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

• 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?

child in need of protection

child in need

healthy supportive

safe environment

seriously abusive

environment

Child Protection

Assessment Framework

. SAFEGUARDING .

The Children Act 2004

• 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 2002Section 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

SafeguardingSafeguarding

Child Protection

Staff Conduct

Curriculum

Managing Allegations Against Staff

Safe Recruitment and Selection

Health and Safety

Behaviour Management

Attendance

Anti Bullying Policies

Whistle blowing Safe Built Environment

RestraintIntimate Care

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

• Posters in school giving information about safety.

• Evidence of discussion groups

• Positive atmosphere

• Regular and valued staff meetings

• Pupil’s councils

•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

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”