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SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL AND GOVERNORS

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL AND GOVERNORS. 2008/2009. Introduction. Fred and Rosemary West Lauren Wright Lord Laming’s Report on the Inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbie Feb 2003 Every Child Matters – Green Paper Feb 2003 The Soham murders – Bichard Report 2004

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SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL AND GOVERNORS

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  1. SAFEGUARDING CHILDRENTHE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL AND GOVERNORS 2008/2009

  2. Introduction • Fred and Rosemary West • Lauren Wright • Lord Laming’s Report on the Inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbie Feb 2003 • Every Child Matters – Green Paper Feb 2003 • The Soham murders – Bichard Report 2004 These are examples of key incidents and reports which have heightened awareness that all organisations need cultures and systems which protect children

  3. Every Child Matters “We have to do more both to protect children and ensure each child fulfils their potential. Security and opportunity must go hand in hand.”

  4. Course Aim To provide Governors with an opportunity to learn about their role and responsibilities in relation to child protection, in the context of the school’s general duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children who are pupils

  5. Learning Outcomes • Governors will support their Headteacher/Designated Person in ensuring policies and systems in school fulfil the safeguarding responsibilities • Governors will know what their responsibilities are in relation to safeguarding children

  6. What do we mean by “Safeguarding and Promoting Welfare”? Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined 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 undertaking that role so as to enable those children to have the optimum life chances such that they enter adulthood successfully

  7. What is safeguarding? Child Protection Assessment Framework . SAFEGUARDING .

  8. The Children Act 2004 • Clear accountability • Integrating education, health and social care • Raising the priority of child protection • Creating a lead inspectorate for children • Creating an independent voice for children • Raising the status and attractiveness of working with children • Sharing information between services to pick up the warning signs

  9. The Education Act 2002 • Section 175 of the Education Act 2002 came into force June 1st 2004. It created an explicit duty to strengthen arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children • The Guidance is entitled ’Safeguarding Children in Education’

  10. The Education Act 2002Section 175 “Duties of LAs and governing bodies in relation to the welfare of children….. ….The governing body of a maintained school shall make arrangements for ensuring that their functions relating to the conduct of the school are exercised with a view to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children who are pupils at the school.”

  11. The Bichard Report - Recommendation 19 “New arrangements should be introduced requiring those who wish to work with children, or vulnerable adults, to be registered. The register would confirm that there is no known reason why an individual should not work with these client groups.”

  12. Highlights • Core purpose: to prevent unsuitable people from working with children and vulnerable adults • The Scheme will reform current vetting and barring practices…. • …but employers retain their responsibilities for ensuring safe recruitment and employment practices.

  13. Legal & policy framework Duties and responsibilities under regulated activity, where an organisation is providing the activity: A barred individual must not undertake regulated activity. • To undertake regulated activity the individual must be ISA-registered. • An employer must not engage in regulated activity a barred person or a person who is not ISA-registered. • An employer must check that a prospective employee who is in regulated activity is ISA-registered. • Personal and family relationships are not covered.

  14. How it will work - Operations The Criminal Records Bureau will: • Receive applications to the scheme • Gather and monitor information for the Independent Safeguarding Authority • Administer automatic inclusions on the list and cases where there is no information • Provide the facility for online checks and continuous updates

  15. Role and Responsibilities • LA Lead Officer Role • Senior Designated Person Role (and Deputy) • Governing Body The guidance provides details about these responsibilities. The enhanced expectation is clear.

  16. Implications for Schools Schools must take into account the need to minimise risk of harm and where there are concerns must act to remedy these. • Schools need to audit their practice so that they can meet their responsibilities • A child protection policy, reviewed annually, referred to in prospectus, conforms to LA/LSCB guidance • Designated lead responsibility • Appropriate training (including induction) for all • Robust safe recruitment and allegation procedures • A more robust (strategic) Governing Body role

  17. Child Protection Intimate Care Restraint Staff Conduct Anti Bullying Policies Curriculum Safeguarding Attendance Managing Allegations Against Staff Behaviour Management Safe Built Environment Whistle blowing Health and Safety Safe Recruitment and Selection

  18. Duties of governing bodies • Governors should not get involved or know details in individual cases (except disciplinary functions relating to allegations against members of staff) • Collective responsibility or individual governor to champion?

  19. Duties of governing bodies They must ensure that the school; • Has child protection policy and procedures- made available to parents • Operates safe recruitment procedures and checks are carried out. • Has procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse against staff and volunteers. • Has a senior member of school’s leadership team who is designated to take lead responsibility for child protection

  20. Duties of governing bodies • The Designated Person should have • basic cp training • multi agency training • refresher training at 2 year intervals. • All other staff ( including Head) should have training at 3 year intervals. • All should be given the school’s CP policy / procedures and contact details of designated person when they begin work at the school.

  21. Duties of governing bodies • Designate a Governor, usually the chair, in case of allegations against the head teacher • Governing body should review its policies and procedures annually and provide information to LA about them and how its duties have been discharged • Remedy deficiencies or weaknesses in regard to CP arrangements without delay • Extended schools – assurance about child protection procedures from independent companies to which activities are contracted

  22. Role of Chair of Governors • Requires Liaison (taking care with confidentiality) with the Head teacher/DP regarding allegations of child abuse • Responsibility for the oversight of procedures relating to liaison with the Lead Officer CP for the LA, Social Services duty team and Police in relation to any allegation of child abuse made against the Head Teacher, including possible involvement in multi-agency strategy discussions (though no direct investigatory role, rather providing information and ensuring good communication between all parties)

  23. When parents involve governors in child protection issues • Explain that governors do not have an operational role in child protection • Refer any concerns to the Head Teacher • Where criticisms are made of any aspect of a case, (e.g. it’s progress or staff involved) as above Additionally, confidential or hypothetical advice will be given by LA/EWS/CYPS

  24. Values and Ethos of school • Posters in school giving information about safety. • Evidence of discussion groups • Positive atmosphere • Regular and valued staff meetings • Pupil’s councils • There is an ethos inschool in which children and adults feel safe, are valued, respected and listened to. • Children and staff are encouraged to talk and their opinions are respected

  25. Child Centred Practice • Pupils know to whom they can turn if they are worried. • Pupils know about the schools position on bullying and challenging behaviour. • Children are respected in school. • Rules are few but explicit • Information seen around school • Pupils when asked, can give info about school procedures • Staff are seen and heard to speak to children courteously. • School is involved in community and/or external education activities.

  26. People like us(Utting Report) “The best safeguard is an environment of overall excellence”

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