The Governing Body recently reviewed their Safeguarding Policy.   This policy describes the management systems and arrangements in place to create and maintain a safe learning environment for all our children, young people and staff. It identifies actions that should be taken to redress any concerns about child welfare. 

This policy has been developed to ensure that all adults in Our Lady Queen of Heaven School (OLQOH) are working together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.  This policy has been ratified by the Governing Body at its meeting on 14 October 2009 and will be reviewed every autumn term as part of the annual safeguarding report to West Sussex Local Authority.

 

1.2 This policy describes the management systems and arrangements in place to create and maintain a safe learning environment for all our children, young people and staff. It identifies actions that should be taken to redress any concerns about child welfare.

1.3 The Headteacher or, in his absence, the authorised member of staff Mrs Miles, Assistant Head Teacher, has the ultimate responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

1.4 Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people goes beyond implementing basic child protection procedures. It is an integral part of all activities and functions of OLQOH. This policy complements and supports other relevant school and Local Authority policies (Appendix A).

Under the Education Act 2002 schools/settings have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of their pupils and, in accordance with guidance set out in ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’, OLQOH will work in partnership with other organisations where appropriate to identify any concerns about child welfare and take action to address them.

 

2.1 We aim to create and maintain a safe learning environment where all children and adults feel safe, secure and valued and know they will be listened to and taken seriously. Our school is committed to ‘Every Child Matters’ and implements policies, practices and procedures which promote safeguarding and the emotional and physical well being of children, young people and staff.

2.2 The Continuum of Needs and Response and the Common Assessment Framework is embedded into everyday practice and procedures when responding to children’s need. The children have access to appropriate curriculum opportunities, including emotional health and well being and learning mentorship, to support the development of the skills needed to help them stay safe and healthy, develop their self-esteem and understand the responsibilities of adult life, particularly in regard to child care and parenting skills.

2.3 Access to cross-curricular activities will provide opportunities to develop self-esteem and self-motivation and to help pupils respect the rights of others, particularly those groups who may be considered a minority.

 

3.1 All children have access to an appropriate curriculum, differentiated to meet their needs. This enables them to learn to develop the necessary skills to build self-esteem, respect others, defend those in need, resolve conflict without resorting to violence, question and challenge and to make informed choices in later life.

3.2 Children and young people are encouraged to express and discuss their ideas, thoughts and feelings through a variety of activities and have access to a range of cultural opportunities which promote respect and empathy for others. There is access to information and materials from a diversity of sources which promote social, spiritual and moral well-being and physical and mental health.

3.3 RE and EPR lessons will provide opportunities for children and young people to discuss and debate a range of subjects including lifestyles, forced marriage, family patterns, religious beliefs and practices and human rights issues.

3.4 All pupils will know that there are adults in the school whom they can approach in confidence if they are in difficulty or feeling worried and that their concerns will be taken seriously and treated with respect.  We also offer worry boxes so that children can initiate a floow up through a written message.

 

4.1 In accordance with our Attendance Policy, absences are rigorously pursued and recorded.  The school/setting, in partnership with the appropriate agencies, takes action to pursue and address all unauthorised absences in order to safeguard the welfare of children and young people in its care.

4.2 The Attendance Policy identifies how individual cases are managed and how we work proactively with parents to ensure that they understand why attendance is important. In certain cases this may form part of a Common Assessment Framework (CAF) or a Parenting Contract.

4.3 We implement the statutory requirements in terms of monitoring and reporting children missing education (CME) and off-rolling and understand how important this practice is in safeguarding children and young people.

4.4 The designated person will be informed when a fixed term or permanent exclusion is being discussed and any safeguarding issues will be considered. Where it is felt that a child or young person is likely to be permanently excluded a multi-agency assessment will be instigated to ensure that there is improved understanding of the needs of the young person and their family and that the key agencies are involved.

 

5.1 We will keep and maintain up to date information on children on the school roll including where and with whom the child is living, attainment, attendance, referrals to and support from other agencies and any other significant event in a child’s life.

 

6.1 The Headteacher will ensure that:

● The policies and procedures adopted by the Governing Body to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils are fully implemented and followed by all staff including volunteers.

● Safe recruitment and selection of staff and volunteers is practiced.

● A Designated Senior Member of staff for child protection is identified and receives appropriate on-going training, support and supervision.

