allocated worker can not locate the child/family they will inform the Children Missing Education team and the school will be advised by them or the ESW Service that they can take the child of roll (normally after 4 weeks).

Confidentiality

School has regard to “Information Sharing: Practitioner’s guide” HM Government, 2006 www.ecm.gov.uk/deliveringservices/informationsharing
“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 policy regarding confidentiality makes staff aware of the correct procedure to be followed, including:

1. When information must be shared with police and Social Care where the child/young person is / may be at risk of significant harm
2. When the pupil’s and/or parent’s confidentiality must not be breached
3. That information is shared on a need to know basis

9. Pupil Information

Our school will endeavour to keep up to date and accurate information in 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)

• 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 on the Child Protection Register or subject to a care plan

• 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 on the computer system and/or with the Year Team.

10. Roles and Responsibilities

Our Governing Body will ensure that:

• the school has a Safe Guarding policy and procedures in place that are in accordance with local authority guidance and locally agreed inter-agency procedures, and the policy is made available to parents on request;

• the school operates safe recruitment procedures and makes sure that all appropriate checks are carried out on staff and volunteers who work with children;

• the school has procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse against staff and volunteers that comply with guidance from the local authority and locally agreed inter-agency procedures;

• a senior member of the school’s leadership team is designated to take lead responsibility for child protection (and deputy);

• staff undertake appropriate child protection training;

• they remedy, without delay, any deficiencies or weaknesses regarding child protection arrangements;

• a governor is nominated to be responsible for liaising with the LA and /or partner agencies in the event of allegations of abuse being made against the head teacher

• where services or activities are provided on the school premises by another body, the body concerned has appropriate policies and procedures in place in regard to safeguarding children and child protection and liaises with the school on these matters where appropriate.

• they review their policies and procedures annually and provide information to the LA about them and about how the above duties have been discharged

 Our Headteacher will ensure that:

• the policies and procedures adopted by the Governing Body or Proprietor are fully implemented, and followed by all staff;

• sufficient resources and time are allocated to enable the designated person and other staff to discharge their responsibilities; and

• all staff and volunteers feel able to raise concerns about poor or unsafe practice in regard to children, and such concerns are addressed sensitively and effectively in a timely manner in accordance with agreed whistle blowing policies.

Senior Members of Staff with Designated Responsibility for Child Protection will:

Referrals

• refer cases of suspected abuse or allegations to the relevant investigating agencies;

• act as a source of support , advice and expertise within the educational establishment;

• liaise with the headteacher to inform him/her of any issues and ongoing investigations and ensure there is always cover for this role.

Training

• recognise how to identify signs of abuse and when it is appropriate to make a referral; 

• have a working knowledge of how Kirklees Safeguarding Children Board operate, the conduct of a child protection case conference and be able to attend and contribute to these;

• ensure that all staff have access to and understand the school’s child protection policy;

• ensure that all staff have induction training;

• keep detailed accurate secure written records and/or concerns
• obtain access to resources and attend any relevant or refresher training courses at least every two years.

 Raising Awareness

• ensure the Safeguarding Policy is updated and reviewed annually and work with the Governing Body regarding this;
  
  
• ensure parents are made aware of the Safeguarding Policy which alerts them to the fact that referrals may be made and the role of the establishment in this to avoid conflict later;
  
  
• where a child leaves the establishment, ensure the child protection file is copied for the new establishment asap and transferred to the new school separately from the main pupil file. If a child goes missing or leaves to be educated at home, then the child protection file should be copied and the copy forwarded to the Education Social Work Service.
  
  
• where the parents inform school that they wish to 'parentally educate' their child, the ESW Service endeavours to undertake a home visit to discuss this with the parents and the information is then passed to EARS service who monitors ' Parentally Educated Children' (PECS).

 All staff and volunteers will:

•  fully comply with the school’s policies and procedures
  
  
•  attend appropriate training
  
  
•  inform the designated person of any concerns