Child Protection

Wynstones Child Protection Policy

1. Guidelines for Wynstones School Staff
1.1 Categories of Abuse
These have been defined as follows:-

Neglect: the persistent or severe neglect of a child, or the failure to protect a child from exposure to any kind of danger, including cold or starvation; or extreme failure to carry out important aspects of care, resulting in the significantimpairment of the child’s health or development, including non-organic failure to thrive.-

Physical Injury: actual or likely physical injury to a child, or failure to prevent physical injury (or suffering) to a child including deliberate poisoning, suffocation and 'Munchausen’s syndrome by proxy' (which means giving a false account of symptoms topresent a child’s condition misleadingly).-

Sexual Abuse: actual or likely sexual exploitation of a child or adolescent. The child may be dependent and/or developmentally immature.-

Emotional Abuse: actual or likely severe adverse effect on the emotional and behavioral development of a child caused by persistent or severe emotional ill treatment or rejection. All abuse involves some emotional ill treatment; this category should be used where it is the main or sole form of abuse.1.2 Identifying Abuse

Teachers and other school staff are well placed to observe outward signs of abuse, changes in behaviour, or failure to develop, which may indicate that abuse is taking place. Such signs may be the cause of suspicion, but they are not in themselves proof of abuse. Greatcare should betaken to distinguishbetween fact, observation, allegation andopinion.

Unexplained changes in behaviour or school performance may indicate abuse. The more obvious signs, such as bruises, may be apparent especially when pupils change for physical education. Inadequate clothing, poor growth or apparently deficient nutrition may indicate physical neglect, while attention seeking or excessive dependence may point to emotional neglect.

1.3 Do not cross-question a pupil

When a pupil makes a complaint it is important to limit any questioning to the minimum necessary for clarification, avoiding leading questions. As soon asthe allegation has been made no further questions should be asked.

The pupil should be told that the matter will be referred in confidence to the appropriate people. This must be done, and the written record passed on, the same day.

 1.4 Allegation against a staff member

1. All allegations should be reported straight away to the Chair of College, the Child Protection Officer and the designated local authority officer - (Tel: 01452 426565).

2. There will be three strands in the consideration of an allegation: a police investigation, enquiries & assessment by children’s social care and consideration by the school of disciplinary action in respect of the individual.

3. Parents or carers of a child or children involved will be told about the allegation as soon as possible.

4. Parents and carers will be kept informed about the progress of the case and told the outcome where there is not a criminal prosecution, including the outcome of any disciplinary process.

5. In cases where a child may have suffered significant harm consider what support the child or children involved may need.

6. The school will keep the person who is subject of the allegations informed of the progress of the case and consider what other support is appropriate.

7. If the person is suspended the school will keep the individual informed about developments. If the person is a member of a union or professional association s/he will be advised to contact that body at the outset.

8. Every effort will be made to maintain confidentiality and guard against unwanted publicity while an allegation is being investigated or considered.

9. The fact that a person tenders his or her resignation or ceases to provide their services must not prevent an allegation being followed up in accordance with these procedures. Every effort will be made to reach a conclusion in all cases of allegations. The person will be given a full opportunity to answer the allegation and make representations.

10. 'Compromise agreements' by which a person agrees to resign, the school agrees not to pursue disciplinary action, and both parties agree a form of words to be used in any future reference must not be used in these cases.

11. A clear and comprehensive summary of any allegations made, details of how the allegation was followed up and resolved, and a note of any action taken and decisions reached, will be kept on a person’s confidential personnel file and a copy provided to the person concerned.

12. To prevent unnecessary re-investigation if, as sometimes happens, an allegation re-surfaces the record will be retained until the person has reached normal retirement age or for a period of 10 years from the date of the allegation.

13. We will resolve cases as quickly as possible and it is reasonable to expect that cases will be resolved within one month?

14. Procedures need to be applied with common sense and judgement. It is important to ensure that even allegations that appear less serious are seen to be followed up and taken seriously. The Local Authority Officer will be informed of all allegations that come to the school’s attention. The Chair of Council will also be informed.

15. The school will advise parents of an incident involving their child straight away, for example if the child has been injured while at school or a school related activity and requires medical treatment.

16. The Chair of College will inform the accused person about the allegation as soon as possible after consulting the local authority and/or police or children’s social care. The Chair of Council is to be informed.

17. If the person is a member of a union or professional association s/he will be advised to contact that organisation at the outset.

18. If the allegation is about physical contact it will be taken into account the fact that teachers and other staff are entitled to use reasonable force to control or restrain pupils in certain circumstances, including dealing with disruptive behaviour.

