How to recognise safeguarding concerns in schools. Browse our range of resources for the education sector.
How to recognise safeguarding concerns in schools. 1. Cost: £25 per person. child sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation and county lines. (Ed. There are different legal duties for organisations and individuals depending on the sector you work In 14. Schools play an important role in promoting and supporting positive mental health and emotional wellbeing. • Investigation team staff time (if external) Use the ToR and agreed budget to identify or recruit the investigation team. 4 Two GMC documents, Protecting children and young people and 0–18 years: guidance for all doctors, guide doctors through the practicalities and importance of information sharing. Engaging with the adult in a meaningful way as early as possible (where necessary with Nov 1, 2023 · Safeguarding Training so you Recognise Concerns. Email: counter. Their website should have a section explaining how to report possible abuse and neglect. Supporting children with mental health issues. Jul 11, 2019 · Apply to the Court of Protection. There may be several indicators of risk. Find out more about safeguarding and child protection for the voluntary and community sector. There are 10 types of harm, and as part of your duty of care, you should learn to recognise the signs of abuse. The courses teach you the most common signs and Understand your safeguarding responsibilities and role in creating a safer culture in your school. The guidance sets out how schools and colleges in England should deal with low-level concerns with regard to the behaviour of teachers, other staff, volunteers Jun 29, 2023 · Duty of care in child protection and safeguarding. contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or by emailing help@nspcc. This will take priority over simply providing evidence of having appropriate policies in place. gsi. Includes lesson plans, training courses and consultancy. How to raise a safeguarding concern. " (CEOP, 2022) Grooming can happen anywhere, including: online. 1 All schools and colleges have statutory duties to operate in a way that takes into account the need to safeguard and promote the well-being of children4, and in the case of some adults, colleges. Acting on concerns is vital. And use our practical guidance and resources to help you keep the children you work or volunteer with safe and protected. Ensure staff are trained and know how to respond to concerns. These answers should demonstrate that the school Online safety should form a fundamental part of schools’ and colleges’ safeguarding and child protection measures. Nov 17, 2021 · While safeguarding is relevant to all staff, roles vary between those who are a first point of contact for identifying safeguarding concerns (e. This page provides safeguarding guidance for Dec 21, 2023 · Explore the 5Rs of Safeguarding - Recognise, Respond, Report, Record, and Refer. Child protection is about making the world safe for children. This problem is compounded by the fact that we This is the result of the research, an evidence-informed resource to help adults ensure children always feel listened to. school nurses, health visitors) and those who provide specialist support within a safeguarding Dec 11, 2023 · Staff and governors can raise concerns relating to extremism directly with the Department for Education: Dedicated helpline: 020 7340 7264. Jan 23, 2024 · Mental health issues can also sometimes lead to safeguarding and child protection issues, for example if a child's mental health begins to put them or other people at risk of harm. Schools must also follow Safer Recruitment processes for the recruitment of teaching . Burns. Having one or more of these risk factors doesn't automatically mean a child will experience abuse or neglect – and not having any of them doesn't guarantee that a child will never be Child safeguarding refers to a set of policies, procedures and practices employed to make a business safe for all children they work with. Standards of behaviour. 2. ) Early You can raise a safeguarding concern for an unborn child, child or adult by contacting your local authority. They might do this by speaking out directly or by saying things that suggests something may be wrong. Post-traumatic stress disorder. Jun 22, 2023 · Digitally enabled primary care can help to identify and manage a safeguarding risk. All staff have a responsibility to maintain public confidence in their ability to safeguard the welfare and best interests of children. As well as discussing what county lines is and how children might be targeted by gangs, schools should ensure children know who they can talk to if they have any concerns. safeguardingsupporthub. School leaders, governors, teachers and non-teaching staff will be expected to prepare for Ofsted safeguarding questions with appropriate answers. Apr 18, 2023 · That means schools, the police, and health providers in communities, working together to identify problems before they escalate, effectively sharing information, and putting in place holistic support. from £99+VAT per setting. Organisations working with children play an important role in preventing and responding to child-on-child abuse. Recognise. 