The Academy is committed to providing an environment which safeguards and promotes the welfare, safety and health and guidance of our students. The Academy recognises the importance of the contribution it can make to protecting and supporting students in the Academy. There are three key elements to this policy on child protection:
Prevention – The Academy will provide an environment and establish and maintain an ethos where all students feel secure, are encouraged to talk and are listened to.
Protection – The Academy will ensure that all staff have an up to date CRB check and are trained and supported to respond appropriately and sensitively to Child Protection concerns.
Support – The Academy ethos provides structured systems of support for all students.
1.2
In accordance with the principles outlined in ‘Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment (2007) the Academy commits to work in partnership with the Local Safeguarding Children Board for Northamptonshire and other agencies to help prevent, protect and support children at risk. This co-operation includes a Vice Principal attending Child Protection conferences and other inter-agency meetings.
1.3
The Academy will designate a senior member of staff, normally a Vice Principal, to be the Designated Senior Manager for Child Protection and ensure that this person received appropriate training to undertake the role.
1.4
The Academy will work in conjunction with parents and carers and other external agencies whenever it is in the child’s interests to do so.
1.5
The Academy will keep confidential, accurate and up to date records which record concerns about the welfare and behaviour of a student. These records will be maintained by the Designated Senior Manager.
1.6
The Academy will provide a curriculum which aims to raise awareness amongst students about keeping safe and raise self-esteem and the confidence to share their concerns with adults in the Academy.
2. Who does this policy apply to?
2.1
This policy applies to all students, all staff working for or on behalf of the Academy, Governors and visitors and any volunteers who come into the Academy.
3. Who is responsible for carrying out this policy?
3.1
It is the duty of all staff to accept and understand their responsibilities for safeguarding and to follow the agreed principles and procedures outlined in this policy in line with Section 175 of the Education Act 2002.
The Principal:
3.2
It is the responsibility of the Principal, with the support of senior managers, to ensure that all staff are aware of and understand the Academy’s policy on safeguarding.
3.3
It is the responsibility of the Principal to ensure a designated Vice Principal is appointed as the Designated Senior Manager for Child Protection for the Academy (Mr R. Bernard) and that deputies are in place (Mrs R. Steele and Mrs V. Hilling) and that the name and the responsibilities of these people are known to all staff.
3.4
It is the responsibility of the Principal to promote an environment in which students feel safe and are listened to and this includes ensuring that the curriculum includes safeguarding and how to keep safe.
3.5
It is the responsibility of the Principal to ensure that a whistle blowing policy and procedures are in place and that any allegations against staff are responded to appropriately.
The Designated Senior Manager (DSM):
3.6
It is the responsibility of the Designated Senior Manager to ensure that all staff in the Academy receive initial training and appropriate update training every three years on safeguarding, including how to recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse.
3.7
It is the responsibility of the DSM to ensure that parents and carers are informed of the Safeguarding procedures by a statement in the Academy prospectus, access to the policy and procedures on the Academy website and reminders via the newsletters.
3.8
It is the responsibility of the DSM to ensure effective communication takes place between the Academy and other external agencies in respect of safeguarding including representation on the Local Operational Team, the Alterative Provision Group and the Children and Young People’s Partnership for Corby.
3.9
It is the responsibility of the DSM to ensure that Governors are briefed and informed of their responsibilities in safeguarding and how to support Academy staff in their safeguarding role.
The Governors:
3.10
It is the responsibility of the Governors to ensure that policies and procedures are implemented which provide a duty of care to young people, safeguard their well being and protect them from abuse and to respect and promote the rights and feelings of young people.
3.11
It is the responsibility of the Governors to ensure that the Safeguarding policy and procedures are in place and that these are reviewed on an annually and to appoint a nominated Safeguarding governor to monitor the Academy’s implementation of the Safeguarding policy.
3.12
It is the responsibility of the Governors to ensure that the Executive Principal is trained in Safer Recruitment and to ensure that the Academy recruitment and selection policies and procedures are effectively implemented.
3.13
It is the responsibility of the Governors to respond to any safeguarding allegations or concerns about staff appropriately implementing the appropriate disciplinary and appeals procedures as required.
4. What are the principles behind this policy?
4.1
The Academy recognises that the welfare and safety of a student is always of paramount consideration and will work together with parents, carers and other agencies to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child.
4.2
The Academy recognises that all children have the right to be protected from ill treatment and neglect and to experience a good standard of care.
4.3
The Academy recognises that all children have the right to be heard and that the wishes and feelings of the child should be sought and influence the decision making.
4.4
All incidents and allegations of suspicious or poor practice or abuse will be taken seriously and responded to appropriately.
4.5
There is a consistent understanding of acceptable behaviour of young people towards other young people and staff within the Academy.
4.6
The Academy will uphold confidentiality at all times in line with the Data Protection Act.
5. Procedures
Recruitment and Selection of Staff
5.1
All advertisements for vacancies in the Academy will make reference to the Academy’s commitment to safeguarding children and young people.
5.2
The recruitment and selection of all employees at the Academy will be made on merit and in accordance with the provisions of Employment Law, the Education Act 2002, the School Staffing (England) Regulations 2003 and the statutory guidance, Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education Settings and the Academy’s equal opportunities policy.
