Child Protection
Stoke College Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment Policy
1 Introduction
1.1 The staff and governors of Stoke College are committed to protecting and safeguarding all their pupils to ensure, as far as possible, that they are free from harm.
1.2 The school recognises that children sometimes suffer abuse from those who should be caring for and protecting them. Abuse can take place within any socio-economic group and can occur at home or in institutions such as schools.
1.3 This document sets out the procedures which Stoke College has in place for exercising its duties in relation to safeguarding pupils, including those children in the EYFS.
2 The Area Child Protection Committee
2.1 The safeguarding and protection of children cannot be achieved by schools or agencies working alone. It is a multi-agency task and depends on agencies working together.
2.2 The Area Child Protection Committee (ACPC) is made up of representatives from all groups whose work brings them into contact with children, including the Education Service. The Suffolk ACPC in whose area Stoke College is located has produced ‘Joint Policies and Procedures for the Protection of Children’, copies of which are held by the Head, Mr Parker, and the General Office. A copy is also available on the ACPC web-site (www.suffolkacpc.org.uk)
2.3 There is an obligation on all agencies to comply with these procedures at all times. The procedures outlined in this document reflect those of the Suffolk ACPC and have been endorsed by Stoke College Board of Governors.
2.4 In addition to Suffolk ACPC Procedures, Stoke College will have regard to the Department of Health, Home Office and Department of Education and Skills joint publication, ‘What To Do If You’re Worried A Child Is Being Abused’. A copy of this publication is available with the ACPC procedures held by Mr Parker and the General Office. This policy complies with Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education.
3 The Child Protection Coordinator and Governor
3.1 As required by central government guidance, Stoke College has a designated senior member of staff, known as the Child Protection Co-ordinator, who is responsible for co-ordinating child protection issues within the school and for liaising with other services. There is an alternate Coordinator who acts in the Co-ordinator’s absence and a member of the Governing Board with responsibility for child protection.
3.2 At Stoke College, the above roles are undertaken by:
• Mr Neale Ansell (Director of Studies) as the Child Protection Co-ordinator.
• Mrs Keryn Neaves (Head of Prep) designated the alternative Coordinator who will also take responsibility as the EYFS child protection officer.
• Mr Rishi Kitaruth as the named Governor who will report annually to the Board of Governors. Governors will then review this policy and procedures, and the efficiency with which related duties have been discharged. Deficiencies or weakness in child protection policy will be remedied without delay.
3.3 Child abuse can take place in all strata of society, in families, in institutions or between children. There is, therefore, a responsibility on staff to report all concerns about all children where there is suspicion that they are, or may be at risk of suffering significant harm.
3.4 The Child Protection Co-ordinator and alternate Co-ordinator will be released from school to attend specialised child protection training and inter-agency working, which will be up-dated at least every two years. The named Governor will also receive training.
3.5 It is the Child Protection Co-ordinator’s responsibility to ensure that all staff, teaching and support, the head, and volunteers know who the Co-ordinator and alternate Co-ordinator are, and that they all receive on a regular basis, information which enables them to identify child protection matters and respond appropriately. Training will be provided which will be updated every three years.
4 Recognising possible abuse
4.1 Children can be harmed in a number of ways. Abuse can be physical, sexual or emotional, or it can take the form of neglect. Children sometimes suffer more than one type of abuse at a time. (See Appendix 1)
4.2 Stoke College will ensure that staff members are trained to recognise signs of possible abuse or neglect and will know what to do if they suspect that a child is suffering harm. Briefing will be given for senior pupils given positions of responsibility over other pupils, on appropriate action to take should they receive any allegations of abuse.
4.3 The school will strive to create an atmosphere in which children feel able and safe to talk about their worries and fears. Staff will listen carefully to anything children want to tell them. They will:
• not ask leading questions
• not promise to keep the matter secret
• not attempt to investigate the situation themselves
4.4 Staff might also have concerns about a child’s safety because of the way he or she is behaving.
4.5 Whether suspicions arise through disclosures children make or as a result of observations, the member of staff concerned must:
• Make a written note, signed, dated and timed, of what was said or seen (if possible on the form designed for such a purpose)
• Refer the matter immediately to the Child Protection Co-ordinator
Staff will be aware of the possibility that their record might have to be used as evidence in court and must, therefore, be aware of the need to distinguish fact from opinion.
