Child Protection Policy
Carleton House Preparatory School
Child Protection Policy
Mission Statement
We live, love and learn with Jesus.
Carleton House will safeguard and promote the welfare of children who are pupils at the School, in compliance with DCSF Guidance ‘Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education’ and in accordance with Liverpool agreed safeguarding procedures.
Policy
• The school is committed to the welfare, protection and safekeeping of all its pupils.
• All children have a fundamental right to be protected from harm and from all forms of neglect, abuse and exploitation and should feel safe and secure at school
• Parents should be reassured that it is the aim of the school always to act in the best interests of their child and to encourage the fullest possible involvement of and consultation with parents.
• Pupils should know that they have a means of raising issues of personal concern. They should feel that their concerns are taken seriously, that they are encouraged to talk and that they are listened to.
• Teaching and non-teaching staff should be aware of their responsibilities in identifying and reporting possible cases of abuse.
• All staff are provided with regular up-to-date training in Child Protection matters. This training is updated every three years.
• The school including the EYFS has a designated Child Protection Co-ordinator, the Headteacher Mr P Andrew, who receives training (updated every two years) in Child Protection and Inter Agency working.
• Part-time and voluntary staff are made aware of the Safeguarding arrangements and procedures through an induction meeting with the Headteacher (or Deputy) on their first day in the school.
• The school has a nominated Governor, Dr Jill Barnes, who is responsible for monitoring and reviewing (annually) the school’s Child Protection policies and procedures and of the efficiency with which the related duties have been discharged.
• The school provides a structured internal procedure to be followed by all members of the school community in cases of suspected abuse.
• The school will support pupils’ development in ways, which will foster security, confidence and independence.
• Should any deficiencies or weaknesses in child protection arrangements be identified then they will be remedied without delay.
STATUTORY DUTY
• The School will take immediate action to safeguard the welfare of any pupil who it suspects is being harmed or is in danger of being harmed.
• Carleton House recognises that it has an explicit duty to safeguard and protect children from abuse as defined in the Children Act 2004 and the Education Act 2002. Teachers/staff can and must contribute to the safeguarding of children and the child protection process, working in accordance with procedures agreed by Liverpool’s local safeguarding and children’s board (LSCB).
• At Carleton House school we operate safe and recruitment procedures for all staff. For example, all staff appointed to the school, and who will have substantial opportunity for access to pupils, are subject to a criminal record check form the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) before the appointment is confirmed. In addition proof of identity and academic qualifications is required in line with the Independent School Standards Regulations.
• If we are hosting a visitor such as a work experience volunteer, or a potential PGCE student observing for a short while (i.e. less than a term), we insist that they have a current (i.e. within the last 12 months) enhanced disclosure from CRB and that the Headteacher sees this document before they join or on their first day here.
• If someone is undertaking a placement for more than a term at Carleton House we seek an enhanced disclosure from the CRB in the usual way even if they already have one.
• The school seeks confirmation from other organisations that appropriate child protection checks and procedures apply to their staff.
• The school is required to report to the Independent Safeguarding Authority, within one month of leaving the school, any person (whether employed, contracted, a volunteer or student, whose services are no longer used because he or she is considered unsuitable to work with children; the Independent Safeguarding Authority commenced operation on 20th January 2009 and its address for referrals is: PO Box 181, Darlington, DL1 9FA. (Tel: 0300 123111).
• All staff and parents are made aware of safeguarding policies and procedures.
• We provide adequate and appropriate staffing resources to meet the needs of children.
• Candidates are informed of the need to carry out ‘enhanced disclosure’ checks with the Criminal Records Bureaus before positions can be confirmed.
• We have procedures for recording the details of visitors to the setting.
• We take security steps to ensure that we have control over who comes into the setting so that no unauthorised person has unsupervised access to the children.
• We introduce key elements of keeping children safe into our programme to promote the personal, social and emotional development of all children, so that they may grow to be strong and resilient and listened to and develop an understanding of why and how to keep safe.
