Adult Education Service Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy - Print version

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Definitions

1.1 ‘Safeguarding’ is defined in Keeping Children Safe in Education (2022) as -

  • protecting children from maltreatment
  • preventing the impairment of children's mental and physical health or development
  • ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and
  • taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

1.2 ‘Child Protection’ is the intervention that occurs when children have been significantly harmed or are at risk of significant harm.

1.3 ‘Child’ refers to everyone under the age of 18.

1.4 ‘Parent’ refers to birth parents and other adults in a parenting role for example adoptive parents, stepparents and foster carers.

1.5 ‘Staff’ or ‘members of staff’ refers to all teaching, non-teaching, support, supply, peripatetic, contract staff, governors, volunteers, and trustees working in or on behalf of Coventry Adult Education Service.

1.6 Within this policy, we use the term ‘victim’, although it is recognised that not everyone considers themselves to be a victim or would want to be described in this way. We also recognise the importance of not using the terminology of ‘perpetrator’ in relation to children in cases where the behaviour can be harmful to both parties. The appropriate use of terminology will be determined on a case-by-case 

Introduction

2.1 We recognise that safeguarding, child protection, and promoting the welfare of children is an essential part of our duty of care to all students. As such, all staff and governors have a responsibility to provide a safe environment in which children can learn. We understand that safeguarding, child protection and promoting the welfare of all children is everyone’s responsibility and that everyone has a role to play in protecting children. We recognise that our service is part of a wider safeguarding system for children and work closely with other agencies to promote the welfare of children. We maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here’ and will consider what is in the best interests of each child in line and upholding the Human Rights Act 1998 and Equality Act 2010.

2.2 The purpose of this policy is to -

  • Promote safeguarding and child protection and to demonstrate Coventry Adult Education Service’s commitment to keeping children safe
  • Provide all members of staff with the information required to meet their safeguarding duty and protect children from harm
  • Provide stakeholders with clear information relating to Coventry Adult Education Service’s safeguarding and child protection procedures
  • Ensure that staff understand, can recognise, and can respond to the indicators of abuse, exploitation, or neglect
  • Ensure that all staff are aware of their mandatory reporting duty in relation to Section 5B of the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003; and
  • Ensure that children are protected from maltreatment or harm

2.3 Coventry Adult Education Service is committed to the following principles

  • All children have the right to be protected from harm
  • Children should feel safe and secure and cannot learn unless they do so.
  • All staff are responsible for keeping children safe and have a responsibility to act if they think a child is at risk of harm
  • All staff take on a responsibility to promote children’s welfare
  • Providing support to families and/or children as soon as a problem emerges is essential to improving outcomes for children and families

2.4 Safeguarding aims

2.4.1 The safeguarding aims of Coventry Adult Education Service, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (September 2022) are to -

  • work to identify children who are suffering or likely to suffer abuse, exploitation or neglect and act to protect them
  • work with relevant services and agencies to ensure that children are protected from harm
  • provide a learning environment for children which is safe and secure
  • teach children how to keep themselves safe and provide structures for them to raise concerns if they are worried or at risk of harm
  • support children’s mental health and wellbeing
  • ensure that we adhere to safer recruitment guidance and legislation, deal promptly with allegations of abuse against staff and take bullying and harassment seriously
  • train staff effectively in all safeguarding issues (including online safety) and in their responsibilities for identifying and protecting children that are or may be at risk of harm
  • have a designated safeguarding lead and designated deputies, who will provide support to staff, students, and families
  • recognise that all children may be vulnerable to abuse, but be aware that some children have increased vulnerabilities due to special educational needs or disabilities or particular protected characteristics (LGBTQ+, etc)
  • maintain a robust recording system for any safeguarding or child protection information
  • ensure that everyone in Coventry Adult Education Service understands the safeguarding procedures; and to
  • regularly review policies and procedures to ensure that children are protected to the best of our ability.

2.5 This policy adheres to the following documents

2.6 We continue to work closely with the Local Authority and the Coventry Safeguarding Children Partnership to safeguard children during the Coronavirus outbreak.

2.7 Please note that there are a number of other documents (statutory and non-statutory) that inform our policy and practice. A list of these can be found in Annex B of Keeping Children Safe in Education (September 2022).

2.8 This policy should be read in conjunction with the following abridged outline policy:

Coventry Adult Education Service Procedures for the implementation of Safeguarding and Prevent includes the following:

  1. Position statement
  2. The scope of the policy
  3. Safer recruitment policy
  4. Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance
  5. Safeguarding
  6. Safeguarding children – procedure
  7. Safeguarding adults with care and support needs – procedure
  8. Prevention of radicalisation, extremism, and terrorism
  9. Female genital mutilation (FGM)
  10. Domestic violence/abuse and other safeguarding issues – procedure
  11. Housing and homelessness
  12. Concerns about the behaviour of a member of staff or volunteer working with children, young people or vulnerable adults
  13. Important information for all staff – stay safe
  14. Equality and Diversity
  15. Anti-bullying policy
  16. Promotion of the safeguarding policy to learners and learner feedback
  17. E-safety
  18. Staff induction
  19. Staff training
  20. Code of Conduct for staff
  21. Health and Safety

Specific links to all CCC and CAES policies can be found in Appendix A.

2.9 Scope

2.9.1 This policy applies to all teaching, non-teaching, support, supply, peripatetic, contract staff, governors, volunteers, and trustees working in or on behalf of Coventry Adult Education Service.  All references in this document to ‘staff’ or ‘members of staff’ should be interpreted as relating to the aforementioned, unless otherwise stated.

2.9.2 Rather than duplicating content from Keeping Children Safe in Education (September 2022) in this policy, it should be understood that Coventry Adult Education Service will always refer to this document as the benchmark for all safeguarding practice.

Roles and responsibilities

3.1 The Role of the Senior Management Team

3.1.1 The Senior Management Team have a strategic leadership responsibility for our safeguarding arrangements. We have a senior board level lead role carried out by Jeanette Essex Part 2 of Keeping Children Safe in Education (September 2022) sets out the responsibilities of governing bodies. As part of these overarching responsibilities the Senior Management Team will -

  • Have a strategic leadership responsibility for Coventry Adult Education Service safeguarding arrangements
  • Ensure all Governors and trustees receive appropriate safeguarding and child protection training (including online safety) at induction and that is regularly updated
  • Aware of the obligations under the Human Rights Act 1998 [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/42/contents] , the Equality Act 2010 [https://www.gov.uk/guidance/equality-act-2010-guidance] and the Public Sector Equality Duty [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-sector-equality-duty]
  • Ensure that they comply with their duties under legislation
  • Ensure a whole school approach to safeguarding, including the use of mobile and smart technology in the service
  • Ensure that policies, procedure, and training are effective and comply with the law at all times and that they allow concerns to be responded to in a timely manner
  • Ensure we consider local authority and Coventry Safeguarding Children Partnership policies and supply information as requested by the safeguarding partners (the Local Authority, a clinical commissioning group for an area within the local authority and the chief office of police for a police area within the local authority)
  • Ensure we have an effective child protection policy, encompassed as part of our safeguarding policy, that it is outlined on the Coventry Adult Education Services website [/adulted] reviewed annually and fully available upon request
  • Ensure we have a staff behaviour policy or Code of Conduct which refers to low level concerns, allegations against staff and whistleblowing procedures alongside acceptable use of technologies
  • Ensure that all staff and governors undergo safeguarding and child protection training on induction (including online safety) and this is regularly updated
  • Ensure we contribute to multi-agency working in line with statutory guidance
  • Ensure that there are clear systems and processes in place for identifying when children may be experiencing mental health problems
  • Ensure that children are taught about safeguarding, including online safety as a whole service approach and curriculum planning but recognising that a one size fits all approach may not be appropriate for all children. See section 12 of this policy for further information
  • Put in place and follow appropriate safeguarding responses for children who go missing from education
  • Appoint an appropriate member of staff from the senior leadership team to the role of Designated Safeguarding Lead
  • Understand the local criteria for action and local protocol for assessment
  • Recognise the importance of information sharing between practitioners and local agencies but take a risk-based approach to level of information that is provided to temporary staff, volunteers, and contractors
  • Ensure that appropriate filters and monitoring systems are in place to keep children safe online and share information regarding online abuse and risks including where to access advice with parents and carers
  • Respond to allegations of abuse against the Head of Centre whilst ensuring there are procedures in place to manage safeguarding concerns or allegations against staff (including supply staff, volunteers, and contractors); and
  • Ensure safer working practice is embedded and effective within policies

3.2. The Role of the Head of Service

3.2.1     The Senior Lead – Adult Education will

  • Ensure that this policy is reviewed annually at minimum and ratified by the governing body
  • Ensure that this policy and associated procedures are adhered to by all staff
  • Ensure that all staff are made aware of the named governor for safeguarding and the Designated Safeguarding Lead
  • Ensure that the role of ‘Designated Safeguarding Lead’ is explicit in the role-holder’s job description
  • Decide whether to have one or more deputy safeguarding leads and ensure they are trained to the same standard as the Designated Safeguarding Lead
  • Organise appropriate cover for the role of Designated Safeguarding Lead for any out of hour/out of term activities
  • Appointed a Link Manager for Study Programmes (link to DSL - for Looked After and Previously Looked-After Children) Tammy Sheldon, Study Programme Manager 
  • Appoint a lead for online safety; (DSL will still retain ultimate responsibility for this)
  • Promote a whole service approach to safeguarding
  • Promote resilience to social and emotional wellbeing, which is tailored to the needs of the children
  • Ensure that all recruitment follows the ‘Safer Recruitment’ guidance, and a single, central record is maintained with details of all members of staff who are in contact with children
  • Respond to low level concerns and allegations of abuse against all other members of staff including supply staff, volunteers, and contractors
  • Refer cases where a person is dismissed or left due to risk/harm to a child to the Disclosure and Barring Service and Teaching Regulation Agency as required
  • Ensure that the service collaborates with Children’s Services, the Police, Health services and other services to; promote the welfare of children; provide a co-ordinated offer of early help assessments when need is identified; contribute to inter-agency plans for children subject to children protection plans and to protect children from harm
  • Safeguard children’s wellbeing and maintain public trust in the teaching profession as part of their professional duties (Teaching Standards, 2012); and
  • Ensure that children’s Services (from the host local authority or placing authority) have access to the service to conduct, or to consider whether to conduct a section 47 or section 17 assessment, as per Keeping Children Safe in Education (September 2022)

