RENDCOMB COLLEGE
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
AND PROCEDURE

Policy

(i) The College will ensure that every member of Staff (teaching and non-teaching) has some knowledge of how to deal with children who are known or thought to have been abused and is aware of the procedures which most be followed.  The College Child Protection Officers are Sandy Westhead, who is also the Head of Learning Support, her classroom/office is situated on the top floor of the main building and Melanie Bleaken, the J1 teacher in the Junior School.
(ii) The College will ensure that all members of staff understand the importance of the need to take immediate action whenever a child protection concern comes to their notice.

Introduction

Teachers, Sisters and House Staff are particularly well-placed to observe outward signs of abuse, changes in behaviour, or failure to develop, which may be indicators that abuse is taking place within a child’s family or environment.  All staff have a responsibility to protect the child in their charge and should be prepared to put the following procedure into motion, without delay. The College will therefore:

• Establish and maintain an environment where young people feel secure, are encouraged to talk, and are listened to.
• Ensure young people know that there are staff in the College whom they can approach if they are worried.
• Provide staff with information and training on recognizing abuse.

Procedure

1. Any suspicion that a pupil at the college is suffering from abuse should, in the first instance be referred to the member of staff designated to deal with child abuse (appointed Child Protection Officers): Sandy Westhead; tel: 01285 832309; Melanie Bleaken; tel: 01285 832310
e-mail: westheads@rendcomb.gloucs.sch.uk 
e-mail: bleakenm@rendcomb.gloucs.sch.uk

2. If there is any injury to the child which requires treatment, the member of staff responsible for the child should contact Sister in the Medical Centre: tel: 01285 831239;  mobile: 07786 653983

3. The concern of the reporting member of staff should be accurately and legibly recorded in writing, signed and dated and given to the College Child Protection Officer as soon as possible.

4. The College Child Protection Officer should immediately contact the Gloucester Child Protection Officer (Jane Bee tel: 01452 426994) during normal working hours or, if there is a concern for immediate safety out of hours, contact Glos. Constabulary (tel: 0845 090 1234), who will make contact with the Social Services emergency team.

5. The College Child Protection Officer will discuss with the Child Protection Service the need to inform Social Services and make contact.

6. The College Child Protection Officer may arrange to interview the child to further substantiate the concern.

7. If the child is felt to be in any danger, he or she should not be allowed to go home, if this is at all possible.

8. The discussion with Social Services Department should involve consideration of how, when and by whom the parents should be informed of the concern, bearing in mind on the one hand, the need to protect the child and on the other, the duty of the Social Services Department to work in partnership with parents, wherever possible.

Procedures for Child Protection

It is the College policy to comply fully with the child protection procedures established by Gloucester County Council for use in educational establishments.
The college has an important role in its frequent contact with the children.  The staff get to know the children quite well: they form trusting relationships; they see changes in behaviour, and they are available for the sharing of concerns.

It is the policy of Rendcomb College to safeguard the welfare of the children by protecting them from physical, sexual and emotional abuse and bullying.

It is the responsibility of each employee to ensure that their behaviour is appropriate at all times.  If there is an allegation or suspicion of abuse, this must be referred immediately to the College Child Protection Officer.

The College is not an investigation or intervention agency. At all times the child's welfare must be paramount. Swift reporting will enable the correct authorities to give advice and take appropriate action. There is an obligation for the College to act in this way.

Any information conveyed by an employee to the College Child Protection Officer must not be withheld or filtered but must be passed on immediately to the correct agency. These procedures are not negotiable; they enable the governors to fulfill their legal as well as moral responsibilities.
All allegations/suspicions are to be referred immediately and directly to the College Child Protection Officer. No investigation or questioning is to be undertaken. If the Headmaster is implicated the College Child Protection Officer will refer direct to the designated Governor, Prue Hornby, and in her absence the Chair of Governors, Sir Michael Angus. All allegations or suspicions are to be referred, no matter how insignificant they may seem to be, or when they occur.
 
Staff guidance

To assist all staff (teaching and non-teaching) the College will provide:
• Regular INSET training
• Documentation from the INSET training
• A recently revised green card with the following information:

Links

Staff should be aware of the following documents which are linked with the Child Protection Policy
• A Comprehensive Code of Safe Practice (revised & issued by DRD)
• Physical Restraint Policy (revised & issued by DHM)