Safeguarding Advice and Allegations Management Steve Liddicott Interim Head of Service Safeguarding and Quality Assurance

Safeguarding and Quality Assurance Service Head of Service IRO Manager Case Conference Chairs (500 plus) / Independent Reviewing Officers (750 plus) Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) Exploitation and Vulnerabilities Coordinator Social Work Standards Manager Case Progression Manager Hounslow Safeguarding Children Board Manager HSCB Training and Business Support S&QA Business Support

Safeguarding Advice and Allegations Management A single telephone number – Advisor available 5 days a week Issues covered: General safeguarding concerns (not child specific) Concerns about members of staff (not related to a specific child) Allegations against members of staff Recording All general concerns will logged for future cross referencing All calls relating to members of staff will be recorded in a secure area of the social care data systems so that they can be reviewed if further issues arise

Procedural Framework London Child Protection Procedures

Statutory Guidance Keeping children safe in education DfE Statutory guidance for schools and colleges July 2015

Index – DfE Guidance

Allegations Management Section 7 – London CP Procedures 77.1 The management of allegations against staff or volunteers who work with children 7.2 General considerations relating to allegations against staff 7.3 Initial response to an allegation or concern 7.4 Disciplinary process 7.5 Record keeping and monitoring progress 7.6 Unsubstantiated and false allegations 7.7 Substantiated allegations and referral to the DBS 7.8 Learning lessons 7.9 Procedures in specific organisations 7.10 Allegations / concerns process flowcharts

Allegations Management Where there is an allegation or concern that any person who works with children, in connection with their employment or voluntary activity, has: Behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child; Possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child; Behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates he or she would pose a risk of harm if they work regularly or closely with children. These behaviours should be considered within the context of the four categories of abuse (i.e. physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect) These include concerns relating to inappropriate relationships between members of staff and children or young people

Flow Chart – London Procedures

Outcomes The following definitions should be used when determining the outcome of allegation investigations: Substantiated: there is sufficient evidence to prove the allegation; Malicious: there is sufficient evidence to disprove the allegation and there has been a deliberate act to deceive; False: there is sufficient evidence to disprove the allegation; Unsubstantiated: there is insufficient evidence to either prove or disprove the allegation. The term, therefore, does not imply guilt or innocence.