3.3 The Role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead

3.3.1 The Designated Safeguarding Lead for Coventry Adult Education Service is Louise Lakin. Our Deputy Designated Safeguard Lead in the DSL’s absence is Howard Croft.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead will:

  • Take overall lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection (including online safety)
  • Liaise with the safeguarding partners and work with other agencies in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children (2022)
  • Always be available during term time school hours for staff in the service to discuss safeguarding concerns. If they are not available, a deputy will be made available
  • Undergo training to provide them with the knowledge and skills required to carry out this role updated a minimum of biannually
  • Act as a source of support and expertise on matters relating to safeguarding and child protection to ensure that other members of staff can carry out their safeguarding duty
  • Be best placed to advise on the response to safeguarding concerns
  • Identify if children may benefit from early help
  • Act as a point of contact with the safeguarding partners
  • Make referrals to Coventry’s Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) where children have been harmed or are at risk of significant harm
  • Make referrals to the Channel programme where there is a radicalisation concern and/or support staff that make a referral to Channel
  • Support the service with regards to their responsibilities under the Prevent duty and provide advice and support on protecting children from radicalisation
  • Refer cases to the police where a crime may have been committed
  • Ensure all staff have read and understood Part 1 and/or Annex A of Keeping Children Safe in Education (September 2022)
  • Update their knowledge and skills regularly and keep up with any developments relevant to their role
  • Provide staff in the service with the knowledge, skills and support required to safeguard children
  • Take responsibility for the accurate and timely recording of safeguarding and child protection concerns and take overall responsibility for safeguarding and child protection files
  • Take responsibility for the transfer of safeguarding files when a child leaves the service
  • Attend or ensure an appropriate representative attends multi-agency safeguarding or child protection meetings
  • Promote supportive engagement with parents and/or carers in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
  • Work closely with other relevant education professionals (e.g., CCCs – SEND Team), to ensure children with additional vulnerabilities are safeguarded
  • Help to promote educational outcomes of child who have experienced or are experiencing safeguarding or child protection issues by sharing relevant information with teachers and the service’s leadership team
  • Promote a ‘culture of safeguarding’, in which every member of Coventry Adult Education Service community acts in the best interests of the child
  • Ensuring Coventry Adult Education Service knows who its cohort of children or have or have had a social worker are, understanding their academic progress and attainment, and maintaining a culture of high aspirations
  • Regularly meet (every half term at a minimum) with the safeguarding link Steering group member and/or Chair of Steering group to review safeguarding in Coventry Adult Education Service and
  • Liaise with the Senior Lead – Adult Education regarding safeguarding cases and issues
  • When concerns are linked to mental health the Study Programme manager will liaise with the Coventry Council CAMHS teams and (or) referral to the young person’s GP, instigating telephone consultation, face-to-face meetings, or attendance straight to A&E for a mental health assessment
  • 3.3.2 Further details on the role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead can be found in Annex C of Keeping Children Safe in Education (September 2022)

3.4 The role and responsibilities of all Staff within Service

3.4.1 Coventry Adult Education staff play a particularly important role because they are in a position to identify concerns early in order to provide help for children. All staff in Coventry Adult Education Service:

  • Have a responsibility to provide a safe environment, where children can learn
  • Will be able to identify indicators of abuse, exploitation or neglect; with an awareness of safeguarding issues that put children at risk of harm and behaviours associated with these risks
  • Should know what to do if a child tells them that he/she is being abused, exploited, or neglected but that children may not feel ready or know how to tell someone that they are being abuse, exploited, or neglected and/or recognise their experience as harmful
  • Will be aware of indictors of child-on-child abuse and procedures to deal with this
  • All staff, but especially the DSL and deputies, will also consider whether children are at risk of abuse or exploitation in situations outside their families
  • Will be made aware of; the safeguarding and child protection policy; the service’s learners code of conduct policy; the staff behaviour policy; information about the safeguarding response to children missing in education; the role of the designated safeguarding lead and systems in Coventry Adult Education Service that support safeguarding and child protection
  • Will be provided with a copy of Part 1/Annex A of Keeping Children Safe in Education (September 2022) annually and receive annually updated training on their safeguarding roles and responsibilities
  • Will receive regularly updated safeguarding and child protection training including online safety
  • Will receive safeguarding updates throughout the year as part of continuous professional development
  • Should be able to contribute to the development of safeguarding policy and practice
  • Will be made aware of the early help assessment process and understand their role in it
  • Should be prepared to identify children who may benefit from early help and will discuss early help requirements with the safeguarding lead in the first instance
  • May be required to support social workers and other agencies following a referral
  • Will be made aware of the process for making referrals to Children’s Services (though the MASH), understand statutory assessments and the role that they may be expected to play in such assessments
  • Should be prepared to make referrals to the MASH if they have concerns about a child’s welfare and understand the role that they may be expected to play in such assessments
  • Understands the referral process to the (LADO) and the role they play should they have concerns or allegations are made against any member of staff
  • Should always seek advice from the Designated Safeguarding Lead if they are unsure and
  • All teachers should safeguard children’s wellbeing and maintain public trust in the teaching profession as part of their professional duties (Teaching Standards, 2012)

3.5 Multi-Agency Working

3.5.1 Coventry Adult Education Service is committed to multi-agency working and operates under Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018) and local safeguarding arrangements

3.5.2 Coventry Adult Education Service will work with Children’s Services the Police, Health services, local Early Help practitioners and other relevant agencies to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm

3.5.3 We work closely with the CCC MASH team, and where applicable to the needs of the young person, we will arrange an appointment with the closest Early Help Assessment centre – Harmony Hub - Clifton Street, Coventry, CV1 5GR – 024 7697 8030 to ensure the child or young person receives appropriate support.

3.5.4 The Coventry Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP) have designated that schools and colleges are a named ‘relevant agency’. As such, the service is under a statutory duty to co-operate with published CSCP arrangements.

Types of abuse

4.1 As outlined above, all staff will be trained in indicators of abuse, exploitation and neglect and should be able to recognise signs of these. We recognise that abuse, exploitation, and neglect along with other safeguarding issues are complex and often multidimensional and therefore don’t fall solely under one category. Types of abuse or harm can take many forms including directly inflicting harm on a child or failing to protect a child from harm online as well as face to face both inside and outside of the service as well as the multi-faceted occurrence of factors causing emotional harm.

The four main types of abuse that staff are trained to recognise are:

  • Physical  
  • Sexual abuse
  • Emotional abuse
  • Neglect

4.2 Types of abuse

Types of abuse (Taken from Keeping Children Safe in Education, 2022)

Type of abuse

Information

Abuse

A form of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm. Harm can include ill treatment that is not physical as well as the impact of witnessing ill treatment of others. This can be particularly relevant, for example, in relation to the impact on children of all forms of domestic abuse. Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting by those known to them or, more rarely, by others. Abuse can take place wholly online, or technology may be used to facilitate offline abuse. Children may be abused by an adult or adults, or another child or children

Physical abuse

A form of abuse which may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a child

Emotional abuse

The persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to a child that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may include not giving the child opportunities to express their views, deliberately silencing them or ‘making fun’ of what they say or how they communicate. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions that are beyond a child’s developmental capability, as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the child participating in normal social interaction. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another. It may involve serious bullying (including cyber bullying), causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, though it may occur alone

Sexual abuse

Involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example, rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside of clothing. They may also include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse. Sexual abuse can take place online, and technology can be used to facilitate offline abuse. Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children

The sexual abuse of children by other children is a specific safeguarding issue in education and all staff should be aware of this and of the Coventry Adult Education Service policy and procedures for dealing with this

Neglect

The persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development. Neglect may occur during pregnancy, for example, as a result of maternal substance abuse. Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to: provide adequate food, clothing and shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment); protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger; ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate caregivers) or ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs

4.3 Indicators of abuse can be found in Appendix B.

4.4 If a child is in immediate danger or at risk of harm, a referral will be made to children’s services (through the MASH) and any member of staff can make this referral. A Designated or Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead should be available at all times, but in exceptional circumstances the member of staff should speak to a member of the Senior Leadership Team or seek advice directly from Children’s Service and then take appropriate action. The Designated Safeguarding Lead should be made aware as soon as possible.

4.5 Staff, parents and the wider community should report any concerns that they have about the welfare of children, however minor or seemingly insignificant. Staff should not assume that someone else will report concerns.

