Child Protection Procedures
Section 175 of the Education Act 2002 requires governing bodies of colleges to make arrangements to ensure that their functions are carried out with a view to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Under the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009, colleges will be represented on the new statutory children’s trust boards established in each area by the local authority. They will need to report annually to their board on the steps they are taking to contribute to the board’s work in improving the well-being of children in their area. Recommended DfES guidance ('Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education', 2007) states at 2.21 that: In particular the Governing Body should ensure that: the institution has a child protection policy and procedures in place that are in keeping with locally agreed inter-agency procedures, and the policy is made available to students/parents on request; · the institution operates safe recruitment procedures and makes sure that all appropriate checks are carried out on new staff and volunteers who will work with children…; · the institution has procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse against members of staff and volunteers that comply with locally agreed inter-agency procedures and this guidance...; · a senior member of the institution's staff is designated to take lead responsibility for dealing with child protection issues, providing advice and support to other staff, liaising with the LEA, and working with other agencies. The designated person must have the status and authority within the institution's management structure to carry out the duties of the post ...including committing resources to child protection matters, and where appropriate directing other staff. N.B. dealing with individual cases may be a responsibility of the student welfare or student support arrangements in institutions, but it is important that a senior member of staff takes responsibility for this area of work; · where an institution provides education and/or training for pupils under 16 years of age who are on the roll of secondary schools, the designated person liaises with the schools concerned and ensures that appropriate arrangements are in place to safeguard the children; · in addition to basic child protection training, the designated person undertakes training in inter-agency working that is provided by, or to standards agreed by, the local safeguarding children’s board, and refresher training at 2 yearly intervals to keep his/her knowledge and skills up to date; · the Principal, and all other staff who work with children undertake training to equip them to carry out their responsibilities for child protection effectively, that is kept up to date by refresher training at 3 yearly intervals, and temporary staff and volunteers who work with children are made aware of the institution's arrangements for child protection and their responsibilities; · the Governing Body remedies without delay any deficiencies or weaknesses in regard to child protection arrangements that are brought to its attention; and · the Governing Body undertakes an annual review of its policies and procedures relating to safeguarding and how the above duties have been discharged. A child protection policy [link to 3.9] helps staff identify and deal with those facing significant harm. A policy, although necessary, is insufficient and Ofsted will look for training in child protection arrangements in addition.
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