The governing body's role in Safeguarding Children

2. The governing body's role in Safeguarding Children Child Protection Schools Liaison Officer Paula Hayden

3. Learning Outcomes Delegates will be able to: • the basics of safeguarding children from abuse • statutory safeguarding requirements in schools • monitoring and auditing safeguarding arrangements and activities • allegations against staff • a cautionary tale

4. Safeguarding PROTECTION PREVENTION PROVISION

5. National legislation and statutory guidance Legal Duty Section 175/157 Education Act 2002 Professional Duty Working Together to Safeguard Children (DCSF 2010) Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education (DfES 2006) Non-statutory guidance Guidance for Safer Working Practice for Adults who work with Children and Young People in Education Settings (2009) Safeguarding Framework • Local procedures • Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Board Inter-agency Child Protection and Safeguarding Children Procedures Manual • http://www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk/

6. Safeguarding Structure Local Authority Safeguarding Provision: • Strategic • Support • Operational Local Authority

7. Function of the Governing Body Three functions: • Strategic direction • Challenge in order to support • Accountability

8. Abuse and Neglect Abuse and neglect are forms of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by: inflicting harm failing to act to prevent harm Children may be abused: in a family in an institutional or community setting They may be abused by: an adult or adults another child or children. those known to them or more rarely by a stranger for example, via the internet Working Together to Safeguard Children (DCSF 2010)

9. Categories of Abuse Physical Abuse: Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Emotional Abuse: Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. Neglect: Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development. Sexual Abuse: Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening.

10. Where can I find more information ? What can I do if I an concerned about a child ? Access safeguarding children training Report concerns to the DSP ‘If no action is taken and child at risk’? ‘If no action taken and child at risk’ To make a referral to children services, Call Customer Service Centre on 0300 123 4043

11. What do these children have in common? Serious Case Reviews ( SCR) contribute to improve safeguarding outcomes for children by identifying practice across all agencies/professionals which does not effectively safeguard children.

12. Serious Case Reviews Death Learn lessons to improve individual and collective work to safeguard children Serious Case Review Abuse and Neglect Serious harm andconcern about how professionals have worked together

13. Specific Governor Roles Chair and Vice Chair of Governors Manage allegations against the Headteacher in accordance with local procedures www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Board Inter-agency Child Protection Procedures Section 4.1 - Managing Allegations Against Adults Who Work With Children and Young People

14. What is an Allegation? The term “allegation” includes having a concern or receiving information which suggests that an adult has: behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child; possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child; or behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates he or she would pose a risk of harm if they work regularly or closely with children. HSCB Inter-agency Child Protection and Safeguarding Children Procedures Manual 2010 Section 4.1

15. Why do Allegations Arise? Poor culture within an organisation Accident Naivety/poor practice Care and control incident Unintentional or misinformed action Failure to follow procedures Deliberate intention to abuse Malicious / deliberately invented allegation

16. Allegation Management SystemLADO Contact Details Frazer Smith Mobile: 07920 283106 Office: (01992) 556935 E-mail: frazer.smith@hertfordshire.gov.uk Mel Leicester-Evans Mobile: 07795 288271 Office: (01992) 556935 E-mail: mel.leicester-evans@hertfordshire.gov.uk

17. Abuse of Position of Trust The Sexual Offences Act 2003 provides that it is an offence for a person aged 18 or over intentionally to behave in certain sexual ways in relation to a child aged under 18, where the adult is in a position of trust in respect of the child.

18. EXERCISE

19. SCR: The Sexual Abuse of Pupils in a First School, North Somerset Safeguarding Children Board Read through the concerns below and identify: • What concerns you? • What would the appropriate response be? • Using the safeguarding spider diagram, how do the different parts of this framework support your response, i.e. what would you have to have in place in your school to respond effectively?

20. Child Protection Staff Conduct Anti-Bullying Curriculum Attendance Safeguarding Managing Allegations Against Staff Behaviour Management Building Design Local Issues E-safety Safe Recruitment and Selection Health and Safety Whistleblowing

21. Learning Outcomes Delegates will be able to: • the basics of safeguarding children from abuse • statutory safeguarding requirements in schools • monitoring and auditing safeguarding arrangements and activities • allegations against staff • a cautionary tale