CHILD PROTECTION POLICY WHITCHURCH HIGH SCHOOL Ysgol Uwchradd Yr Eglwys Newydd Reviewed by: Jonathan Davies Last Reviewed: March 2021 Adopted by WHS Governing Body – May 2021 1 KEY CONTACTS WITHIN THE SCHOOL WHS DESIGNATED SENIOR PERSON FOR CHILD PROTECTION (DSP) KS3 NAME: Lauren Sharpe CONTACT NUMBER:02920 629700 E-MAIL [email protected] WHS DESIGNATED SENIOR PERSON FOR CHILD PROTECTION (DSP) KS4 NAME: Claire Hollings CONTACT NUMBER:02920 629700 E-MAIL [email protected] WHS DESIGNATED SENIOR PERSON FOR CHILD PROTECTION (DSP) KS5 NAME: Jonathan Davies CONTACT NUMBER:02920 629700 E-MAIL [email protected] WHS DESIGNATED DEPUTY PERSON FOR CHILD PROTECTION (DSP) KS3 NAME: Alun Horgan CONTACT NUMBER:029 20629700 E-MAIL [email protected] WHS DESIGNATED DEPUTY PERSON FOR CHILD PROTECTION (DSP) KS4 NAME: Adam Webb CONTACT NUMBER:029 20629700 E-MAIL [email protected] WHS NOMINATED GOVERNOR FOR CHILD PROTECTION NAME: Mrs Sian Hopkins CONTACT NUMBER:02920 629 700 WHS CHAIR OF GOVERNORS NAME: Mrs Joyce Slack CONTACT NUMBER: 02920 629 700 KEY CONTACTS WITHIN THE LOCAL AUTHORITY REFERRAL TO CHILDREN’S SERVICES AT CARDIFF MULTI AGENCY SAFEGUARDING HUB (MASH) Where schools have URGENT and IMMEDIATE concerns for the safety and welfare of a child or young person during office hours telephone: 029 2053 6490 (option 3) For cases that are open to Children Services and have an allocated social worker telephone 029 20 536400 Education Reps at MASH (professionals only) 029 20338438 To make URGENT referrals OUT OF OFFICE HOURS telephone 029 20788 570 POLICE (CHILD PROTECTION): 101 in an emergency 999 2 The EDUCATION SAFEGUARDING TEAM is able to provide advice and support. CONTACT NUMBERS: 029 223 30876,029 223 30877, 029 223 30878. E-MAIL: [email protected] Lynda Gallagher, Designated Officer for Safeguarding (DOS) CONTACT NUMBER: 02922 330889 Enquiries/referrals in relation to Safeguarding concerns about practitioners or persons in position of trust should be sent to [email protected] meeting – central mail box Cardiff Council Prevent Contacts Stephanie Kendrick-Doyle - Home Office Prevent Co-ordinator Operational Manager Cardiff Local Authority Tel: 02920 873281 E-mail: [email protected] Tom Noaks –Prevent Education Officer Cardiff Local Authority Tel: 02920 873281 Mobile: 07811 980031 Email: [email protected] Rhys Prosser – Prevent Community Engagement Officer Cardiff Local Authority Tel: 02920 873846 Email: [email protected] 3 INDEX PAGE Key contacts within the school 2-3 The Index 4 Introduction 5 Safeguarding Web Diagram 6 Aims (1. Prevention, 2. Procedures, 3. Support to Pupils, 4. Preventing unsuitable 7 People From Working With Children) 1. Prevention 7 2. Procedures 7-8 i. Roles and Responsibilities 7-8 ii. Training 8 iii. Recognising Child Abuse 8-9 iv. Taking action and making a referral 10-11 v. Dealing with Disclosures 11-12 vi. Attendance at child protection conferences and core groups 12 vii. Record keeping 12-13 viii. Confidentiality 13 3. Support to pupils 14 i. Additional vulnerability for children and young people 14 4. Preventing unsuitable people from working with children 14 i. Allegations against staff in a school sitting 15 ii. Whistleblowing 17 iii. Other related areas 17-21 Vulnerabilities and risks to sexual exploitation 22 Children missing education summary 23-25 Appendix 1 – Children and Young People Missing from Education Checklist 26 Appendix 2 – Movement of Children 27 Appendix 3 – Leaving School form 38 Appendix 4 – Educated at Home 29-32 Body Map 33-35 List of supporting documents 36-40 4 INTRODUCTION “We all share a responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, whether as a parent, or family member, a friend or neighbour, an employer or as a paid or volunteer worker. All members of the community can help to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people and should act to do so if they have concerns about a child’s welfare” Safeguarding Children: Working Together under the Children Act 2004” • Whitchurch High School acknowledges the importance of its role in the welfare of young people, and through the general ethos of the school will seek to encourage children in need of support to come forward. • Whitchurch High School is committed to ensuring the safety and protection of all children and will take action to safeguard their wellbeing and acknowledge that children have a right to protection. • Whitchurch High School will work with multi-disciplinary partners within the statutory framework established by: o The All Wales Child Protection Procedures 2008 o Safeguarding Children: Working Together Under the Children Act 2004 Section 28 o Education Act 2002 Section 175 – Schools have a statutory