'The Children Act' 1989 gives every child the right to protection from abuse and exploitation and the right to have enquiries made to safeguard his or her welfare.
Child Protection Procedures
Duff Miller has procedures in place for handling suspected cases of abuse of pupils, but the responsibility for investigating such cases lies with other agencies.
The Principal has:
• Put in place procedures for handling cases of suspected abuse, (including allegations against teachers), which are consistent with those agreed by the local Area Child Protection Committee and easily available to all staff for reference. • Appointed two designated members of staff to co-ordinate action within the school and liaise with other agencies on suspected abuse cases. • Ensure that the designated members of staff received appropriate training and support. • Ensured that all staff are alert to signs of possible abuse and know to whom to report any concerns or suspicions. • Made copies of the school’s child protection policy so that parents are aware of Duff Miller’s stance.
Procedure
In all cases where abuse is suspected or a sustainable allegation is made, tutors and other members of staff should report the information to the designated tutors.
The designated tutors refer these cases to or discuss them with the investigating agencies according to the procedures established by the local Area Child Protection Committee and by the LEA.
If the designated tutors are unsure about whether a case should be formally referred or has a general concern about a student’s health or development, he or she can seek advice and support from the local social services department, the NSPCC or the LEA’s child protection co-ordinator.
The Education Welfare Officer may also be able to offer advice.
Whether or not to make a referral which could activate a child protection investigation is a serious decision and will require careful judgement. The Principal, Clive Denning, will be advised at all times. When referring a case of suspected or alleged abuse, the designated tutors should ask to be informed of the timing of the strategy discussion between the statutory agencies which will decide whether and how to investigate. The designated teacher may wish to clarify with the investigating agencies when, how and by whom the parents and the child will be told that a referral has been made.
A member of staff, either the designated tutors or the member of staff who knows the student best, will contribute to the strategy discussion of the school’s knowledge of the student.
Designated Tutors
The designated tutors have specific responsibility for the co-ordination of child protection procedures within the college and for liaison with social services and other agencies.
All staff are aware who the designated tutors are as all cases of suspected abuse should be reported to him or her in the first instance.
The designated tutor has appropriate training and should know:
1) How to identify the signs and symptoms of abuse and when to make a referral. 2) The local Area Child Protection Committee and/or LEA procedures and the designated tutors’ role within them. 3) The role and responsibilities of the investigating agencies and how to liaise with them. 4) The requirements of record keeping. 5) The conduct of a child protection conference and how the designated tutors or another member of staff can make an appropriate contribution to it.
At Duff Miller your designated tutors are: Sixth Form: Chris Kraft GCSE: Marcia Denning