92 these two principles sit alongside the six statutory safeguarding principles [9] and are significant in the context of practice in relation to safeguarding concerns. Your duty to protect children extends beyond the education setting, such as at home. Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) 2. All the safeguarding tools and resources your organisations needs to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. Bite marks. Low-level concerns are part of a spectrum Here are nine key concerns that staff should be aware of over the coming months. org. Assess parents’ and carers’ ability to protect the child from further abuse. Once you notify the local authority, they have Feb 28, 2020 · Your school can safeguard children ( according to the NSPCC) by: Creating a safe environment for children and young people through robust safeguarding practices. gov. Pharmacy professionals and the pharmacy team working in registered pharmacies are well placed to identify Mar 8, 2023 · Cuts and scrapes. All staff/volunteers who have a safeguarding concern need to recognise the concern as a safeguarding concern respond by ensuring the safety of the adult (and any other adults at risk) report the concern on the same day as it occurs/ is made known to them. For example in school or college, in the local community, in their May 13, 2020 · During the ARISE hub inception meeting in Nairobi in February 2019, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine’s (LSTM) lead safeguarding officer (PT) facilitated a face-to-face participatory learning exchange to discuss vulnerabilities and risks, identify practices and share experience across the partnership. Ensure that adults working within the school do not pose a threat to children. The legal responsibilities are set out in: the common law duty of care5. Oct 28, 2020 · In schools, safeguarding involves protecting and promoting the health and wellbeing of students. At Save the Children, it is our thematic or programmatic Jul 9, 2019 · Examples of safeguarding issues include bullying, radicalisation, sexual exploitation, grooming, allegations against staff, incidents of self-harm, forced marriage, and FGM. If we have serious concerns about the wellbeing of a donor or client, we can ask the Court of Protection to make a decision. Contextual safeguarding Feb 19, 2021 · Citation. domestic abuse – both at home and in their own intimate relationships. Jun 15, 2016 · This month, we are focusing on the important topic of safeguarding. And that's just as true for safeguarding and child protection as it is for health and safety. A&E staff, dentists), those for whom safeguarding forms a major background to their daily work (e. Empowerment: presumption of person led decisions and informed consent: Prevention: it is better to take action before harm occurs. Supporting people May 7, 2021 · Anxiety disorders are the most commonly diagnosed mental health condition and include: Phobias. Abuse can happen to anyone. They were able to recognise when they needed to refer the child to children’s social care and to provide clear and detailed referral information. Identify roles and responsibilities of all professionals involved with the child, and follow agreed procedures to share information about child protection concerns. school nurses, health visitors) and those who provide specialist support within a safeguarding Apr 21, 2020 · First and foremost it is crucial that we understand the significance of safeguarding children in school, whilst providing the essential provision necessary to keep pupils safe. Use our free self-assessment tool to audit and identify gaps in your safeguarding arrangements, create an action plan and implement any changes. When caring for and protecting others, it is crucial to understand the processes to follow should you be concerned about an individual and their well-being. Inspectors will talk with a wider range of learners Mental health issues can also sometimes lead to safeguarding and child protection issues, for example if a child's mental health begins to put them or other people at risk of harm. Notify the child or young person that only the people who need to know will be informed. If a child is not in immediate danger: follow your organisation's safeguarding policies and procedures as soon as possible. Don’t try to solve the situation yourself or confront anyone. The RCN’s webpages on safeguarding are a great starting point. Medium risk means a learner is at heightened risk of radicalisation. com Jan 25, 2023 · Contributing towards establishing an effective culture of safeguarding – be it as a school leader, governor, Designated Safeguarding Lead, or other member of staff – means that you can help to successfully safeguard and promote the welfare of the children and young people you work with. Safeguarding in U. Jan 16, 2024 · In recent times, schools have experienced a troubling increase in safeguarding incidents, prompting growing concerns about the well-being of pupils and the overall safety of educational environments. Following the setting’s safeguarding policies and procedures