Child Protection

The issue of Child Protection has been highlighted recently by DENI. I would like to bring to your attention the advice contained in DENI Circular 1997/4, the CCMS circular on Child Protection and BELB advice on this issue.

As professionals involved with children we are required to follow the procedures outlined in these circulars.

The BELB has a ‘Designated Officer’ to deal with Child Protection issues.

Each school within the Board area must also nominate a ‘Designated Teacher’ within the school.

If a teacher or other member of staff has reasonable grounds to suspect abuse they should report their suspicions to the designated teacher.

The designated teacher should report the case to Social Services, the Board’s Designated Officer, CCMS and the School Principal.

The designated teacher should maintain detailed and confidential records of all available information relating to the cause for concern and any subsequent action taken.

Any teacher or other member of staff who complies with these procedures in making a report of suspected child abuse will receive the full support of CCMS and BELB and will not be legally or financially liable.

The designated teacher for La Salle is Pat Ward.

In the event of his absence report direct to the Principal.

DENI Circular 1997/4

Pastoral Care in schools: Child protection

CCMS Child protection

Offer the following advice to schools and strongly recommend it be seriously considered.

• All schools have a pastoral responsibility towards children in their care and should take all reasonable steps to ensure that their welfare is safeguarded and their safety preserved.
• All schools should put into place structures and procedures for dealing with child protection issues and all staff should be aware of these.
• All staff should be aware of -
  
  [a] Signs of possible abuse

[b] Be alert to these

[c] And be aware of the procedures to be followed.

·         Any preliminary enquiries should be made carefully and sensitively: it is not the responsibility of education staff to undertake investigations or to make extensive enquiries of other family members or carers.

·         Where abuse is suspected the Designated Teacher should immediately make a referral to the social services and alert the Principal. Where an arrestable offence is suspected, the referral should be to the Police. The Designated Officer of the Education and Library Board and the Diocesan Administrator of CCMS should be notified.

All Staff must be aware of:

[a] How to identify signs and symptoms of possible abuse.
[b] How to talk to children in an appropriate way.
[c] How to record information.

[d] How and to whom to report their concerns.

NB Confidentiality is very important in dealing with this issue. The interests of the child are paramount.

Signs of Physical Abuse

• Improbable excuses given to explain injuries
• Refusal to discuss injuries
• Untreated injuries
• Admission of punishment which appears excessive
• Fear of parents being contacted
• Bald patches
• Withdrawal from physical contact
• Arms and legs kept covered in hot weather
• Fear of returning home
• Fear of medical help
• Self-destructive tendencies
• Aggression towards others
• Chronic running away

Signs of Sexual Abuse

• Use drugs/drink excessively or self mutilate
• Be anorexic or bulimic
• Run away chronically
• Be inappropriately seductive
• Be fearful of certain people like relatives or friends
• Not be allowed out on dates or have friends around
• Have soreness, bleeding in either the genital/anal area or in the throat
• Find excuses not to go home or to a particular place
• Have recurring nightmares/be afraid of the dark
• Be unable to concentrate
• Play truant
• Exhibit a sudden change in school/work habits
• Have a ‘friend’ who has a problem and then tell of the abuse of the friend
• Have chronic ailments such as stomach and headaches
• Sexually abuse a child, sibling or friend
• Be withdrawn, isolated
• Become excessively worried
• Have outbursts of anger or irritability
• Be fearful of undressing - gym, residential areas
• Have unexplained sums of money

Signs of Emotional Abuse

• Admission of punishment which appears excessive
• Over-reaction to mistakes
• Continual self-depreciation
• Sudden speech disorders
• Fear of new situations
• Inappropriate emotional responses to painful situations
• Neurotic behaviour
• Self-mutilation
• Fear of parents being contacted
• Extremes or possibility of aggression
• Drug and or solvent abuse
• Chronic running away
• Compulsive stealing/scrounging
  
  
  Talking to children when abuse is suspected or disclosed

REPORTS

Reports for Child Protection Conferences should focus on the child’s:

• Educational progress
• Achievements
• Attendance
• Behaviour
• Participation/involvement in school activities
• Relationships with other children/adults within school
• Appearance
• Relationships with his/her family and family structure (n.b. without making specific investigation)

Reports should be:

• objective and based on evidence
• state only fact
• record observations
• state reasons for concern

Reports will be made available to:

• the child’s parents
• the court
• other professionals

Reports should be signed by the Designated Teacher

Confidentiality

• The interests of the child are paramount.
• No promise of confidentiality can or should be given when abuse is alleged.
• Assure the child in a sensitive manner that the matter will be disclosed only to people who need to know about it.
• Where physical or sexual abuse is suspected you have a legal duty to report this.
• Under Section 5[1] of the Criminal Law Act (NI) 1967, anyone who knows or believes that an arrestable offence has been committed, and has information which is likely to secure an arrest of the person responsible has a duty to give that information to the police: failure to do so is in itself an offence.
• Staff have a professional responsibility to share relevant information about the protection of children with other professionals, particularly investigative agencies.
• Staff who receive information about children and their families in the course of their work should share that information only within appropriate professional contacts.
• Staff may have concerns that the parent may seek legal redress if they refer a child to social services. Following the appropriate procedures will safeguard them in this respect.

Conduct of Staff

Physical Contact with Pupils

• All staff are in a position of trust and any abuse of that position of trust must be regarded with the utmost gravity.
• As well as the more obvious physical or sexual abuse, all staff should be alert to the risk of emotional abuse such as persistent sarcasm, verbal bullying, or severe and persistent negative comments or actions.
• All staff should be sensitive to a child’s reaction to physical contact and to act appropriately.
• It is important not to touch pupils, however casually in ways, on part of the body (especially breasts and genitalia) or in circumstances that might be considered indecent.
• In extreme cases, which, while rare, do occur a member of staff might have to restrain a pupil physically to prevent him or her causing injury to him herself, to others or to property. No more than the minimum force should be used: Staff should seek to avoid causing injury to the pupil.

Allegations Against Staff

• It is the responsibility of the Principal (Chairman of the Board of Governors) to ensure that any complaint made that a member of staff has abused a pupil is thoroughly investigated, by instigation of the normal child protection procedures.
• The alleged abuser must also be informed of the allegations and be kept informed on a regular basis of the investigations, which have been, or are being made, and their outcome.
• There are occasions when pupils make unfounded accusations against staff. A third party may also make such complaints. Preliminary enquiries must therefore be carried out with an open mind.
• Suspension of a member of staff is a neutral act and would be considered –

[a] If a child or children were at risk.

[b] If the allegation is so serious that dismissal for gross misconduct may be considered.

[c] In order to allow the conduct of the investigation to proceed unimpeded.

• If suspension is being considered the Principal should advise the staff member to seek assistance from his/her professional organisation or trade union.
• School authorities must notify the Department of Education of any instance where a member of staff is dismissed on grounds of gross misconduct, so that his or her continued recognition as a teacher can be considered.