SAFE GUARDING
THE DESIGNATED SENIOR PERSON
The Designated Senior Person for Child Protection in this Centre is Headteacher Name: Frances Crowther A Deputy Designated Senior Person should be appointed to act in the absence / unavailability of the Designated Senior Person. The Deputy Designated Senior Persons for Child Protection in this Centre are:
• Educational Services Name: Rita Kardouh It is the role of the Designated Senior Persons for Child Protection to:
• Ensure that he/she receives refresher training at two yearly intervals to keep his or her knowledge and skills up to date
• Ensure that all staff who work with children undertake appropriate training to equip them to carry out their responsibilities for safeguarding children effectively and that this is kept up to date by refresher training at three yearly intervals
• Ensure that new staff receives a safeguarding children induction within 2 weeks of their commencement at Rashid Centre.
• Ensure that temporary staff and volunteers are made aware of the Centre’s arrangements for safeguarding children within 7 working days of their commencement of work
• Ensure that the Centre operates within the legislative framework and recommended guidance
• Develop effective working relationships with other agencies and services • Liaise with authorized Government Authorities over suspected cases of child abuse or concerns about a child’s care
• Ensure that accurate safeguarding records relating to individual children are kept separate from the academic file in a secure place, marked ‘Strictly Confidential’ and are passed securely should the child transfer to a new provision
• Ensure that the Centre effectively monitors children about whom there are concerns, including notifying authorized Government Authorities when there is an unexplained absence of more than two days for a child who is subject of a child protection plan
• Provide guidance to parents, children and staff about obtaining suitable support
CHILD PROTECTION ADVICE FOR STAFF
This leaflet is designed to provide some useful advice and clear guidelines for procedures regarding the recognition and reporting of suspected child abuse. At the Centre we are committed to ensuring the safety of all children and meeting their needs at all times.
STAFF MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES
All those who come into contact with children through their everyday work have a duty to promote the welfare of children and to be vigilant in respect to safety and care.
WHICH CHILDREN NEED PROTECTION?
You may become aware, whilst working with a child, that there are some problems at home or elsewhere that give you cause for concern. You may become aware of unexplained marks or bruising, or changes in the young person’s behaviour or demeanour. Sometimes children display aggressive behaviour, become withdrawn and uncommunicative or unable to concentrate.
DEALING WITH CONCERNS:
The designated senior person should be informed immediately in order for the issue(s) to be discussed confidentially and dealt with in an appropriate way.
CENTRE PROCEDURES – STAFF RESPONSIBILITIES
If any member of staff is concerned about a child, he or she must inform the or designated senior person immediately. The member of staff must record information regarding the concerns on the same day, using a standard body chart and photographs if necessary. The recording must be a clear, precise, factual amount of the observations. The designated senior person and CEO will decide whether or not the concerns should be raised with the child’s parents, referred to Social Services. If it is decided to make a referral to child to authorized Government Authorities this will be discussed with the parents, unless to do so would place the child at further risk of harm. Particular attention will be paid to the attendance and development of any child about whom the centre has concerns, or who has already been identified as being the subject of a child protection plan. A written record will be kept. If a student who is/or has been, the subject of a child protection plan changes centre, the Centre Manager (or designated senior person) will inform appropriate Government authority. The Centre Manager (or designated senior person) is responsible for making the senior management team aware of trends in behaviour that may affect the student welfare. Appropriate training will be arranged.
WHEN TO BE CONCERNED
All staff and volunteers should be aware that the main categories of abuse are:
• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Neglect All staff and volunteers should be concerned about a child if he/she presents with indicators of possible significant harm. Generally, in an abusive relationship the child may:
• Appear frightened of the parent/s or other household members e.g. siblings or others outside of the home
• Act in a way that is inappropriate to her/his age and development (full account needs to be taken of different patterns of development and different ethnic groups)
• Display insufficient sense of ‘boundaries’, lack stranger awareness
• Appear wary of adults and display ‘frozen watchfulness’
DEALING WITH A DISCLOSURE
If a young person discloses that he or she has been abused in some way, the member of staff/volunteer should:
• Listen to what is being said without displaying shock or disbelief
• Accept what is being said
• Allow the child to talk freely
• Reassure the child. But not make promises which it might not be possible to keep
• Not promise confidentiality – it might be necessary to refer to Social Services
• Reassure him or her that what has happened is not his or her fault
• Stress that it was the right thing to tell
• Listen, only asking questions when necessary to clarify
• Not criticise the alleged perpetrator
• Explain what has to be done next and who has to be told
• Make a written record
• Pass the information to the designated senior person without delay
PROCEDURE FOR DEALING WITH SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE:
Child discloses to: Teacher or other staff member Take information from child and immediately report it Designated senior person) Informs outside agencies as appropriate You suspect abuse: REPORT IT (do not discuss it) Centre Manager (or designated senior person) Decides whether or not to involve other team members, parents, etc Informs outside agencies as appropriate If a child discloses to you, the important do’s and do not’s are……. Do reassure the child Do not question, just listen Do accept the information freely Do not look shocked Do give the child space and time Do not make judgements Do tell the child that you must Do not make promises pass on the information Do act quickly Do not involve anyone else
• Listen to the child, rather than directly question him or her
• Never stop a child who is freely recalling significant events.
• Make a note of the discussion, taking care to record timing, setting and personnel as well as what was said
• Record all subsequent events up to the time of the substantive review. The safety of the child is of paramount importance and must override ALL other considerations Dealing with a disclosure from a child can be stressful.
• The Centre Manager (or designated senior person) will discuss with the staff member their feelings, anxieties and whether further support for them is needed and how that might be given.
• At no time will the staff member seek support from within the centre, through other colleagues, without permission from the Centre Manager (or designated senior person). To do so is a breach of confidentiality.
ALLEGATIONS INVOLVING CENTRE STAFF / VOLUNTEERS
All centre staff should take care not to place themselves in a vulnerable position with a child. It is always advisable for interviews or work with individual children or parents to be conducted in view of other adults. An allegation is any information which indicates that a member of staff/volunteer may have:
• Behaved in a way that has, or may have harmed a child
• Possibly committed a criminal offence against / related to a young person
• Behaved towards a young person or persons in a way which indicates s/he would pose a risk of harm if they work regularly or closely with children This applies to any child the member of staff/volunteer has contact within their personal, professional or community life. To reduce the risk of allegation, all staff should be aware of the Centre’s Behaviour Policy, Intimate Care Policy and Mobile Phone Policy and should be familiar with the guidance contained in the staff handbook. Allegations of a child protection nature may be made against a member of staff. If such an allegation is made, the member of staff receiving the allegation will immediately inform the Designated Senior Person. The designated senior person on all such occasions will discuss the content of the allegation with the Authorised Government Agency.
PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED IN THE EVENT OF AN ALLEGATION BEING MADE AGAINST A MEMBER OF STAFF OR VOLUNTEER
Child discloses to Concerned staff member or other adult Member of staff / parent / carer Refers to Centre Manager / CEO (Mariam Othman) Designated Senior Person or Deputies if allegation against Centre Manager or Designated Senior Person Authorized Government Agency Referral to Police if criminal offence is alleged or suspected When it appears that allegations may amount to misconduct or gross misconduct by a member or staff, disciplinary procedures will ensue. IF IN DOUBT…….REPORT ALL REPORTING WILL BE DEALT WITH IN CONFIDENCE The safety of the child is of paramount importance and must over ride all other considerations.