5.3
The Academy will ensure that all members of the Senior Management team have received training in Safer Recruitment and that all interview panels have a member of trained staff on them
5.4
The Academy will ensure that its recruitment and selection procedures includes clear systems to vet all applicants including:
An Academy application form is completed for all applicants
Following up two professional references
Requesting copies of original qualifications
Ensuring appropriate police checks are made and enhanced CRB disclosures obtained
Reference to and awareness of safeguarding issues is addressed during the interview process
5.5
Where the Academy recruits temporary or supply staff through an agency, the Academy will ensure the following through the relevant agency:
References from the most recent placements
Ensuring appropriate police checks and an enhanced CRB disclosure is in place
Documentary evidence of the candidate’s identity
5.6
The Academy will maintain a single central record of all Academy employees and agency staff which will include:
List 99 checks /Independent Safeguarding Authority checks
CRB disclosures
Evidence of qualifications
Evidence of permission and suitability to work with children and young people for staff who are not nationals of an EEA country
Safeguarding Children and Child Protection
5.7
Child abuse is covered by the term "significant harm" and is defined in the Adoption and Children Act 2002 in the following way;
"harm" means ill-treatment or the impairment of health or development
"development" means physical, intellectual, emotional, social or behavioural development
"health" means physical or mental health
"ill-treatment" includes sexual abuse and forms of ill-treatment which are not physical
It is not always easy to recognise a situation where abuse may occur or has already taken place. All Academy staff have the responsibility to act if they have any concerns about the behaviour of an individual towards a student. All staff should be aware that the main categories of abuse are:
Physical
Emotional
Sexual
Neglect
All staff should be concerned about a student if he/she presents with indicators of possible significant harm (Appendix 1 – Signs and Symptoms of Possible Significant Harm)
5.8
If a student discloses that he or she has been abused in some way, the member of staff should:
Allow the student to talk freely
Listen carefully without displaying emotions or asking direct questions
Reassure the student without making promises which may not be kept
Not promise confidentiality
Reassure the student that it was right to tell someone and that what has happened is not his or her fault
Explain what happens next, what has to be done and who has to be told
Make a written record of the disclosure
Inform the DSM or one of the deputies immediately.
5.9
Any member of staff that suspects or has evidence of child abuse must contact immediately the Designated Senior Manager (DSM) or one of the deputy designated senior managers within the Academy for handling these issues. Contact must also be made with the DSM if a member of staff has any suspicion or act of child abuse or neglect reported to them.
5.10
From this point on, the DSM will keep a confidential, hand-written record of all comments, actions and observations. These records will be filed, kept in the Principal’s office and access will only be given to the DSM, the DSM’s deputies and the Principal.
5.11
The DSM will automatically inform the Principal of any new cases and from that point on, any further developments. The DSM will then advise on the next step or steps and liaise with any external agencies outside Academy that may be necessary.
5.12
If the DSM believes that "a child is experiencing or may have already experienced abuse or neglect" or "is likely to suffer significant harm in the future" then the Academy will comply with the procedures of the Local Safeguarding Children Board for Northamptonshire.
5.13
The first step outlined in these procedures is for the DSM to contact the local Social Services Department after which a course of action will be agreed and the guidance of Social Services will be followed. If it is advised that a referral should take place the process shall be as follows:
The referral shall be made to the relevant CYPS referral team
The referral will be made in writing on the inter-agency referral form NACPC1, unless it is advised by the CYPS team that a verbal or telephone referral is necessary due to a delay placing the child at further risk of harm.
Verbal and telephone referrals will be confirmed in writing on a NACPC1 form within 24 hours
Where practical, concerns will be discussed with the family and they should be notified that a referral to the CYPS referral team will be made, unless the Social Services Department advise that contact should not be made by the Academy with the family before the referral is submitted
5.14
All Child Protection records will be maintained in a confidential file in the Academy until the child reaches the age of 24 when they will be destroyed.
Training and Development
5.15
In addition to the pre-selection checks outlined in 5.4 above, the Academy’s safeguarding process includes training after recruitment in order to help staff recognise their responsibilities and report any concerns about poor practise or suspected abuse, respond to any concerns expressed by a young person and to work safely and effectively with young people.
5.16
The Principal will ensure that the DSM receives specialised training on safeguarding and child protection which is updated every two years.
5.17
The annual Induction programme for Academy staff will include training on safeguarding and child protection and the DSM will ensure that there are additional opportunities for such training throughout the academic year for mid-year starters.
5.18
All Academy staff will receive refresher training on safeguarding and child protection every three years.
5.19
All members of the Academy Senior Management team and the Executive Principal will be trained in Safer Recruitment.
Dealing with allegations of abuse against staff
5.20
Where an allegation is made that a member of staff has behaved in a way that may have harmed a young person potentially committed a criminal offence against a young person or behaved in a way in which indicates s/he is unsuitable to work with children, the person receiving the allegation must immediately inform the Principal.
5.21
The person receiving the allegation must make a written record of the allegation using the informant’s words including the date, time and place where the alleged incident took place, what was said and if anyone else was present. This record should be signed by the informant and the person receiving the allegation and immediately passed to the Principal.
5.22
Where a person has reason to suspect that another member of staff may have abused a child in the Academy or elsewhere they should immediately inform the Principal.
5.23
Where the allegation or concerns are about the Principal the person receiving the allegation or concern should immediately notify the Executive Principal.
5.24
The Principal, or in the case of allegations against the Principal, the Executive Principal will follow the procedures outlined in the Academy’s Disciplinary policy and will assess whether it is necessary to involve other agencies and refer the incident to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).
6. Policy Review
6.1
This policy will be reviewed annually as part of the Academy's internal review process.
