Chichester High School for Girls fully recognises its responsibilities for child protection.
Our policy applies to all staff, governors and volunteers working in the school.
There are five main elements to our policy:
1. Ensuring we practise safe recruitment in checking the suitability of staff
and volunteers to work with children.
2. Raising awareness of child protection issues and equipping children with
the skills needed to keep them safe.
3. Developing and then implementing procedures for identifying and reporting
cases, or suspected cases, of abuse.
4. Supporting individual pupils who have been abused in accordance with the
agreed child protection plan.
5. Establishing a safe environment in which pupils can learn and develop.
We recognise that as a result of their day to day contact with children, school staff are well placed to observe the outward signs of abuse. We will therefore:
· Establish and maintain an environment where children feel secure, are
encouraged to talk, and are listened to.
· Ensure children know that there are adults in the school whom they can
approach if they are worried.
· Include opportunities in the curriculum for children to develop the skills they
need to recognise and stay safe from abuse.
We follow the procedures set out by the appropriate Area Child Protection Committee and we take account of guidance issued by the DfE. Specifically:
· The designated teacher (Senior Designated Person or SDP) for child
protection has received appropriate training and support for this role.
(For KS4 pupils: Mrs L Gibson. For KS3 pupils: Mrs S Lambourne)
· Arrangements are in place for a senior member of staff to deputise for the
Senior Designated Person in their absence. (All members of The Senior
Leadership Team have been trained in procedures)
· We have a nominated governor responsible for child protection.
(Currently: Mrs E Beaney)
· We ensure every member of staff, volunteer and governor knows the names of
the SDP and their role.
· We ensure all staff and volunteers understand their responsibilities in being alert
to the signs of abuse and their legal duty to refer any concerns to the SDP
· All new staff and volunteers are trained in Safeguarding matters as part of
their induction.
· We ensure that parents have an understanding of the responsibility placed on the
school and staff for child protection by setting out its obligations in the school
prospectus.
· We notify Social Services if there is an unexplained absence of more than two days
of a pupil who is on the child protection register.
· We maintain effective links with relevant agencies and co-operate as required
with their enquiries regarding child protection matters including attendance at
case conferences and CAF (Common Assessment Framework) meetings.
· We maintain written records of concerns about children, even where there is
no need to refer the matter immediately.
· All records are kept securely in locked locations.
· We follow procedures where an allegation is made against a member of
staff or volunteer.
· We ensure safe recruitment practices are always followed.
We recognise that children who are abused or who witness violence may find it difficult to develop a sense of self worth. They may feel helplessness, humiliation and some sense of blame. The school may be the only stable, secure and predictable element in the lives of children at risk. When at school their behaviour may be challenging and defiant or they may be withdrawn. The school will endeavour to support the pupil through:
· The content of the curriculum.
· The school ethos which promotes a positive, supportive and secure environment
and gives pupils a sense of being valued.
· The school behaviour policy which is aimed at supporting vulnerable pupils in the
school. The school will ensure that the pupil knows that some behaviour is
unacceptable but they are valued and not to be blamed for any abuse which has
occurred.
· Liaison with other agencies that support the pupil such as social services, Child and
Adult Mental Health Service, Education Welfare Service and Educational Psychology
Service.
Ensuring that, where a pupil on the child protection register leaves, their information
is transferred to the new school immediately and that the child's social worker is
informed.
Child Protection – Advice to Staff
Please ensure you have read WSCC Safer Working Practice Guidance in T:\Policies\WSCC Safer Working Practice guidance and T:\Policies\e Safety Policy A child may confide in any member of staff and may not always go to a teacher. Staff to whom an allegation is made should remember:
- Yours is a listening role; do not interrupt the child if he or she is freely recalling significant events. It is not your role to investigate or interrogate.
- Do not give undertakings of absolute confidentiality. Explain that you are obliged to refer any matters of concern.
- Any questions that may be needed to clarify what the child is saying should be framed in an open manner and not lead the child in any way. Stop the interview once you have ascertained that this is a potential Child Protection issue, (i.e. there is the possibility of neglect, or of physical, emotional or sexual abuse). This is to avoid contaminating evidence, and to save the child from the stress of repeating their story to several people.
- Make a note of the discussion, as soon as is reasonably practicable (but within 24 hours) to pass on to the Senior Designated Person (L Gibson or S Lambourne) or the child’s Head of Learning. The note should record the time, date, place and people who were present as well as what was said — this may be used in any subsequent court proceedings.
- Finally, but most importantly, inform the SDP or Head of Learning and give your note to them. Your responsibility in terms of referring concerns ends at this point, but you may have a future role in terms of supporting or monitoring the child, contributing to the assessment or implementing child protection plans.
Note
If at any time you suspect there may be a child protection issue involving a pupil (e.g. from something they or another pupil says or does), mention it to their Head of Learning or the SDP. Do not interrogate the pupil.
Remember – if in doubt, report.