Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults

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1 Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Quick Guide for Staff This quick guide is designed to refresh staff about the dimensions of Safeguarding and provide a reminder about College procedures. The College Safeguarding Policy and Procedure (on which this Guide is based) is available in the Staff Handbook on Moodle, and can be downloaded from the College website. All staff must make themselves familiar with the Policy and our arrangements for Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults. Safeguarding has many dimensions Staff conduct Relationships and behaviour Bullying Allegations against staff E-safety Whistleblowing Health & Safety Recruitment & selection Student Induction Child Protection Safeguarding Trips/Visits Updated August 2014

2 Safeguarding Safeguarding is the term used for the many different actions the College has taken (and will take) to try and ensure that all our students are safe from abuse and other actions which may impact on their personal lives and their life here at College (e.g. physical and cyber-bullying; lifestyle choices; domestic and other violence; crime; etc) Abuse happens to people of all genders, at all ages and in all cultures, religions and social classes and both with and without disabilities. All children and young people under the age of 18 are covered by the Children Acts of 1989 and 2004 and the Education Act of 2002 in relation to Child Protection. All groups are covered by the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act A Vulnerable Adult is any adult who is or may be in need of support by reason of mental or other disability, age, or illness and who is unable to take care of or protect themselves against harm or exploitation Recognising Abuse and/or Safeguarding Concerns Identification of abuse is difficult. The indicators given here are not prescriptive. The indicators must be regarded in the context of the individual s life and should be considered in relation to the following: Always listen to what you are being told, particularly to what is being said spontaneously. Do not assume things. Consider whether the normal behaviour of the person has changed, for example have they suddenly become withdrawn or aggressive. Is their behaviour unusual for their age and maturity? Have their friends told you they have a problem but they can t tell anyone? Do they tell you a story about a someone they know and ask your advice? Remember that any records you keep should be made confidential and sent to the Designated Senior Person (in Franklin s case, Sue Wallis, Deputy Principal) to be kept in a safe place; you should not keep multiple copies. 2

3 Think Outside the Box What about the student found asleep in the Learning Centre at 7pm. Are they avoiding going home? Do they disclose they are sleeping at a friend s house. Are they sofa surfing because they can t/won t go home or their independent living arrangements have collapsed? Is the BO so bad that you need to talk to them about showering? Could they be living rough, or neglected at home? Do they have any friends in College could they be isolated by bullying? Has behaviour been dismissed as normal because they are from a different culture? Abuse is not acceptable in this country no matter the background, culture, faith or belief. Remember The indicators listed could well be signs of OTHER concerns. ALWAYS discuss your concerns with a member of the Safeguarding Team, this is in confidence. Keep a confidential written record of your concerns noting dates and incidents. Referral All staff who work with children have a duty under law to report any concerns they may have about a child or vulnerable adult. You should contact a member of the Safeguarding Team if you have any concerns. You can do this in College in person, by telephone or (to alert the team to your concerns, but not including any detail) by . If you are out of College and need to report a concern, telephone the Safeguarding Hotline on and leave a message this will automatically be sent to the appropriate staff for action, 24 hours a day. 3

4 Sue Wallis is the College s Designated Senior Person (what was once called the Safeguarding Officer) and her extension is 703. In her absence, the following staff are trained to manage referrals: Principal Trevor Wray (ex. 718) Deputy Directors of Student Services Catherine Cushnie (ex.775/760) Helen Forman (ex.764/799) Ben Kirk (ex.762/780) Mel Logan (2014/15) (ex.775/770) Vicky Pannell (ex.729/799) Careers Officer Darrell Collins (ex.797) PA to Vice/Deputy Principals Jenny Biggs (ex.811) If, for whatever reason, you cannot contact any of the individuals above, do not leave your concerns for another day. Instead please contact any member of the College Management Team who will ensure that the appropriate referral is made. If you are working off-site, or at College in the evening, telephone the Safeguarding Hotline on and leave a message this will automatically be sent to the appropriate staff for action, 24 hours a day. Please see the quick guide to managing Referrals, at the end of this Guide Key Points in managing a disclosure All complaints or allegations must be taken seriously The College will maintain confidentiality we can t keep secrets but we can ensure that only those trained people that need to know, will know. Promises of secrecy must never be given but remember you are offering to share information in order to provide support, not to get anyone into trouble. It may not immediately be possible to avoid have an initial discussion with a student in a public place (such as a classroom at the end of a lesson), but where possible try to talk to the student in a private place where there is a telephone, and where you can be seen from outside, and make a colleague aware that you are taking the student into a quiet room for a confidential discussion Where the complaint / allegation comes from the child/adult, questioning should only be used to confirm what is being said, not to question the validity of what is being said. Never use leading questions when trying to establish the facts A full record of any conversations you may have must be kept and should include: 4

5 - The date, time and place of where the alleged incident/activity/abuse took place - The name of the member of staff reporting the incident - The name of the complainant and, where different, the name of the child/adult who has allegedly been abused - The nature of the alleged abuse - A description of any injuries - The account which has been given of the allegation Any suspicion, allegation or incident of abuse must be reported to a member of the Safeguarding Team immediately. A member of staff must NEVER discuss concerns with anyone else in the first instance. Allegations about a member of staff should immediately be reported to the Designated Senior Person or to the Principal; no discussion should take place with any other person. Where an allegation is reported to be taking place while on a residential activity, the member of staff should immediately report the occurrence to the Designated Senior Person without delay who will make contact with the relevant local bodies. 5

