Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups - a governors perspective

Governors Conference 14 th March 2015 Penryn School Workshop delivered by: Helen Trelease Independent Safeguarding Children Trainer and Advisor, and Safeguarding Governor [email protected]

• • • • • Introductions How do we define vulnerable?

Who are our vulnerable groups in school?

What impact can their vulnerability have on them?

What is the role of the governing body in safeguarding vulnerable groups?

How do we define vulnerable?

• ‘Open to moral attack/ criticism / temptation’ etc • ‘Capable of being physically or mentally hurt’ • ‘In need of special care, support or protection’

Who are our most vulnerable groups within our schools?

CYP subject of a Child Protection plan Pupil premium children includes children in care Low self-confidence/self esteem Mental health issues Young carers Those being bullied Those with poor school attendance Exposure to Domestic abuse CYP from minority groups

Vulnerable Groups in school

LGBT Those with low academic attainment Parental mental health and substance misuse Where socio economic factors are impacting on CYP Gifted and talented Those with challenging and complex behaviours SEN and children with additional needs

Local Perspective

• • • • • Whilst the percentage of children in poverty in Cornwall overall (19%) is below the national average (21%) there are some neighbourhoods where the proportion is twice the national average.

Approximately 420 young carers Approximately 257 teenage parents 579 young offenders Estimated 6,400 children with identified mental health problem Taken from Cornwall’s Early Help Strategy 2013- 2015

CORNWALLS CHILD PROTECTION STATISTICS ( January 2015) Numbers of Children by District and Category Mid West

Approximately 110,000 children in Cornwall

No. of children subject to a child protection plan No. of children in the care of the local authority Cornwall 405 443 East 159 173 123 116 119 138 Other 4* 16

Breakdown of no: of children under each category

( January 2015)

(does not include small number under multiple categories ) PHYSICAL 42 NEGLECT EMOTIONAL SEXUAL 253 100 10

What impact can their vulnerability have on them as individuals?

What is Safeguarding?

• • • • • Protecting children from maltreatment Preventing impairment of children ’ s health and development Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care Take action to enable all children have the best outcomes (Ref: Working Together 2013)

Two key inspection issues follow from this definition

• The effectiveness of schools in taking reasonable steps to ensure that children and learners are safe.

• The effectiveness of the schools in helping to ensure that children and learners feel safe.

What does ‘Safeguarding children & young people’ mean within the context of your school setting?

Child Protection Safeguarding Policies Behaviour management Staff Conduct Observations: Knowing your children children?

– who are your vulnerable Building confidence and self esteem

Safeguarding

E- safety Managing allegations against Staff Assessments ie Health and Safety and Risk LISTEN TO CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE Balanced curriculum including health, emotional and social wellbeing Dealing effectively with bullying Attendance Staff Recruitment and Selection

Teachers Standards

2012 Part 2: Personal and Professional Conduct A teacher is expected to demonstrate consistently high standards of personal and professional conduct ---- • • Treating pupils with dignity, building relationships rooted in mutual respect, and at all times observing proper boundaries appropriate to a teachers professional position Having regard for the need to safeguard pupils’ well being, in accordance with statutory provisions

What does Safeguarding mean in the context of your role as a Governing body?

Child Protection Reviewing Policies and Procedures: including anti bullying, behaviour management Staff Conduct ‘ ‘ Critical Friend Looked after Children Listening to Children and Young People

Safeguarding

E- safety Managing Allegations Against Staff Health and Safety ( including building design) Awareness of the Curriculum Whistle blowing Relevant and Regularly Updated Safeguarding Training Monitoring Attendance Safer Recruitment and Selection

Keeping Children Safe in Education

Published April 2014 DoE • Statutory Guidance for ALL schools and colleges • Sets out the duties and responsibilities that schools and colleges must assume to safeguard and promote the welfare of children

Keeping Children Safe In Education April ‘14 DoE: Part One: Safeguarding Information for all staff includes: • Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play in safeguarding children.

• School staff are particularly important as they are in a position to identify concerns early and provide help for children to prevent concerns from escalating.

• Staff members working with children are advised to maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here’ where safeguarding is concerned.

Part Two: The management of safeguarding The responsibility of governing bodies and proprietors • • • • • • • Key themes: Inter-agency working – this includes providing a co-ordinated offer of early help when additional needs of children are identified Safeguarding policies – effective child protection policy together with staff behaviour policy (code of conduct) Designated governor safeguarding lead Opportunities to teach safeguarding The children’s wishes and feelings- there need to be systems in place for children to express their views and give feedback Looked after children Missing Children - need to have appropriate safeguarding responses in place

Specific Safeguarding Issues: Keeping Children Safe in Education April ’14 DoE (Part One S.25) • • • • • • • • Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Bullying including cyber bullying Domestic abuse Drugs and Alcohol Fabricated, induced illness Faith abuse Female genital mutilation (FGM) Forced marriage • • • • • • • • Gangs and youth violence Gender based violence/ violence against women and girls (VAWG) Mental Health Private Fostering Radicalisation Sexting Teenage relationship abuse Trafficking

• • • • • •

The role of the Governing Body in relation to vulnerable children

Ensure you have safeguarding governor and a chair of governors who are keeping up to date on local and national initiatives.

To be a ‘critical friend’ What support and guidance is available for vulnerable children in your school?

Attend appropriate training Check out how many you have?

How is the money allocated for pupil premium children, and how can you show it is making a difference?