Safeguarding Flashcards
What are the key points from the Summary section?
- Must vs Should distinction
- Staff who work with children must read part 1 at least
- Staff who don’t work with children can read either Part 1 or the Annex A summary
- Everybody in the org must be aware of their responsibilities
What does ‘child centred’ mean?
That staff should consider, at all times, what is best for the child
Can a single staff member have the whole picture?
No - EVERYONE who works with them has a role to play
What is the definition of safeguarding?
- Protecting children from maltreatment
- Preventing the impairment of children’s mental and physical health
- Ensuring children receive safe and effective care
- Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes
What is the definition of a child?
Everyone under the age of 18
What policies do staff need to be made aware of?
- Child protection
- Behaviour policy
- Staff behaviour policy
- Policies around PA children
Which part of KCSIE should be provided as a part of induction?
Part 1 or Annex A at least
What training must happen?
All staff must receive training at induction and should receive regular updates. New skills and info should be trained annually.
Name some risk factors for children for needing early help
Disability, SEND, mental health, young carer, gangs, going missing, slavery, radicalisation, drug use at home, alcohol use, care, PA, fostered
Where can children be at risk of abuse and neglect?
in school, out of school, at home, outside home and online
What is vital for early identification of abuse and neglect?
Knowing the signs to look for
Are abuse and neglect likely to be standalone events?
No they will overlap and be hard to label
List some ways children may be at risk outside the home
- Sexual abuse
- Teenage relationship abuse
- Criminal exploitation
- Youth violence
- County lines
- Radicalisation
What are the main features of online child on child abuse?
Online and offline risks often go together:
Children abusing each other online through abusive, harassing or prejudicial messages, sharing of images, sending unsolicited images (e.g. pornography)
What should staff do if they are unsure about whether something qualifies as abuse?
Speak to the DSL or deputy
What is the definition of child abuse?
Maltreatment of a child, typically through inflicting harm or failing to prevent harm
What are the three forms of abuse?
- Physical abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Sexual abuse
What does physical abuse involve?
hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, scalding, drowning, suffocating and others.
Also includes fabricating illness or causing illness (munch)
What is the definition of emotional abuse?
the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and adverse effects of the child’s development
What may emotional abuse involve?
- Telling the child they are unloved or conditionally loved
- Silencing them
- Developmentally inappropriate expectations
- Limitation of opportunities to explore
- Watching ill-treatment of another
- Bullying
Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all maltreatment of a child
What is the definition of sexual abuse?
forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities
What may sexual abuse involve?
- Penetration (rape, oral sex)
- Masturbation
- Kissing, rubbing, touching
- Looking at sexual images
- Grooming
Can take place online.
Who commits sexual abuse?
Not just men. Can be women and also child on child.
What is the definition of neglect?
the persistent failure to meet the child’s basic physical and / or psychological needs
What different types of neglect are there?
- Failing to provide food, shelter, clothing
- Failing to protect a child from physical and emotional harm
- Failing to provide supervision
- Failing to provide access to medical treatment
- Failing to meet emotional needs
What must all staff be aware of re child on child abuse?
- The school’s policy
- That just because you can’t see it, it doesn’t mean it isn’t happening
- Downplaying behaviours is unacceptable (e.g. banter, a laugh). Must be challenged
What is child on child abuse most likely to include?
- Bullying
- Teenage relationship abuse
- Physical abuse
- Sexual violence
- Sexual harassment
- Upskirting
- Hazing
What is CCE?
Child Criminal Exploitation - adult exploiting power imbalance for their own criminal ends
Give some examples of CCE
- County lines
- Cannabis factories
- Shoplifting and pickpocketing
- Vehicle crime
- Harming others
Why is CCE difficult to extract children from?
They are often:
1. Threatened with violence
2. in debt
3. committing crimes so scared of owning up
4. not treated as victims (especially older children)
Is it CCE if the child has agreed to do it?
Yes
Are children involved in CCE at greater risk of anything else?
Yes, CSE
What is CSE?
Child Sexual Exploitation - it is a form of sexual abuse and has many of the features of sexual abuse
Can CSE affect 17 year olds?
Yes
Is CSE a one time occurrence?
It can be, but can also be over time. It can even happen without the child knowing in the form of sharing of images.
What is domestic abuse?
Psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional abuse that takes place in the home. Can be one off or extended over time.
What must a teacher do if they suspect a case of FGM?
They must personally report it to the police
What is HBA?
Honour Based Abuse - FGM, Forced Marriage, breast ironing
What may mental health problems be a sign of?
abuse, neglect, exploitation
What should teachers do if they suspect a child is struggling with mental health?
Report to DSL and follow child protection policy
What signs may suggest a child is at risk from serious violence?
- Absence
- Change in relationships towards older groups
- Decline in ed performance
- change in wellbeing
- Physical injuries
- Unexplained gifts (risk of CCE)
What attitude should staff maintain?
