Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups- a governors perspective

Governors Conference14th March 2015Penryn School

Workshop delivered by: Helen TreleaseIndependent Safeguarding Children Trainer and Advisor, and

Safeguarding Governorhtrelease@btconnect.com

• Introductions• How do we define vulnerable?• Who are our vulnerable groups in school?• What impact can their vulnerability have on

them?• What is the role of the governing body in

safeguarding vulnerable groups?

How do we define vulnerable?

• ‘Open to moral attack/ criticism / temptation’ etc

• ‘Capable of being physically or mentally hurt’

• ‘In need of special care, support or protection’

Who are our most vulnerable groups within our schools?

Vulnerable Groups in school

CYP subject of a Child Protection plan

Those being bullied

Those with poor school attendance

Those with low academic attainment

Pupil premium childrenincludes children in care

Gifted and talented

Where socio economic factors are impacting on CYP

CYP from minority groups

LGBT

Those with challenging and complex behaviours

SEN and children with additional needs

Young carersMental health issues

Exposure to Domestic abuse

Parental mental health and substance misuse

Low self-confidence/self esteem

Local Perspective

• Whilst the percentage of children in poverty in Cornwall overall (19%) is below the national average (21%) there are some neighbourhoods where the proportion is twice the national average.

• Approximately 420 young carers• Approximately 257 teenage parents• 579 young offenders• Estimated 6,400 children with identified mental health

problem

Taken from Cornwall’s Early Help Strategy 2013- 2015

CORNWALLS CHILD PROTECTION STATISTICS ( January 2015)

Numbers of Children by District and Category

Approximately 110,000 children in Cornwall

Cornwall East Mid West Other

No. of children subject to a child protection plan

405 159 123 119 4*

No. of children in the care of the local authority

443 173 116 138 16

Breakdown of no: of children under each category ( January 2015)

(does not include small number under multiple categories)

PHYSICAL 42

NEGLECT 253

EMOTIONAL 100

SEXUAL 10

What impact can their vulnerability have on them as individuals?

What is Safeguarding?

• Protecting children from maltreatment• Preventing impairment of children’s health and

development• Ensuring that children are growing up in

circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care

• Take action to enable all children have the best outcomes

• (Ref: Working Together 2013)

Two key inspection issues follow from this definition

• The effectiveness of schools in taking reasonable steps to ensure that children and learners are safe.

• The effectiveness of the schools in helping to ensure that children and learners feel safe.

What does ‘Safeguarding children & young people’

mean within the context ofyour school setting?

Safeguarding

Child Protection Staff Conduct

Safeguarding Policies

Attendance

Behaviour management

Managing allegations against Staff

Assessments ie Health and Safety and Risk

Observations: Knowing your children – who are your vulnerable children?

Staff Recruitment and Selection

LISTEN TO CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Building confidence and self esteem

E- safety

Balanced curriculum includinghealth, emotional and social wellbeing

Dealing effectively with bullying

Teachers Standards 2012Part 2: Personal and Professional Conduct

A teacher is expected to demonstrate consistently high standards of personal and professional conduct -----

• Treating pupils with dignity, building relationships rooted in mutual respect, and at all times observing proper boundaries appropriate to a teachers professional position

• Having regard for the need to safeguard pupils’ well being, in accordance with statutory provisions

What does Safeguarding mean in the context of your role as a Governing body?

Safeguarding

Child Protection Staff Conduct

Looked after Children‘Critical Friend ‘

Reviewing Policies and Procedures: including anti bullying, behaviour management

Managing Allegations Against Staff

Health and Safety(including building design)

Whistle blowing

Safer Recruitment and Selection

Relevant and Regularly Updated Safeguarding Training

Listening to Children and Young People

E- safety

Awareness of the Curriculum

Monitoring Attendance

Keeping Children Safe in EducationPublished April 2014 DoE

• Statutory Guidance for ALL schools and colleges

• Sets out the duties and responsibilities that schools and colleges must assume to safeguard and promote the welfare of children

Keeping Children Safe In Education April ‘14 DoE:

Part One: Safeguarding Information for all staff includes:

• Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play in safeguarding children.

• School staff are particularly important as they are in a position to identify concerns early and provide help for children to prevent concerns from escalating.

• Staff members working with children are advised to maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here’ where safeguarding is concerned.

Part Two: The management of safeguarding The responsibility of governing bodies and proprietors

Key themes:• Inter-agency working – this includes providing a co-ordinated offer

of early help when additional needs of children are identified• Safeguarding policies – effective child protection policy together with

staff behaviour policy (code of conduct)• Designated governor safeguarding lead• Opportunities to teach safeguarding• The children’s wishes and feelings- there need to be systems in place

for children to express their views and give feedback• Looked after children• Missing Children - need to have appropriate safeguarding responses

in place

Specific Safeguarding Issues:Keeping Children Safe in Education April ’14 DoE (Part One S.25)

• Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)

• Bullying including cyber bullying

• Domestic abuse• Drugs and Alcohol• Fabricated, induced illness• Faith abuse• Female genital mutilation

(FGM)• Forced marriage

• Gangs and youth violence• Gender based violence/

violence against women and girls (VAWG)

• Mental Health• Private Fostering• Radicalisation• Sexting• Teenage relationship abuse• Trafficking

The role of the Governing Bodyin relation to vulnerable children

• Ensure you have safeguarding governor and a chair of governors who are keeping up to date on local and national initiatives.

• To be a ‘critical friend’• What support and guidance is available for vulnerable

children in your school?• Attend appropriate training• Check out how many you have?• How is the money allocated for pupil premium children,

and how can you show it is making a difference?