Staying safe Deputies & Assistant Head Teachers Conference 1 st December 2005

1. Staying safe Deputies & Assistant Head Teachers Conference 1st December 2005

2. staying safe Outcomes Children and young people are : • safe from maltreatment, neglect, violence and sexual exploitation • safe from accidental injury and death • safe from bullying and discrimination • safe from crime and anti social behaviour in and out of school • have security and stability and are cared for

3. staying safe Key Judgements Children & young people and their carers are informed about key risks to their safety and how to deal with them Children and young people are provided with a safe environment

4. staying safe Key Judgements The incidence of child abuse and neglect is minimised Agencies collaborate to safeguard children according to the requirements of the current government guidance

5. staying safe Key Judgements Services are effective in establishing the identity and whereabouts of all children and young people 0-16 Action is taken to avoid children and young people having to be looked after Looked after children live in safe environments and are protected from abuse and exploitation

6. staying safe Key Judgements Children and young people with learning difficulties and / or disabilities live in safe environments and are protected from abuse and exploitation

7. A Safe School Has a protective ethos: • Recognise the worries of children • Recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse • Understand the procedures in place to safeguard children in school • Know your role and responsibilities and that of the Designated Senior Person

8. Legislation and Guidance – key documents • Children Act 1989 - Section 47 • Working Together to Safeguard Children 1999 • Education Act 2002 - Section 175 / 157 • DfES Guidance ‘Safeguarding Children in Education’ 2004 • Hertfordshire Area Child Protection Committee - Child Protection Procedures 2002 • Children Act 2004 - Section 11

9. Children Act 1989 Section 47- Child Protection Investigation The local authority have a duty to investigate where there is reasonable cause to suspect a child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm AND

10. Children Act 1989 Places a duty on any local education authority to help a local authority to help a local authority with its enquiries where there is reasonable cause to suspect significant harm

11. Education Act 2002 Section 175 LEAs and governing bodies are now legally required to exercise their functions with a view to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children Schools are therefore accountable for their child protection work

12. Working Together to SafeguardChildren - DoH 1999 The education service itself does not have a direct investigative responsibility in child protection work, but schools DO have a role in: - recognition and referral of child protection concerns • providing information for S47 child protection enquiries.

13. DfES Guidance ‘Safeguarding Children in Education’ Requires schools to have: • School child protection policy and procedures • Procedures for dealing with allegations against staff / volunteers (Appendix C, ACPC CP Procedures, 2002) • Designated Senior Person for child protection (senior member of school leadership team) • Whole school staff child protection training every three years

14. Key CP Roles in Schools • Head and Deputy Head Teacher • Designated Senior Person (DSP) for child protection • Designated Child Protection Governor / Chair of School Governors • Named Child Protection School Liaison Officer

15. Key CP Roles in Schools • Head and Deputy Head Teacher • Designated Senior Person (DSP) for child protection • Designated Child Protection Governor / Chair of School Governors • Named Child Protection School Liaison Officer

16. Designated Senior Person for child protection (DSP) Must be supported by Heads and Deputies to fulfil their specific role and responsibilities. • Attend the DSP level 2 training • Attend DSP refresher training bi-annually • Induct new members of staff into CP requirements • Be the central point of reference for all staff / volunteers • Produce clear records of concerns raised • Maintain separate child protection pupil files • Participate in CPC process

17. DSP Participation CPCprocess • Collate relevant information from all staff • Attend Child Protection Conferences • Produce a written report to CPCs • Contribute to the child protection planning process • Attend CP Core Group meetings • Ensure that the school participate in the child protection plan – as required

18. Designated Child Protection Governor / Chair of School Governors ‘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 their school’

19. - Ensure the schools child protection policy and practice is fit for purpose(CP-SEF, 2005)- Attend strategy meetings regarding allegations made against the Head Teacher- Determine whether a member of staff should be suspended from duty and / or dismissed

20. Child Protection School Liaison Officer • Every school has a named CPSLO who - Is based in the child protection unit, CSF - Is contactable via office and mobile telephone - Aims to provide a same / next day response - Has a training, support and liaison role

21. CPSLO Training - statutory • Basic Awareness CP training (level 1) – Delivered to whole school communities 3 yearly cycle • DSP training (level 2) – Delivered to all DSPs (and their deputies) 2 yearly cycle • DSP refresher training (level 2) - Via ½ day CPSLO course – attendance at the annual DSP conference or ACPC multi-agency child protection training events

22. Additional CPSLO training (2) • Head Teachers who have attended the Basic CP Awareness (level 1 training) may choose to Attend ‘Reducing and Managing Allegations Against Staff’ • Additional training delivered by CPSLOs to whole staff groups include ‘Listening to Children’ ‘Reducing the Risk’

23. CPSLOs also deliver training to…. • School Governors • Education Support Centres • Home Hospital Education Service • Education Welfare Officers • Perepatetic Music Teachers • All staff employed by CSF who are education based colleagues !

24. CPSLO support to schools • DSP handbook • DSP annual conference • DSP termly newsletter • Child Protection site on the HGfL • Consultation – advice and guidance on all CP matters • Support in meetings

25. CPSLO liaison role • CPSLOs liaise on behalf of both education and social care colleagues to promote inter-agency partnership working and seek resolution of any difficulties that might arise in case work. • CPSLOs have knowledge of the social care referral and assessment systems and processes and have established networks.

26. Managing Staff • Position of trust – Sexual Offences Act,2003 • Advice about disclosures • Key points

27. Sexual Offences Act 2003 Position of Trust In relation to schools, a person aged 18 or over is said to be in a position of trust in relation to students of that school if they look after children at the school. ‘Looking after’ is defined as regularly involved in caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of such persons.

28. Sexual Offences Act 2003 Abuse of Position of Trust It is an offence for a person aged 18 or over to have sexual intercourse or to engage in other sexual activity with a person under the age of 18, where they are in a ‘position of trust’ in relation to the younger person

29. Disclosures Confidentiality Be clear from the outset that you cannot treat as confidential any disclosure of abuse. If you receive any information from a child or another adult that makes you suspect abuse you have a duty to report it to your Designated Senior Person.

30. Key Points • To delay reporting a suspicion could cause the child greater harm • School staff will often be the first person to see a child after he or she has been abused • Many forms of abuse have no physical symptoms • If in doubt ask for advice and guidance