Safer Recruitment & Managing Allegations Training Pack for whole-school use Last updated: June 2012.
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Transcript of Safer Recruitment & Managing Allegations Training Pack for whole-school use Last updated: June 2012.
Safer Recruitment &Managing Allegations
Training Pack for whole-school use
Last updated: June 2012
Child Protection - Background• National concerns arising from high profile
cases
• Hampshire is not different from other areas!!
• Around 1 in 6 schools in Hampshire have dealt with a CP case in the past few years
• Over 30 significant cases dealt with by EPS in 2011/2012 academic year
Hampshire Experience
• Easy to be complacent “It won’t happen in this school”
• Everyone needs to remain vigilant about their own and their colleagues’ working practices “benefit of doubt”?
• Process and procedures in school need regular review e.g. recruitment, induction and refresher training to staff on child protection matters
Types of Abuse
• Sexual Abuse• Physical Abuse• Emotional Abuse• Neglect Abusers can be:
•Any age
•Male or Female
•From all social classes
•‘Nice’, ‘helpful’ ‘professional’ people
•Damaged individuals , but very convincing liars, may appear to be pillars of the community
2011 National Audit CP Allegations - Education Staff
• 4,536 allegations recorded as notified to Local Authority Designated Officers (LADO’s)
• 50% Physical abuse/ inappropriate handling
• 25% Sexual abuse
• 10% inappropriate conduct
Abuse at work
• Statistics show that the typical number of offences committed by a child abuser in a work situation before being detected is:
• 49
Typical Offending CycleThoughts
Internal /external Inhibitors
Trigger – High risk Situation
Excuses / Distorted thinking
Rehearsal
Targeting
Grooming
Offending
Reinforcement
Guilt
Pushing away guilt
IRSC- Supporting Staff; safeguarding Children- Based in the work of David Finklehore
How Child Abusers May Target Our School
• Applying for employment• Seeking to become a volunteer• Hiring school premises• Contracting for work on school premises• Offering coaching input• Music tuition• Parental involvement at school• School trips
What policies and procedures are in place?
• Child Protection policy• Safer Recruitment procedures and practices• At least one member of staff who interviews has
been formally trained• A Single Central Record is held of all staff and
volunteers and the checks that have been undertaken, as required by OfSTED
• Do’s & Don’ts for staff and volunteers• Whistleblowing policy and procedure• Disciplinary & Grievance procedures
Purpose of our policies
• To prevent unsuitable people from obtaining any paid or voluntary role in our school
• To ensure we can identify and deal appropriately with any conduct towards children that raises concerns
• To ensure we can respond quickly and appropriately to any allegation of child abuse.
School Child Protection Policy
• All schools must have a policy – model CP policy available from Safeguarding Unit website
• Needs to include how concerns about staff/volunteers etc are to be managed
• Needs to define responsibilities within the school for actions
• Should include child protection statement that all staff/volunteers should be asked to commit to.
Allegations and Concerns - 1
• A concern arises when an individual’s conduct might suggest that their conduct towards children/pupils may be inappropriate.
• Identifying a concern may prevent a subsequent act of abuse
• Don’t ignore concerns! Address them!• Tell the Headteacher / CPLO / line
manager!
Allegations and Concerns - 2
• An allegation occurs when an act may have been committed – an individual is accused of something directly
• If an allegation is true, we may have failed to identify a prior concern
• Allegations are likely to trigger a full child protection investigation
Key Players in Child Protection Processes
• Headteacher• Chair of Governors• Child Protection Liaison Officer• LADO• Education Personnel Services• The Police• Social Care• YOU!!
Role of LADO
• The single contact point for Headteachers in relation to concerns and allegations
• School staff should report any concerns to the Headteacher (Chair of Governors if concern about HT).
• LADO will determine how to treat concern/allegation and may co-ordinate other agencies if needed
• Contact details in Managing Allegations guidance and school’s CP policy
Identifying Patterns of Abuse
• One inappropriate action towards children does not represent ‘grooming’.
• A combination of inappropriate actions may amount to grooming
• Proper investigation of concerns should establish the nature of the concern
• Identifying patterns of behaviour is the key to preventing serious abuse
• See ‘Patterns of Abuse’ handout
Unfounded or Malicious Allegations
• Investigations may lead to conclusion that an allegation was unfounded or malicious
• The individual employee will need to be properly supported through this process and assisted to return to work
• A care plan for a pupil who makes malicious allegations must be put in place in conjunction with Social Care.
Avoiding Vulnerable Situations - 1
• Staff/volunteers may make errors of judgement which are not issues of abuse
• Being accused of child abuse can damage your career, even if unproven
• We must all take every step to avoid making ourselves vulnerable to such allegations.
• Combine good practice with avoiding vulnerable situations
• See guidance on avoiding unnecessary contact and unfounded allegations
Avoiding Vulnerable Situations - 2
• Report to management if you think you have made an error
• Seek advance managerial approval for one to one situations with pupils
• Avoid closed door situations
• Keep records of any issues/concerns
• Comply with guidance on physical contact with pupils, curriculum delivery etc.
Role of Chair of Governors
• Have responsibility to ensure that Child Protection Policy exists and is monitored/updated regularly.
• Chair of Governors acts where allegations or concerns arise about the Headteacher (see Managing Allegations guidance).
• Chair of Governors has access to LADO for advice.
General Support for Staff
• Full induction processes to include child protection and good practice issues
• Use of performance management processes to monitor and embed good practice.
• Regular staff meetings and INSET events
• Child Protection given a high profile at all times