as soon as possible if the danger is not imminent. All school and college staff should be aware of the various forms of abuse, including emotional harm, so that they are able to identify children in need of help and support and know what action to take. Jun 30, 2014 · Guidance for doctors. They play a very important role in keeping children and young people safe. Creating positive relationships with students premised on mutual trust and understanding. However, we only see the lives of children in 10-minute snapshots and must recognise that the influences on a child’s wellbeing are many and varied. Breathing problems. Safeguarding adults includes: Protecting their rights to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. schools Meeting students’ non-academic needs is not a new idea for U. Scarring. They should adopt high standards of personal conduct in order to maintain confidence and respect of the general public and those with whom they work. If the learner is at risk of harm, you should make a Prevent referral Jan 14, 2021 · OFSTED takes the definition from statutory guidance, “Safeguarding children is defined in Working together to safeguard children as: Protecting children from maltreatment. It’s essential organisations meet a duty of care when working with children and young people. The policies will state who the safeguarding lead is and who concerns An introduction to safeguarding and child protection. Carlene Firmin at the University of Bedfordshire's Contextual Safeguarding Network , recognises that as young people grow and develop they are influenced by a whole range of environments and people outside of their family. poor bond or relationship with a parent. The framework for safeguarding in Wales. Discover how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted on children and young people. As well as these physical indicators of this form of abuse, some behaviour signs are: A child being uncomfortable undressing for PE in front of others. Other excellent resources include: Safeguarding Children and Young People: Roles and Competencies for Healthcare Staff (2019) Aug 11, 2019 · In a setting where there is a designated safeguarding lead, the following would apply when reporting a concern: Calling 999 if the child is in immediate danger. School staff are often the first to notice when children and young people are experiencing issues, so it is essential for schools to have robust safeguarding processes in place to record, report and manage these issues. The board’s annual report must provide information about any safeguarding adults reviews (SARs). Nov 23, 2021 · Schools in the UK have a statutory responsibility to protect children from abuse. Effective Safeguarding practice enables educators to identify problems before they arise, efficiently deal with concerns, proactively build a network of intentional supports, track efforts and progress and systemically protect students. Some common signs that there may be something concerning happening in a child’s life include: unexplained changes in behaviour or personality. The Court of Protection can take Recognising abuse is important. See course. If a child is in immediate danger, call the police on 999. It comes from knowing the signs of child abuse from knowing the sounds and that a child has been harmed A safeguarding or child protection policy statement makes it clear what your organisation or group will do to keep children safe. Make sure that the team know how to ask questions in a way that is fair and safe. ie / (071) 983 4660. The contact details for each of the nine regional teams are: Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal: safeguarding. We offer a comprehensive range of online and face-to-face safeguarding training courses that delve into these concerns in more detail. This could be a friend, a teacher, a family member, a social worker, a doctor or healthcare professional, a police officer or someone else that you trust. Jun 16, 2022 · The most common challenges for teaching professionals reporting concerns of abuse or neglect within schools are the lack of training in or ability to recognise maltreatment, or not being familiar with the reporting procedures that govern safeguarding practice (Naregal et al. Sep 9, 2020 · Recognise. Their main safeguarding responsibilities include: The provision of a safe environment in which children and young people feel heard. Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care. For many pupils, the multiple periods of lockdown will have meant months in isolation and this will have had a huge impact Schools and colleges can help raise awareness of county lines. Safeguarding then, fundamentally means keeping people safe from harm both in the school environment and beyond. Prevention – Taking action before harm occurs. Government guidance for schools across the UK highlights Feb 8, 2024 · As a teacher, you may come across a range of safeguarding issues including: signs of abuse, neglect or injury. cho1@hse. If you think you or someone you know is being abused, or neglected you should tell someone you trust. The first is safe, accessible, appropriate means to identify safeguarding incidents. Depression is more than simply feeling unhappy or fed-up for a few days. mental health and wellbeing. Common signs of child abuse. Inspectors will look at the behaviour of learners and staff and how this helps promote a strong safeguarding culture. In just a few words, what is your understanding of safeguarding in schools? Sample Answer: From my understanding, safeguarding in schools is taking all the necessary precautions to ensure that students are protected from any type of abuse or neglect, whether it is physical, emotional, sexual, or anything else. Making sure people's wellbeing is promoted, taking What needs to be in place to identify and respond to safeguarding reports? There are two main components that need to be in place to effectively receive and manage safeguarding reports: 1. act on reports and concerns; Senior leaders should work closely with governors or proprietors, the designated safeguarding lead (DSL) and IT service providers in all aspects of filtering and Medium risk. Mastering these principles ensures the safety and well-being of children and Mar 2, 2022 · There will be a stronger focus on evaluating the safeguarding culture. Ask them to help you report it. View course. seeming anxious. Be alert to the signs of abuse and neglect, and understand the procedures set out in your local multi-agency safeguarding arrangements. You'll find more guidance on each issue in our free ebook 9 key safeguarding concerns for schools right now. The teams are tasked to assess allegations of abuse or neglect and to intervene to address concerns (being mindful of the will and preferences of the adult at risk of abuse). doesn’t meet the threshold of harm or is not considered serious enough for the school or college to refer to the local authority. Apr 21, 2020 · According to the document, safeguarding in schools requires all staff members to take a child-centred and coordinated approach to safeguarding. Nov 16, 2022 · Making sure they grow up in circumstances that allow safe and effective care. Feb 12, 2021 · There are four key steps to follow to help healthcare staff identify and respond appropriately to possible abuse and/or neglect: Step 1: Being alert to the signs. becoming uncharacteristically aggressive. And that recognising is that little alarm bell that goes off in the back of your brain. Dec 6, 2022 · Safeguarding is ‘a collective responsibility working across multiple partners who can help address safeguarding concerns…It is vital for effective safeguarding that system partners and professionals work with one another to achieve the best outcome for individuals, considering their full set of needs and wishes. Have a good quality of life. Nov 11, 2019 · Reading around the topic of safeguarding is invaluable to develop both knowledge and competence. Records must be factual and include details of concerns and any decision and actions that have been taken in relation to the concern (s). school staff Aug 13, 2020 · Background. Our safeguarding training will give you the knowledge and skills to address safeguarding concerns effectively. Visit the RCN's safeguarding webpages. Schools should create a culture where: children feel confident to speak out if they have a concern about their own or another child’s safety. Following a substantial amount of research, the term was first added to the government’s Working Together to Safeguard Children guidance in 2018, and has become increasingly recognised and implemented in safeguarding policies across the country. Have their human rights respected and upheld. lacks social skills and has few friends, if any. Increase your confidence in identifying and responding to possible signs of child abuse and neglect with our 3-hour CPD-certified online course. Do this with the child where possible. These are termed ‘low-level concerns’. Communities surrounding children and Dec 19, 2023 · Identify the child's support network. Apr 16, 2024 · Ofsted safeguarding questions are a series of questions prepared by Ofsted to assess the safeguarding provisions of state-funded schools in England. These are the main incidents you are likely to come across, however, there may be others. It has been written for leaders of voluntary, community and faith groups working with children and young people aged 0-18. in organisations. S. Statutory guidance sets out the safeguarding and child protection requirements you should follow. As with any form of abuse, child-on-child abuse can result in significant, long-lasting trauma, isolation, physical harm, poor mental The safeguarding adults board has a key role to play in sharing information and intelligence on both local and national threats and risks. McGovern, W. Proportionality – Measures taken should be as unintrusive as possible; reaction should be proportional to the concerns raised. If you have any child safeguarding concerns including radicalisation, you should contact Children’s Services and/or the NSPCC. To access resources to refresh staff knowledge and understanding around listening to children and other safeguarding matters, subscribe today. Everyone has the right to live in a safe environment Apr 11, 2018 · The purpose of safeguarding is to