5 Making referrals to Social Care Services
5.1 The Child Protection Co-ordinator will refer all cases of suspected abuse to Social Care Services immediately and at least within 24 hours. Where practicable, the school will inform parents of the referral before it is made, or at least as soon as possible afterwards if contact cannot be made with them quickly. The only circumstances in which a parent will not be informed of a referral are if it is considered:
• the child might be at greater risk of harm as a result
• such action might impede a criminal investigation
• the child might be the victim of fabricated or induced illness
5.2 Irrespective of the child’s home address, referrals of suspected abuse or neglect will be made by telephone to the Duty Social Worker at the Haverhill Social Care Office (01440 762051). If for any reason this number is not available, the referral will be made by telephone to the Suffolk Social Care Customer First number (0845 6023023). After 5.20pm and at weekends the referral will be made by telephone to the out of hours team (01473 299669).
5.3 The telephone call will be recorded, noting the name of the person spoken to, and the record signed by the Co-ordinator with the date and time the telephone call was made. This will be followed up in writing, keeping a copy of the referral for the school’s own records, and sent by first class post (or hand delivered) to the Social Care Office, Camps Road, Haverhill, Suffolk CB9 8HF within 24 hours.
5.4 Any other referrals (i.e. those not of an immediate child protection nature) which Stoke College makes to Social Care will be made in writing. In these circumstances, the agreement of the child’s parent will always be obtained.
5.5 The school will expect a prompt response from the Social Care Services once a referral has been made. If nothing is heard within two days, the Child Protection Coordinator will telephone the office to which the referral was made and make enquiries. The telephone call will be recorded, again noting the name of the person spoken to, and the record signed by the Co-ordinator with the date and time the telephone call was made. If there has still been no response after a week, the Co-ordinator will write to the Immediate Needs Manager at the Haverhill Social Care Office requesting a response.
5.6 Where the school believes a referral to be a matter of child protection, but staff in Social Care Services are not of the same opinion, the Child Protection Co-ordinator will write to the Immediate Needs Manager or, if necessary, to the Director of Social Care, restating the school’s views.
6 Attendance at and Reports to Child Protection Conferences
6.1 If Social Care Services decide, having received a referral from the school that a child might be at risk of harm, a child protection conference may be called.
6.2 The Child Protection Co-ordinator will be asked to attend this conference and it is an expectation of Stoke College that he will do so, unless it is considered that another member of staff has greater or more relevant knowledge of the child, in which case that person will attend. Where a conference is held during a school holiday, the school will do its best to send a senior member of staff.
6.3 The school will provide the person chairing the conference with a written report on the child at least 48 hours in advance. The author of the report will be aware that the child's parents will have access to it.
6.4 If a child's name is placed on the Child Protection Register following a decision made at a child protection conference, a 'core group' consisting of those with the most knowledge of and involvement with that child will be identified. The Child Protection Co-ordinator or other relevant member of staff will attend.
7 CONFIDENTIALITY
7.1 Information on child protection cases will only be shared within the school with those who need it in order to ensure the safety of the children concerned.
7.2 All school records of child protection concerns and referrals are kept in a locked cabinet separately from the main pupil files. Only the Child Protection Co-ordinator, alternate Coordinator and Headteacher will have access to this cabinet.
7.3 Only one child protection file will be kept on a child, and will contain, on the inside front cover, a maintained chronology of events. No other information of a child protection matter will be kept anywhere else in the school.
8 TRANSFER OF RECORDS
8.1 When a child whose name is on the Child Protection Register leaves Stoke College, the Child Protection Co-ordinator will inform the relevant social worker and send the child protection records to the receiving school immediately. If the name of the receiving school is not known, the Child Protection Co-ordinator will notify the child's social worker as a matter or urgency as soon as the child leaves, or appears to be missing. In these circumstances, the child protection records will remain at Stoke College until the child is known to have registered elsewhere.
8.2 When a child joins Stoke College and records from the previous school indicate his/her name is on the Child Protection Register, the Headteacher or Child Protection Co-ordinator will notify Social Care Services immediately.
8.3 When a child whose name is known to be on the Child Protection Register joins Stoke College and no child protection records have been received from the previous school, the Child Protection Co-ordinator will contact the Co-ordinator at that school to request the records to be sent immediately. This request will be confirmed in writing and repeated if necessary. If they remain unavailable, the school will inform Haverhill Social Care Services of the problem.
