2. Child Protection Induction Pack for Adults Working in Schools
Written by
Child Protection
School Liaison Officer Team
(2007)
4 CPSLO’s covering the county, responsible for delivering child protection training to schools and providing advice, guidance and support to DSP’s and Headteachers.

3. Aim
To induct newly appointed staff, supply staff, volunteers/helpers and students on placement into basic child protection practice.
This does not replace the need to attend Basic Child Protection Awareness training delivered by the Child Protection School Liaison Officer Team. This will be arranged by your Designated Senior Person as soon as possible.
Section 175 of the Education Act 2002 places a legal duty on local authorities and governing bodies to safeguard children. Schools are required by the Secretary of State to provide staff with a child protection induction, followed up by child protection training.

4. What is Abuse and Neglect?
Abuse and neglect are forms of maltreatment - a
person may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting
harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm. Children
and young people may be abused in a family or in
an institutional or community setting; by those known
to them or, more rarely by a stranger. They may be
abused by an adult or adults, or another child or
children.
(Working Together to Safeguard Children, HM Government 2006)
One of the key things to remember when thinking about abuse and neglect is the impact on the child. The harm caused to a child may not be intentional but nevertheless is still abusive.
E.g. Parents behaviour as a result of mental health issues, such as depression, may cause a child’s needs to be neglected.
Limited parenting skills as a result of parental learning disability can result in the child’s needs not being adequately met.
Parental domestic violence may not be directed against children, but does cause them distress and is emotionally damaging.

5. Categories of Abuse Physical Abuse Causing physical harm to a child
Neglect
Persistent failure to meet a child’s needs – physical
and/or psychological
Sexual Abuse
Involving a child in sexual activity
Emotional Abuse
Persistent emotional ill treatment of a child
DSPs can access the full definition of each category of abuse in the Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Board Child Protection Procedures if they wish.
DSP to expand upon the possible signs and symptoms of each category

6. What is my Role? Recognise  Respond  Investigate x
Attempt to resolve x
After explaining the staff / volunteer’s role the DSP is to explain what their own role is

7. Talking and Listening to Children
Do:
Be approachable
Listen carefully, uncritically and at the child’s pace
Take what is said seriously
Clarify essential information
Reassure
Tell the child what will happen next
Tell your DSP without delay
Record
Do Not:
Investigate
Try to resolve
Promise confidentiality
Make assumptions

8. Talking and Listening to Children
Questions:
Use to clarify essential information
Closed vs open questions
- How, what, who, when, where,
- Tell me more,
- Explain that to me,
- Describe what happened
Questions should only be used to establish that there is a concern.
Staff should avoid questions which lead the child, suggest a certain chain/cause of events or put words in the child’s mouth.

9. What Do We Record? Child’s name and date of birth
Date and time of the concern
Factual account of what happened, where and who was present using the child’s own words
Any opinion / interpretation needs to be explained
Your response
Printed name and signature of person making the record
Job title of person making the record
Date and time of the record
Factual account:
nature of the concern
where the information came from
if the child has an injury where is it, what does it look like, does the child
appear in pain
child’s account in their own words, method of communication
other’s accounts
witnesses
questions asked of child and/or others
what action was taken by you or others

10. Professional Conduct - Abuse of Position of Trust
The Sexual Offences Act 2003 provides that it
is an offence for a person aged 18 or over
intentionally to behave in certain sexual ways
in relation to a child aged under 18, where the
adult is in a position of trust in respect of the
child.
Certain sexual ways is defined as:
sexual activity with a child
causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity
sexual activity in the presence of a child
causing a child to watch a sexual act
A person is in a position of trust if they look after children under 18 who are in
education at an educational establishment and the child in question receives
education at that establishment. Someone receives "education at an
educational institution" if he is registered or enrolled there as a pupil or student
or is educated there by arrangement with the educational establishment at
which he is registered or enrolled
"Looks after" is defined as "regularly involved in caring for, training,
supervising or being in sole charge of" the other person and includes
circumstances where there is regular unsupervised contact. The contact can
be in person, or by any other means, such as on the telephone or over the
Internet.
The offence covers all children under 18, however it is principally designed to
protect young people aged 16 and 17 who, even though they are over the age
of consent for sexual activity, are considered to be vulnerable to sexual abuse
and exploitation from particular classes of persons who hold a position of trust
or authority in relation to them.

11. Professional Conduct - Abuse of Position of Trust
All staff should clearly understand the need to
maintain appropriate boundaries in their dealings
with pupils.
Intimate or sexual relationships between staff
and pupils will be regarded as a grave breach
of trust.
Any sexual activity between a member of staff and
a pupil under 18 years of age may be a criminal
offence. (
DSP should refer all staff to IRSC ‘Guidance for Safe Working Practices for the Protection of Children and Staff in Education Settings’ (DSP can access and download this from the HGfL)
Also explain that even where concerns of this nature do not result in a criminal conviction, the member of staff will still face disciplinary proceedings likely to result in termination of employment. This would also form part of the CRB record for future checks.

12. Professional Conduct – Key Principles
The welfare of the child is paramount. Staff should:
be responsible for their own actions and behaviour and should avoid any conduct which would lead any reasonable person to question their motivation and intentions
work, and be seen to work in an open and transparent way
discuss and / or take advice promptly from a senior member of staff about any incident which may give rise to concern
apply the same professional standards regardless of race, gender, sexuality, disability
Primary focus of this training is the protection of children, and safe working practices for staff contributes to a safe environment for all. When allegations against staff are made, they must be fully investigated with an open mind, in line with HSCB Child Protection Procedures. We must remember that some professionals do abuse. If as a staff group you feel that this is an area for further training, ask your DSP to contact the CPSLO and discuss this.

13. Professional Conduct – Areas Where You May Be Vulnerable
Physical contact
Physical intervention
Communication
Working alone
Relationships – crushes / conflicts
Contact outside school
School trips
Intimate care
The onus is upon the adult and NOT the pupil to distance
themselves from any potential situation.
(IRSC Guidance for Safe Working Practice for the Protection
of Children and Staff in Education Settings 2006)
Schools should provide guidance to their staff about safe and acceptable working practice.

14. Additional Induction Tasks
Staff member to read the school child protection policy and discuss any queries
DSP to provide staff member with a copy of ‘Guidance for Safe Working Practices for the Protection of Children and Staff in Education Settings’ (IRSC September 2006)
DSP to provide ‘Child Protection Quick Reference Guide’ (on HGfL) – and his/her contact details
DSP to ensure the staff member/volunteer signs to evidence having done all of the above
It is suggested that the DSP has copies of the above documents to hand for this induction session. A record of induction for new staff / volunteers should be maintained by the DSP for auditing and reporting purposes (Annual Safeguarding Report to the Governing Body)