Transcript SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL AND …

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN
THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL
AND GOVERNORS
2008/2009
Introduction
• Fred and Rosemary West
• Lauren Wright
• Lord Laming’s Report on the Inquiry into the death of
Victoria Climbie Feb 2003
• Every Child Matters – Green Paper Feb 2003
• The Soham murders – Bichard Report 2004
These are examples of key incidents and reports which
have heightened awareness that all organisations need
cultures and systems which protect children
Every Child Matters
“We have to do more both to protect
children and ensure each child fulfils
their potential. Security and
opportunity must go hand in hand.”
Course Aim
To provide Governors with an opportunity to
learn about their role and responsibilities
in relation to child protection, in the context
of the school’s general duty to safeguard
and promote the welfare of children who
are pupils
Learning Outcomes
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•
Governors will support their
Headteacher/Designated Person in
ensuring policies and systems in school
fulfil the safeguarding responsibilities
Governors will know what their
responsibilities are in relation to
safeguarding children
What do we mean by
“Safeguarding and Promoting
Welfare”?
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is
defined as:
• Protecting children from maltreatment
• Preventing impairment of children’s health or development
• Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances
consistent with the provision of safe and effective care;
….and undertaking that role so as to enable those children to
have the optimum life chances such that they enter
adulthood successfully
What is safeguarding?
healthy
supportive
safe
environment
child in
need
child in need of
protection
seriously
abusive
environment
Child Protection
Assessment Framework
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SAFEGUARDING
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The Children Act 2004
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Clear accountability
Integrating education, health and social care
Raising the priority of child protection
Creating a lead inspectorate for children
Creating an independent voice for children
Raising the status and attractiveness of working
with children
• Sharing information between services to pick up
the warning signs
The Education Act 2002
• Section 175 of the Education Act 2002 came into force
June 1st 2004. It created an explicit duty to strengthen
arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the
welfare of children
• The Guidance is entitled ’Safeguarding Children in
Education’
The Education Act 2002
Section 175
“Duties of LAs and governing bodies in relation to
the welfare of children…..
….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 the school.”
The Bichard Report Recommendation 19
“New arrangements should be
introduced requiring those who
wish to work with children, or
vulnerable adults, to be
registered. The register would
confirm that there is no known
reason why an individual should
not work with these client
groups.”
Highlights
• Core purpose: to prevent unsuitable
people from working with children and
vulnerable adults
• The Scheme will reform current vetting
and barring practices….
• …but employers retain their
responsibilities for ensuring safe
recruitment and employment practices.
Legal & policy
framework
Duties and responsibilities under regulated activity,
where an organisation is providing the activity:
A barred individual must not undertake regulated activity.
• To undertake regulated activity the individual must be
ISA-registered.
• An employer must not engage in regulated activity a
barred person or a person who is not ISA-registered.
• An employer must check that a prospective employee
who is in regulated activity is ISA-registered.
• Personal and family relationships are not covered.
How it will work - Operations
The Criminal Records Bureau will:
• Receive applications to the scheme
• Gather and monitor information for the
Independent Safeguarding Authority
• Administer automatic inclusions on the list and
cases where there is no information
• Provide the facility for online checks and
continuous updates
Role and Responsibilities
• LA Lead Officer Role
• Senior Designated Person Role (and Deputy)
• Governing Body
The guidance provides details about these
responsibilities. The enhanced expectation is
clear.
Implications for Schools
Schools must take into account the need to minimise risk of
harm and where there are concerns must act to remedy
these.
• Schools need to audit their practice so that they can
meet their responsibilities
• A child protection policy, reviewed annually, referred to in
prospectus, conforms to LA/LSCB guidance
• Designated lead responsibility
• Appropriate training (including induction) for all
• Robust safe recruitment and allegation procedures
• A more robust (strategic) Governing Body role
Child Protection
Intimate
Care
Restraint
Staff Conduct
Anti Bullying
Policies
Attendance
Curriculum
Safeguarding
Behaviour
Management
Health
and
Safety
Whistle blowing
Safe Recruitment
and Selection
Managing
Allegations
Against Staff
Safe Built
Environment
Duties of governing
bodies
• Governors should not get involved or know
details in individual cases (except disciplinary
functions relating to allegations against
members of staff)
• Collective responsibility or individual governor to
champion?
Duties of governing bodies
They must ensure that the school;
• Has child protection policy and procedures- made
available to parents
• Operates safe recruitment procedures and checks are
carried out.
• Has procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse
against staff and volunteers.
• Has a senior member of school’s leadership team who is
designated to take lead responsibility for child protection
Duties of governing bodies
• The Designated Person should have
• basic cp training
• multi agency training
• refresher training at 2 year intervals.
• All other staff ( including Head) should have training at 3
year intervals.
• All should be given the school’s CP policy / procedures
and contact details of designated person when they
begin work at the school.
Duties of governing bodies
• Designate a Governor, usually the chair, in case of
allegations against the head teacher
• Governing body should review its policies and
procedures annually and provide information to LA about
them and how its duties have been discharged
• Remedy deficiencies or weaknesses in regard to CP
arrangements without delay
• Extended schools – assurance about child protection
procedures from independent companies to which
activities are contracted
Role of Chair of Governors
• Requires Liaison (taking care with confidentiality) with
the Head teacher/DP regarding allegations of child
abuse
• Responsibility for the oversight of procedures relating to
liaison with the Lead Officer CP for the LA, Social
Services duty team and Police in relation to any
allegation of child abuse made against the Head
Teacher, including possible involvement in multi-agency
strategy discussions (though no direct investigatory role,
rather providing information and ensuring good
communication between all parties)
When parents involve
governors in child protection
issues
• Explain that governors do not have an operational role in
child protection
• Refer any concerns to the Head Teacher
• Where criticisms are made of any aspect of a case, (e.g.
it’s progress or staff involved) as above
Additionally, confidential or hypothetical advice will be given
by LA/EWS/CYPS
Values and Ethos of school
•There is an ethos in
school in which children
and adults feel safe, are
valued, respected and
listened to.
•Children and staff are
encouraged to talk and
their opinions are
respected
• Posters in school
giving
information
about safety.
• Evidence of
discussion
groups
• Positive
atmosphere
• Regular and
valued staff
meetings
• Pupil’s councils
Child Centred Practice
• Pupils know to
whom they can turn
if they are worried.
• Pupils know about
the schools position
on bullying and
challenging
behaviour.
• Children are
respected in school.
• Rules are few but
explicit
•Information seen
around school
•Pupils when asked,
can give info about
school procedures
•Staff are seen and
heard to speak to
children courteously.
•School is involved in
community and/or
external education
activities.
People like us
(Utting Report)
“The best safeguard is an
environment of overall
excellence”