9 School Attendance
9.1 Regular school attendance has a very important part to play in safeguarding children. The school will remain alert to the possibility of abuse or neglect where a child’s parents/carers repeatedly fail to provide adequate reasons for absence, or where the absence is ongoing without medical evidence. The school has a missing Pupils policy with respect to EYFS, Boarding and day pupils.
10 Curriculum
10.1 Stoke College will strive to create a safe environment for its pupils. The curriculum will therefore be instrumental in preparing children for their future responsibilities as adults.
10.2 Through the curriculum, Children will be helped to understand what is and is not acceptable behaviour towards them. They will be taught about staying safe from harm and the importance of speaking to a member of staff if they have worries or concerns.
11 Bullying and Child-on-Child Abuse
11.1 It is important that children should be safe from each other in school. Stoke College will not tolerate bullying amongst its pupils and is committed to dealing with all complaints of such a nature. Strategies for dealing with bullying are explained in the school’s Anti-Bullying Policy.
11.2 Members of staff need to understand that children as well as adults can be abusers. Where abuse by a fellow pupil is suspected the Child Protection Co-ordinator will, if necessary in consultation with the Governor for Child Protection, examine the information available and assess whether the matter should be referred to Social Care Services for investigation. Both sets of parents will be informed by the school, unless Social Care Services, having taken account of the particular circumstances, advises otherwise.
12 Staff recruitment
12.1 Before confirmation of appointment, all staff (teaching and support) and volunteers who apply to work at Stoke College will be subject to a rigorous recruitment process to ensure, as far as possible, their suitability to work with children. References will be taken up and they will be required to give evidence of their qualifications and details of previous experience and work history.
12.2 As part of this recruitment process all potential staff and volunteers will be required to declare any criminal record. Recruitment procedures will include enhanced CRB checks and an individual will not be employed if it is considered they are unsuitable to work with children. Safe recruitment procedures will fulfill the requirements set out in the Independent School Standard Regulations.
The school will obtain assurances that appropriate child protection checks and procedures apply to any staff employed by another organisation and working with the school's pupils on another site (for example in a separate institution).
The school will obtain assurances that staff employed by their catering contractors have appropriate child protection checks, unless the school has conducted these checks.
The school will ensure that all adults who live on the school premises but are not employed by the school will have a verifiable CRB check completed at a standard level.
The school will take reasonably practicable steps to carry out CRB checks on taxi drivers booked by the school to drive boarders unaccompanied by staff.
All staff will receive guidance to ensure that their behaviours and actions do not place pupils or themselves at the risk of harm, or allegations of harm to a pupil (for example in a 1-1 tuition, sports coaching, conveying a pupil by car, engaging in inappropriate electronic communication with a pupil etc.)
13 Allegations against Staff
13.1 Any allegation made against a member of staff or volunteer at Stoke College will be taken seriously and will be referred immediately to the Headteacher or Child Protection Co-ordinator or alternate Co-ordinator who will also inform the Chair of Governors.
13.2 Any allegation against or the designated person with responsibility for safeguarding, should be reported to the Head. If the Head is absent, the allegation should be passed to the Chair of Governors. If the allegation concerns the Head, the person making the allegation should immediately inform the Chair of Governors without notifying the Head first. In case of serious harm the police should be informed from the outset.
13.3 The decision to report a colleague can be a difficult one but staff must remember that the welfare of the child is paramount and takes precedence over loyalty to school or colleagues. No action will be taken against a member of staff who raises concerns in good faith, even if that concern after investigation proves to be unfounded. However, failure to report suspected abuse of a child will be regarded as a disciplinary offence.
13.4 If an allegation is made by a boarder in the school against a member of staff, arrangements must be put in place for the child to move to a place of safety. The member of staff will also be relieved of his/her duties, or be suspended while the allegations are being investigated and provided with somewhere to live until investigations by the ACPC are completed.
13.5 The school will report to the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) within one month of leaving the school, any person (whether employed, contracted, volunteer or student) whose services are no longer used because he or she is considered unsuitable to work with children.
The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) commenced operation on 20th January 2009, and its address for referrals is PO Box 181, Darlington, DL1 9FA (tel: 0300 123 1111).
