Different Forms of Child Abuse and Safeguarding Concerns 4

Safeguarding Policy

Safeguarding Policy

Policy Date: August 2015

To be reviewed: May 2016

Contents

Introduction 3

Overview 3

Aims 4

Different Forms of Child Abuse and Safeguarding Concerns 4

The Role of the Governing Body 5

Role of the Designated Senior Person (DSP) 5

Role of the School and Staff 6

Supporting Students 6

School Procedure regarding the Protection of Children 7

School procedure regarding allegations of abuse made against a member of staff 7

Statutory Notifications 8

Records/Confidentiality 8

Staff Training, Induction and Awareness 9

Volunteers 9

Safer Recruitment 10

Staff Code of Conduct 10

Physical Contact and Use of Reasonable Force 11

First Aid and Intimate Care 11

Changing for P.E. lessons 11

Site Security 12

Definitions and Categories of Child Abuse 12

Neglect 12

Physical Abuse 12

Sexual Abuse 13

Emotional Abuse 14

Other Safeguarding areas 14

Child Missing from Education…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..14

Child Missing from Home/Care………………………………………………………………………………………………………..14

Bullying (including Cyber Bullying) 14

Domestic Violence 15

Child Sexual Exploitation 15

Forced Marriages 15

Drugs Abuse 16

Fabricated or Induced Illness 16

Gangs and Youth Violence 16

Gender Based Violence 16

Sexting 16

Female Genital Mutilation 16

Allegations of Abuse Against Other Students 17

Minimising the risk of safeguarding concerns towards pupils from other students 18

Faith Abuse 19

Radicalisation 19

Prevention 19

Policy Adoption, Monitoring and Review…………………………………………………………………………………………20

Other related policies 20

Useful Documents/Links 20

Contact Details 21

FLOW CHARTS 2 - REFFERAL 22

FLOW CHARTS 3 - URGENT ACTION TO SAFEGUARD CHILDREN 23

FLOW CHARTS 4 - WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE STRATEGY DISCUSSION? 24

FLOW CHARTS 5 - WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE CHILD PROTECTION CONFERENCE INCLUDING THE REVIEW PROCESS? 25

In the Name of Allah the Most Kind, Most Merciful

Introduction

The staff and the members of the Governing Body of Al Risalah School are committed to ensuring that all our students are offered a learning environment which is safe and secure.

Our school’s Safeguarding Policy is based on the DfE document ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education July 2015 (KCSIE 2015)’ and guidance from Wandsworth Local Safeguarding Children Board. It also has regard to DfE guidance ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children March 2015.

Al-Risalah School ensures staff are aware of the safeguarding policies and procedures the school has in place; they should know how to recognise and report signs of abuse and neglect, and update their child protection training regularly.

This policy is subject to regular review and update, and will be formally reviewed at least annually by the Governing Body in line with Government guidance.

The school strives to ensure that staff members should always think "it could happen here" where safeguarding is concerned.

There are five main elements to our policy:

1  Establishing a safe environment in which children can learn and develop.

2  Ensuring safe recruitment practices are always followed.

3  Raising awareness of Child Protection issues amongst all stakeholders

4  Developing and implementing robust procedures for identifying and reporting cases of safeguarding concerns.

5  Supporting pupils who have been abused in accordance with child protection procedures

Overview

·  Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined for the purposes of this guidance as: protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of children’s health or development; ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

·  Where a child is suffering significant harm, or is likely to do so, action should be taken to protect that child.

·  Action should also be taken to promote the welfare of a child in need of additional support, even if they are not suffering harm or are at immediate risk

·  The School has a dedicated Child Protection Officer (CPO) and a deputy Officer. This Policy will be reviewed regularly and should be read in line with government guidelines.

·  This policy has used the flowcharts as recommended by the government which may be updated from time to time.

·  This policy will be available on the school website and made available to parents upon request.

