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