CTC Kingshurst Academy: Child Protection Policy

Child Protection Policy

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY AND PROCEDURES SEPTEMBER 2009

THE CTC KINGSHURST ACADEMY

The Governors recognise their statutory responsibility to make sure that appropriate arrangements are in place to safeguard and promote the welfare of children : Section 175 of the Education Act 2002.

This policy applies to all staff, governors and volunteers working in the school and will be reviewed annually.

Principles :

This college recognises its responsibility to protect and safeguard the welfare of the children and young people entrusted to its care by establishing a safe environment in which children can learn and develop.
The staff and governors of this college are committed to establishing and maintaining an environment where children feel secure, are encouraged to talk, and are listened to.
We will try and ensure that children know that there are adults in the college whom they can approach if they are worried.
We recognise that because of the day to day contact with children, college staff are well placed to observe the signs of possible abuse.
This college recognises its responsibility to discuss with Education and Children's Services' Duty, Assessment and Referral Team : DART (0121 788 4333) any significant concerns about a child which may indicate physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse or neglect in accordance with the Local Safeguarding Children Board child protection procedures and to attend any child protection conferences, initial and review, and core group meetings and child in need conferences that may be called.
This college recognises its duty to work with other agencies such as : Children's Services, Police Child Abuse Investigation Unit, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Education Welfare Service, Educational Psychology Service in protecting children from harm and in responding to concerns about possible abuse.
The college wishes to promote a positive, supportive and secure environment, giving students a sense of being valued.
The college will ensure that parents have an understanding of the responsibility placed on staff for child protection by setting out its obligations in the school prospectus.

The Designated Member of Staff for Child Protection :

The Designated Member of Staff for Child Protection in this college is : Sue Beathe.
The DMS will co-ordinate action on child abuse within the school, ensuring that all staff (including supply staff ) know who the Designated Member of Staff is and that they are aware of their responsibilities in being alert to the signs of abuse and of their responsibility to discuss any concerns with the Designated Member of Staff.
The governors support the Designated Member of Staff for Child Protection in carrying out her responsibilities as outlined in Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education (January 2007).

Responding :

Any member of staff who has concerns about a child must report their concerns to the Designated Member of Staff for Child Protection
In accordance with the Local Safeguarding Children Board Procedures, the agreement of the family for a referral to Children's Services Duty Team should be sought where possible( Ref.Chapter 3.1.1 Section 7.1 ) However, if it is felt that any such agreement seeking would increase the level of significant risk to the child, the matter should be discussed with the Duty, Assessment and Referral Team and their advice sought.
Children's Services Duty, Assessment and Referral Team : 0121 788 4333/0121 605 6060 ( Out of Hours ). All referrals need to be confirmed in writing within 48 hours using the Children and Families Inter Agency Referral form.
If the suspicions in any way involve another member of staff, the matter needs to be brought to the attention of the Principal who will act in accordance with procedures (The Management of Allegations and Concerns Regarding the Professional Conduct of Staff: September 2004, and also the LSCB Procedures Chapter 4).
If the suspicion in any way involves the Principal, advice needs to be sought from the LEA Child Protection representative on the Local Safeguarding Children Board as per procedures (Section 7): currently Steve Martin : Chief Education Welfare Officer. The chair of governors is to be informed immediately.
Steve Martin: Chief Education Welfare Office and Sheila Wyatt: Senior Education Welfare Officer have made a commitment to respond within 60 minutes to any contact from a school wishing to discuss/clarify a child protection concern . They can be contacted on: 0121 788 1505.

Child Protection Conference :

If concerns raised with DART are substantiated, a child protection conference will be called within 15 working days of the strategy meeting. Attendance at the conference is very important, as the child protection conference will be deciding whether or not the child needs a child protection plan.
When invited to a child protection conference, whether attending or not, a report needs to be prepared (DMSs have received a copy of a format for compiling a report for conferences ). This report should ideally be shared with the parents prior to the meeting and if this does not happen the chair of the conference needs to be notified of reasons why the report was not shared with parents. Sufficient copies of the report need to be prepared for distribution at the conference.

Use of physical intervention:

Teachers and other staff in schools have the right to use reasonable force to control or restrain pupils in certain circumstances: Section 550A of the Education Act 1996
Additional guidance on the use of restrictive physical interventions with children who display extreme behaviour is contained in the DfES document LEA/0242/2002
It is important to allow children to do what they can for themselves, but depending on age and circumstances (ie a child who is hurt, child who needs instruction in the use of a particular instrument/piece of equipment, safety issues such as the need to prevent a child hurting themselves, running into the road) it may be necessary for some physical contact to take place.

