Training for Governors

Child Protection and Safeguarding Children in Schools/Academy

Welcome

Emotional Alert

What we cover today may trigger emotional response.

This is quite normal and we are quite use to this

If at any time you feel that you need to take break please do so

Aim

By the end of the session you will have increased your knowledge as a Governor regarding child protection

Objectives 1. Understand all aspects of safeguarding and legislation.

2. Be aware of the key roles and responsibilities of the designated person

3. Become familiar with monitoring allegations.

Statistic and facts -

Questions we should ask in our role - •Do we know the Statutory guidance ? •Do we know our role as governors and the safeguarding governor? •Polices – How do we know that they are in p lace?Complaints, E-Safety , Whistleblowing and Staff code of conduct •Do we understand the role of the De signated Person ?•Are we aware of safer recruitment process?

the legis lation - Kee ping children safe in educationthe legis lation – Working together 2013

Legislative Frame 1

Statutory guidance: Keeping Children Safe in Education April 2014

The management of safeguarding (GOVERNORS)

The responsibility of governing bodies:

26. Governing bodies must ensure that they comply with their duties under legislation. They must also have regard to this guidance to ensure that the policies, procedures and training in their schools are effective and comply with the law at all times.

Legislative Frame - 2Inter-agency working 27. Governing bodies should ensure that the school contributes to inter-agency working in line with statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children 2013.

28. Governing bodies of all schools should 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.

29. Governing bodies should 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.

Legislative Frame - 3Safeguarding policies 32. Governing bodies should appoint a member of staff of the school’s leadership team to the role of designated safeguarding lead.

33. The designated safeguarding lead should liaise with the local authority and work with other agencies in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children 2013. There should always be cover for this role. (training every two years).

Opportunities to teach safeguarding 36. Governing bodies should consider how children may be taught about safeguarding, including online, through teaching and learning opportunities, as part of providing a broad and balanced curriculum. This may include covering relevant issues through personal, social health and economic education (PSHE), and/or – for maintained schools – through sex and relationship education (SRE).

Legislative Frame - 4

Allegations 39. In line with part four of this guidance, governing bodies should ensure there are procedures in place to handle allegations against members of staff and volunteers.

40. Governing bodies should also ensure that there are procedures in place to handle allegations against other children.

OFSTED Inspection The assessment of the quality of leadership and management made during an Ofsted inspection includes an assessment of the effectiveness of the safeguarding arrangements in place in the school to ensure that there is safer recruitment and that all children are safe.

The Ofsted handbook provides further information on what inspectors must do and what school can expect, and provides guidance for inspectors on making their judgements.

New Guidance Inspecting safeguarding in maintained schools and academies updated – September 2014

Why and have we moved on?

Child Protection and Safeguarding requirements for schools have developed significantly over the past decade. Sadly, those changes have come about following the tragic deaths of four little girls, Victoria Climbie, Lauren Wright, Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells.

Safer Recruiter Following Sir Michael Bichard’s enquiry into the deaths of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells at the hands of Ian Huntley, he made the recommendation that;

"From a date to be agreed, no interview panel to appoint staff working in schools/Academy should be convened without at least one member being properly trained."

•What does safer recruitment achieve?

Governors can access our face to face training

Why and have we moved on!

For education services, the death of Lauren Wright has particular significance. The report into her death revealed a number of failures that contributed to the failure of Lauren being protected from serious harm. Lauren died at her home in May 2000 after being hit in the stomach so hard her digestive system collapsed. Tests showed more than 60 bruises on her body.

While Lauren was attending the local school, over a period of sixteen months her weight fell from six stone to two stone, her hair was thinning and greasy, and she was dressed in dirty hand-me-downs. She was regularly bruised on the face and legs, injuries that Tracey Wright (her step-mother, who eventually caused her death), explained away by saying that Lauren had walked into a door, or been knocked over by the family's Alsatian dog. All these injuries had been observed in school but no referral

to social care was ever made.

Why!

• "Lots of times, often she was covered with lots of small bruises and with major bruises about once a month. These included black eyes, bruising on her face and scratches across her back.” (Class Teacher)

• “Her physical deterioration had been apparent for at least five months before she died.” (Head teacher)

WHAT HAPPENED

1.The Designated Person for Child Protection had left, and not been replaced2.Lauren’s classroom teacher had not received any Child Protection training3.Lauren’s Stepmother was a midday supervisor in the school

Why!

THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN IS PARAMOUNT

Victoria Climbie –

• Victoria was known to 18 different agencies – “The extent of the failure to protect Victoria was unforgivable” (Lord Laming 28/01/03)

• Victoria died February 2000, aged 8 years old, with 128 separate injuries to her body.

• Victoria was not on a school roll

Network of Victoria’s Services

Our Responsibility – What does this mean?

SafeguardingSafeguarding

Child Protection

Lettings

Whistleblowing Building Design

Managing Allegations

Against Staff

Safe Recruitment & Selection

Educational Visits

Staff Conduct

Health and Safety

Role and Responsibility of Governing Body

• Appoint a governor, to liaise with the Designated Person and report back to the Governing Body – (Agenda, Annual Report) • Ensure that the school/Academy has a Child Protection (CP) policy and procedures in accordance with local procedures• Monitor and evaluate annually the school/Academy (CP) Policy• Ensure Single Central Record is up to date• Ensure Designated Person(s) are in post and fully trained (Training required every 2 years)• Ensure Designated Person is able to fulfil their responsibilities

Roles and Responsibility of the Designated Person

Card Sort

On tables decide which statement applies to the role of the designated person

Staff Training

The Designated Person Must!!!

• Ensure that all staff have training Group 1 at least every three years to include:

• Alert to signs and indicators of abuse

• Know what to do if they are worried about a child

• Recognise and know how to react to a disclosure

The Role of the Safeguarding GovernorThe Governing Body of schools MUST have a safeguarding child protection link governor – to help secure the effectiveness of Section 175 of the Education Act 2002 (ensuring children in our schools are kept safe from harm).

The safeguarding governor plays a vital role in ensuring oversight and scrutiny of safeguarding policy, procedure and practice on behalf of the full governing body by linking with Designated Person

The Role of the Safeguarding Governing 1

• Monitoring the safeguarding and whistle-blowing policies• Ensuring there is a robust system for recording, storing and reviewing child welfare concerns• Liaising with the headteacher and DP about general child protection and safeguarding issues within the school• Ensuring that school staff training is up to-date (3 years)• Ensuring the safer recruitment and selection panel for staff has successfully completed accredited safer recruitment training• They report back to the full governing body at least annually – however, individual cases should not be discussed by the full governing body

The Role of the Safeguarding Governing 2

• Act as a ‘critical friend’ to the school, in order to ensure that the appropriate systems and procedures are in place to cover all aspects of the safeguarding

• Monitor appropriate policies, including the safeguarding and whistle blowing policies. • Ensure there is a suitably qualified, trained and supported Deputy Designated Person who has responsibility for

responding to and overseeing safeguarding.

Managing Allegations

Role of the LADO (34 and 36)

• Provide advice and guidance

• Liaise with Police and other agencies

• Manage and oversee individual cases

• Monitor progress

Managing Allegations

The headteacher/chair of governor should contact LADO with any concern that indicates that a person who works with children has:

•Behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have harmed, a child, or•Possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child, or•Behaved towards a child in a way that indicates unsuitability to work with children – new law

E-Safety