Safeguarding at Silverdale

Transcription

1 Safeguarding at Silverdale Author: Mrs R M c Laren Ratified on: SEPTEMBER 2014 Review on: SEPTEMBER 2015

2 Safeguarding at Silverdale The Team Mrs Roisin Paul Mrs Claire Bailey Mrs Rebecca McLaren Ms Kath Voice Mrs Jane Last Headteacher Child Protection Liaison Teacher (CPLT) Assistant Headteacher Inclusion Deputy Child Protection Liaison Officer (CPLO) Safeguarding and Intervention Manager Deputy CPLO Behaviour Mentor Deputy CPLT Head of Hearing Impaired Unit How to make a referral Staff need to complete a Safeguarding/Child Protection Concern form These are located as follows: - Every Head of Department (HOD) has been issued with a contact sheet and a master copy of the form, plus spare blank copies. The contact sheet should be easily accessible to staff, therefore we suggest that this is pinned on the notice board in the department office. Every HOD needs to make staff aware of where they keep blank copies of the form. - Student Support Offices SENCO R McLaren K Voice - Staff Room The forms are pinned to the notice board - Resources - Reception

3 Completing the form It is important that you record: - What you have heard In the child s own words Do not use abbreviations Do not speculate - What you witnessed Record how the child looked (e.g. distressed, dishevelled) Evidence of an injury (you can write or draw a diagram) it is important to remember that you should not ask a child to show you an injury or ask a child to remove clothing. If a child reports an injury, acknowledge that you understand what they have told you and tell them that you will make a note of it and pass this information on to the safeguarding team. Completed forms must be hand delivered in a sealed envelope to a member of the safeguarding team. Staff are not permitted to keep copies. It is important to remember that you MUST NOT promise confidentiality. You MUST tell the child/young person that you intend to pass on the concern to the safeguarding team.

4 Staff are asked to be vigilant Examples of issues/concerns: Physical Abuse Hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces illness in a child Emotional Abuse Persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and adverse effects on the child s emotional development Making a child feel worthless Making fun of a child or deliberately silencing Preventing a child from taking part in age-appropriate activities (over-protection) Bullying Sexual Abuse Involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside of clothing They may also include non-contact activities such as children looking at or in the production of sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways or grooming a child in preparation for abuse Neglect The persistent failure to meet a child s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child s health or development Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse Once a child is born neglect may involve: Failing to provide adequate food, clothing and shelter Failing to protect a child from the threat of harm Failing to seek out medical attention as and when required Failing to respond to the emotional needs of the child

5 Sexual Exploitation Indicators - Homelessness/missing from home - Financial necessity - Drug and alcohol abuse - Experience of previous experience - Estrangement from family - Low self-esteem Patterns of behaviour - Links with older males - Secrecy and hostility - Running away/out all night - Increase in health issues (sexual health/physical health/emotional health) - Possession of money/clothing etc. without a plausible explanation Female Genital Mutilation Signs and risk factors: The age at which the procedure takes place may vary from birth to adolescence to just before marriage or during the first pregnancy. The most common age group is between 5 and 8 years old There may be other girls or women in the family or household who have had the procedure A girl may confide in a friend or a teacher of a special ceremony to become a woman Prolonged absence from school/college Reluctance to undergo medical examinations or participate in PE Signs of urinary or menstrual problems A request for help which may not be explicit for reasons of fear and embarrassment

6 Self-harm Cutting Over-dose Drinking poisonous substances Swallowing nails, glass, bits of razor Self-mutilation (breasts, genitals) Hanging Inserting objects in to open wounds Pulling hair out Burning / scalding / aerosol burns Drug and alcohol abuse Child / young person Adults (parents/carers) Domestic abuse Adults Amongst children Eating disorder Anorexia Bulimia Compulsive eating Binge eating

7 Poor mental health Stress Anxiety Depression If you are ever in doubt, please speak to a member of the safeguarding team Rebecca McLaren Safeguarding and Intervention Manager Ext: 1041