Management Information Sheet

On 3rd April 2014 the DfE published 'Keeping Children Safe in Education.' It became statutory with immediate effect and is the guidance that all schools and further education colleges must have regard to when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

This document replaces 'Safeguarding Children & Safer Recruitment in Education' (2006) and 'Dealing with Allegations of Abuse against Teachers and other Staff' (2012).

All schools and colleges should read the revised guidance in conjunction with 'Working Together to Safeguard Children: A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children' (March 2013). The document is divided into 4 parts as follows:

Part One: Safeguarding information for all staff
Part Two: The management of safeguarding
Part Three: Safer recruitment
Part Four: Allegations of abuse against teachers and other staff

What should Schools & Colleges do?

Whilst many of the roles and responsibilities outlined in 'Safeguarding Children & Safer Recruitment in Education' remain the same, all relevant policy documents and procedures should be reviewed and revised to reflect the changes in guidance. Some of the key changes to consider are:

• That all staff should read at least part one of the guidance (page 5);
• That all staff (including temporary staff and volunteers) should be provided with the Child Protection Policy and a written Code of Conduct at induction (paragraphs 10 & 30);
• That a member of staff on the school's Leadership Team is appointed to the role of Senior Designated Professional and this should be explicit in the role holder's job description. There should always be cover for this role (paragraphs 32 & 33);
• That any member of staff can make a referral to children's social care (paragraphs 17 & 18, 34);
• There is an emphasis on early help for children and their families. The governing body or proprietor should ensure that school/college contributes to interagency working. This includes providing a co-ordinated offer of early help when additional needs are identified and by contributing to inter-agency plans to support children subject to child protection plans (paragraphs 3, 17, 27);
• Schools should consider how children may be taught about safeguarding as part of providing a broad and balanced curriculum (paragraph 36);
• Schools should ensure that the child's wishes or feelings are taken into account when determining what action to take and what services to provide to protect individual children through ensuring that there are systems in place to express their views and give feedback (paragraph 41);

Safer Recruitment

Part 3 of the guidance seeks to clarify the level of Disclosure & Barring Service checks that are, or may be, required for any individual working in any capacity at, or visiting, the school or college. Governing bodies and proprietors are required to act reasonably in making decisions about the suitability of the prospective employee based on checks and evidence including: criminal record checks (DBS checks), barred list checks and prohibition checks together with references and interview information.

The requirement to ensure that at least one person on any appointment panel has undertaken safer recruitment training remains in place. From September 2014 (subject to parliamentary procedure) this training will no longer need to be provided by a person approved by the Secretary of State. Norfolk Governor Services will continue to offer safer recruitment training that reflects both local and national guidance.

Please note that all relevant guidance, training and policy documents are currently being updated to reflect this change in statutory guidance and will be available via Schools' PeopleNet and the Norfolk Schools' website as soon as possible.