‘It could happen here’
When should staff act on any concerns they have?
Immediately
Who should always be available to discuss safeguarding concerns?
DSL and deputy
What should staff never assume?
That someone else is dealing with that child
Should staff worry about sharing information in the context of safeguarding?
No - DPA and GDPR do not prevent sharing info that could keep a child safe
What is an early help assessment?
DSL will liaise with other agencies and may set up an inter-agency assessment as appropriate. If the child’s situation doesn’t improve then a referral to MASH should be considered
What should the school do if the child is suffering or is likely to suffer from harm?
MASH referral immediately and police if appropriate
What is the definition of a child in need?
Defined in the Children’s Act 1989 as unlikely to achieve or maintain a reasonable level of health and development without services. Or a child who is disabled.
Who is required to provide services for children in need?
LA
What is a Section 47?
When the LA has a duty to make enquiries if they suspect harm to a child. Includes all forms of abuse and neglect.
What will the LA do following a referral?
Range of options:
1. Urgent protection = urgent action
2. Services needed
3. assess for whether they are a child in need
4. assess under section 47
What should the referrer do if there is no improvement?
Follow local escalation procedures
What should be recorded in writing?
All concerns, discussions and decisions made, and the reasons.
It should be kept confidential and stored securely.
What is good practice in record keeping?
Having a file of concerns and referrals for each child
What should records include?
- Clear summary of the concern
- Details of how the concern was followed up
- Notes on actions taken, decisions reached and the outcome
Give some examples of poor practice
- Failing to act on signs of abuse / neglect
- Poor record keeping
- Failing to listen to the child
- Failing to re-assess when situations do not improve
- Not sharing info with the right people
- Sharing info too slowly
- Not challenge those who are dragging their heels
What should happen if there is a safeguarding concern about a member of staff?
Refer to the head teacher
How should concerns about the headteacher be raised?
Chair of governors or LADO (local A designated officer)
What is the role of governing bodies?
- Ensure the school complies with legislation
- Ensure the school trains staff in the guidance
- Have a member of gov body who leads on safeguarding
Which pieces of legislation should schools be aware of?
- Human Rights Act (1998)
- Equality Act (2010) - cannot discriminate - protected characteristics
- PSED (Public Sector Equality Duty)
- DPA and GDPR
Should the school take the child’s wishes into account when deciding on action?
Yes - although action must be in their best interest primarily
What should an effective child protection policy include?
- Child on child abuse approach
- Reporting systems
- Multi-agency safeguarding arrangements
- online policies and SEND related policies
- reviewed annually
- available publicly
The DSL should:
- Be on the leadership team and a senior member of staff
- Be given time, resources, training and support
- Be given at least one Deputy who is trained to the same standard as the DSL
What must governing bodies ensure in terms of multi-agency working?
That the school contributes in line with statutory guidance
What must schools in a local area commit to in terms of multi-agency working?
Being fully engaged, and involved and included in each other’s safeguarding arrangements.
Is following local safeguarding arrangements a statutory duty?
Yes
Who should schools work with to promote child welfare?
- Police
- Children’s social care
- Health services
- Any other relevant service
What should happen when a student leaves the school?
Their child protection file is transferred within 5 working days for an in year transfer and within 5 days of starting a new year
What frequency should safeguarding training for all staff be?
At least annually, with regular updates throughout the year
What should the school’s programme of preventative education include?
- Health and respectful relationships
- Boundaries and consent
- Stereotyping, prejudice and equality
- Body confidence and self-esteem
- Abusive relationships (including harassment)
- Honour based abuse
What are the four areas of risk in online safety?
content, contact, conduct, commerce
Online safety: What is content?
being exposed to illegal or harmful content - porn, fake news, racism, self-harm, suicide, extremism, radicalisation
Online safety: What is contact?
harmful interaction with another user - peer to peer pressure, adults posing as children, grooming
Online safety: What is conduct?
online behaviour that increases chance of harm - sending explicit messages, sharing nudes, online bullying
Online safety: What is commerce?
risks such as online gambling, advertising, phishing, scams.
If at risk report to Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG)
What should schools consider to increase online safety?
- Firewalls and monitoring
- Mobile phone policy
- Teach online safety
- Review the policy annually
What are included in the filtering and monitoring standards?
- Clear roles for who is in charge
- Review at least annually
- Block harmful content
Who should be told if a staff member is dismissed or removed due to safeguarding concerns?
Disclosure Barring Service (DBS)
What does reasonable force mean?
‘Using no more force than is needed’
Give some examples of reasonable force
- Guiding a child by the arm
- Breaking up a fight
- Restraining to prevent injury
- Blocking a pupil’s path
Is a ‘no contact’ policy a good idea?
No
Which groups of children are at greatest risk of harm?
