Home Tutoring.org.uk - Child Protection Policy
Home Tutoring.org.uk fully recognises its responsibilities for child protection.
Our policy applies to all members working for us. There are five main elements to our policy:
- Ensuring we practice safe recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work with children.
- Raising awareness of child protection issues and equipping children with the skills needed to keep them safe.
- Developing and then implementing procedures for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse.
- Supporting pupils who have been abused in accordance with his/her agreed child protection plan.
- Establishing a safe environment in which children can learn and develop.
We recognise that because of the day-to-day contact with children, staff are well placed to observe the outward signs of abuse. We will therefore:
- Establish and maintain an environment where children feel secure, are encouraged to talk, and are listened to.
- Ensure children know that there are adults in the school whom they can approach if they are worried.
- Include opportunities in the subjects taught for children to develop the skills they need to recognise and stay safe from abuse.
We will follow the procedures set out by the Local Safeguarding Children Board and take account of guidance issued by the Department for Education and Skills to:
- Ensure we have a designated person for child protection.
- Ensure every member of staff knows the name of the designated person responsible for child protection and their role.
- Ensure all staff understand their responsibilities in being alert to the signs of abuse and responsibility for referring any concerns to the designated person responsible for child protection.
- Ensure that parents have an understanding of the responsibility placed on the staff for child protection by setting out its obligations in this policy.
- Notify social services if there is an unexplained absence of more than two sessions of a pupil who is on the child protection register.
- Develop effective links with relevant agencies and co-operate as required with their enquiries regarding child protection matters including attendance at case conferences.
- Keep written records of concerns about children, even where there is no need to refer the matter immediately.
- Ensure all records are kept securely, separate from the main pupil file, and in locked locations.
- Develop and then follow procedures where an allegation is made against a member of staff or volunteer.
- Ensure safe recruitment practices are always followed.
We recognise that children who are abused or witness violence may find it difficult to develop a sense of self worth. They may feel helplessness, humiliation and some sense of blame. When behaviour may be challenging and defiant or they may be withdrawn, we will endeavour to support the pupil through:
- The content of the subjects taught.
- Our ethos which promotes a positive, supportive and secure environment and gives pupils a sense of being valued.
- Our expectations of behaviour which is aimed at supporting vulnerable pupils. We will ensure that the pupil knows that some behaviour is unacceptable but they are valued and not to be blamed for any abuse which has occurred.
- Liaison with other agencies that support the pupil such as social services, the Child and Adult Mental Health Service, the Education Welfare Service and the Educational Psychology Service.
- Ensuring that, where a pupil on the child protection register leaves, their information is transferred to the new learning establishment immediately and that the child's social worker is informed.