• We create within the setting a culture of value and respect for the individual, having positive regard for children’s heritage arising from their colour, ethnicity, languages spoken at home, cultural and social background.
• We ensure that this carried out in a way that is developmentally appropriate for the children in our care.
PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW IF YOU SUSPECT, OR ARE INFORMED OF, ABUSE OF A CHILD.
1. Staff who suspect or are informed of, abuse of children must report their suspicions to the designated Child Protection Officer (CPO). In the case of Carleton House this is the Headteacher.
2. In dealing with any disclosure of abuse by a child, it is vital that we should respond in a sympathetic and supportive manner, giving paramount importance of the welfare of the child. Staff are advised:
a. To take what the child says seriously (research has shown that children are unlikely to fabricate details of abuse, especially sexual abuse).
b. To remain calm and reassuring.
c. Listen carefully.
d. Never to attempt to cross-examine the child or press for evidence. Never ask leading questions.
e. To stress the fact that we wish to help.
f. To record immediately, in writing, the child’s account. The written account should be signed and dated by the staff member.
3. Staff must explain to the child that they are obliged to report the child’s account to the designated CPO. Confidentiality must not be promised regarding any disclosure a child makes. Staff must not promise to keep secret what the child has said, but should emphasise that the information will be passed only to the designated CPO. There should be no discussion of the case with other staff or pupils (or, where it might put the child at further risk, the parents/guardians of the child concerned).
4. The school’s responsibility in such cases consists of establishing that there is evidence for concern about the child, not for conducting its own investigation. We also have a duty to ensure that the child is protected from risk. In cases of suspected or alleged abuse, the CPO will inform Social Services or the Police, who will then judge whether to pursue the case with support from the school. This referral will be made within 24 hours of a disclosure or suspicion of abuse.
The telephone number for Liverpool Children’s Services is 0151 233 3000
Further advice to staff members
Allegations of abuse of children are sometimes made against staff by children themselves or by their parents. In many cases, such allegations are malicious or unfounded. Staff members have a duty to ensure that they do not put themselves in situations where such allegations may arise. The following advice is offered:
1. Avoid physical contact with pupils wherever possible. There are situations where physical contact is inevitable, and even appropriate (e.g. a reassuring hand on a shoulder). But keep it to an absolute minimum. Never lay hands on a pupil in anger.
2. Try to avoid situations where you are alone in a room with a pupil. Again, this is not always possible (e.g. in music lessons). But remember that discretion is the better part of valour: leave a door open or have a colleague nearby where this is feasible. Do not be alone with a pupil in a car.
3. The Internet and e-mail have thrown up a huge range of new potential hazards. We must do all we can to avoid identification of any pupil through these means. We must also educate pupils about their own safety and sensible use of these means of communication. It is partly for these reasons that no pupil is to access the Internet unless there is a staff member present and supervising.
4. Do not reveal any details about pupils in our care, or about their families, without express permission from the families concerned.
Allegations against all staff( includes Head, teaching staff, Governors and volunteers) and allegations against pupils.
• Allegations of abuse against staff should be reported to the Headteacher.
• Allegations of abuse against volunteers should be reported to the Headteacher.
• Allegations of abuse against the Headteacher should be reported to the Chair of Governors.
• At all times the guidance issued by Liverpool LCSB will be followed.
• When an allegation is made against a member of staff the Chair of Governors will be informed.
• Any member of staff who is the subject of an allegation which warrants an investigation will be offered appropriate pastoral support, including access to external counseling.
• An allegation of child abuse or neglect may lead to a criminal investigation so caution must be taken not to jeopardize a police investigation, such as by asking a child leading questions.
• Appropriate pastoral support would be offered to the child/ren involved if an allegation of abuse was made against a pupil or pupils.
THE FOUR CATEGORIES OF ABUSE
1. Neglect - severe impairment of a child’s health or development, including failure to thrive, which is not organic in origin.