6 Professional Standards Staff should protect themselves in their dealings with students. Familiarise yourself with the Staff Code of Conduct and maintain professional standards at all times. Although we would encourage staff to be sympathetic and supportive to students with personal difficulties, the following guidelines should be followed to ensure that you do not make yourself vulnerable. Be aware of the need to maintain visibility if you are talking to a student on a 1:1 basis. This means ensuring that visibility panels on doors are not obscured. If you have any concerns about discussing sensitive issues with a student, please seek help from Student Services or request a colleague to accompany you. If a student needs to leave College due to illness or distress, please ensure that they go to Student Services to sign out. Don t offer a student a lift even if they are distressed. The College can arrange taxis if necessary. Student Services will be able to advise. If there is no alternative to you taking the student in your own vehicle, please ONLY do so if you have: - The consent of a senior member of staff who is aware of the circumstances under which the journey is necessary - A workplace colleague to accompany you for the whole journey(s) - Appropriate insurance to cover you and any passengers whilst travelling on behalf of your employer - A valid MOT and road fund licence Don t lend students money. If a student approaches you for a loan, please refer them to the Student Information Desk Don t divulge personal s or phone numbers (including personal mobile telephone numbers) to students. Don t put yourself in a potentially difficult situation by socialising with students, particularly if they may be drinking. Don t have students as friends on social networking sites. When using social networking sites and internet forums, ensure that your privacy settings are appropriate, and do not engage in any discussions or dialogue about the College or students and other stakeholders. Maintain professional standards at all times. If you feel that the action you wish to take will bring you in conflict with the Staff Code of Conduct, please take advice from a senior colleague or HR. 6

7 Forced Marriage The difference between arranged and forced marriage The tradition of arranged marriages has operated successfully within many communities and many countries for a long time. A clear distinction must be made between a forced and an arranged marriage. In arranged marriages, the families of both spouses take a leading role in choosing the marriage partner but the choice whether or not to accept the arrangement remains with the young people. In forced marriage, one or both spouses do not consent to the marriage or consent is extracted under duress. Duress includes both physical and emotional pressure. What to do if you are concerned Immediately contact one of the Safeguarding Team If the student wants to talk to you: - It may not immediately be possible to avoid have an initial discussion with a student in a public place (such as a classroom at the end of a lesson), but where possible try to talk to the student in a private place where there is a telephone, and where you can be seen from outside, and make a colleague aware that you are taking the student into a quiet room for a confidential discussion - Listen to what the student has to say and write it down - Do not question apart from to clarify - Inform the student you have to talk to a senior member of staff but that it will remain confidential - If you are challenged by the family, it is permissible to say that you are providing support with learning, and then refer the matter to the Designated Senior Person or a member of the Safeguarding team - The College may provide the student with an provide the opportunity for the student if they wish to talk to the forced marriage unit on /0230/8706 7

8 Definitions Child abuse is defined as: Neglect the persistent or sever neglect of a child Physical Injury - actual or likely physical injury Sexual Abuse actual or likely sexual exploitation of a child or young person, including prostitution Emotional Abuse persistent or sever emotional ill treatment or rejection Adult abuse is defined as: Physical abuse includes unnecessary physical handling and inappropriate use of drugs/medicines Sexual Abuse - This includes rape and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the vulnerable adult has not consented. Psychological Abuse - This includes emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, isolation or withdrawal from services or supportive networks. Financial or Material Abuse - This includes theft, fraud, exploitation, pressure in connection with wills. Neglect and Acts of Omission - This includes ignoring or withholding medical or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, social care or educational services, the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition, clothing and heating. Discriminatory Abuse - This includes racist, sexist, or other forms that are based on a person s disability and other forms of harassment, or similar treatment. Forced Marriage is defined as: One or both spouses do not consent to the marriage or consent is extracted under duress. Confidential Confidential does NOT mean secret you should NEVER make a promise to a student that you will keep information to yourself but it DOES mean that the College will limit the number of trained staff who need to know, and that our aim at all times will be to SUPPORT the student. We are NOT here to judge, but to ensure that the child or young person is SAFE. 8

9 Staff to whom information has been given in confidence, or who have acquired information which they regard as confidential, may not always be able to give absolute assurances of confidentiality to students who may wish to talk about personal issues. Updated August

10 REFERRAL PROCEDURES Concern for student welfare by staff member Staff discussion with Designated Senior Person (DSP) or Safeguarding Team DSP and staff agree not Safeguarding On reflection still has a concern DSP agrees Safeguarding issue Internal actions planned and taken as required Refer again to DSP within 24 hours DSP will decide whether to refer to Local Safeguarding Board Designated Officer (LADO) DSP will feed back to staff when appropriate Decision made not to refer Decision made to refer Secure storage of documentation Internal actions (and liaison with external agencies) planned and taken (where required), DSP responsibility to ensure that safety of student and/or staff is maintained throughout. 10 DSP works with LADO and others to plan and take appropriate actions to ensure safety of student and/or staff, and to comply with legislation