Policies Safeguarding Child Protection Statement

Download the Safeguarding Child Protection Statement Policy Document Here

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MARTEC Training fully recognises its responsibilities for safeguarding/child protection.

Our policy applies to all staff, partners, volunteers and management team members working within the MARTEC Training. There are five main elements to our policy:

• Ensuring we practice safer recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work with children.
• Raising awareness of safeguarding/child protection issues and equipping children and young people with the skills needed to keep them safe.
• Developing and then implementing procedures for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse.
• Supporting pupils who have been abused in accordance with his/her agreed child protection plan.
• Establishing a safe environment in which children and young people can learn and develop.

We recognise that because of the day to day contact with children and young people, centre staff are well placed to observe the outward signs of abuse. Martec will therefore:

• Establish and maintain an environment where children and young people feel secure, are encouraged to talk, and are listened to.
• Ensure children and young people know that there are adults in the Centre whom they can approach if they are worried.
• We will follow the procedures set out by the Local Safeguarding Children Board and take account of guidance issued by the Department for Education to:
• Ensure we have a designated person(s) (Phil Brett & Lynda Hassall ) for safeguarding/child protection who have received appropriate training and support for this role.
• Ensure we have a nominated director member responsible for safeguarding/child protection (Tracey Marson).
• Ensure every member of staff (including temporary and supply staff and volunteers) and management board knows the name of the designated senior person responsible for safeguarding/child protection and their role.
• Ensure all staff and volunteers understand their responsibilities in being alert to the signs of abuse and responsibility for referring any concerns to the designated senior person responsible for safeguarding/child protection.
• Ensure that parents have an understanding of the responsibility placed on the school and staff for safeguarding/child protection by setting out its obligations on the centre website.
• Notify Vulnerable Children and Corporate Parenting Services (VCCP) if there is an unexplained absence of more than two days of a pupil who is subject of a child protection plan.
• Develop effective links with relevant agencies and co-operate as required with their enquiries regarding safeguarding/child protection matters including attendance at initial and review case conferences and core groups.
• Keep written records of concerns about children; even where there is no need to refer the matter immediately (see concern log sheets).
• Ensure all records are kept securely, separate from the main pupil file, and in locked locations (SMT/Designated Person has access to keys).
• Develop and then follow procedures where an allegation is made against a member of staff or volunteer.
• Ensure safer recruitment practices are always followed.

We recognise that children and young people who are abused or witness violence may find it difficult to develop a sense of self worth. They may feel helplessness, humiliation and some sense of blame. The Centre may be the only stable, secure and predictable element in the lives of children and young people at risk. When at the Centre their behaviour may be challenging and defiant or they may be withdrawn. The Centre will endeavour to support the pupil through:

• The centre ethos which promotes a positive, supportive and secure environment and gives pupils a sense of being valued.
• The school behaviour policy which is aimed at supporting vulnerable pupils in the Centre. The Centre will ensure that the pupil knows that some behaviour is unacceptable but they are valued and not to be blamed for any abuse which has occurred.
• Liaison with other agencies that support the pupil such as VCCP, Child and Adult Mental Health Service, Education Welfare Service, Educational Psychology Service and other partners.
• Ensuring that, where a pupil who is subject of a child protection plan leaves the Centre, their information is transferred to the new school/provider immediately and that the child's or young person's social worker is informed.

Responsibility of: CEO - Tracey Marson

Reviewed: July 2017