2. Physical - injury deliberately inflicted or knowingly not prevented.
3. Sexual - involvement of dependent developmentally immature children and adolescents in sexual activities they do not fully comprehend, to which they are unable to consent, to which they have not consented, or which violate the social taboos of family roles and/or prevailing legislation.
4. Emotional - the severe adverse effect on behaviour and development caused by persistent ill treatment or rejection, which can include psychological mistreatment.
Appendix 2
SIGNS OF POSSIBLE CHILD ABUSE
It is important to remember that lists such as those below are neither completely definitive nor exhaustive. The information in such lists has to be used in the context of the child's whole situation and in combination with a range of other information related to the child and his/her circumstances.
There can be an overlap between the different forms of child abuse and a child may be experiencing several forms of abuse.
1. PHYSICAL NEGLECT
Signs of possible physical neglect:
Constant hunger;
Poor personal hygiene;
Constant tiredness;
Poor state of clothing;
Frequent lateness and/or unexplained non-attendance at school;
Untreated medical problems;
Low self-esteem;
Poor peer relationships;
Stealing.
2. PHYSICAL ABUSE
Signs of possible physical abuse:
Unexplained injuries or burns, particularly if they are recurrent;
Improbable excuses given to explain injuries;
Refusal to discuss injuries;
Untreated injuries, or delay in reporting them;
Excessive physical punishment;
Arms and legs kept covered in hot weather;
Fear of returning home;
Aggression towards others.
Running away.
When considering the possibility of non-accidental injury it is important to remember that the injuries may have occurred for other reasons, e.g., genuine accidents or medical disorders.
3. EMOTIONAL ABUSE
Signs of possible emotional abuse:
Low self-esteem;
Continual self-deprecation;
Sudden speech disorder;
Significant decline in concentration;
Social-emotional immaturity;
"Neurotic" behaviour (e.g., rocking, head banging);
Self-mutilation;
Compulsive stealing;
Extremes of passivity or aggression;
Running away;
Indiscriminate friendliness.
4. SEXUAL ABUSE
Signs of possible sexual abuse
1. Behavioural
Lack of trust in adults or over familiarity with adults;
Fear of a particular individual;
Social isolation - withdrawal or introversion;
Sleep disturbance (nightmares, irrational fears, bed-wetting, fear of sleeping alone, needing a nightlight);
Running away from home;
Girls taking over the mothering role;
Reluctance or refusal to participate in physical activity or to change clothes for activities;
Low self-esteem;
Drug, alcohol or solvent abuse;
Display of sexual knowledge beyond child's years;
Unusual interest in the genitals of adults or children or animals;
Expressing affection in inappropriate ways, e.g., "French kissing";
Fear of bathrooms, showers, closed doors;
Abnormal, sexualised drawing;
Fear of medical examinations;
Developmental regression;
Poor peer relations;
Over sexualised behaviour;
Compulsive masturbation;
Stealing;
Psychosomatic factors, e.g., recurrent abdominal pain or headache;
Sexual promiscuity.
2. Physical/Medical
Sleeplessness, nightmares, fear of the dark;
Bruises, scratches, bite marks to the thighs or genital areas;
Itch, soreness, discharge, unexplained bleeding from the rectum, vagina or penis; Pain on passing urine or recurrent urinary infection;
Stained underwear;
Unusual genital odour;
Anxiety/depression;
Eating disorder, e.g., anorexia nervosa or bulimia;
Discomfort/difficulty in walking or sitting;
Pregnancy - particularly when reluctant to name father;
Venereal disease, sexually transmitted diseases;
Soiling or wetting in children who have been trained;
Self-mutilation/suicide attempts.
Not all children are able to tell parents that they have been assaulted. Changes in behaviour may be a signal that something has happened.
These are general indicators that the child may be troubled though not necessarily about a sexual assault. The child may have some of these problems or none at all. It is the combination, frequency and duration of signs that will alert you to a problem. Try to notice all changes in usual behaviour.
It is important to remember that in sexual assault there may well be no physical or behavioural signs.
Mr P Andrew
Headteacher
January 2010