duty to ensure arrangements are in place to safeguard and promote the welfare of children o Allegations of Professional Abuse Procedures (AWCPP Part IV) o Keeping Learners Safe 158/2015 o The Counter – Terrorism and Security Act 2015 o Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 o Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Local Safeguarding Children Board The child protection policy applies to all staff and volunteers of Whitchurch High School including community education staff and governors. Teaching assistants, mid-day supervisors, supply staff, non- teaching staff as well as teachers can be the first point of a disclosure for a child. Concerned parents may also contact the school or governors. The policy will be reviewed annually taking into account feedback from appropriate sources. 5 Antibullying Policies Intimate personal care Staff Conduct/Section V Safe use of WSP Child Protection Internet FGM Safety Attendance Exploitation Child Performance & Employment Young Carers Behaviour Management e.g. Physical Intervention After School provision Incl. hiring and lettings Health and Safety Substance Misuse Including Building Design & Site Security Radicalisation Off site visits Safe Recruitment, Induction & training of staff, volunteers & use of Whistleblowing Safeguarding Web Diagram agency staff. Not an exhaustive list 6 AIMS Whitchurch High School aims to provide an environment in which children and young people feel safe, secure, valued and respected and feel confident, and know how to approach adults if they are in difficulties believing they will be effectively listened to. There are 4 main elements to our policy in implementing the above aim: 1. Prevention through the teaching and pastoral support offered to pupils and the creation and maintenance of a whole school safe environment where children know who to approach with any concerns about their welfare. 2. Procedures for identifying and reporting concerns about the welfare of a child. 3. Support To Pupils who have/ may have been abused 4. Preventing Unsuitable People From Working With Children through robust vetting and recruitment processes 1. PREVENTION Whitchurch High School recognises that high self-esteem, confidence, supportive friends and good lines of communication with a trusted adult help to protect children. The school will therefore: • Establish and maintain an ethos where children feel secure and are encouraged to talk, and are listened to. • Ensure children know that there are adults in the school whom they can approach if they have concerns about their welfare, are worried or in difficulty • Include in the curriculum activities and opportunities for Personal, Social and Education (PSE) which equip children with the skills they need to stay safe from abuse and information about who to turn to for help; • Include in the curriculum material which will help children develop realistic attitudes to the responsibilities of adult life particularly with regard to child care and parenting skills • Ensure that wherever possible every effort will be made to establish effective working relationships with parents and colleagues from partner agencies. 2. PROCEDURES This policy has been reviewed in line with the Wales Safeguarding Procedures 2019. i. Roles and Responsibilities Child Protection is everybody’s business; however, staff within Whitchurch High School will have specific responsibilities’ which are outlined below. • It is the role of the Designated Senior Persons for Child Protection (DSP) to ensure that all of the child protection procedures are followed within the school, and to make appropriate and timely referrals in accordance with school procedures. 7 • It is the role of the DSPs to ensure all staff employed including temporary staff, agency staff and volunteers within the school are aware of the school’s internal procedures, for advice, support and guidance. • The Governing Body and senior leadership team are responsible for ensuring that the school follows safe recruitment processes. • The role of the Nominated Governor for Child Protection is to ensure that the school has an effective policy and to support the school in this aspect • The DSPs/Headteacher and Governing Body should review and update the policy and procedures annually. • The DSPs/Headteacher should ensure that Basic Level Child Protection training is undertaken by all staff, volunteers and governors annually. • Parents should be made aware of the child protection policy which alerts them to the fact that referrals may be made and the role of the establishment. • Where children leave the school ensure their child protection file is copied and the copy securely transferred