Aim and Learning Outcomes

1. Safeguarding and Child Protection Awareness Raising Training(Teaching Staff)Lurgan CollegeFriday 26th August 2011

2. Aim and Learning Outcomes By the end of this training session you will: • Have an understanding of the school’s policy and the relevant procedures in relation to safeguarding/child protection • Be able to identify the signs and symptoms of abuse • Know how to talk to children about whom there are concerns • Know what to do if you have safeguarding or child protection concerns • Have an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of key people in the school in relation to safeguarding and child protection.

3. Legislation and Guidance • The primary responsibility for safeguarding children rests with their parents who should ensure that they are always safe from danger in the home and risk from others. • Schools owe a legal ‘Duty of Care’ towards the young people in their charge. This is the responsibility they have in relation to pupils who are entrusted to them. • Schools are legally required to train all members of staff every two years.

4. School Safeguarding Team • Designated Teacher – Dr N. McKee • Deputy Designated Teacher – Mr B. Hanna • Principal – Mr T. Robinson • Designated Governor – Mrs S. Matthews • Chair of Board of Governors – Mr S. Abraham

5. Role of Designated Teacher • To discuss child protection concerns with staff and maintain accurate records • To share policy with the parents • To participate in child protection training • To raise awareness in child protection with all school staff • To refer to Social Services or PSNI • To notify the SELB designated officer • To keep the school Principal informed.

6. Role of Designated Teacher • To notify the Chair of the BoG when an allegation is against the Principal • To take the lead in the development of the school’s Child Protection Policy • To promote a child protection ethos within the school • To provide a written report to Governors on child protection issues • To train all school staff • To include information about the preventative curriculum

7. What is Child Abuse? Child abuse occurs when a child is neglected, harmed or not provided with proper care. There are four categories: • Neglect • Emotional • Physical • Sexual See Policy for definitions and possible indicators of these types of abuse.

8. Key issues in Child Abuse • Be open to the possibility that it exists and may be a factor in a child’s life • Many forms of abuse may not show physical signs • Children communicate/indicate that they are suffering abuse through - behaviour, attitude, drawing or through friends.

9. Key issues in Child Abuse • All staff must follow child protection procedures {DENI 99/10} rather than allowing a fear of over-reacting to inhibit their duty to report/refer • Dealing with child protection disclosures does raise anxieties Remember: It is rare for children to make false allegations about abuse

10. How to respond Complaint made or concern observed ↓ Tell the Designated Teacher ↓ Designated Teacher will tell the Principal ↓ If appropriate a referral will be made to Social Services/PSNI

11. You are not being asked to unearth or investigate Child Abuse but to pass on your concern

12. What happens next? Principal/DT will notify SELB ↓ If in doubt about referral DT can contact SELB/Social Services for advice ↓ DT will tell complainant what he/she has done

13. Do Stay calm Listen Accept Reassure Respond - explain what you are going to do Record accurately Refer Don’t Panic Promise to keep secrets Ask leading questions Make the child repeat the story unnecessarily Delay Start to investigate Do nothing Dealing with Disclosure

14. Confidentiality • No promise of confidentiality can or should ever be made to a child or anyone else giving information about possible abuse. • Staff who receive a disclosure should tell the child that they must pass the information on, but they should make the child aware that only people who need to know will be told. • Staff who receive information about children and their families in the course of their work should share that information only within appropriate professional contexts

15. Always … • Put the welfare of the child first • Treat all young people equally with respect and dignity • Keep a written record of any inappropriate body contact with a child • Report without delay any allegations made by a child against you, your colleagues or someone else

16. Never … Engage in any physical contact, especially whendisciplining and/or trying to get attention or cooperation Exceptions: • First aid – usually a designated person • Restraint – record any incident you are concerned about and inform the designated teacher • PE demonstrations, use of equipment, e.t.c. • Comforting a distressed child, but only with his/her consent - might this be misunderstood? Have other people present if possible Never search a young person

17. Being alone with pupils • Ensure that adults/children are close by • Leave door open/adult can sit in view • Glass panels in doors should not be covered with posters e.t.c. • Never take children on their own in your car Be aware of the Staff Code of Conduct (Child Protection Policy Appendix)

18. Social Networking Individuals who work with young people should always maintain appropriate professional boundaries and not attempt to establish an inappropriate relationship which might include: • Inappropriate dialogue through the internet • Sharing personal mobile phone details with children – yours and theirs • Sending emails and text messages to children from your personal phone – this could be interpreted as grooming • Taking photographs/videos of children without consent having been sought These measures are designed to safeguard staff from allegations

19. Best practice in Recording and Record-keeping • Make notes at the time and complete a Child Protection Incident Report (Policy Appendix 1) as soon as possible. Give your notes and the completed form to the Designated Teacher. Do not destroy any of your original notes. • Record the time, date, and what was said or what you observed including any noticeable non-verbal behaviour. • Record the actual words the child used rather than translating them into ‘proper’ words.

20. Allegations against a member of staff • Staff who have behaved inappropriately or not acted in the best interest of the child may be subject to the school’s/SELB disciplinary procedures. • Where it is alleged that a member of staff has abused a child they may be subject to an investigation by Social Services and/or the PSNI

21. Allegations against a member of staff • Consideration may be given to suspension on a precautionary basis pending the outcome of an investigation. • Disciplinary procedures may then be initiated as a recommendation of the child protection investigation.