Child Protection - Reporting Child Abuse

Policy

“It is the policy of staff at Davis College to safeguard the welfare of our students. We endeavour to protect our students from neglect, emotional abuse, physical abuse & sexual abuse.”

To this end Davis College encourages staff members to:

• Listen to students
• Value and respect students
• Involve students in decision-making ,where appropriate
• Encourage and praise students.
• Establish a comfortable rapport with students & foster a climate of safety for the student.

We encourage students to show respect and consideration for teachers, volunteers and the non-teaching staff of Davis College.

Recognition of Possible Signs of Abuse

The Health Board should be notified when a person has a reasonable suspicion or reasonable grounds for concern that a child has been abused or is being abused or is at risk of abuse.

Examples of reasonable grounds for concern:

(1) Specific indication from a child that he/she was abused;

(2) An account from a person who saw the child being abused;

(3) Evidence, such as an injury or behaviour that was unlikely to be caused another way;

(4) An injury or behaviour which is consistent with abuse with an innocent explanation but with a pattern;

(5) Consistent indication, over a period of time that a child is suffering from emotional or physical neglect.

Designated Liaison Person

The Designated Liaison Person for Davis College is Mr. Denis Healy.

The Deputy Designated Liaison Person for Davis College is Margaret Kennedy in the absence of Mr. Denis Healy.

Dealing with Disclosure

• An abused child has trusted a staff member in disclosing abuse. Care should be exercised not to damage this trust.
• When information is offered in confidence, staff need to proceed with tact and sensitivity.
• The child will need reassurance & support. The member of staff must make it clear to the child that other adults will need to be informed.
• In dealing with the disclosure the staff member should listen to & facilitate the child to tell about the problem rather than interviewing the child.
• Try to stay calm & do not show extreme reactions or shock.
• Maintain the child’s trust.
• The child should understand that it is not possible that information will be kept secret.
• No judgement statements should be made against the alleged perpetrator
• The child should not be questioned except to clarify what he/she is saying
• The child should be given some indication as to what will happen next.
• Record the disclosure immediately using the child’s own words.

Record-keeping

• It is essential to have a written record of information given.
• Signs of physical abuse should be described in detail.
• Any explanation of how these injuries were received should be documented using the exact wording from the complainant. A record of the discussion signed & dated & given to the DLP.

Reporting of Concerns & Role of Health Board

· A member of staff receiving an alleged allegation should give a written report/record to the DLP.

Action to be taken by DLP

If the DLP is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for suspicion he/she should report to the Duty Social Worker on call in the relevant health board.

In the event of an emergency the report should be made to the gardai.

The Board of Management should be informed as should a parent/carer of the child, unless doing so would endanger the child.

If the DLP is unsure whether to report the matter to the HEALTH board or not he may seek advice from the Duty Social Worker without identifying details.

Should the DLP decide not to report the matter to the Health Board, the member of staff should be given a clear statement in writing as to the reason why action is not being taken.

Child Protection Conferences

It is a meeting which may be convened by the Child Care Manager/designate of the health board and may involve the child and the child’s family and all of the agencies and professionals dealing with them. The main tasks of a child protection conference are:

1. To facilitate the sharing and the evaluation of information between professionals and carers;

2. To outline a child protection plan to be completed following comprehensive assessment;

3. To identify tasks to be carried out by different professionals.

A request from a health board for a school staff member to attend a child protection conference should be made to the DLP who should consult with the BOM.

A staff member attending a child protection conference should provide a report to the conference. Where appropriate, health board staff has a responsibility to inform persons reporting alleged child abuse about the outcomes of any enquiry or investigation into that reported concern.

ALLEGATIONS OR SUSPICIONS OF CHILD ABUSE BY SCHOOL EMPLOYEES

This paragraph deals with an allegation of abuse is made against a school employee.

The protection of the child and their safety and well-being must be a priority. The VEC also has duties and responsibilities, as an employer, in respect of its employees.

There are two procedures to be followed:

1. the reporting procedure in respect of the allegation;
2. the procedure for dealing with the employee.