Safeguarding Policy Statement

Shorefields Technology College fully recognises its responsibilities for safeguarding and is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its students. It is the duty of all members of staff, both teaching and non-teaching, to play an active roll in ensuring this.

All members of staff are expected to be aware of and adhere to the safeguarding policy.

In particular they need to be aware of their duty to report concerns, the guidance for identifying child abuse, what to do if a child makes an allegation of child abuse and issues about confidentiality.

Our policy applies to all staff, governors and volunteers working in the school
Each member of staff receives initial training and receives refresher training at least once every three years.

Members of the school do not investigate serious allegations of child abuse themselves as serious allegations will be reported to Children’s Services and, if necessary, the Police.

When a serious allegation is made against a member of staff then the school will report it and any findings following investigation, to the LA, even if the school has ceased to use that person's services.

The school will:

Ensure all staff and volunteers understand their responsibilities in being alert to the signs of abuse and responsibility for referring any concerns to the designated senior person responsible for child protection.

Ensure that parents have an understanding of the responsibility placed on the school and staff for child protection by setting out its obligations on the school website
Notify Children’s Services if there is an unexplained absence of more than two days of a student who is subject to a child protection plan.

Develop effective links with relevant agencies and cooperate as required with their enquiries regarding child protection matters, including attendance at case conferences.

Keep written records of concerns about children, even where there is no need to refer the matter immediately.

Ensure all records are kept securely, separate from the main student file, and in a locked location in the Head teacher’s office.

Develop and then follow procedures where an allegation is made against a member of staff or volunteer.

Ensure safe recruitment practices are always followed.

Duty to Report

Any member of staff who either knows of, is told of, or strongly suspects any incident of physical, emotional or sexual abuse occurring in the school, or to a student at the school at home or outside, they must report the information the same day to the Designated Staff (Mrs Ellison), unless it involves an allegation against a member of staff in which case it should be reported directly to the Headteacher. In the absence of the Designated Staff, the immediate report should be made to the Headteacher.
If the allegation or suspicion is about the Headteacher, the report should be made either to the Governor with specific responsibility for Safeguarding or the Chair of Governors.

Child abuse to be reported includes:

• abuse of a student by a staff member or other adult
• abuse at home which a student reports to staff
• abuse by a stranger outside school
• abuse of one student by another student.

In the case of abuse by a student, or group of students, the key issues identifying the problems as abuse (rather than an isolated instance of bullying which might be considered within normal bounds in the school community) are:

The frequency, nature and severity of the incident(s),

Whether the incident involved a potentially criminal act,

Whether, if the same incident (or injury) had occurred to a member of staff or other adult, it would have been regarded as assault or otherwise actionable.

Whether the victim was coerced by physical force, by fear or by a student or group of students significantly older than him or her, or having power or authority over him or her.

We recognise that students who are abused or witness violence may find it difficult to develop a sense of self worth. They may feel helplessness, humiliation and some sense of blame. The school may be the only stable, secure and predictable element in the lives of children at risk. When at school their behaviour may be challenging and defiant or they may be withdrawn. The school will endeavour to support the student through:

• The content of the curriculum;
• The school ethos which promotes a positive, supportive and secure environment and gives students a sense of being valued;
• The school behaviour policy which is aimed at supporting vulnerable students in the school. The school will ensure that the student knows that some behaviour is unacceptable but they are valued and not to be blamed for any abuse which has occurred;
• Liaison with other agencies that support the student such as social services, Child and Adult Mental Health Service (CAHMS), education welfare service and educational psychology service;
• Ensuring that, where a student is subject to a child protection plan leaves, their information is transferred to the new school immediately and that the child's social worker is informed.

This statement it to be read in conjunction with the following documents:

• Shorefields Behaviour for Learning Policy
• Child Protection Policy
• Anti Bullying Policy
• Shorefields Lone Working Document
• Keeping students safe at Shorefields document
• Welcome to our school document
• E safety policy document/Computer use and internet safety
• Threshold Document-aid to assessment LSCB