ST ALOYSIUS' COLLEGE
SCHOOL HANDBOOK

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

1 Preamble

1.1 St Aloysius’ College is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for children’s life and learning in school. The College upholds every child’s right to the care and protection that promotes their human growth and sense of personal worth and dignity. In this policy, the College sets out its principles and procedures for putting into practice its commitment to the well-being of its pupils in the matter of child protection.

1.2 A copy of the full text of this document is given to each teacher (as part of the Staff Handbook) and each Governor.

1.3 Parents are notified that the College has a Child Protection Policy in the School Handbook. The School Handbook gives broad guidelines for parents who have concerns about bullying or abuse. The full text of the Child Protection Policy is available on request from the Head Master’s Secretary or for inspection at reception.

1.4 Pupils are, according to their age and understanding, made aware of the school’s policies on bullying and child protection, and are told where they can seek help.

2 Principles

The College’s Child Protection Policy and procedures are underpinned by the following principles:

2.1 at all times the needs and well-being of the child are paramount.

2.2 the school aims to build a Christian community characterised by good personal relationships between pupils and teachers; it is the professional responsibility of each teacher to initiate, foster and sustain appropriate relationships with pupils that are positive and generous, caring and protective, and supportive and interested in the life of the individual.

2.3 the existence of sustained good relationships between staff and pupils is the context for the trust that is a necessary precondition of any disclosure or discussion of abuse.

2.4 cases of alleged or suspected abuse are to be treated seriously; children who disclose abuse, or are suspected of being abused, need to be treated with sympathy and understanding; what they say needs to be received without scepticism or disbelief (staff should “keep an open mind and not fall into the trap of confusing the taking of what a child says seriously with believing what the child has said.” ).

2.5 it is important that all staff understand and act upon their roles and responsibilities where a concern of abuse arises.

2.6 it is not the school’s role to investigate allegations or suspicions but to gather what information it has and to refer the matter to the appropriate outside agencies according to the procedures set out in this document.

2.7 where a case of abuse arises, the school acknowledges and accepts its role in providing appropriate support and care for the pupils, families, staff and others involved.

2.8 while the law and arrangements in child protection are largely focused on those under 16-years of age, the College will seek to exercise comparable levels of care, mutatis mutandis, for those pupils aged 16-18, as seems appropriate in individual cases, according to circumstances and the maturity of those involved.

3 Child Protection Officer

3.1 A senior member of staff is designated Child Protection Officer (CPO) and has a special responsibility for promoting and co-ordinating child protection policy and procedure throughout the school (from Kindergarten to Sixth Year).

3.2 The Child Protection Officer has responsibility:

• to take appropriate action in instances of suspected child abuse, according to the procedures set out in this policy
• to develop and maintain links and, in particular cases, to liaise with other agencies such as social services, the police, and the Children’s Reporter
• to maintain the secure Child Protection File
• to be available, listen and respond to concerns raised by staff, parents or pupils in relation to child protection
• to promote amongst staff awareness of the school’s child protection arrangements and to arrange suitable in-service training for them
• specifically to bring to the notice of new and student teachers the school’s child protection arrangements
• to oversee planning of curricular provision designed to promote pupils’ awareness of issues of abuse and personal safety and well-being

3.3 The Child Protection Officer will report formally to the Head Master on his work at least each term.

4 The responsibilities of staff

4.1 Every person over 16-years of age and who has “charge or care” of a child under 16, has certain responsibilities with regard to that child’s welfare, and can be held criminally liable for failure to meet them. Those presumed to have “charge” of a child include “any person to whose charge a child or young person is committed by any person who has parental responsibilities in relation to him.” Those presumed to have “care” include “any other person having actual possession or control of a child or young person.” All staff, and those with substantial access to children in school, would be regarded as having responsibilities of “charge and care” in regard to pupils.