4.6 Coventry Adult Education Service recognises that any child can be the victim of abuse and may benefit from early help. However, the service will be particularly vigilant to potential need for early help if a child -

  • is disabled or has certain health conditions and has specific additional needs
  • has special educational needs (whether or not they have a statutory education, health, and care plan)
  • has a mental health need
  • is a young carer
  • is showing signs of being drawn in to anti-social or criminal behaviour, including gang involvement and association with organised crime groups or county lines
  • is frequently missing/goes missing from care or from home
  • is a risk of modern slavery, trafficking, sexual or criminal exploitation?
  • is misusing drugs or alcohol themselves
  • has a family member in prison, or is affected by parental offending
  • is in a family circumstance presenting challenges for the child, such as substance abuse, adult mental health problems or domestic abuse
  • has returned home to their family from care
  • is showing early signs of abuse and/or neglect
  • is at risk of being radicalised or exploited
  • is at risk of ‘honour-based’ abuse such as Female Genital Mutilation or Forced Marriage
  • is persistently absent from education, including persistent absences for part of the service day
  • is a privately fostered child

4.7 Coventry Adult Education Service recognises that abuse can take many different forms. Staff will also receive training on the following issues and action will be taken if the Service believes that a child is at risk of or is the victim of -

  • bullying, including cyber- or online-bullying
  • child criminal exploitation (including involvement in county lines)
  • child sexual exploitation
  • domestic abuse
  • emotional abuse
  • fabricated or induced illness
  • faith-based abuse
  • female genital mutilation
  • forced marriage
  • gangs or youth violence
  • gender-based violence
  • hate
  • mental health
  • neglect
  • peer on peer abuse
  • physical abuse
  • radicalisation
  • relationship abuse
  • serious violence and harassment
  • sexual abuse
  • sexual violence or sexual harassment (including peer on peer abuse)
  • sharing of consensual or non-consensual nude and semi-nude images/videos
  • So-called ‘honour-based’ abuse
  • trafficking and modern slavery

4.8 Coventry Adult Education Service will also take action to protect:

  • Children missing education
  • Children missing from home or care

4.8.1 There are other familial issues that can have a detrimental impact on children

We work with other agencies in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (2022) to support children and families in the following circumstances -

  • Children facing the court procedures and/or children in the court system
  • Children with family members in prison
  • Children who are homeless
  • Children who need a social worker

4.9 Children potentially at greater risk of harm

4.9.1 Coventry Adult Education Service recognises that some children need a social worker due to abuse, neglect or complex family circumstances and that abuse and trauma can leave children vulnerable to further harm, as well as educational disadvantage

4.9.2 The Designated Safeguarding Lead will liaise with the CAES Link Manager for Study Programmes (link to DSL - for Looked After and Previously Looked-After Children) who attends monthly meetings with Through Care Team at CCC who hold information relating to social workers working with children in the service.

4.9.3 This information will inform decisions about safeguarding and promoting welfare (including the provision of pastoral and/or academic support)

4.10 Children missing from Education

4.10.1 Coventry Adult Education Service understands that children missing from education can be a vital warning sign to a variety of safeguarding concerns including neglect, child sexual and criminal exploitation.

4.10.2 Coventry Adult Education Service will report information to the CCC - SEND / MASH teams, the family of the young person, or allocated social worker and Police (where applicable) when problems are first emerging and develop contingency plans to prevent the removal of a child from the educational programme

4.11 Elective Home Education

4.11.1 Coventry Adult Education Service recognises that many home educated children have a positive learning experience and the decision is one with the child’s best interests at heart.

4.11.2 Since 2017, Coventry Adult Education Service has a statutory duty to inform the Local Authority of all intended deletions from roll, contacting Prospects to work with young people who are at risk of becoming NEET, through an immediate ‘home visit’

4.12 Mental Health

4.12.1 Coventry Adult Education service recognise that safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and a young person includes preventing the impairment of children’s / person's mental health or development

4.12.2 All staff will be aware that mental health problems may be an indicator that a child or young person is suffering or is at risk of suffering abuse, neglect, or exploitation

4.12.3 Staff will not attempt to make a diagnosis of a mental health problem unless they are appropriately trained

4.12.4 We recognise that staff are well-placed to observe behaviour that may indicate that a child or young person is experiencing a mental health problem or is at risk of developing one. There are clear systems and processes in place for identifying possible mental health problems. If staff are concerned that a child or young person is suffering a mental health crisis, and is already within the CAMHS referral process with Coventry Council the Study Programme manager will liaise directly with the nominated Doctor and (or) referral to the young person’s GP, instigating telephone consultation, face-to-face meetings, or attendance straight to A&E for a mental health assessment, as required, keeping the DSL informed throughout

4.12.5 If staff are concerned that a child or young person is experiencing a mental health problem that is also a safeguarding concern, they must report this to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (or deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead) immediately

4.12.6 All managers within the Service are required to complete Mental Health Awareness training organised through the Councils Learning and Development department. The Service operates in-line with the Councils Wellbeing programme, supported by a nominated Wellbeing champion, providing guidance for both learners and staff. Help and Wellbeing sessions are delivered within the Study Programme for our 16-18-year-old learners, and 19–24-year-olds with an EHCP to ensure sessions are adapted to meet the changing needs of learners.

All staff who deliver and support on the Study Programme are encouraged to:

  • Develop and implement policies for wellbeing in line with DfE priorities for staff and student mental health
  • Promote wellbeing, its importance, and the value that it brings to learners
  • Have a good understanding of how wellbeing should be monitored and the impact it has on learner achievement
  • Use this understanding to feed into the staff development plan for the Study Programme staff
  • Promoting and supporting mental health and wellbeing in schools and colleges - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) [https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mental-health-and-wellbeing-support-in-schools-and-colleges]

4.12.7 Further information, guidance and advice regarding mental health can be found on page 44 of Keeping Children Safe in Education 2022

4.13 Children and young people who are Lesbian, Gay, Bi or Trans (LGBT+)

The fact that a child or a young person may be LGBT is not in itself an inherent risk factor for harm. However, children who are LGBT can be targeted by other children. In some cases, a child who is perceived by other children to be LGBT (whether they are or not) can be just as vulnerable as children who identify as LGBT.

Risks can be compounded where children who are LGBT lack a trusted adult with whom they can be open. It is therefore vital that staff endeavour to reduce the additional barriers faced and provide a safe space for them to speak out or share their concerns with members of staff.

LGBT inclusion is part of the statutory Relationships Education, Relationship and Sex Education and Health Education curriculum and there is a range of support available to help schools counter homophobic, bi-phobic and transphobic bullying and abuse.

Responding to signs of abuse

5.1 If a member of staff, parent or member of the public is concerned about a child’s or young person’s welfare, they should report it to the designated safeguarding lead as soon as possible. On occasions when the designated safeguarding lead is not available, it should be reported to the deputy safeguarding lead without delay. Although any member of staff can make a referral to Children’s Services where possible there should be a conversation with the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

5.2 If anyone other than the Designated Safeguarding Lead makes a referral to Children’s Services or to the police, they should inform the DSL as soon as possible.

5.3 All staff will be alert to indicators of abuse and will report any of the following to the Designated Safeguarding Lead immediately -

  • Any concern or suspicion that a child or young person has sustained an injury outside what is reasonably attributable to normal play
  • Any concerning behaviours exhibited by children or young persons that may indicated that they have been harmed or are at risk of harm, including unusual changes in mood or behaviour, concerning use of language and/or concerning drawings or stories.
  • Any significant changes in attendance or punctuality
  • Any significant changes in a child’s or young person’s presentation
  • Any concerns relating to people who may pose a risk of harm to a child; and/or
  • Any disclosures/allegations of abuse that children or a young person have shared.

5.4 There will be occasions where a child or young person discloses/alleges abuse directly to a member of staff. If this happens, the member of staff will -

  • listen carefully to the child or young person and believe what they are saying
  • not promise confidentiality, as information may need to be passed on so the child or young person and family can receive additional support
  • only ask for clarification if something is unclear and will not ask ‘leading’ questions
  • report disclosure to the designated safeguarding lead as soon as possible, certainly by the end of the day
  • only discuss the issue with colleagues that need to know about it and
  • will write up the disclosure and pass it to the designated safeguarding lead. It is likely they will have had a discussion with the DSL prior to this but delay should be avoided

5.5 The designated safeguarding lead will make a decision about the action that needs to be taken following a member of staff raising a concern about a child or following a direct disclosure recording a clear rationale. The DSL may consider the following options:

  • Managing support for the child or young person internally within service
  • Seek advice from the social worker advice line in the MASH
  • Instigate single agency intervention and work directly with the family to improve the situation
  • Offer an Early Help Assessment to provide multi-agency help to a family
  • In cases where children are deemed to be at significant risk of harm, the DSL will refer cases to the MASH for consideration for statutory intervention. Parental consent will be obtained wherever possible before referring cases to the MASH However, if Coventry Adult Education Service is worried that telling parents will mean the child or young person is at greater risk of harm, we may do this without informing them
  • If parents do not consent to a referral but the service believes that a child or young person is at significant risk of harm, a referral will still be made to Children’s Services

5.6 Further information about the Coventry Safeguarding Children Partnership’s ‘Right Help, Right Time’ guidance [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/righthelprighttime], which is used by Coventry Adult Education Service to make decisions about protecting children.

5.7 See page 24 for flowchart of actions that will be taken where there are concerns about a child or young person (taken from Keeping Children Safe in Education, September 2022).

5.8 In cases where members of staff become aware that Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has been carried out on a female below the age of 18, they have a mandatory duty to report this to the police without delay and will do so. Staff should refer this to the DSL first, but the legislation requires regulated health and Children’s Service professionals and teachers in England and Wales to make a report to the police because within the course of their professional duties, they either -

  • are informed by a girl under 18 that an act of FGM has been carried out on her or
  • observe physical signs which appear to show that an act of FGM has been carried out on a girl under 18 and they have no reason to believe that the act was necessary for the girl’s physical or mental health or for purposes connected with labour or birth

If you believe a child or young person is at risk of FGM, a referral to the MASH is also required.

5.9 Coventry Adult Education Service have a duty to refer any children or young person who are living in a private fostering arrangement to the local authority. Private fostering is when a child or young person under the age of 16 (or under 18 if disabled) is cared for by someone who is not their parent or a close relative. This is a private arrangement made between a parent and a Carer, expected to last 28 days or more, or the service are aware the 28 days has been exceeded.

5.10 All schools and educational providers are subject to a duty under section 26 of the Counterterrorism and Security Act 2015 in the exercise of their functions to have “due regard” to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism. See Appendix B for further information on the service’s Prevent duty

5.11 If any member of staff is unsure about signs of abuse or neglect, they should speak to the Designated Safeguarding Lead

5.12 Child on Child Abuse

5.12.1 Coventry Adult Education Service understands that both adults and other children can perpetrate abuse, and can happen inside and outside of the service, online or face to face. Child on Child abuse is taken very seriously and can include bullying (including cyber-bullying, prejudice-based and discriminatory bullying), abuse in intimate personal relationships between children, physical abuse, sharing of consensual or non-consensual images of videos, causing someone to engage in sexual activity without consent, sexual violence and/or harassment, upskirting, and initiation/hazing ceremonies. The service recognises that safeguarding issues can manifest as child-on-child abuse. The service’s Procedures for the implementation of the Safeguarding policy sets out how the service manages reports of incidents of sexual violence and sexual harassment.

