Definition of safeguarding

The colleges adopt the definition used by Ofsted derived from The Children Act, 2004:

·         protecting children and young people from maltreatment

·         preventing impairment of children and young people’s health or development

·         ensuring that children and young people are growing up in circumstances

      consistent with the provision of safe and effective care

·         undertaking that role so as to enable those children and young people to have

      optimum life chances and to enter adulthood successfully.

The colleges recognise that safeguarding is not just about protecting children from deliberate harm. It includes issues for schools such as:

·         health and safety

·         bullying

·         racist abuse

·         harassment and discrimination

·         use of physical intervention

·         meeting the needs of pupils with medical conditions

·         providing first aid

·         drug and substance misuse

·         educational visits

·         intimate care

·         internet safety

·         issues which may be specific to a local area or population, for example the

      refuge centre

·         school security.

·         Developing appropriate attitudes towards personal safety and well-being

Guidelines

• Emphasis is placed on students views about if they feel safe in college gathered from informal discussion and formal processes, e.g. questionnaires

• The responsibility for safeguarding extends beyond the college gates where students are engaged in college activities

 
      ·       Safeguarding concerns the effectiveness of the school’s work with services
           provided, commissioned or brokered by the local authority to promote the safety
           and health of all learners.

• The governing body is accountable for ensuring that the school has effective policies and procedures in place in accordance with the DCSF guidance, and monitors the colleges’ compliance with this.

• Senior and middle leaders are clear about their statutory requirements regarding safeguarding and the steps they are taking to develop good practice beyond the statutory minimum.

• Specified recruitment and vetting checks on intended new appointees, particularly identity and qualification checks, are carried out. There is a full, accurate and up to date single, central record of these checks.

• All staff understand that safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility and know who to contact if they are concerned about a child or young person. They understand their responsibilities in order to achieve positive outcomes, keep children safe, and complement the support that other professionals may be providing.

• Students are aware of how they can keep themselves safe and what behaviour towards them is not acceptable. They recognise when pressure from others (including people they know) threatens their personal safety and well-being, and are helped to develop effective ways of resisting pressure, including knowing when and where to get help.

·     The colleges monitor the provision for and outcomes of all students, including: of site provision, work-based learning, extended services, students with a child protection plan, refugee and asylum seekers, look after children and excluded students, attendance, exclusions and racist incidents.

• There is a designated person for child protection and a governor with specific responsibility for safeguarding (and for referring on any allegations against the Principal).

• A behaviour improvement partnership with the Allertonshire School facilitates
  Day 6+ exclusion provision.

• There is a child protection policy and procedural document.

• Allegations against staff are dealt with in accordance with NYCC guidance.

 
      ·    The designated member of staff has undertaken training in inter-agency working to
          standards agreed by the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB), and undertakes
          refresher training at two yearly intervals.
 

• All staff and other adults who work with students undertake appropriate and up-to-date training to equip them to carry out their responsibilities for child protection effectively, this is kept up to date by refresher training at three yearly intervals.

• There is a clear reporting system if a student, member of staff, parent or other person has concerns about the safety of children.

• Security arrangements for the grounds and buildings are adequate and reviewed annually.
   

      ·    There effective and prompt systems for referring safeguarding concerns about pupils
          to relevant agencies?

• Attendance is monitored and appropriate action taken as necessary, especially with regard to the most vulnerable.

·     Close advisory links and collaboration are maintained with a large number of external agencies and professionals that support safeguarding. The following list is indicative rather than exclusive: Education psychologists: Primary Care Trust; Local Authority (Children’s Services); MENCAP; Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. (CAMHS)

Risk assessments are carried out whenever appropriate, in line with the relevant guidelines