- Children with a social worker
- PA
- Mental health issues
- LAC
- Care leavers
- SEND
- LGBT
What is the role of the Designated Teacher
Work with the LA to promote the ed achievement of LAC students
What training do staff involved in recruitment need?
All the content from part 3 of KCSIE
Recruitment: What should the advert contain?
- Requirements of the post
- Safeguarding requirements of the role
- School’s commitment to safeguarding
Is a CV enough for applicants to provide?
No - they must provide an application form
What must shortlisted candidates provide?
Self-declaration of their criminal record info
What is good shortlisting practice?
- two people carry out shortlisting, one of whom is in the interview
- look for gaps in employment and interrogate
- perform an online search
What should happen in terms of references?
- no open references
- from current employer (signed by head teacher)
- reference from last time they worked with children
- contact referees where info is vague
- follow up any concerns
What would be concerning in the context of an interview?
- implication adults and children are equal
- not recognising vulnerability of children
- idealisation of children
- poor understanding of boundaries
- poor safeguarding practice
Before employment, must check:
- Identity
- DBS
- Physical and mental capacity
- Right to work in UK
- Qualifications, QTS
What is regulated activity?
When a person is responsible for the care of children or comes into contact with them as a part of work - teaching, training, caring etc
What types of DBS checks are there?
- Basic
- Standard
- Enhanced
- Enhanced with children’s barred list info
Which type of DBS check will most staff require?
Enhanced with children’s barred list info
When should the applicant provide their DBS certificate?
Before taking up the role, or as soon as possible after
What type of DBS would you request for contractors and people not engaging in regulated activity?
Enhanced
What should happen to a teacher who hasn’t produced their DBS yet?
- Appropriate supervision
- Children’s barred list check
- All other checks
When do you not need an enhanced DBS check?
When the person was in a similar role less than three months prior
If an adult is supervised, is it regulated activity?
No. No DBS required.
What does the DBS Update Service allow?
- Portability of DBS check across employers
- free online checks to determine if there have been changes
- Full list of employers who have requested a check
What is a Section 128 Direction?
It prohibits an individual from taking up ‘management’ positions within a school
How do schools check for prohibitions, directions, sanctions and restrictions?
Using the TRA’s Employer Access Service
What is the single central record?
A record of all pre-appointment checks:
- ID check
- children’s barred list check
- Enhanced DBS
- prohibition from teaching check
- Quals
- Right to work in UK
If a volunteer has not had DBS through, can they be alone with children?
No. They must be supervised.
When is there a duty to refer to the Disclosure Barring Service?
When the individual has:
1. engaged in concerning conduct
2. satisfied the harm test
3. been cautioned or convicted of a relevant offence
What are the two aspects to consider when an allegation is made?
- Looking after the welfare of the child
- Investigating and supporting the person subject to the allegation - discuss with LADO if unsure
What should schools do before contacting the LADO about an allegation against a member of staff?
Investigate basic facts about the allegation - where the teacher was, CCTV, witnesses
What is the role of the LADO in allegations against staff?
To ensure that an appropriate investigation is carried out, by police, social care or the school. They don’t investigate themselves.
Who normally carries out investigations into allegations?
Senior teacher
When should suspension of a staff member be considered?
Where there is suspicion of harm to children or potentially grounds for dismissal
Is an accusation against a member of staff confidential?
Yes
What are the five possible outcomes of an investigation?
- Substantiated
- Malicious (deliberate harm to the accused)
- False
- Unsubstantiated
- Unfounded
What follows a substantiated allegation?
- Consider whether to refer to the TRA
- Legal requirement to refer to DBS where there is a chance of harm to a child
Should settlement agreements be made if the allegation involves child safety?
Nope
What is a low level concern in relation to staff?
Where they haven’t followed the code of conduct and there is ‘nagging doubt’ - e.g. being over friendly, having favourites, having photos of children, humiliating children
- doesn’t meet the threshold to report to LADO
What should you do if there is doubt about whether the threshold for harm has been reached?
Consult with LADO
What approach should schools take towards sexual violence and harassment?
Zero tolerance
Give examples of sexual violence
Rape, penetration, assault, forced activity
What is the age of consent?
16
At what age can no child consent to any sexual activity?
Under 13
Give examples of sexual harassment
lewd comments, comments of clothing, name calling, jokes, deliberate touching, displaying pictures or images, online
What is HSB?
Harmful Sexual Behaviour - it is distinct from normal developmental activity
Who are the two main partners in dealing with sexual violence and harassment?
LA Social Care and Police
What should you do if a device contains inappropriate images of a child?
Hand to the police without viewing
How should you respond to a disclosure?
- Don’t promise confidentiality
- Listen carefully
- reflect back using the child’s language
- prompt with open questions
- can ask directly if they have been harmed
- written record MUST be made (not necessarily in the moment)
When should you call the police in general?
- When it involves someone outside the school community
- When there is significant risk of harm
- Anything involving weapons
- If there are repeat, aggravating factors