5.12.2 All members of staff will be made aware of the service’s policy and procedures with regards to child-on-child abuse. The service will ensure staff understand what is meant by child-on-child abuse and the service policy on child-on-child abuse by the completion of KCSIE 2022 update training and Sexual Harassment Training

5.12.3 The Adult Education service will work to prevent child on child abuse by:

  • Educating all members of the steering group, employment and skills team, Senior Leadership Team, staff, learners, and parents/carers about this issue
  • Ensuring that all child-on-child abuse issues are fed back to the services’ safeguarding lead so that they can spot and address any concerning trends and identify learners who may need additional support
  • Challenging the attitudes that underlie such abuse (both inside and outside the classroom)
  • Creating a culture in which our learners feel able to share their concerns openly, in a non-judgmental environment, and have them listened to and responding to cases of child-on-child abuse promptly and appropriately.

5.12.4 Although it is recognised that if there are no reported cases, such abuse may still be taking place. If an allegation of child-on-child abuse is made, the Service will investigate this. The DSL will investigate the concerns or allegations with the member of staff or learner who has reported them and will, where necessary, take any immediate steps to ensure the safety of the child/all children affected. The DSL will take a leading role using their professional judgement and supported by other agencies such as social care or the police as required. In the event of an allegation:

  • when possible, two members of staff will be present where the report includes an online element. Staff will not view illegal images of children
  • will not promise confidentiality as reports will need to be passed onto Children’s Service (and in some cases, the Police)
  • recognises that a child is more likely to disclose to a member of staff they have the strongest relationship with
  • an initial disclosure may be the first incident that is reported rather than a singular event
  • some children and young people may face barriers to disclosing such as, additional needs, vulnerability, sex, ethnicity, and possibly sexual orientation
  • will always listen carefully to the child or young person, whilst being non-judgemental
  • write up the factual parts of the disclosure as soon as the child or young person has finished disclosing
  • liaise with the MASH (and police if urgent response required).

5.12.5 In the event that an allegation of child-on-child abuse is made, victims, alleged perpetrators and any other children or young person affected will be supported in the following ways and referral to the MASH will be considered:

  • Ensuring a dialogue is kept open and the victim and perpetrator can choose to appoint a designated trusted adult
  • Ensure both are comfortable to return to the same classroom or make alternative arrangements
  • Obtain additional support from relevant agencies where appropriate
  • Ensure that everything possible is done to prevent the victim from bullying and harassment as a result of any report they have made
  • In some cases, a risk assessment may be required but will be kept under constant review. When there has been a report of sexual violence, the designated safeguarding lead (or deputy) will make an immediate risk and needs’ assessment. Where there has been a report of sexual harassment, the need for a risk assessment should be considered on a case-by-case basis

Harmful Sexual Behaviour resource link and guidelines [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/5873/harmful_sexual_behaviour_directory] for DSL’s

  • The risk and needs’ assessment should consider - the victim (consider term used), especially their protection and support; the alleged perpetrator (who may also be ‘a victim’; and all the other children (and, if appropriate, adult students and staff) at the Service, especially any actions that are appropriate to  protect them
  • Risk assessments will be recorded, filed securely within SMT/Safeguarding secure site and kept under review. The designated safeguarding lead (or deputy) will ensure they are engaging with MASH.

5.12.6 Coventry Adult Education Service will never pass off child on child abuse as ‘banter’, ‘having a laugh. ‘part of growing up’ or other such termination that does not recognise the harm caused. This should be a Zero-tolerance approach as this could lead to a culture of unacceptable behaviours. It is recognised with this, that all child-on-child abuse is unacceptable and will be taken seriously

5.12.8 Coventry Adult Education Service will adhere to guidance set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education (2022) and Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment in Schools (September 2021) when responding to incidents of child-on-child abuse

5.12.9 All staff will be made aware that ‘upskirting’ is a criminal offence

5.13 Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE)

5.13.1 Both CSE and CSE are forms of abuse that occur when an individual or group take advantage of an imbalance in power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person into taking part in sexual or criminal activity, in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator through violence or threat of violence. CCE and CSE can affect both males and females and can include children that have been moved for the purpose of exploitation (trafficking)

5.13.2 CCE can include children or young person’s being forced or manipulated into transporting drugs or money through county lines, working in cannabis factories, shoplifting, or pickpocketing, vehicle crime, threatening violence on others or even carrying weapons

5.13.3 The service is responsible for recognising children or young persons involved in CCE are victims of exploitation and should be recognised as such due to the harm they have experienced even if they appear to have consented to the criminal activity

5.13.4 CSE is a form of child sexual abuse including physical contact and non-contact online activities including the internet or by phone. This can happen over time or as a one off and may happen without the child recognising this as abuse or harmful

5.13.5 The service recognises that children of the age of 16 and 17 who can legally consent to a sexual relationship may also be the victims of CSE but may not recognise this.

5.14 Sharing of consensual or non-consensual nude and semi-nude images or videos

5.14.1   “Sharing of consensual or non-consensual nude and semi-nude images or videos” refers to any sharing of youth-produced sexual imagery between children. This includes -

  • A person under the age of 18 creating and sharing sexual imagery of themselves with a peer under the age of 18
  • A person under the age of 18 sharing sexual imagery created by another person under the age of 18 with a peer under the age of 18 or an adult
  • A person under the age of 18 being in possession of sexual imagery created by another person under the age of 18

5.14.2 Coventry Adult Education Service  has a responsibility to educate children and young people in the risks relating to ‘sharing consensual or non-consensual nude images or videos’ and how to keep themselves safe online, particularly Study programme learners receive face-to-face on-line safety workshops that encompasses, their own safety, the safety of others online, profile development and risks e.g., Catfish and the dangers of social media. This is regularly reinforced through termly quizzes, posters, and activities.

5.14.3 Any incidents or suspected incidents of ‘sharing consensual or non-consensual nude images or videos’ [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sharing-nudes-and-semi-nudes-advice-for-education-settings-working-with-children-and-young-people/sharing-nudes-and-semi-nudes-how-to-respond-to-an-incident-overview] should be reported to the DSL without delay.

5.14.4   Once reported to the DSL, the DSL will decide on the appropriate course of action. This could include -

  • Referrals to the MASH in regard to all parties involved (also the police if an urgent response required)
  • Confiscation of mobile phones in line with guidance ‘Searching, Screening and Confiscation, (January 2018)
  • Support for young people involved to prevent re-occurrence
  • Sanctions in accordance with the behaviour policy
  • Searching, screening and confiscation in schools - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/searching-screening-and-confiscation]

5.14.5 Any incidents of ‘sharing consensual or non-consensual nude images or videos’ involving the following will result in a MASH and sometimes as a Police referral -

  • Adult involvement
  • Coercion or blackmail 
  • Children under the age of 13
  • Extreme, or violent content
  • Immediate risk of harm

5.14.6   Staff will not view images or videos on pupil devices. Confiscated devices will be stored securely by the DSL or DDSL and passed to the relevant agencies as required.

5.14.7   We will work with parents as necessary if their child is involved in the sharing of consensual or non-consensual nude images or videos

5.14.8 We operate a culture of safeguarding and young people should feel confident to disclose if they have sent an inappropriate image of themselves. Children and young people will always be supported to retrieve and delete the images

5.15 Domestic Abuse

5.15.1 Domestic abuse can be a single incident or a pattern of incidents. It can also include psychological, physical, sexual, financial, or emotional acts of abuse

5.15.2 The service recognises that children or young persons can be victims of Domestic Abuse by seeing, hearing, or experiencing the effects or suffering domestic abuse in their own personal relationships. These all have a detrimental impact on children’s health, well-being, development, and ability to learn. Coventry Adult Education Service will work with openness and honesty in line with Operation Encompass guidelines [https://www.operationencompass.org/.] – a charitable organisation set up in 2011, to enable effective interventions for many thousands of children who've experienced domestic abuse. 

The Service is currently reviewing how it can effectively share the list of enrolled learners and those who are referred following withdrawal from another organisation. Once this process is established the Service will be provided with updates as part of Police attendance reporting strategies.

5.16 Searching, Screening and Confiscation

5.16.1 Where necessary, searching, screening and confiscation will be used to safeguard a child or young person within the Coventry Adult Education Service.

5.16.2  Coventry Adult Education Service adheres to ‘Searching, screening and confiscation [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/searching-screening-and-confiscation]: Advice for Schools (January 2018), providing the authority to search from the Service Lead to the DSL and DDSL for the lawful reasons to search an individual as outlined within the policy linked below on page 4

5.17 Online Safety

5.17.1 Coventry Adult Education service recognises that in today’s world, children and young people need to be safeguarded from potentially harmful and inappropriate online material with many children having unlimited and unrestricted access to the internet via their mobile phone. The breadth of issues can be categorised currently into four areas of risk as taken from Keeping Children Safe in Education 2022

  • Content – being exposed to illegal, inappropriate, or harmful content (pornography, fake news, racism, misogyny, self-harm, suicide, anti-Semitism, radicalisation, and extremism)
  • Contact – being subject to harmful online interaction with other users (peer to peer pressure, commercial advertising and adults posing as children or young adults with the intention to groom or exploit)
  • Conduct – online behaviour that increases the likelihood of, or causes, harm (making, sending and receiving explicit images)
  • Commerce – risks such as online gambling, inappropriate advertising, phishing and or financial scams

5.17.2 Coventry Adult Education service understand that the above can take place on a learners’ phone or smart device (including smart watches) whilst at the training provider, or elsewhere. The service has responded to this by having a whole service approach to online safety which aims to protect and educate learners, parents, and staff in their use of technology The Study Programme learner conduct policy and CCCs acceptable use of ICT facilities policy, alongside online safety is delivered within the curriculum as part of the Be Safe induction programme for all leaners.