ensure that all adults: Are involved in making decisions about their lives. The government document Working Together to Safeguard Children describes effective information sharing as a vital element of early intervention and safeguarding. By taking a whole school approach to online safety, you can help make sure all staff, governors, volunteers and parents know how they can help keep children safe online. It promotes collaborative decision making and support Gain the confidence you need to effectively identify mental health issues that may become safeguarding concerns, and learn how to support and protect the children and young people you work with. Are responded to appropriately if they have any concerns. Child-on-child abuse can happen both inside and outside of a setting, face-to-face and online. Schools and colleges must have regard to this guidance when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. ‘The Five R’s’ of safeguarding are a useful and structured way to remember what to do should a safeguarding concern occur. This can include learning to inform future prevention strategies. If you have any concerns, you should record them, and report them to Mar 26, 2015 · Revised the new low level concerns in part 4, section 2 to better align with paragraph 74 “What school and college staff should do if they have safeguarding concerns about another staff member Nov 15, 2019 · The policy document aims to direct all staff in education services to ensure they have the appropriate systems in place to create and maintain a safe learning environment for children, setting-out responsibility to identify any safeguarding concerns and for the action needed to address them, where appropriate, in partnership with the relevant In any activity, some level of risk is inevitable. Schools’ role in safeguarding Feb 8, 2023 · Our software, Safeguard my School, makes it easy for all your staff to view and report safeguarding concerns in one place, and enables you to: Create individual safeguarding profiles which collate issues for each student. The guide takes a step-by-step approach to help you develop and implement a safeguarding plan to protect children and young people from harm. Acting withdrawn or aggressive. Visitors should make sure they comply with the school’s procedures and understand what they need to do to keep children safe. becoming withdrawn. What are some of the most important things a school can do to prevent abuse or neglect? Example Answer. Preventing impairment of children’s health or development. But research shows that some children who have experienced abuse share similar risk factors. This concerning trend necessitates a closer examination of the contributing factors and a proactive exploration of strategies to manage and Sep 26, 2018 · In one school, careful recording of concerns and wider information about a child in a timeline helped staff to identify increasing evidence of neglect. This is defined as: Protecting children from maltreatment. Alternatively, call the main local authority number and say you want to raise a safeguarding concern. And while teachers play a vital role in safeguarding children, we believe that we can all play our part to keep children safe. Safeguarding children (known as ‘child protection’ in Scotland) and vulnerable adults is a key theme in both our professional and registered pharmacies standards. g. This can be done through whole-school assemblies, class discussions or smaller group work. This means they may be more vulnerable. 5, 6 The latter publication Mar 26, 2015 · This guidance is for anyone who comes into contact with children and families while working, including: social care practitioners. Remember to take all claims seriously. Browse our range of resources for the education sector. It can be hard for adults to recognise when a child needs support with mental health issues. SCIE has worked with a range of schools, trusts and education organisations and has developed a deep understanding of the context, sensitivities, issues and concerns relating to safeguarding; SCIE knows that safeguarding applies to both children and adults, but also to the site and health and safety provisions in place Listen carefully to their story and respect their rights. Write up their narrative, giving as much detail as possible. While the pandemic clearly poses a risk to the lives and wellbeing of vulnerable groups, necessary public health measures taken to delay or limit the spread of the virus have led to distinctive challenges for prevention, family support, court processes, placement and alternative care. Great Britain has the highest coronavirus death rate in Europe. Confidentiality must be maintained at all times and records of concerns must be stored Jun 5, 2022 · 4. Safeguarding and child protection in schools. The statutory Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance includes a specific section on concerns that do not meet the harms threshold. the more detailed policies and procedures your organisation will put in place to keep children safe and respond to child protection concerns. It refers to actions done to protect specific children from concerns of risk or harm. health