Management Information Sheet

Local Authority Model Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy

The LA model policy for schools has been revised as attached in line with the guidance contained in 'Keeping Children Safe in Education', DfE (April 2014). Please note that this amendment reflects a change to statutory guidance and it is recommended that you review this and other related policies in light of these changes. Further information about these changes can be found in Management Information Sheets 102/14 and 121/14.

Ofsted Framework for School Inspection & Updated Guidance for Schools: Prevention of Forced Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation (January 2013)

Please be aware that Ofsted updated the supplementary safeguarding guidance for section 5 inspections in May 2014. The document 'Inspecting safeguarding: Briefing for section 5 inspection' has been revised to reflect the publication of 'Keeping Children Safe in Education', DfE (2014) and includes specific advice to inspectors on female genital mutilation (FGM). The guidance outlines the expectation Senior Designated Professionals (SDP) should be aware of the guidance that is available in respect of FGM, and should be vigilant to the risk of it being practised.

Inspectors are encouraged, where appropriate, to ask questions of designated staff. Key questions could include:

• Are designated senior staff for child protection aware of the issue and have ensured that staff in the school are aware of the potential risks?
• How alert are staff to the possible signs that a child has been subject to female genital mutilation or is at risk of being abused through it?
• Has the school taken timely and appropriate action in respect of concerns about particular children?

Please find attached the revised guidance to schools on prevention of forced marriage and female genital mutilation. The Senior Designated Professional (SDP) should disseminate this guidance to all staff. Awareness of these issues is particularly important when considering applications for absence for extend trips overseas and when children go missing from school.

LA Audit of the Safeguarding Self-Assessment Tool
The LA audit of the safeguarding self-review tool is now in its third phase. It is encouraging to note that 81% of schools submitted a completed self-review tool in Group One and 73% from Group 2; the majority of self-review tools submitted have provided comprehensive evidence in the commentary section to demonstrate how schools are carrying out their safeguarding functions.

An external audit of this process has taken place. In line with the initial findings of this audit, schools should ensure that evidence used to inform the assessments of practice made during the self-review process is readily available in school to confirm that these systems are in place. It is also important that schools retained a signed copy of the self-review tool within the school and can evidence when the self-review tool was shared with the Governing Body.

All remaining schools including those who did not submit a completed self-review tool in Groups One and Two are required to make a submission to the Local Authority by 18 July 2014. For further information please see MI Sheet 114/14. In the Autumn Term 2014, the Chair of Governors will be contacted directly for evidence in circumstances where a school has failed to make a submission.

Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) Update Service

The DBS introduced its Update Service on 17 June 2013. The Update Service changes the way individuals can use their criminal record check and how employers check their suitability. For a small sum (£13 per annum), individuals can take their DBS check with them from role to role, within the same type of workforce (i.e. working with children and/or working with adults), where the same type and level of check is required. Where individuals are subscribed to the service it will make checking much quicker and simpler for employers.

What does this mean for schools?

If an individual is already subscribed to the update service, when they are appointed to a role in the school, you may not have to undertake a whole new DBS check via Norfolk Disclosures. Instead you can go onto the DBS website and undertake a free of charge 'status check' to see if the information on the individual's DBS certificate is still current and valid. This will count as a DBS check for pre-employment checking purposes and the single central record must be updated as usual. If the check is no longer current (i.e. new information has come to light since the original check was undertaken) the service will inform you and you will need to apply for a new DBS check to see the new information.

What do I need to do?

The school must have the individual's permission to undertake the check, the individual must be subscribed to the service and the type of check required must be the same as the original check e.g. An enhanced DBS check with children's barred list check was undertaken originally and the new post requires this level of check also. Schools must also see a copy of the original DBS certificate to check the name on the certificate matches the identity of the individual and ensure that it is for the same level of check and for the right workforce. Please note the 'status check' cannot be done through Norfolk Disclosures, the check is undertaken via the DBS Website.

It is the individual's decision whether they subscribe to the Update Service or not but to help individuals subscribe you can give them their DBS application form reference number, at the point they are applying for their DBS check. They can then go onto the DBS website and register. Individuals can wait until they receive their DBS certificate to subscribe, however, they will only have 14 calendar days, from the date the certificate is issued to do this.

The DBS have produced a helpful guide for employers which outlines the process in detail. This can be accessed here. There is also a guide for applicants which can be accessed here.

For schools who buy NCC's HR service the 'DBS checks model policy for schools' (P112) and the Single Central Record Template (F112a) have been updated on Schools' PeopleNet to reflect this change. Where schools and academies have adopted and subsequently adapted this policy it should be reviewed and revised to reflect the changes published.