19. If the complaint or allegation is such that it is clear than an investigation by police and/or enquiries by social care are not necessary, the options open to the school depend on the nature and circumstances of the allegation and the evidence and information available and will range from taking no further action to summary dismissal or a decision not to use the person’s services in future.

20. In some cases further enquiries will be needed to enable a decision about how to proceed. In straightforward cases that should normally be undertaken by a senior member of the school. In other circumstances, lack of appropriate resource within a school or complexity of the allegation will require an independent investigator. Advice can be taken from Council members with skills in this area. The Heads’ Asociation or other professional bodies should be consulted.

21. The possible risk of harm to children posed by an accused person needs to be effectively evaluated and managed – in respect of the child(ren) involved in the allegations, and any other children in the individual’s home, work or community life. In some cases the school will consider suspending the person until the case is resolved.

22. Suspension will be considered in any case where there is cause to suspect a child is at risk of significant harm, or the allegation warrants an investigation by the police or is so serious that it might be grounds for dismissal. A person will not be suspended automatically or without careful thought. The school will also consider whether the result that would be achieved by suspension could be obtained by alternative arrangements.

23. Neither the local authority, the police, nor the children’s social care, can require a school to suspend a member of staff or a volunteer. The power to suspend is vested in the Chair of College/College of teachers.

24. In cases where it is decided on the conclusion of the case that a person who has been suspended can return to work, the school will consider how best to facilitate that. Most people will benefit from some help and support to return to work after a very stressful experience. The school will also consider how the person’s contact with the child or children who made the allegation can best be managed.

25. At the conclusion of a case in which an allegation is substantiated, a review of the school’s procedures or practice will be made.

26. If an allegation is determined to be false, the CPO will refer the matter to the children’s social care to determine whether the child concerned is in need of services. If the allegation has been shown to have been deliberately invented the Chair of College will consider whether any disciplinary action is appropriate against the pupil.

27. If, at the conclusion of the case, the school ceases to use the person’s services, or the person ceases to provide his or her services, the school will consult the local authority about whether a referral to the DfES is required. If a referral is appropriate the report will be made within one month.

1.5 Confidentiality

The degree of confidentiality is governed by the need to protect the child. Teachers and others working with a child or family should make clear to those providing information that it may not be possible to maintain confidentiality if the withholding of the information will prejudice a child’s future.

 2. Procedure for Wynstones School Staff

The following procedure must be followed by any member of staff who, by virtue of a child’s behaviour, becomes suspicious of abuse or is told by a child that abuse has taken place.

2.1 Inform the designated person/s within the school (see 2.5 below).

2.2 If an injury requires immediate treatment the designated person/s should arrange this without delay, in whichever way seems most appropriate and then continue to follow the procedure below.

2.3 The concern should be accurately and legibly recorded in writing by the designated person/s. Written records must be kept at all stages.

2.4 The designated person/s should immediately contact the Duty Social Worker at the appropriate Social Services Office to discuss what action needs to be taken.

2.5 The designated person/s may be asked to arrange for the child to be further interviewed to substantiate the concern. The Social Worker, after consulting with his/her Manager may ask for arrangements to be made for him/her to interview the child with a member of the school staff.

2.6 If the child is felt to be in any danger s/he should not be allowed to go home, if at all possible.

2.7 The discussion with the social worker should involve consideration of how, when and by whom the parents should be informed of the concern bearing in mind on the one hand the need to protect the child and on the other the duty of the Social Services Department to work in partnership with parents wherever possible.

 2.8 School staff should be prepared to attend case conferences, and supply information, in writing if possible, as to any allegations made at school, other concerns regarding the child’s behavior at school or contact with the parent/s/carer/s, as well as academic and general progress at school. If unable to attend, written reports should be submitted.

2.9 School staff should be prepared to be part of the Child Protection Plan formulated by the case conference, to monitor future behavior, and, where appropriate, to be part of any appointed working group.

3. Child Protection Training
3.1 Check that one of the two designated persons does update training during the school year and:

a) Reports this to College
b) Files certificates in Child Protection file and own personnel file.

3.2 Induction Training:

Child protection including detection of abuse and integrated service awareness is in induction process.

3.3 On a three yearly basis, Child Protection training needs to be provided for all staff and evidence of training to be recorded in Child protection File, College file and all personnel files.

4. Designated Members of Staff - Richard Aylward, Suzanne Cataldo and Frances Barrington are available to be consulted, and to activate the procedures if required.