● Sufficient time and resources are made available to enable the Designated Member of staff to discharge their responsibilities, including attending inter-agency meetings, contributing to the assessment of children and young people, supporting colleagues and delivering training as appropriate.

● All staff and volunteers receive appropriate training which is updated every three years.

● All temporary staff and volunteers are made aware of the school’s safeguarding policy and arrangements.

● All staff and volunteers feel safe about raising concerns about poor or unsafe practice in regard to the safeguarding and welfare of the children and young people and such concerns will be addressed sensitively and effectively.

● Parents/carers are aware of and have an understanding of the school’s responsibilities to promote the safety and welfare of its pupils by making its obligations clear in the school/setting prospectus and initial parents meeting when a child starts school.

6.2 The Governing Body of the school will ensure that:

● A member of the Governing Body is identified as the designated governor for Safeguarding and receives appropriate training (Chair of Governors).  The identified governor will provide the governing body with appropriate information about safeguarding and will liaise with the Designated Member of staff.

● There is a senior member of the school’s leadership team who is designated to take lead responsibility for safeguarding within the school.

● The school’s safeguarding policy is regularly reviewed and updated and the school complies with local safeguarding procedures.

● The school operates safe recruitment and selection practices including appropriate use of references and checks on new staff and volunteers.

● Procedures are in place for dealing with allegations of abuse against members of staff and volunteers and these are in line with Local Authority procedures.

● All staff and volunteers who have regular contact with children and young people receive appropriate training which is up-dated by refresher training every 3 years.

6.3 The Designated Senior Member of Staff for Child Protection has a specific responsibility for championing the importance of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people registered in the school. The Designated Person will:

● Act as the first point of contact with regards to all safeguarding matters.

● Attend up-dated training every two years.

● Provide relevant information to the LA on how the school carries out its safeguarding duties.

● Provide support and training for staff and volunteers and make sure that the Designated Person receives West Sussex approved refresher training every three years.

● Ensure that the schools actions are in line with the West Sussex Safeguarding Inter-Agency Procedures

● Support staff to make effective referrals to the children’s services and any other agencies where there are concerns about the welfare of a child.

● Keep copies of all referrals to children’s services and any other agencies related to safeguarding children.

● Ensure that all staff and volunteers receive information on safeguarding policies and procedures from the point of induction.

● Manage and keep secure the school’s safeguarding records.

● Ensure that all staff and volunteers understand and are aware of the school’s reporting and recording procedures and are clear about what to do if they have a concern about a child.

● Liaise with the Headteacher about any safeguarding issues.

● Ensure that the Safeguarding Policy is regularly reviewed and up-dated.

● Keep up to date with changes in local policy and procedures and are aware of any guidance issued by the DCSF concerning Safeguarding.

● Send a pupil’s child protection or safeguarding file separately from the main file to a new establishment if a pupil leaves the school. Keep a copy of the file.

 

7.1 The school’s recruitment and selection policies and processes adhere to the DCSF guidance set out in “Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education Settings” (January 2007).

7.2 The headteacher and governing body will ensure that all staff and volunteers in supplementary schools using the mainstream school site will have updated CRBs (will not apply for all schools and settings).

 

8.1 OLQOH has developed effective links with other relevant agencies and co-operates as required with any enquiries regarding child protection issues. The school will notify children’s services  if:

● A child subject to a child protection plan is about to be permanently excluded.

● There is an unexplained absence of a pupil who is subject to a child protection of more than two days from school.

● It has been agreed as part of any child protection plan or core group plan.

 

9.1 Staff ensure that confidentiality protocols are followed and information is shared appropriately.  The Headteacher or Designated Member of Staff discloses any information about a pupil to other members of staff on a need to know basis only.

9.2 All staff and volunteers must understand that they have a professional responsibility to share information with other agencies in order to safeguard children. All staff and volunteers must be clear with children that they cannot promise to keep secrets.

 

10.1 Training is provided for all staff and volunteers. Induction training includes basic safeguarding information about the school’s policies and procedures, signs and symptoms of abuse (emotional and physical), how to manage a disclosure from a child as well as when and how to record a concern about the welfare of a child.

10.2 All staff and volunteers who are in regular contact with children will receive basic Level 1 training which is up-dated by refresher training every 3 years. The Designated Person for Safeguarding will receive refresher training every two years as well as further training at Level 2 and above.

10.3 All staff will receive training or briefings on particular safeguarding issues, relevant to our school, as and when necessary.