Aims

·  To support the student’s development in ways that will foster security, confidence and independence.

·  To raise the awareness of staff of the need to safeguard students and of their responsibilities in identifying and reporting possible cases of abuse.

·  To provide a systematic means of monitoring students known or thought to be at risk of harm.

·  To emphasise the need for good levels of communication between all members of staff.

·  To develop a structured procedure which will be followed in cases of suspected abuse.

·  To develop and promote effective working relationships with other selected organisations, especially the Police and Social Care

·  To ensure that all adults, whether staff or volunteers who have frequent access to students have current DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) checks, have their identity verified by original documentation and also that references are checked in line with Safe Recruitment Policies.

Different Forms of Child Abuse and Safeguarding Concerns

Staff should look out for the following issues and concerns:

v  Emotional abuse

v  Physical abuse

v  Sexual abuse

v  Neglect

v  Child missing from education

v  Child missing from home/care

v  Bullying including Cyber Bullying

v  Domestic Violence

v  Child Sexual Exploitation

v  Forced Marriages

v  Drugs Abuse

v  Fabricated or Induced Illness

v  Gangs and Youth Violence

v  Gender Based Violence/violence against women and girls

v  Mental Health

v  Private Fostering

v  Sexting

v  Teenage Relationship Abuse

v  Trafficking

v  Female Genital Mutilation

v  Faith Abuse

v  Preventing Radicalisation

The Role of the Governing Body

The Governing Body will:

·  ensure that they comply with their duties under legislation and have regard to the DFE guidance to ensure that the policies, procedures and training are effective and comply with the law at all times.

·  ensure that the school contributes to inter-agency working in line with statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015.

·  ensure that their safeguarding arrangements take into account the procedures and practice of the local authority as part of the inter-agency safeguarding procedures set up by the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB). Section 10 of the Children Act 2004 requires a local authority to make arrangements to promote co-operation between itself and its relevant partners and other organisations who are engaged in activities relating to children. Under section 14B of the Children Act 2004 the LSCB can require a school or college to supply information in order to perform its functions; this must be complied with.

·  ensure a member of the governing body, usually the chair, is nominated to liaise with the local authority and/or partner agencies on issues of child protection and in the event of allegations of abuse made against the headteacher, the Director or proprietor is to liaise .

·  ensure that an effective child protection policy is in place together with a staff behaviour policy (code of conduct). Both should be provided to all staff – including temporary staff and volunteers on induction.

·  ensure that the policies and procedures adopted by governing body, particularly concerning referrals of cases of suspected abuse and neglect, are followed by all staff.

·  ensure a designated senior staff person is appointed to the role of designated safeguarding lead

·  ensure a sound curriculum is in place to raise safeguarding awareness

·  ensure a robust safer recruitment practice is followed in line with the recommended practice

·  ensure procedures are in place to manage allegations and for making complaints

The Governor with special responsibility for safeguarding/child protection will liaise with the Designated Person on matters relating to safeguarding/ child protection issues and participate in the annual review of the policy.

Role of the Designated Senior Person (DSP)

The role of the Designated Senior Person for Child Protection is in line with the responsibilities as set out at Appendix 3 of the DfE Guidance outlined above (KCSIE 2015). These are as follows:

·  Referrals, training and raising awareness.

·  Is the focus person and local ‘expert’ for school staff, and others, who have concerns about an individual child’s safety or well-being and is the first point of contact for external agencies that are pursuing C.P. investigations.

·  Co-ordinates the school’s representation at CP conferences and the submission of written reports for conferences (a meeting of all relevant agencies).

·  Seeking advice from Wandsworth Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB) for Child Protection at once and/or consulting with Social Care to decide on referrals (imperatively referrals must be made within 24 hours of a disclosure or allegation of an abuse).

Role of the School and Staff

·  Every adult (permanent employee, supply and volunteer) at Al-Risalah who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play in safeguarding children and to provide a safe environment in which all children can learn.