13.6 In the above context, ceasing to use a person’s services includes: dismissal; non-renewal of a fixed-term contract; no longer engaging/refusing to engage a supply teacher provided by an employment agency; terminating the placement of a student teacher or other trainee; no longer using staff employed by contractors; no longer using volunteers; resignation, and voluntary withdrawal from supply teaching, contract working, a course of initial teacher training, or volunteering. It is important that reports include as much evidence about the circumstances of the case as possible. The school recognizes that failure to make a report constitutes an offence and the school may be removed from the DCSF register of independent schools. The relevant legislation is contained in The Education (Provision of Information by Independent Schools) (England) Regulations 2003. ‘Compromise agreements’ cannot apply in this connection.
14 Conclusion
14.1 The aim of these procedures is to ensure that all children at Stoke College are safe and free from harm. If they are considered to be at risk of, or to have suffered abuse or neglect, the school will take the steps described to minimise the risk, or protect them from further harm.
14.2 In order to monitor the effective safeguarding of Stoke College’s pupils, the Governor for Child Protection will submit an annual report on child protection issues within the school to the Board of Governors. The report will not reveal details of any individual children or families.
14.3 In all its work to safeguard children, Stoke College will work in partnership with other agencies and with parents.
14.4 The adequacy of these procedures will be reviewed annually and formally adopted by the Board of Governors.
APPENDIX 1
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ABUSE
Physical, Sexual, Emotional Abuse and Neglect
The first indication that a child is being abused is not necessarily the presence of a severe injury. Concerns that a child is being abused may be raised by the sign of bruises or marks on a child’s body or by remarks made by a child, his/her parents or friends, or the observation of a child’s behaviour or reactions, from an awareness that a family is under stress and may need help with caring for the children or from a number of other factors.
The following is not a comprehensive or definitive list, but it does provide a guide to the more common non-accidental injuries.
Clusters of signs may be more important than any one sign on its own. Much depends on whether the right questions are asked in order to make sense of what is seen.
Bruises
• Symmetrical bruised eyes are rarely accidental, although they may occur where there is an injury to the head or nose and blood seeps from the injury site to settle in the loose tissue around the eye. A single bruise may be the result of an accident or abuse.
• Bruising in or around the mouth (especially in small babies).
• Grasp marks on arms or chest of a small child.
• Finger marks (e.g. you may see 3-4 small bruises on one side of the face and one on the other).
• Bruising on opposite sides of the body is rarely accidental.
• Outline bruising (e.g. belt marks, hand prints).
• Linear bruising (particularly on the buttocks or back).
• Bruising on soft tissue with no obvious explanation.
• Different age bruising (especially in the same area e.g. buttocks).
N.B. (1)
Most falls or accidents produce one bruise on a single surface - usually on a bony protuberance. A child who falls downstairs generally has only one or two bruises. Bruising in accidents is usually on the front of the body as children generally fall forwards. In addition, there may be marks on their hands if they have tried to break their fall.
N.B. (2)
Bruising may be difficult to see on a dark skinned child. Mongolian blue spots may be mistaken for bruising. These are purplish-blue skin markings most commonly on the backs of children whose parents are non-white.
N.B. (3)
The following are uncommon sites for accidental bruising:
• back of legs, buttocks (except, occasionally, along the bony protuberances of the spine).
• mouth, cheeks, behind the ear.
• stomach, chest.
• under the arm.
• genital, rectal area.
• neck.
Bites
These can leave clear impressions of the teeth. Human bites are oval or crescent shaped. If the distance is more than 3 cm across, they must have been caused by an adult or older child with permanent teeth.
Burns/Scalds
It can be very difficult to distinguish between accidental and non-accidental burns.
Remember also:
• a responsible adult checks the temperature of the bath before a child gets in.
• a child is unlikely to sit down voluntarily in too hot a bath and cannot accidentally scald its bottom without also scalding its feet.
• a child getting into too hot water of its own accord will struggle to get out again and there will be splash marks.
• small round burns may be cigarette burns (but may be friction burns, and accidental, if along the bony protuberances of the spine).
Scars
Children may have scars, but notice should be taken of an exceptionally large number of differing age scars (especially if coupled with current bruising), unusual shaped scars (e.g. round ones from possible cigarette burns), or of large scars that are from burns or lacerations that did not receive medical treatment. (some medical conditions can cause scarring).