 

11.1 All staff, volunteers and visitors have a responsibility to report any concerns about the welfare and safety of a child and all such concerns must be taken seriously (Appendix B).  If a concern arises all staff, volunteers and visitors must:

● Speak to the Designated Person or the person who acts in their absence

● Agree with this person what action should be taken, by whom and when it will be reviewed

● Record the concern using the school’s safeguarding recording system

 

12.1 Our approach to working with parents/carers is one of transparency and honesty and our responsibility is to safeguard and promote the welfare of all the children in our care.  We aim to do this in partnership with our parents/carers. In most cases parents and carers will be informed when concerns are raised about the safety and welfare of their child.  Parents and carers should be given the opportunity to address any concerns raised.  In most cases we will contact childrens services for advice before speaking to a parent.  Staff should not speak to a parent about a possible child protection issue without speaking to the Designated member of staff first.  This should not delay any action, see the School Business Manager if both Designated Members of staff are not on site.

12.2 Parents and carers will be informed if a referral is to be made to the West Sussex children’s services once permission has been given for us to do so.

12.3 Parents/carers will not be informed if it is believed that by doing so would put the child at risk. In such cases the Designated Person or Headteacher will seek advice from the children’s services Initial Assessment Team.

 

13.1 The school is aware that children and young people’s development, as well as their social and emotional resilience, is affected by many factors including exposure to domestic abuse within the family situation and is a safeguarding issue.

13.2 Children and young people react to domestic abuse in similar ways to other types of abuse and trauma.

13.3 Information about Domestic Abuse and its effect upon children and young people will be incorporated into staff Safeguarding and Child Protection training and briefings and the school’s Safeguarding and Child Protection’s Policies and Procedures will be used to protect children and young people exposed to, and at risk from, domestic abuse.

13.4 Any child or young person thought to be at immediate risk will be reported without delay to the police service as a 999 emergency and children’s services will be contacted as soon as possible.

 

14.1 The school is sensitive to differing family patterns and lifestyles and child-rearing patterns that vary across different racial, ethnic and cultural groups. Forced marriage is a form of child, adult and domestic abuse and, in line with statutory guidance, is treated as such by this school.  Child abuse cannot be condoned for religious or cultural reasons.

14.2 Information about Forced Marriage will be incorporated into staff Safeguarding and Child Protection training and briefings and the school’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policies will be used to protect a victim or potential victim of forced marriage.

14.3 If a case of forced marriage is suspected, parents and carers will not be approached or involved about a referral to any other agencies.

 

15.1 Members of staff are likely to be asked to attend a child protection conference or other relevant core group meetings about an individual pupil and will need to have as much relevant updated information about the child as possible. A child protection conference will be held if it is considered that the child/children are suffering or at risk of significant harm.

15.2 All reports for a child protection conference should be prepared in advance of the meeting and will include information about the child’s physical, emotional, intellectual development and well being as well as relevant family related issues.  This information will be shared with the parents/carers.

 

16.1 The school follows the procedures recommended by West Sussex LA when dealing with allegations made against staff and volunteers.  Advice must always be sought from the lead Safeguarding Officer (currently Rosemary Terry.)

16.2 All allegations made against a member of staff and volunteers, including contractors or security staff working on site, will be dealt with quickly and fairly and in a way that provides effective protection for the child while at the same time providing support for the person against whom the allegation is made.

 

17.1 Any concern or expression of disquiet made by a child will be listened to seriously and acted upon as quickly as possible to safeguard his or her welfare.

17.2 We will make sure that the child or adult who has expressed the concern or made the complaint will be informed not only about the action to be taken but also where possible about the length of time required to resolve the complaint.  We will endeavour to keep the child or adult informed about the progress of the complaint/expression of concern.

 

18.1 The West Sussex LCSB will always undertake a serious case review when a child or young person dies (including death by suicide) and abuse or neglect is known or suspected to be a factor in their death.  The purpose of the serious case review is to:

18.2 Find out if there are any lessons to be learnt from the case about how local professionals and agencies work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.

18.3 Identify what those lessons are, how they will be acted on and what is expected to change as a result of the serious case review.

18.4 Improve inter-agency working to better safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.

18.5 If required we will provide an individual management report for a serious case review and will cooperate fully with implementing outcomes of the review including reviewing policy, practice and procedures as required.