·  All staff members need to remain vigilant and have a responsibility to identify concerns early and provide help for children to prevent concerns from escalating. This also includes children who are likely to suffer any harm. In such cases staff have a responsibility to act in line with the school policy of reporting all such concerns and support the DSP and other external agencies.

·  When concerns are noted Al-Risalah School will liaise with other stakeholders. LSCB, social care, the police, health services and other services which promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. The school’s designated senior person (DSP) is responsible to liaise closely with these services.

·  If staff are not satisfied with the action taken or still have concern they should speak directly to children’s social care.

·  If there is a risk of immediate serious harm to a child a referral should be made to children’s social care immediately. Anybody can make a referral. If the child’s situation does not appear to be improving the staff member with concerns should press for re-consideration. Concerns should always lead to help for the child at some point.

·  Training will be provided to all members of staff by the school’s lead designated senior person and regularly updated. The training will support all staff members of understanding the importance of safeguarding at Al-Risalah and outline procedures and systems to be used in cases where any issues arise. This will include child protection, behaviour management system, Health and safety, code of conduct and the procedures within the school with regards to these matters. The school will ensure that safeguarding is included as part of Al-Risalah’s robust induction process for all new staff members and volunteers. The training and induction will bring awareness of the following:

Ø  Make aware of the signs of abuse and neglect so that they are able to identify cases of children who may be in need of help or protection. Knowing what to look for is vital to the early identification of abuse and neglect. If staff members are unsure they should always speak to children’s social care.

Ø  Remain constantly vigilant as if it could happen any time to one our children at Al-Risalah. If any concerns are noted then they act in the best interest and welfare of the child.

Supporting Students

We recognise that a student who is abused or witnesses violence may find it difficult to develop and maintain a sense of self-worth, may feel helpless and humiliated.

We accept that research shows that the behaviour of a student in these circumstances may range from that which is perceived to be normal to aggressive or withdrawn behaviour.

We will support all students by:

·  Encouraging self-esteem and self-assertiveness whilst not condoning aggression or bullying

·  Promoting a caring, safe and positive environment

·  Liaising and working together with all other support services and those agencies involved in the safeguarding of children

·  Notifying the Social Care Department of the Local Authority as soon as here is a significant concern.

School Procedure regarding the Protection of Children

Key consideration: The confidentiality, care and welfare of the child are of paramount importance.

Any staff member, who has reason to suspect that a child has been ill-treated, injured or is at risk for whatever reason should immediately inform the DSP. The DSP will instruct the adult to document everything that has been said or observed. Based on the information shared the DSP will act by:

a)  Considering it as a safeguarding concern and liaise with external agencies

b)  Seek advice from external agencies if unsure

c)  Ensure that further monitoring of the child will take place.

NOTE:

Where there are any doubts as to the seriousness of this concern or disagreement between the DSP and the member of staff reporting the concern, advice will be sought from the LSCB/ social services.

In circumstances where a child has a suspicious injury that requires urgent medical attention, the CP referral process should not delay the administration of first aid or emergency assistance. If a pupil is thought to be at immediate risk (because of parental violence or intoxication, for example) urgent Police intervention will be requested. Particular vigilance will be exercised in respect of children who are subject to a Child Protection Plan and any incidents or concerns involving these children will be reported immediately to Social Care (and confirmed in writing). In all cases of injury to a child consideration will always be given as to whether an urgent paediatric medical assessment is required to document injuries or to protect any forensic evidence.

Where it is suspected that a child may be at risk of significant harm, nothing will be said to the child’s parent/carer without the approval of the LSCB.

School procedure regarding allegations of abuse made against a member of staff

·  Al Risalah School takes seriously all complaints made against members of staff. Mechanisms are in place for pupils, parents/carers and staff to share any concerns that they might have about the actions of any member of our school staff. All such complaints will be brought immediately to the attention of the LSCB.