Study Programmes, where learners receive face-to-face online safety workshops that encompasses, their own safety, the safety of others online, profile development and risks e.g., Catfish and the dangers of social media, is regularly reinforced through termly quizzes, posters, and activities. Our Online Safety Policy and Acceptable Use of ICT Policy can be found on our website (link in Annex A).

5.17.3 Coventry Adult Education service has also established mechanisms via the Coventry Councils ‘Smoothwall’ to limit inappropriate website access and where tutors’ express concerns of the material accessed during sessions they will identify, intervene, and escalate these to their line manager and ultimately to the DSL / DDSL. The effectiveness of this is regularly reviewed with processes reiterated as to how to escalate concerns and the effectiveness of solutions is analysed.

5.18 To raise concerns about children or young person, members of staff should contact the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) by telephone to discuss the referral. They should then complete the online Multi-Agency Referral Form (MARF) and submit this to the MASH. The service will follow up referrals if we do not receive feedback from Children’s Services to ascertain the outcome of all referrals.

MASH Telephone number: 02476 788 555
MASH online referral form: http://www.coventry.gov.uk/safeguardingchildren [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/safeguardingchildren]
Out of hours Emergency Duty Team: 02476 832 222
Prevent/Channel Referrals: Refer to MASH
(mash@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:mash@coventry.gov.uk]) and to CTU_GATEWAY@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk [mailto:CTU_GATEWAY@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk]

5.18.1 If a child’s or young person’s situation does not appear to be improving following a referral, the service may re-refer the child. We will also consider using the Coventry Safeguarding Children Partnership’s Managing Professional Disagreements policy [https://westmidlands.procedures.org.uk/ykpzx/statutory-child-protection-procedures/managing-professional-disagreements] to ensure that our concerns have been addressed and that the situation improves for the child.

Record-keeping

6.1 All concerns, discussions and decision made will be recorded in writing and kept confidential and stored securely.

6.2 A written record of all safeguarding and/or child protection concerns, discussions and decisions made will be kept in individual children’s files. This will be separate from the main service files and will only be accessed by the relevant safeguarding staff.

6.3 Coventry Adult Education Service keeps all safeguarding files electronically, using a locally developed system accessed by the DSL and DDSL and an email account –

Adulted-Safeguarding@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:Adulted-Safeguarding@coventry.gov.uk] - where referral forms are completed, sent through alongside DSL / DDSL discussions with tutors and learners accordingly.

6.4 Staff will submit all concerns in writing as part of Safeguarding referral forms to the DSL / DDSL at the earliest opportunity. This may be after having a verbal conversation, but conversations will always be followed up with the completion of these detailed forms.

6.5 In the event that a child or young person moves provider, the safeguarding file will be transferred to the new setting securely and separately from the main service file in a timely manner (5 days). Once received by the new provider, the service will not retain the information.

6.6 Coventry Adult Education Service will seek to hold at least two emergency contacts for every child.

6.7 All data processed by Coventry Adult Education Service is done so in line with the General Data Protection Guidelines and the Data Protection Act (2018). Please see the following policies for additional information

Adult Education privacy notice – Coventry City Council [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/adult-education/adult-education-privacy-notice]

6.8 Further information regarding information sharing and data processing in relation to safeguarding can be found in Part One of Keeping Children Safe in Education (September 2022).

Photography and images

7.1 Consent from parents to photograph children at school events for promotional reasons will be sought when the child joins Coventry Adult Education Service

7.2 Parents can withdraw consent at any time and must notify Coventry Adult Education Service if they do not wish their child’s or young person’s photographs to be used.

7.3 Photographs of children used publicly will not be displayed with their name or other identifiable personal information.

7.4 Photographs of children will be processed in line with the General Data Protection Regulation.

Early Help Assessment

8.1 Coventry Adult Education Service is committed to supporting families as soon as a possible problem arises. It is more effective to support a family through early help than reacting to a problem later. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families and carers has a role to play in safeguarding children. Coventry Adult Education Service is committed to working closely with its neighbouring family hub to work with families in the community to improve outcomes for children. We work closely with the CCC MASH team, and where applicable to the needs of the young person, we will arrange an appointment with the closest Early Help Assessment centre – Harmony Hub - Clifton Street, Coventry, CV1 5GR – 024 7697 8030 to ensure the child or young person receives appropriate support.

8.2 Coventry Adult Education Service works within the Coventry Safeguarding Children Partnership’s ‘Right Help, Right Time’ [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/righthelprighttime] framework, available on the CSCP website.

Staff training

9.1 In order for staff to be able to understand and discharge their safeguarding and child protection duties, Coventry Adult Education Service has committed to training staff throughout the academic year. All staff members will be made aware of the service’s safeguarding processes and structures and will receive training on these as part of their induction. As part of this training and their annual refresher, they will also receive -

  • This ‘Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy’
  • The staff Code of Conduct
  • Copies of Part 1 and/or Annex A of Keeping Children Safe in Education (September 2021)
  • School procedures for Children Missing Education
  • The service Learner Code of Conduct Policy

9.2 Staff at Coventry Adult Education Service, including all administrators and volunteers, will undertake during the 2022/23 academic year the following training:

  • Mandatory Data Protection
  • Mandatory Diversity and Inclusion
  • Mandatory Fire Safety
  • Mandatory Health and Safety
  • Mandatory Safeguarding / Safeguarding Adults Level 1 / Safeguarding for Adults Level 2
  • Keeping Children Safe in Education 2022
  • Mental Health Awareness
  • Promoting British Values
  • Safer Recruitment
  • Sexual Harassment Training
  • Safeguarding against Radicalisation-Prevent Duty
  • UE&R The Far & Extreme Far Right

9.3 Coventry Adult Education Service recognise that children or young people may engage in risky behaviours that may put them at additional risk of danger. These can include drug taking, alcohol abuse, truanting and the sharing of consensual or non-consensual nude images or videos. Staff will also be trained in these areas in order to be able to further recognise if a child is at risk of harm.

Safer Recruitment

10.1 Coventry Adult Education Service in conjunction with Coventry City Council's HR department are committed to providing children with a safe environment, in which they can learn. We take safer recruitment seriously and all staff are subject to the following checks:

  • Identity check
  • DBS clearance
  • Barred List check (where applicable to job role and regulatory)
  • Section 128 checks (as required - leadership and management)
  • Reference check (two references required)
  • Professional qualifications check
  • Right to work in the UK check
  • Further checks for those who have lived outside the UK
  • Verification of the candidate’s mental and physical fitness may also be sought

10.2 A record of all checks completed for members of staff will be recorded on the Single Central Record

10.3 All new members of staff will be required to obtain DBS clearance. Coventry Adult Education Service reserves the right to re-check DBS clearance for any member of staff where information is received that indicates they may pose a risk to children and may request candidates to register on the DBS update service

10.4 At least one member of every interview panel will have undertaken Safer Recruitment training which it is recommended is refreshed every 3 years

10.5 We take proportionate decisions on whether to check individuals above and beyond what is legally required depending on individual circumstance

10.6 Any visitor, including guest speakers or partnership to the service who has not been subject to the necessary checks will be required to sign into the building at reception, receive a visitor’s lanyard and always remain supervised, within our Southfields centre, with a risk assessment completed

10.7 All safer recruitment practices at Coventry Adult Education Service comply with Keeping Children Safe in Education (September 2022). See Part 3 of Keeping Children Safe in Education (September 2022) for further information. See - Safer recruitment policy – section 3 within the CAES Procedures for the implementation of Safeguarding and Prevent Policies September 2022.

Allegations of abuse against staff

11.1 Coventry Adult Education Service takes all safeguarding matters including low level concerns and/or allegations that harm to a child has occurred against staff seriously and will manage them in line with this policy, Part Four of Keeping Children Safe in Education (September 2022) and the CSCP Guidance, ‘Allegations Against Staff and Volunteers’. [https://westmidlands.procedures.org.uk/ykpzy/statutory-child-protection-procedures/allegations-against-staff-or-volunteers]

11.2 Allegations or concerns may include

  • Staff having behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child
  • Staff possibly committing a criminal offence against or related to a child
  • Staff behaving towards a child or children in a way that indicates that he or she may pose a risk of harm to children or
  • Staff behaving or possibly behaving in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children (including behaviour outside of work). This is known as ‘Transferable risk’

11.3 If a concern or allegation of abuse arises against the Senior Lead – Adult Education or should there be a conflict of interest to the Senior Lead – Adult Education re, it must be immediately reported to the Chair of the Steering group – Cllr Kindy Sandhu who will report concerns directly to the LADO

11.4 If a concern or allegation of abuse arises against any member of staff, supply teacher, volunteer, or contractor other that the Head of Centre, it must be reported to the Head of Centre without delay

11.5 Concerns or allegations of abuse against staff must be reported to Senior Lead – Adult Education or Chair of the Steering group as appropriate and not discussed directly with the person involved

11.6 The Senior Lead – Adult Education or Chair of the Steering group should consider if the concern or allegation meets the harms threshold for Designated Officer intervention and seek guidance/advice if unsure by emailing lado@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:lado@coventry.gov.uk]. The details of the LAdo can be found of the front of this policy. Make an immediate referral [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/206/coventry_safeguarding_children_partnership/2628/local_authority_designated_officer_lado].

