Thurcroft Infant School recognises that our moral and statutory responsibility is to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils.
We will endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued.
We will be alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and will follow procedures to ensure that children receive effective support, protection and justice.

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Our Designated Safeguard Leader is Mrs Harper and Miss Birkbeck is our Deputy Safeguarding Leader. It is their responsibility to deal with any safeguarding and child protection issues in school. Both ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018)’ and ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education (Sept 2022) require that all schools have a Designated Safeguard Lead in place to deal with child protection concerns.

Designated Safeguarding Lead Role

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Manage referrals

The designated safeguarding lead is expected to:

• Refer cases of suspected abuse to the local authority children’s social care as required;

• Support staff who make referrals to local authority children’s social care;

• Refer cases to the Channel programme where there is a radicalisation concern as required;

• Support staff who make referrals to the Channel programme;

• Refer cases where a person is dismissed or left due to risk/harm to a child to the Disclosure and Barring Service as required; and

• Refer cases where a crime may have been committed to the Police as required.

 

Work with others

The designated safeguarding lead is expected to:

• Act as a point of contact with the three safeguarding partners;

• Liaise with the headteacher or principal to inform him or her of issues- especially ongoing enquiries under section 47 of the Children Act 1989 and police investigations;

• As required, liaise with the “case manager” (as per Part four) and the designated officer(s) at the local authority for child protection concerns in cases which concern a staff member;

• Liaise with staff (especially pastoral support staff, school nurses, IT Technicians, and SENCOs, or the named person with oversight for SEN in a college and Senior Mental Health Leads) on matters of safety and safeguarding (including online and digital safety) and when deciding whether to make a referral by liaising with relevant agencies; and

• Act as a source of support, advice and expertise for all staff.

 

Training

The designated safeguarding lead (and any deputies) should undergo training to provide them with the knowledge and skills required to carry out the role. This training should be updated at least every two years. The designated safeguarding lead should undertake Prevent awareness training. Training should provide designated safeguarding leads with a good understanding of their own role, and the processes, procedures and responsibilities of other agencies, particularly children’s social care, so they:

• Understand the assessment process for providing early help and statutory intervention, including local criteria for action and local authority children’s social care referral arrangements; [117]

• Have a working knowledge of how local authorities conduct a child protection case conference and a child protection review conference and be able to attend and contribute to these effectively when required to do so;

• Ensure each member of staff has access to, and understands, the school’s or college’s child protection policy and procedures, especially new and part time staff;

• Are alert to the specific needs of children in need, those with special educational needs and young carers; [118]

• Understand relevant data protection legislation and regulations, especially the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation;

• Understand the importance of information sharing, both within the school and college, and with the three safeguarding partners, other agencies, organisations and practitioners;

• Are able to keep detailed, accurate, secure written records of concerns and referrals;

 

Raise awareness

• The designated safeguarding lead should ensure the school or college’s policies are known, understood and used appropriately;

• Ensure the school or college’s child protection policy is reviewed annually (as a minimum) and the procedures and implementation are updated and reviewed regularly, and work with governing bodies or proprietors regarding this;

• Ensure the child protection  is available publicly and parents are aware of the fact that referrals about suspected abuse or neglect may be made and the role of the school or college in this; and

• Link with the local LSCB to make sure staff are aware of training opportunities and the latest local policies on safeguarding.

 

Child protection file 

• Where children leave the school or college ensure their child protection file is transferred to the new school or college as soon as possible. This should be transferred separately from the main pupil file, ensuring secure transit and confirmation of receipt should be obtained.

 

Availability 

• During term time the designated safeguarding lead (or a deputy) should always be available (during school or college hours) for staff in the school or college to discuss any safeguarding concerns. Whilst generally speaking the designated safeguarding lead (or deputy) would be expected to be available in person, it is a matter for individual schools and colleges, working with their designated safeguarding lead to define what “available” means and whether in exceptional circumstances availability via phone and/or Skype or other such medium is acceptable.

 

• It is matter for individual schools and colleges and the designated safeguarding lead to arrange adequate and appropriate cover arrangements for any out of hours/out of term activities.