4.2 The duty of care which staff owe to pupils, includes a general obligation to do all that might reasonably be expected in the promotion of their safety and well-being. While there is no legal duty to report crimes or suspicions of child abuse, there is a professional obligation to act upon concerns, however they may arise.

4.3 It is important that individual staff do not make private decisions or private arrangements for dealing with cases of suspected or known abuse. The Board of Governors requires that staff follow the policy and procedures set out in this document.

5 Allegations and Suspicions

5.1 Suspicions of child abuse may arise from concerns expressed by the child himself, from allegations made by other children or adults, or from anonymous allegations.

5.2 Concerns may also arise from a staff member’s own observations of a child’s behaviour or appearance, by the presence of indicators of child abuse (see the Appendix to this policy), or by a feeling, based on knowledge of the child, that all is not well, or by a combination of factors.

5.3 When such concerns arise, the staff member must prudently and professionally decide how to respond. This decision will need to take account of the needs of the child concerned, the circumstances in which the concern has arisen, the strength of the concern, and the policy and procedures set out in this document.

6 The initial response by a member of staff

6.1 It may be appropriate when concerns first arise for the staff member to make casual enquiry of the child about how an obvious injury was sustained or why the child appears upset. This would be good practice in the exercise of normal pastoral care. However, where there is a clearer suspicion of abuse, staff should not ask leading questions or enter into a detailed investigation of the symptoms or causes of the child’s injury or distress. To do so could prejudice later formal investigations.

6.2 In any initial interview with a child, it is important that a member of staff makes contemporaneous notes, to be written up later as the formal record (see section 6.5).

6.3 The role of school staff is:

• to observe
• to record
• to report

6.4 Staff should observe carefully the child’s behaviour and demeanour, and notice any physical injury.

6.5 They should then record in detail what they have seen and heard: this document is the record referred to below.

6.6 Guidance on the issue of confidentiality is given in section 24 of this document.

6.7 In writing the record, specific attention should be given to:

• signs of physical injury (which should be described in detail or sketched)
• signs of emotional distress or unusual behaviour
• any comment by the child or anyone else as to the identity of the alleged abuser
• any comment about how the injury occurred should be recorded, preferably quoting the words actually used and as soon as possible after the comment was made
• recording who said what and when they said it

6.8 The member of staff should then take prompt action to report the matter as detailed below.

7 Action by staff in all cases

7.1 As far as possible, the record is to be handed to the Child Protection Officer, without undue delay, in person and on the same day, allowing for immediate discussion of the concerns and their implications.

7.2 The member of staff making the record should make and keep a signed, dated and timed note of when the allegations were reported to the Child Protection Officer. They are, however, advised not to keep a copy of the record itself.

7.3 Information about the allegation must not be shared with any person (see section 22.2) other than the Child Protection Officer and the Head Master, or with the Children’s Reporter, social services, or police, should these agencies become involved.

7.4 In cases where an allegation is made against the Child Protection Officer, the record should be referred to the Head Master. If the allegation is made against the Head Master, report is to be made to the Chair of Governors.

8 Action by staff in exceptional cases

8.1 In exceptional cases, where a member of staff feels that concerns about a child are not being taken seriously, or followed through appropriately, or with sufficient speed, the member of staff should refer the matter directly to the Children’s Reporter.

9 Action by the Child Protection Officer

9.1 As soon as the Child Protection Officer has been alerted to a suspected case of child abuse, he should collate all the relevant information and make a determination as to the clarity of evidence held by the school on the child and of the urgency of the case.

9.2 If there is certainty or very good reason to suspect a child has been abused or requires protection, the CPO should contact social services immediately. Where a child presents clear and immediate evidence of abuse caused by a known person, the Child Protection Officer should not hesitate to contact the police directly, or the Children’s Reporter where there is cause for concern about the safety of the child. The Head Master should be kept informed of developments at all times and without delay.

9.3 In cases of lesser urgency or where there is a need for consideration before action the CPO will call a co-ordination meeting involving relevant members of staff, including the Head Master, the Assistant Head Master (Formation) and other appropriate senior staff.