11.7 Concerns relating to a position of trust issue will be referred to the Local Authority designated officer within 24 hours

11.8 If a child has suffered or may have suffered abuse or harm, a MASH referral will also be made

11.9 In the instances where an allegation is dealt with internally, the Local Authority designated officer will provide information and support to Coventry Adult Education Service in managing the allegation

11.10 A referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service will be made if a member of staff is dismissed or removed from their post as a result of safeguarding concerns, irrespective of whether they have resigned

11.11 Supply Teachers, agency staff and all contracted staff

11.11.1 Although Coventry Adult Education service does not directly employ supply teachers and contractors, the service will ensure that any concerns or allegations are referred to LADO and the relevant agency informed as the employer

11.11.2 Coventry Adult Education service will never cease to use a supply teacher for safeguarding reasons without liaising with the Local Authority Designated Officer and reaching an agreed outcome

11.11.3 Governing bodies / Senior Lead- Adult Education will liaise with the recruitment agency to determine whether to suspend or redeploy the supply teacher whilst they carry out their investigation

11.11.4 Coventry Adult Education service will inform supply agencies of its process for managing allegations, including inviting the agency’s human resource manager (or equivalent) to meetings and regularly updating agencies on relevant service policies. The service will usually take the lead because agencies do not have direct contact with children or staff, so will not be able to gather information

11.12 Governors / Steering group members

11.12.1 If an allegation or concern is about a Governor, the service will follow local procedures

11.13 Volunteers

11.13.1 Risk assessments and a DBS check will be requested for all volunteers. Under no circumstances will a volunteer prior to satisfactory checks being completed be alone with children unsupervised or allowed to work in regulated activities

11.14 Whistleblowing

Coventry City Council whistleblowing policy [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/whistleblowingpolicy]

11.14.1 Coventry Adult Education Service operates a culture of safeguarding, and all staff should report any concerns about poor or unsafe practice, or the service’s safeguarding processes to the senior leadership team

11.14.2 Appropriate whistleblowing procedures are in place whereby the senior leadership team will take all concerns seriously

11.14.3 In the event that a member of staff is unable to raise an issue with senior leadership in the service, they should refer to Part 1 of Keeping Children Safe in Education for additional guidance on whistleblowing procedures.

Promoting safeguarding and welfare in the curriculum

12.1 Coventry Adult Education Service recognises the importance of teaching children how to stay safe and look after their mental health and are committed to equipping children with the skills and knowledge to have successful and happy lives.

12.2 Coventry Adult Education service will teach children and adults about safeguarding, including online safety via initial induction through the Services Be Safe Classroom flipcharts, and reinforcing contact details and support by the issuing of Be Safe – Learner Safeguarding cards

12.3 Schools and colleges play a crucial role in preventative education. Preventative education is most effective in the context of a whole-service or college approach that prepares pupils and students for life in modern Britain and creates a culture of zero tolerance for sexism, misogyny/misandry, homophobia, biphobia, and sexual violence/harassment. The service has a clear set of values and standards, upheld, and demonstrated throughout all aspects of training provider cultural life and setting high expectations for learners. These will be underpinned by the service’s learner code of conduct policy and employment, enrichment and pastoral programme delivered to each student on a weekly basis as part of the overarching study programme requirements.

Elements of relationship and sex education are taught to study programme learners through their Help and well-being sessions, and in conjunction with partners e.g., Grapevine. Topics are introduced at an appropriate stage and groups organised flexibly according to the needs of learners.

We ensure that pupils are offered a balanced programme by providing a programme of study that covers: 

  • Relationships, love, care, and the responsibilities of parenthood as well as sex
  • Respecting yourself and others in relationships
  • Taking on responsibility and the consequences of one’s actions in relation to sexual activity and parenthood
  • Different types of contraception, safe sex and how they can access local sources of further advice, support, and treatment
  • Having a clear understanding of the arguments for delaying sexual activity and resisting pressure
  • Understanding the link between sex and relationship education with issues of peer pressure and other risk-taking behaviour, such as drugs, smoking and alcohol
  • Understanding how the law applies to sexual relationships, with a focus on age of consent, sexting and child pornography 
  • Understanding on and offline safety, consent and sexual exploitation.

12.4 Children and young people enrolled within Coventry Adult Education Service will receive the following as part of our promotion of safeguarding across the curriculum:

All learners are introduced to Safeguarding as part of the Be Safe strategy adopted across the service, from induction via the in-class flip charts, learner Be Safe A7 cards with staying safe guidelines and emergency contact details to ensure their safety. On study programmes this information is revisited termly with individual learners, and in conjunction with the completion of their reviews.

12.5 Education at home and remote education

Where learners are unwell on Study Programmes and cannot attend Southfields, they are offered the option to dial in via Teams to that individual session, with learners required to take photographs of their work and send it back through tutor email accounts for marking and feedback. Where this appears to be longer than expected the study programme team would work with parents / guardians / foster carers / social workers / support workers, as applicable to re-engage as early as possible.  

Children Looked After

13.1 The most common reason for children to be looked-after is because they have experienced abuse and/or neglect. Coventry Adult Education Service recognises that children looked after may have additional vulnerabilities by virtue of this. The Link Manager for Study Programmes (link to DSL - for Looked After and Previously Looked-After Children) Tammy Sheldon, Study Programme Manager) acts as a conduit between services and the DSL/DDSL within the Service. 

13.2 Staff will receive training on how to best safeguard children who Looked-After are and who have been Previously Looked-After.

13.3 Coventry Adult Education service will work with the extended team of support workers and advisors daily to ensure their ongoing needs are met as far as reasonably possible, liaising social workers as part of transition frameworks to a personal advisor. 

13.4 Coventry Adult Education Service is committed to working with other agencies to ensure the best outcomes for Looked-After and Previously Looked-After children.

Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) or physical health needs

14.1 As outlined in Keeping Children Safe in Education (2022), Coventry Adult Education Service is aware that children with additional needs or disabilities may be more vulnerable to abuse both online and offline and additional barriers may exist when recognising abuse and neglect. This could be because -

  • assumptions that indicators of possible abuse such as behaviour, mood and injury relate to the child’s disability without further exploration
  • being more prone to peer group isolation or bullying (including prejudice-based bullying) than other children
  • the potential for children with SEN and disabilities or certain medical conditions being disproportionally impacted by behaviours such as bullying, without outwardly showing any signs and
  • communication barriers and difficulties in overcoming these barriers.
  • Being unable to understand the difference between fact and fiction in online content

14.2 Any reports of abuse involving children with SEND will therefore require close liaison with the designated safeguarding lead and deputy designated safeguarding lead. Staff will also be trained in recognising signs of abuse in children and young persons with SEN and disabilities or certain medical conditions.

14.3 Staff will take into account the needs of a child or young person when responding to concerns of abuse or when taking a disclosure. We recognise that some children and young people require specialist intervention to communicate and advice from the DSL / DDSL, and our specialised teams, i.e., LLDD and Study Programmes will be sought in these circumstances.

14.4 Safeguarding learning opportunities within the curriculum will be appropriately differentiated to ensure all children can access it.

Use of reasonable force

15.1 There may be occasions when staff are required to use reasonable force to safeguard children. We will not use any more force than is proportionate and necessary.

All staff with Coventry Adult Education Service are trained to look after learners within their care. Where intervention is required to prevent learners from hurting themselves or others, staff are supported by calling the police and following advice and direction from the 999 Call handler. However, the Service recognises the changing needs of its learners, and has enrolled nominated staff from Study Programme courses (16-18-year-old learners and those 19-24 with EHCPs) onto specified courses to de-escalate potential situations and (or) minimise conflict. These Team Teach strategies for the specialised pre-emotive and responsive positive handling strategy techniques, are to ensure only those trained members of staff will intervene physically.

This is facilitated through our staff development policy, with further details of the TEAM TEACH approach found on the TEAM TEACH website [https://www.teamteach.co.uk].

The TEAM TEACH system is recognised by the Local Authority and accredited through BILD – British Institute of Learning Disabilities. Our Study programme staff are preparing to undergo level 1 Team Teach training and, both via online sessions and face-to-face.  Before using physical controls, we will take effective action to reduce risk by:

  • Showing care and concern by acknowledging unacceptable behaviour and requesting alternatives using negotiating and reasoning
  • Giving clear directions for pupils to stop
  • Reminding them about rules and likely outcomes
  • Removing an audience or taking vulnerable pupils to a safe place
  • Making the environment safer by moving furniture and removing objects which could be used as weapons
  • Using positive guidance to escort pupils to somewhere less pressured
  • Ensuring that colleagues know what is happening and call for help via the panic button and following trained procedure, where all staff are required to remain within their allocated rooms.

The Service will not use physical restraint until Team Teach training has taken place, instead they will continue to work closely with the Police and Mental Health first aid responders, developing relationships with local PCSO’s based within the Early Help Family Hubs, in particular the St Michaels ward:

Harmony Hub
Clifton St,
Coventry CV1 5GR
Tel: 024 7697 8030

Following a serious incident, it is the policy of the Service to offer support to all involved. This is an opportunity for learning and time needs to be given for following up incidents so that learners have an opportunity to express their feelings, suggest alternative courses of action for the future and appreciate other peoples’ perspective.

The DSL and (or) DDSL would expect to talk to staff, and learners involved (if appropriate) in any incidents involving violence. If members of staff need time to rest or compose themselves, then the head of service will plan for the group to be supported. All incidents of unacceptable behaviour should be recorded and all serious incidents or incidents involving restraint will be recorded on the appropriate form.

Work experience

16.1 Study programme learners and the Active Learning programme – work skills, are encouraged to complete works experience. The managers for these areas issue an ‘access request’ to the nominated employer and complete an initial visit to ascertain the suitability of the placement for the learner in question, in particular a Health and Safety risk assessment. During the placement staff visit and contact the placement daily to check the safety of the learners and their attendance. Learners are also required to complete a work placement diary, gather evidence of their experience, and receive feedback regarding their conduct and professionalism. The placement diary is also required to evidence payment of attendance for the bursary.

16.2 The Service will continue to be responsible for the safeguarding of learners placed within a work experience opportunity and will be satisfied that this provider meets the needs of the learner.  Written confirmation from the provider that appropriate safeguarding checks have been carried out will be sought on individuals working at the establishment, i.e., those checks that the service would otherwise perform in respect of its own staff.