Abuse of Trust

The Sexual Offences (amendment) Act 2000 established a criminal offence of the abuse of trust affecting teachers and others who are in a relationship of trust with 16-18 year olds; a relationship of trust being one where a teacher, member of education staff or volunteer is in a position of power or influence over a pupil or student by virtue of the work or nature of the activity being undertaken.
The legislation is intended to protect young people in education who are over the age of consent but under 18 years of age.
The principle of equality embedded in the legislation applies irrespective of sexual orientation: neither homosexual nor heterosexual relationships are acceptable within a position of trust.

E-safety

Children and young people may expose themselves to danger, whether knowingly or unknowingly, when using the internet and other technologies. Additionally, some young people may find themselves involved in activities which are inappropriate, or possibly illegal.
Schools therefore have a major responsibility to educate their pupils; teaching them the appropriate behaviours and critical thinking skills to enable them to remain both safe and legal when using the internet and related technologies (Becta)
Internet safety is a whole college responsibility (staff, pupils, parents). However, it is advisable that the Principal delegates responsibility for internet safety management to a senior manager.

Record Keeping :

Any member of staff receiving a disclosure of abuse from a child or young person, or noticing signs or symptoms of possible abuse in a child or young person, will make notes as soon as possible (within the hour if possible), writing down as exactly as possible using the child's own words, what was said or seen, putting the scene into context, and giving the time and location. Dates and times of events should be recorded as accurately as possible, together with a note of when the record was made. All records must be signed and dated clearly.
All records of a child protection nature (hand written or typed) will be given to the DMS for safekeeping. This includes case conference minutes and written records of any concerns. Access to any records will be on a 'need to know' basis. All records must be securely held, separate from the main pupil file, and in a secure cabinet.
When a child who has a Child Protection Plan leaves the school and/or transfers to another school, the DMS will inform the child's new school immediately and discuss with the child's social worker the transfer of any confidential information the school may hold.
When students who have been the subject of some concern in college transfer from primary to secondary school and/or move school part way through an academic year, any concerns that are being monitored need to be passed on to the DMS of the receiving school in writing. Any other historic information that is not part of either an ongoing child protection case or an active monitoring situation should be shredded.

Supporting the Student :

The college will support students in accordance with his/her agreed Child Protection Plan.
The college will notify any concerns about a child who has a Child Protection Plan or is known to have an allocated social worker to the child's social worker or in her/his absence the manager or a duty officer in the team (Section 8.4 of Chapter 3.1.1 of the LSCB Procedures).
We recognise that children who are abused or who witness violence may experience difficulties which impact on their sense of self worth. They may feel helplessness, humiliation and some sense of blame. The college may be the only stable, secure and predictable element in the lives of children at risk. When at college their behaviour may be challenging and defiant or they may be withdrawn. The college will endeavour to support the student through the content of the curriculum and the college ethos of valuing the pupil.

The Curriculum :

Through various aspects of the curriculum, staff will raise students' awareness and build their confidence so that they have a range of contacts and strategies to ensure their own protection and that of others, recognising that students need opportunities to develop the skills they need to recognise and stay safe from abuse.
The principles embedded in this policy link into other policies relating to: Health, PSHE, Cultural Studies, Sex Education, Bullying, Equal Opportunities, Special Educational Needs.

Training :

This college is committed to supporting and training all staff in matters of child protection.
The governors will ensure that all staff receive child protection awareness training as part of their induction with subsequent three yearly updates as prescribed in government guidance (Section 175 of the Education Act 2002)
The governors will ensure that the Designated Member of Staff for Child Protection attends the multi agency child protection training organised through the LSCB as soon as possible after taking up their responsibilities and that the DMS subsequently receives appropriate training on a 2 yearly basis in accordance with government guidance.

Recruitment of Staff and Volunteers :

Good practice guidance as outlined in Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education (January 2007) and by Solihull's Human Resources Section should always be followed.
The college will ensure that safe recruitment practices are in place and followed in checking the suitability of all staff and volunteers to work with children.

Useful contacts :

Children's Services Duty, Assessment and Referral Team (DART): 0121 788 4300
Child Protection and Review Unit: 0121 788 4310
Police Child Abuse Investigation Unit: 0121 712 6143
Education Welfare Service: 0121 788 1505
NSPCC Young Person's Centre: 0121 770 3000

Supporting Documents :

Local Safeguarding Children Board Procedures (2008).
Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education (2007)
Working Together to Safeguard Children (2006)
What to do if you are worried a child is being abused
The Management of Allegations and Concerns Regarding the Professional Conduct of Staff - September 2004.
E-safety: Becta 2005

College: The CTC Kingshurst Academy
Date: September 2009 Review Date: September 2010

Governor signing:
(David Moore)