9.4 The purpose of the co-ordination meeting is not to carry out an investigation, but rather to gather information already in the possession of those present and to consider the next steps to be taken. Among the meeting’s considerations will be:

• what immediate support may need to be given to the child
• whether medical treatment or assessment is indicated
• what is known about the child’s family situation - in cases where abuse is suspected within the family, initial contact with the parents should not be made by the school but by social services or the police
• are there implications for siblings?
• are the child’s parents aware of the allegations and what is their attitude likely to be?
• whether there are implications for other pupils
• in cases where information has been provided by another pupil, what support will there be for that pupil and how far can his/her parents be informed of the situation without breaching confidentiality?

9.5 The discussions of the co-ordination meeting are strictly confidential. Minutes should be kept of the co-ordination meeting, of its conclusions, and of subsequent action by the CPO.

9.6 At the conclusion of the co-ordination meeting, a decision should be made about whether there are concerns which require a referral to social services. Referrals should be made in every case where there is any substantial suspicion. Proof is not required at this stage. If there is doubt whether to refer or not, social services should be advised of the circumstances of the allegation and the school’s doubts about it. Referral is the responsibility of the CPO and should be done immediately.

10 Action by the Head Master

10.1 Following any action in child protection matters, the Head Master will send a brief and confidential report to the Chair of Governors. The names of people involved will not normally be disclosed in this report, unless the case involves allegations against a member of staff.

11 Emergency situations

11.1 Although contact with other agencies would normally be through the social services, the CPO should not hesitate to contact the police directly where a child presents clear and immediate evidence of abuse caused by a known person, or the Children’s Reporter where there is cause for concern about the safety of a child.

12 Allegations of child abuse against a member of staff

12.1 Any allegation of abuse against a member of staff will be taken seriously. On receiving such an allegation, the CPO will institute an enquiry as outlined in section 9 above. At the same time the Head Master will conduct an internal enquiry as outlined below.

12.2 The Head Master will conduct a preliminary enquiry to establish an initial judgement as to the veracity of the allegation. If the conclusion of this enquiry is that the allegation is completely unfounded, the decision to take the matter no further, together with background information and reasons for the decision, will be recorded and placed in the confidential Child Protection File. These details will not be recorded in the staff member’s personal file or in any other College records.

12.3 In the course of the preliminary enquiry, the staff member who is the subject of the allegation will usually be informed of the situation and asked to give a response. Staff members may wish to consult their union or professional association, or have a friend supporter present at this stage.

12.4 The parents of a child who has made the allegation, or of the child who is the subject of the alleged abuse, will be informed of the situation by the Head Master. This initial communication will indicate only that an allegation has been made and, in broad terms, the nature of that allegation. Further details, including the identity of the staff member, will not be divulged by the school until specific legal advice has been obtained.

12.5 If the conclusion of the initial enquiry is that there are grounds for suspicion of abuse, then the Head Master will further consider:

• whether there is a need to remove the member of staff from unsupervised access to children
• whether there is a need to remove the member of staff from access to children
• whether there is a need to suspend the member of staff
• the possibility that others may also have been abused
• the information that may need to be given to the parents of children involved to assure them that proper procedures are being followed and to counter rumours and the breakdown of trust and communication
• what support, such as counselling, should be offered to the children and families involved
• whether it is appropriate to inform the Registrar of Independent Schools at the Scottish Executive

In all these considerations and the actions consequent upon them, the Head Master will take such legal advice as he deems necessary, and be aware of the delicate balance that has to be maintained between openness and confidentiality, in the best interests of the child and with respect to the due rights of the staff member involved.