practitioners. Grooming is a process that "involves the offender building a relationship with a child, and sometimes with their wider family, gaining their trust and a position of power over the child, in preparation for abuse. But it’s just as important that you keep a record of all safeguarding concerns in your organisation. uk. I believe that teaching staff members to recognise the warning signs of abuse and neglect and having clear and simple policies for reporting and handling concerns are two of the most crucial things a school can do to stop abuse and neglect. It should set out: your organisation's commitment to protecting all children. adults feel confident to recognise and Nov 5, 2021 · Empowerment – People should be encouraged to make their own decisions, understand the safeguarding process and act with ‘informed consent’. contact your local child protection services. Learn about policies, procedures, principles and practice so you can play your part in ensuring a consistent and whole-school approach to keeping children and young people safe. The electronic patient record is central in managing and recording safeguarding concerns, and documenting professional discussions and decisions, all of which contribute to safeguarding and also safe, effective sharing of information. In this blog, we will delve into the vital aspects of recognising signs of harm, responding effectively, reporting concerns, maintaining detailed records, and making appropriate referrals. extremism@education. SCIE has worked with a range of schools, trusts and education organisations and has developed a deep understanding of the context, sensitivities, issues and concerns relating to safeguarding SCIE knows that safeguarding applies to both children and adults, but also to the site and health and safety provisions in place 7. 5. self-harm and eating disorders. GPs are in a prime position to identify vulnerable children. and McGovern, R. early years practitioners. Depression. 3. Have their needs and interests respected. Being unable to explain their injuries. People and organisations working together to prevent the risk of abuse or neglect, and to stop them from happening. Citation 2015), or the necessary understanding of detailed information Part one: Safeguarding information for all staff 6 What school and college staff should know and do 6 What school and college staff need to know 7 What school and college staff should do if they have concerns about a child 16 Part two: The management of safeguarding 23 Legislation and the law 23 Part three: Safer recruitment 52 i. Panic disorder. How to recognise safeguarding concerns? Children and young people may tell someone (or disclose) if they are experiencing abuse and neglect. Find out what we’ve learnt from adapting our service delivery to children and families through lockdowns and social distancing. schools. Supporting student wellbeing. Feb 10, 2022 · The DLP must ensure that all concerns are recorded in line with the service’s child safeguarding recording procedure. You can’t do any of the other three R’s without firstly recognising there is a concern that needs to be recorded and reported or referred. View the ongoing management of each issue in an automatically organised chronological safeguarding log. See full list on tes. Its purpose is to support effective multi-agency outcomes that address risks to wellbeing and safety whether through a safeguarding response or another pathway. Teach children and young people about Oct 2, 2020 · Contextual safeguarding is a topic which is mentioned frequently in local authorities’ strategy discussions. Schools need to consider what extra safeguarding measures should be put in place for any adult visitors who are not employed directly by the school (whether paid or unpaid). The key is to identify, minimise and be clear about how you're going to manage potential risks. This guide will help you set up safeguarding measures in your group or organisation. Treating whole families over long periods of time, we are rewarded with valuable insights into the difficulties that some children face. Oct 21, 2019 · Contextual safeguarding, which has been developed by Dr. org | How-to Safeguarding Investigations | October 2021 4 • Miscellaneous for space rentals/refreshment etc. The safeguarding concerns multi-agency framework proposes a cross sector understanding of what constitutes a safeguarding concern. contact the police. A low-level concern is any concern that an adult has acted in a way that: is inconsistent with the staff code of conduct, including inappropriate conduct outside of work. School nurses have a vital role Contextual safeguarding is about keeping children and young people safe – physically, emotionally and mentally – from significant dangers they may experience beyond their families. (2021), "Understanding and Responding to Basic Safeguarding Concerns and Processes in Schools", Gillespie, A. Some extra-familial relationships can be potentially harmful, such as those formed at school, in local neighbourhoods and online. wz in kt kr bd bw ie uz ub db
How to recognise safeguarding concerns in schools. Contextual safeguarding Feb 19, 2021 · Citation.