Fractures
A child with a fracture is usually in very considerable pain, and generally will not be moving the part that is fractured. There is usually swelling, and possibly discoloration over the sight of a fracture. However, children sustain fractures relatively easily, and small children may not always be distressed following a fracture. It can therefore be difficult for a parent to be aware that a child has been hurt.
General Points
Some bruises and marks may seem insignificant by themselves but repeated injuries, even of a very minor nature, may be symptomatic of a family in crisis and, if no action is taken, the child may be injured more seriously.
Any school, day nursery or childminder is entitled to expect a parent to tell them if there is anything wrong with a child. If this is made clear from the start, it can become an accepted part of routine and therefore be less difficult to comment on an injury which may look suspicious. Parents should always be asked for an explanation of any injury which is observed and consideration given to the feasibility of the explanation, whether it is appropriate to the child’s age and whether it was dealt with suitably. If there is any doubt, the parents should be told the matter will have to be taken further. (It may help if an explanation is offered about why injuries to young children are taken seriously as a matter of routine.) It is important, at this stage, not to accuse the parents (if it really was an accident, they will feel guilty enough, anyway), but to involve them in any action taken (e.g. medical examination).
Sexual Abuse
Below is a list of behavioral signs which have been known to act as indicators of sexual abuse. However it is important to realise that many of these signs could be equally indicative of a range of different problems.
There are very few physical signs of sexual abuse and the majority of those will require a medical diagnosis or forensic evidence. Pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease are examples.
Because those who sexually abuse children take great care to ensure that they have the compliance and silence of the child it is very difficult to know what is happening unless a child tells. It is important that whatever a child says, which may indicate they have been abused, is taken very seriously and is referred to those who are skilled in the investigation of the abuse of children.
POSSIBLE BEHAVIOUR SIGNS
• Mood changes, tantrums, aggression, sudden school difficulties.
• Insecurity.
• Sleep and eating disorders.
• Poor self-esteem, anxiety, depression, despair.
• Withdrawal, secretiveness.
• Poor peer relationships.
• Lies, stealing, arson.
• Running away.
• Suicide attempts, self-poisoning, self-mutilation.
• Unexplained money, gifts.
• Premature understanding of sex, inappropriate sex play.
• Seductive, promiscuity.
• Abuse of solvents, drugs, alcohol.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse may take the form of failure to meet a child’s need for affection, attention and stimulation (even though good physical care may be provided) or there may be constant verbal abuse, rejection, scape-goating, threats of violence or attempts to frighten the child. Conversely, some parents may be so over-protective and possessive that they prevent normal social contact or normal physical activity. Both states can be difficult to document or evaluate, but may have crippling long term effects on a child’s development. Children suffering from emotional abuse may exhibit these behavioral symptoms:
• excessively clingy or attention-seeking behavior.
• low self-esteem.
• apathy.
• be fearful or withdrawn.
• constantly seek to please.
• be over-ready to relate to anyone, even strangers.
Where emotional abuse is suspected, it is important to seek help for the child.
Neglect and Delay in Growth (Failure to Thrive)
Neglect includes not only poor physical care and inattention to the child’s basic needs, e.g. for regular feeding, cleanliness and clothing but also a failure to provide the necessary stimulation to sustain behavioural and emotional development. Warning signs include:
• poor growth for which no medical cause is found, with a dramatic improvement on a normal diet away from home.
• unkempt, dirty appearance.
• medical needs of child unmet - failure to seek medical advice for illness, severe untreated nappy rash, missed immunisations.
• developmental delay.
• lack of social responsiveness.
• self-stimulating behaviour such as head banging or rocking.
• repeated failure to prevent (accidental) injury.
REMEMBER, IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS REGARDING THE SAFETY OR WELFARE OF A CHILD, DISCUSS IT IMMEDIATELY WITH THE SCHOOL’S CHILD PROTECTION CO-ORDINATOR
Concerns or allegations may be reported to OFSTED. www.ofsted.gov.uk or 0300 123 4666
This policy is available to parents of pupils and prospective pupils, on the College website, and on request.
Adopted March 2004
Revised June 2005
Revised September 2007
Revised February 2010
Revised June 2010
Revised August 2010
Revised July 2011
Revised September 2011
Revised October 2011
To be reviewed October 2012