16.3 The DSL will continue to have oversight of all learners accessing any part of their learning from a work placement provider or delivery online or offsite provided by any organisation or individual not employed by the service.  The DSL will ensure that robust arrangements are in place for timely and effective information sharing of safeguarding information between the service and alternative/external providers.

16.4 The DSL will also take responsibility for ensuring that robust procedures are in place to confirm attendance and to enable the swift reporting of non-attendance and learners going missing from alternative/ external providers at any time when they should be with that provider. Particularly within the Internships and the Step into the World of work programs, Job coaches support the learners onsite and provide the necessary support until the learner is confident within the working environment, reducing the level of time and support required.

Summary

17.1 Coventry Adult Education Service is committed to safeguarding children and will always make safeguarding decisions that are in the best interests of each child and young person. F or further information or if you have any queries about this policy, please contact the service.

Appendix A

Coventry Adult Education Service safeguarding policy is intended to be used in conjunction with the following policies:

Coventry Adult Education Service adheres to Coventry Safeguarding Children Partnership Policies.

  • Allegations Against Members of Staff
  • Allegations Against Staff or Volunteers (CSCP) [https://westmidlands.procedures.org.uk/ykpzy/statutory-child-protection-procedures/allegations-against-staff-or-volunteers]
  • Anti –Bullying Policies:
    • Exclusion policy
    • Code of conduct for learners
  • Anti-Discrimination and Harassment Policy
  • Attendance Policy
  • Behaviour Policy
  • Children/Young people with Medical Needs: The Programme manager works extensively with SEND team members/referral groups/Children -in-need case workers, care leavers personal assistants and looked after children’s social workers. During initial conversations with the SEND team reasonable adjustments are considered and result in formal consultation letters outlining the reasons for the Service's ability to meet or not meet the individual needs of learners. During these conversations the Service is clear that if they are unable to meet their need or offer personal care services or the administration of mediations, therefore learners with these requirements are asked to provide their own on-site Care providers or the SEND team will identify alternative providers.
  • Children Missing in Education Procedures [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/550416/Children_Missing_Education_-_statutory_guidance.pdf#:~:text=This%20statutory%20guidance%20sets%20out%20key%20principles%20to,take%20into%20account%20the%20circumstances%20of%20individual%20cases] 
    4.10.2 Coventry Adult Education Service will report information to the CCC - SEND / MASH teams, the family of the young person, or allocated social worker and Police (where applicable) when problems are first emerging and develop contingency plans to prevent the removal of a child or young person from roll  
  • Complaints policy
  • Critical Incident Plan
  • Data Protection Policy and Privacy Notice
  • Drugs and Alcohol Policy
  • Business continuity plan
  • ICT privacy notice
  • Equalities policy:
  • Managing Professional Disagreements (CSCP) [https://westmidlands.procedures.org.uk/ykpzx/statutory-child-protection-procedures/managing-professional-disagreements]
  • Health and Safety policy
  • HR and Governance
    • HR and Governance policy
    • Steering group terms of reference
  • Online safety: Coventry Adult Education service understands the importance of online safety, and how incidents can take place on a learners’ phone or smart device (including smart watches) whilst at our training facilities or elsewhere. The service has responded to this by having a whole service approach to online safety which aims to protect and educate learners, parents, and staff in their use of technology. All CAES learners are inducted via Learner Conduct policies and CCCs acceptable use of ICT facilities policy, these include the online safety curriculum delivered through Be Safe programme for all learners, The Study Programme learners (16-19 or 19-24 with an EHCP) complete further training through face-to-face online safety workshops that encompasses, their own safety, the safety of others online, profile development and risks e.g., Catfish and the dangers of social media. This is regularly reinforced through termly quizzes, posters, and activities.
    • Acceptable use of IT guidelines for learners and staff
  • Intimate care policy:CAES does not offer an intermate care service for its learners, where this is required, learners are requested to provide their own personal care assistant who attends all lessons as timetabled and remains on site during break-times.
  • IT Policy: 5.17.2 . The service has a whole service approach to online safety which aims to protect and educate learners, parents, and staff in their use of technology. The Study Programme learner conduct policy and CCCs acceptable use of ICT facilities policy, alongside online safety is delivered within the curriculum as part of the Be Safe induction programme for all learners.
    Study Programmes, where learners receive face-to-face online safety workshops that encompasses, their own safety, the safety of others online, profile development and risks e.g., Catfish and the dangers of social media, is regularly reinforced through termly quizzes, posters, and activities is a critical part of the Help and Well-being weekly sessions.
    • Acceptable use of IT guidelines for learners and staff
    • Working with display screen equipment
  • Lone Working Policy/Home visits policy
  • Medicine & First Aid Policy
  • PSHE Policy: The Service covers elements of the criteria associated with these guidelines within Study Programmes, linked to learners IAG and individualised needs within weekly Help and Well-being sessions are delivered to each learner on a weekly basis as part of the overarching study programme requirements. These sessions are underpinned by the service’s learner code of conduct policy and employment, enrichment, and pastoral programme, therefore ensuring that relevant elements of relationship and sex education are taught to study programme learners through their Help and well-being sessions, and in conjunction with partners e.g., Grapevine. Topics are introduced at an appropriate stage and groups organised flexibly according to the needs of learners.
    The Service has a clear set of values and standards, upheld, and demonstrated throughout all aspects of the Services cultural life and the setting of high expectations for all learners. These are underpinned by the service’s learner code of conduct policy and expectations, delivered during induction, reinforced through Be-Safe strategy and career advice and guidance.
  • SRE Policy Self-harm/Mental Health Policy: When concerns are linked to mental health, including self-harm and any risks to endangerment of life, staff will link directly with the DSL/DDSL who will liaise with the Coventry Council CAMHS teams and (or) referral to the young person’s GP, instigating telephone consultations, face-to-face meetings, or attendance straight to A&E for a mental health assessment.If staff are concerned that a child or young person is suffering a mental health crisis, and is already within the CAMHS referral process with Coventry Council the Study Programme manager will liaise directly with the nominated Doctor and (or) referral to the young person’s GP, instigating telephone consultation, face-to-face meetings, or attendance straight to A&E for a mental health assessment, as required, keeping the DSL informed throughout
  • Safer Recruitment Policy
  • Site Security Policy
  • SEND strategy: The Service only receives referred learners through CCC SEND team so, as a result, when learners are referred through Prospects and Care home support workers, the service works with the CCC SEND team to conduct an initial consultation using a 360-degree strategy, so all needs are fully explored.
    The Programme Manager works extensively with SEND team members / referral groups / Children-in-need case workers, care leavers personal assistants and looked after children’s social workers. During initial conversations reasonable adjustments are considered and result in formal consultation letters outlining the reasons for the Service's ability to meet or not meet the individual needs of learners. During these conversations the Service is clear that it cannot offer personal care services or the administration of mediations, therefore learners with these requirements are asked to provide their own on-site Care providers or alternative training providers who are better equipped to meet their needs.
  • Staff Code of Conduct 
  • Trips and Visits Policy: It is the policy of Coventry Adult Education Service (CAES) that educational visits should be conducted in such a manner as to safeguard and promote the Health and Safety of all learners and staff involved in the visit. Any visit that leaves the Service grounds, whether as part of the curriculum, during educationally planned time or outside the normal day or session, is covered by this policy, and adopts Coventry City Council’s “Policy for the Management of Visits, Trips and Learning Outside the Classroom” and available via the EVOLVE homepage).
  • Use of Reasonable Force Policy: Statement in Section 15 – page 36 of this document
  • Visitor Management: Statement in Section 10.6 – page 32, management of visitor guidelines and external speakers
  • Whistleblowing Policy [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/whistleblowingpolicy]

Appendix B - Further Safeguarding Information

Types of Abuse

As outlined in paragraph 4.4, the Service will take action if we believe a child is at risk of or is suffering from abuse. Abuse is not limited to physical, emotional, sexual abuse and neglect. For further information on the definitions of the types of abuse below, please refer to Keeping Children Safe in Education (2022), Annex A.

See below for policy information relating to other key safeguarding issues. All decisions taken in responding to concerns of abuse will be taken in the best interests of the child.

Bullying, including cyber or online bullying

The Service takes all forms of bullying seriously and will respond sensitively and quickly to any reported bullying. Children should report any bullying to their tutor, to the DSL or the DDSL and we will work to resolve it.

We also teach children and young adults about the dangers of bullying through our Help and Wellbeing programme, linked to PSHE.

Bullying can take many forms and we have several policies that cover different aspects of bullying. Please see the Anti-Bullying Policy, the Behaviour Policy and paragraph 5.8 of this policy for further information.

Child criminal exploitation (including involvement in county lines)

The Service works closely with West Midlands Police to keep updated on what is currently happening in our area. The service educates its staff to look for signs of CSE/CCE, such as:-

  • persistently going missing from school or home
  • unexplained acquisition of money, clothes, or mobile phones
  • relationships with controlling / older individuals or groups
  • suspicion of physical assault / unexplained injuries
  • parental concerns
  • carrying weapons
  • significant decline in school results / performance
  • gang association or isolation from peers
  • self-harm or significant changes in emotional well-being

Should we have reason to believe a pupil has become involved we will make referrals to both the Police and Children’s Services.

Domestic abuse

Coventry Adult Education Service will work with openness and honesty in line with Operation Encompass guidelines [https://www.operationencompass.org/] – a charitable organisation set up in 2011, to enable effective interventions for many thousands of children who've experienced domestic abuse. 

The Service is currently reviewing how it can effectively share the list of enrolled learners and those who are referred following withdrawal from other organisation. Once this process is established the Service will be provided with updates as part of Police attendance reporting strategies.