12.6 Concurrently and in liaison with the Head Master’s enquiry, the CPO will follow the usual procedures for any allegation of child abuse outlined in section 9 above. As a result of any referral to social services or other agencies, action may be taken by these authorities against the alleged abuser. At the same time, the Head Master may initiate the College’s regular disciplinary procedures against the member of staff concerned. Where the allegation concerns minor incidents of physical or emotional abuse, and where there are no ongoing child protection concerns, it may be appropriate to deal with the matter solely through the College’s internal disciplinary procedures, after consultation with the child concerned and the parents. When the allegations are more serious or relate to sexual impropriety, it would not be appropriate to deal with them solely within the College.

12.7 The Head Master will inform the Chair of Governors at each stage of the enquiry.

12.8 In cases where a staff member has been the subject of a malicious or mischievous allegation, the Head Master will seek an immediate interview with the parents of the child, with a view to serious disciplinary action being taken against the pupil concerned. The staff member will be asked for their views and informed of the outcome of these proceedings.

13 Abuse by other pupils

13.1 Abuse by other pupils may be emotional, physical or sexual. The College has set out its expectations, procedures and sanctions for dealing with such cases in its Bullying Policy.

13.2 Where a situation, or age discrepancy between those involved, clearly goes beyond bullying, and becomes a matter of abuse warranting child protection, the procedures detailed in this document will be followed as for other allegations of abuse.

14 The College’s dealings with outside agencies

14.1 Without prejudice to the specific advice of legal counsel, the College and its staff will adopt a positive and co-operative approach in its dealings with the various welfare and legal agencies involved in child protection. The first and primary aim of the College will be to promote the best interests and welfare of the child.

14.2 Where staff receive requests for co-operation from outside agencies, they are to notify and seek guidance from the Head or Depute Head Master or AHM, before any undertakings or arrangements are made.

14.3 As the College is a Jesuit institution working in the Archdiocese of Glasgow, the Head Master may decide that it is appropriate to inform the Jesuit Provincial and/or the diocesan authorities, as he sees fit.

15 The appointment of staff

15.1 Appointments to teaching or other posts involving substantial access to children are made conditionally upon satisfactory returns from checks made against the Protection of Children Act List (PoCAL).

15.2 Similar checks are made with the Scottish Criminal Record Office (which lists offences in all force areas of the UK). PoCAL and SCRO checks are made through Disclosure Scotland.

15.3 Responsibility for conducting the checks listed above, and other appropriate inquiry into background and suitability, will rest with the Head Master. A brief note indicating that the checks have been carried out will be kept in the teacher’s personal file.

16 Staff training

16.1 As part of its programme of staff personal and professional development, the College is committed to providing suitable training for staff in:

• the identification of possible abuse
• responding when a child discloses abuse or seeks help and support
• the school’s child protection policy and procedures

16.2 Responsibility for organising staff training lies with the Depute Head Master.

17 Volunteers

17.1 From time to time, the College uses parents and other volunteers, especially to help with Junior School trips and residential activities in the Senior School.

17.2 Teachers in charge of such activities should ensure that volunteers are appropriately briefed on child protection. Printed Guidelines for Volunteers are provided for this purpose. Volunteers should not be left with sole responsibility for pupils over extended periods of time. Teachers are always to take primary responsibility for supervision of pupils.

18 The curriculum

18.1 The College is committed to including within its curriculum of lessons, assemblies and special events, appropriate information, advice and discussion of abuse and personal safety issues. This will be done with due regard for the maturity of pupils and the sensitivity of the subject.

19 Further guidance

19.1 Staff seeking clarification or further guidance in matters of child protection should refer, in the first instance, to the Child Protection Officer, or to any member of the school management teams.

19.2 Staff who find themselves dealing with cases of abuse, particularly formation staff, should refer to the SCIS advice Guidelines on Child Protection (Second Edition 1997), where they need more detailed or specific guidance than is contained in the College’s own Child Protection Policy.

footnotes

1 Lord Clyde, Report of the Inquiry into the Removal of Children from Orkney, 1992, recommendation #7
2 Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937, s.27
3 except terrorist offences