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Learn from the Daniel Pelka Serious Case Review to enhance safeguarding in schools. Address key areas such as communication, identifying signs of abuse, and training staff effectively.
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Safeguarding Update for SchoolsAutumn Term 2013 Cathryn Adams Lead Commissioner for Children in Care and Safeguarding Standards & Excellence Service
Daniel Pelka Serious Case Review-Background • Daniel was a 4 year 9 month old Polish boy, born in the UK to Polish parents, living in Coventry. He died in July 2012 from a subdural hemorrhage (serious head injury). • His mother and stepfather both received 30 year prison sentences for his murder. • His sister (8 years) and brother (1 year) are in care. • The head injury caused Daniel’s death, but he was also severely malnourished and had a large number of bruises on his body. • There had been a number of referrals and assessments by social care, the case was repeatedly closed.
Daniel PelkaSerious Case Review-Learning for Schools • Ensure previous school or nursery records are read to be aware of any previous concerns or external services intervention. • Record any injuries including the date and explanation from the child or parent. Seek medical advice if unsure of injury and explanation. • Consider the whole picture- possible links between injuries and behaviour.
Daniel Pelka Serious Case Review-Learning for Schools • Good formal and recorded communication in school with clear accountable oversight. • Review the school safeguarding policy for clarity including internal arrangements for communication and reporting. • Sharing information on domestic abuse between agencies • Consider language differences when communicating with the child and between the school and family.
Daniel Pelka Serious Case Review-Learning for Schools • Do not use siblings or family members or friends as interpreters • Think the unthinkable • Maintain courteous scepticism
Domestic Abuse Notifications • Essex Serious Case Review – Olivia • Essex sharing domestic abuse notifications • High or medium risk case • Open to Childrens Social Care • Named contact in school • If you have concerns for the welfare of a child, do not assume all is well if you have not received a notification
Child Sexual Exploitation • CSE can involve any child, not just ‘in care’ not just white and not just female or teenagers. • Essex along with Southend and Thurrock is developing CSE Champions approach – each school will have a lead person (Designated Teacher for Child Protection) • CSE Champions Training for Designated Teacher • House of Commons, Select Committee report ‘Child Sexual Exploitation and the Response to Localised Grooming’.
Concern for the Welfare of a child • Family Solutions Early Help and Advice Hub early.help@essex.gov.uk 0845 603 7627 • Effective Support for Children and Families in Essex www.escb.co.uk
Schools Safeguarding Survey • Strategic and organisational arrangements • Work with individual children and families • Staff training and workforce development • Safer recruitment • Effective inter-agency working
Schools Safeguarding SurveyKey areas of concern • Materials to promote safeguarding and awareness of mental health issues for staff, pupils and parents • Clearer definition on who should be trained in ‘safer recruitment’ and school responsibilities for safeguarding • Schools should be encouraged to seek the views of children and families when making plans • Provision of materials to help signpost where pupils and families can go for help around maltreatment, abuse and bullying. • More guidance on information sharing about a child(ren) • Ensure staff and volunteers are trained in recognising signs of abuse and neglect. • More is done to encourage schools to review and promote safeguarding procedures and duties to staff
Schools Safeguarding-actions to take forward • Follow up on the concerns raised in the schools survey • Make contact with the 21% of schools that did not complete the survey • Provide an annual report to the Essex Safeguarding Children Board on safeguarding in schools
Training and Conferences • Strength Based approach to child protection conferences • Anti- Bullying (PACS) • Child Suicide –Working together to reduce the risk (For secondary schools only) • CSE Champions Training www.escb.co.uk/Training/ChildSexualExploitation.aspx
Safeguarding Support for Schools • Cathryn Adams- Lead role for Safeguarding in Standards and Excellence Service • New Schools Safeguarding Adviser post • Advice and guidance on child protection and safeguarding for schools • Support for schools to promote safeguarding
Documents of Interest • NSPCC Report of Disclosures of Childhood Abuse http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/research/findings/no-one-noticed-no-one-heard_wda98738.html • House of Commons, Select Committee report ‘Child Sexual Exploitation and the response to localised grooming. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmhaff/68/68i.pdf
Documents of Interest • Feeling Safe, Keeping Safe and Good Practice in Safeguarding and Child Protection in Secondary Schools. http://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/content/press_release/content_515 • Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education DfE 2007