Once part of this agreement with Operation Encompass, the Service will receive notification of an instance of domestic abuse, without detail, prior to 9am on the next day of education, West Midlands Police notify the service’s DSL if any learners on roll have been exposed to or involved in any domestic incident. No action needs to be taken by staff at the Service – however, the information can be useful to help us make an informed judgement on how best to support the learner.  The DSL, DDSL, sector manager and tutor will discreetly check upon the learner and provide any support as required. The information is recorded on the learners safeguarding form within the secure SMT / Safeguarding folder in SharePoint.

Fabricated or induced illness [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safeguarding-children-in-whom-illness-is-fabricated-or-induced]

Staff will report any suspicions of this to the DSL or DDSLs.

Faith-based abuse

Faith and belief-based child abuse, including practices around ‘spirit possession’ and ‘witchcraft’, is a hidden crime, which makes it difficult to quantify in terms of magnitude. However, we know this kind of abuse is under-reported. Staff will report any suspicions of this to the DSL or DDSL.

Female genital mutilation (A form of so-called ‘honour-based abuse)

There is a range of potential indicators that a child or young person may be at risk of FGM, which individually may not indicate risk but if there are two or more indicators present this could signal a risk to the child or young person. Victims of FGM are likely to come from a community that is known to practice FGM. Professionals should note that girls at risk of FGM may not yet be aware of the practice or that it may be conducted on them, so sensitivity should always be shown when approaching the subject.

If staff within the Service have any concerns at all, they will refer to the DSL or DDSL immediately.

Forced marriage (A form of so-called ‘honour-based abuse)

Forcing a person into marriage is a crime. A forced marriage is one entered into without the full and free consent of one or both parties and where violence, threats, or any other form of coercion is used to cause a person to enter into a marriage. Threats can be physical or emotional and psychological.

Staff will receive training around forced marriage and the presenting symptoms. We are aware of the ‘one chance’ rule, i.e., we may only have one chance to speak to the potential victim and only one chance to save them.

If a member of staff suspects that a pupil is being forced into marriage, they will speak to the learner about their concerns in a secure and private place. They will then report this to the DSL or DDSL.

Gangs or youth violence

Staff should always take what the child or young person tells them seriously and refer immediately to the DSL/DDSL, who will assess this together with the child's presenting behaviours in the context of whatever information they know or can gather from the child or young person about the risk factors for children affected by gangs and serious youth violence. Potentially a child involved with a gang or with serious violence could be both a victim and a perpetrator.

This requires staff to assess and support his/her/their welfare and wellbeing needs at the same time as assessing and responding in a criminal justice capacity. If there is a concern that a child or young person is at significant risk of harm as a victim or a perpetrator of serious youth violence, gang-related or not, the DSL will refer to Children’s Services and/or the police (Early Help Hub police liaison officer in the first instance) closest location to Southfields is: the St Michaels ward:

Harmony Hub
Clifton St,
Coventry CV1 5GR
Tel: 024 7697 8030

Gender-based violence

Gender based violence (GBV) is a major public health, equality, and human rights issue. It covers a spectrum of violence and abuse, committed primarily but not exclusively against women by men. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • domestic abuse
  • rape and sexual assault
  • childhood sexual abuse
  • stalking and harassment
  • commercial sexual exploitation
  • harmful practices - such as female genital mutilation, forced marriage and so-called ‘honour’ based violence

If staff within the Service have any concerns at all, they will refer to the DSL or DDSL immediately.

Hate

The term 'hate crime' can be used to describe a range of criminal behaviour where the perpetrator is motivated by hostility or demonstrates hostility towards the victim's disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, or transgender identity.

These aspects of a person's identity are known as 'protected characteristics'. A hate crime can include verbal abuse, intimidation, threats, harassment, assault, and bullying, as well as damage to property. The perpetrator can also be a friend, carer or acquaintance who exploits their relationship with the victim for financial gain or some other criminal purpose.

Within the Service learners are supported to develop their understanding of these issues through their Help and Wellbeing sessions on the Study Programme. If staff within the Service have any concerns at all, they will refer to the DSL or DDSL immediately.

Homelessness

Being homeless or being at risk of becoming homeless presents a real risk to a child’s welfare. A member of staff who becomes aware that a learner is (about to be) homeless should inform the designated safeguarding lead / deputy DSL. The safeguarding team should be aware of contact details and referral routes into the Local Housing Authority so they can raise/progress concerns at the earliest opportunity. Indicators that a family may be at risk of homelessness include household debt, rent arrears, domestic abuse, and anti-social behaviour, as well as the family being asked to leave a property.

Whilst referrals and or discussion with the Local Housing Authority should be progressed as appropriate, and in accordance with local procedures, this does not, and should not, replace a referral into Children’s Services where a child has been harmed or is at risk of harm. In most cases staff will be considering homelessness in the context of children who live with their families, and intervention will be on that basis. However, it should also be recognised in some cases 16- and 17-year-olds could be living independently from their parents or guardians, for example through their exclusion from the family home, and will require a different level of intervention and support. Children’s Services will be the lead agency for these young people and the designated safeguarding lead (or deputy) should ensure appropriate referrals are made based on the child’s circumstances.

(So-called) ‘Honour-based’ abuse (For FGM and Forced Marriage, types of so-called ‘honour-based’ abuse, see above)

Staff should be aware of the signs of HBA and immediately refer to the DSL or DDSL so that appropriate referrals and actions to safeguard can be made. Signs:

  • withdrawal of student from school by those with parental responsibility
  • truancy or persistent absences
  • request for extended leave or student not returning from an overseas visit
  • surveillance by siblings/cousins/extended family members at school
  • decline in behaviour, engagement, performance or punctuality, poor exam results. – particularly for previously motivated students.
  • decline in physical presentation or demeanour

Radicalisation and Extremism

The Counterterrorism and Security Act places a duty on specified authorities, including local authorities and childcare, education and other children’s services providers, in the exercise of their functions, to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and radicalisation (“the Prevent duty”).

The Counterterrorism and Security Act 2015 places a duty on local authorities to ensure Channel panels are in place. The panel must include the local authority and chief officer of the local police. Panels will assess the extent to which identified individuals are vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism, following a referral from the police and where considered appropriate and necessary consent is obtained, arrange for support to be provided to those individuals.

The Act requires partners of Channel panels to co-operate with the panel in the carrying out of its functions and with the police in undertaking the initial assessment as to whether a referral is appropriate. Schools and colleges which are required to have regard to Keeping Children Safe in Education are listed in the Act as partners of the panel.

Relationship abuse

See paragraph 5.8 of this document in conjunction with part 5 of KCSIE. Staff are supported to identify the signs of relationship abuse and raise appropriate concerns to the DSL.

Serious Violence

Staff should always take what the child tells them seriously and refer immediately to the DSL/DDSL should assess this together with the child's presenting behaviours in the context of whatever information they know or can gather from the child or young person about the risk factors for children affected by gangs and serious youth violence. Potentially a child involved with a gang or with serious violence could be both a victim and a perpetrator.

This requires staff to assess and support his/her welfare and well-being needs at the same time as assessing and responding in a criminal justice capacity. If there is a concern that a child is at significant risk of harm as a victim or a perpetrator of serious youth violence, gang-related or not, the DSL will refer to social care and/or the police (Early Help Hub police liaison officer in the first instance) the St Michaels ward –

Harmony Hub
Clifton St,
Coventry CV1 5GR
Tel: 024 7697 8030

Sexual violence or sexual harassment (including peer-on-peer abuse)

Violence against Women and Girls [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1094254/NatStatExp2022_V1_14-06-22_.pdf]

www.safetotalk.org.uk [http://www.safetotalk.org.uk/], the website of the Coventry Domestic Violence and Abuse Partnership. 

See paragraph 5.9 of this document in conjunction with part 5 of KCSIE. Staff are supported to identify the signs of this and raise appropriate concerns to the DSL.

Viewing or sharing of consensual or non-consensual nude images and videos

See paragraph 5.10 of this document.

Trafficking and modern slavery

Staff are supported to identify the signs of tracking and modern slavery and raise appropriate concerns to the DSL.

Children missing from education, home or care

The Hospital Education Service will also take action to protect.

  • Children missing education
  • Children missing from home or care

Children Missing Education and Children Missing from home or care Stat guidance template (publishing.service.gov.uk) [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/550416/Children_Missing_Education_-_statutory_guidance.pdf#:~:text=This%20statutory%20guidance%20sets%20out%20key%20principles%20to,take%20into%20account%20the%20circumstances%20of%20individual%20cases.]

Private Fostering

The Service have a duty to refer any child or young person who is living in a private fostering arrangement to the local authority.

We will do this through a MASH referral. It is important that parents/carers inform us if a child is going to be staying at an alternative address to that of their primary caregivers for more than 28 days.

Indicators of abuse

See below for possible indicators of abuse. (Taken from What to do if you are worried a child is being abused, 2015)

  • Children whose behaviour changes – they may become aggressive, challenging, disruptive, withdrawn, or clingy, or they might have difficulty sleeping or start wetting the bed
  • Children with clothes which are ill-fitting and/or dirty
  • Children with consistently poor hygiene
  • Children who make strong efforts to avoid specific family members or friends,
  • without an obvious reason
  • Children who don’t want to change clothes in front of others or participate in physical activities
  • Children who are having problems at Hospital Education Service, for example, a sudden lack of concentration and learning or they appear to be tired and hungry
  • Children who talk about being left home alone, with inappropriate carers or with strangers
  • Children who reach developmental milestones, such as learning to speak or walk, late, with no medical reason
  • Children who are regularly missing from the Service or education
  • Children who are reluctant to go home after the Services educational programme
  • Children with poor Adult Educational Service attendance and punctuality, or who are consistently late being collected
  • Parents who are dismissive and non-responsive to practitioners’ concerns
  • Parents who collect their children from the Service when drunk, or under the influence of drugs
  • Children who drink alcohol regularly from an early age
  • Children who are concerned for younger siblings without explaining why
  • Children who talk about running away and
  • Children who shy away from being touched or flinch at sudden movements.

The Service recognises that the above list of indicators is not exhaustive, and staff will receive training on indicators of abuse.

To be reviewed August 2023

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