Safeguarding Policy

MTECH EDUCATION SAFEGUARDING AND CHILD PROTECTION POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Last Updated 02/11/2023

Introduction

As a provider of education for children, M:Tech fully recognises its responsibility for child protection.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and all M:Tech employees undergo safer recruitment including DBS checks appropriate to their positions.

All staff members have a clear responsibility to be vigilant for signs and symptoms of abuse including child on child abuse, and to be aware of the DSL role and reporting procedure if they suspect a pupil is being abused. All M:Tech staff must have read ‘What to do if you are worried a child is being abused 2015 DofE, Part One of “Keeping children safe in education” DfE Sept 2022’, both of which provide important information about safeguarding, how to recognise a concern and what to do.

Additionally, staff must read and follow M:Tech’s Code of Conduct for staff and acknowledge this document in writing. This policy can be viewed here.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead DSL

The DSL for M:Tech is Mrs Rebecca McLaughlin who has undergone training in safeguarding and child protection. This training is updated every two years. In cases of suspected abuse she has the responsibility to immediately contact the DSL at the school attended by the child concerned, or in the case of a child protection concern about an adult or volunteer working with children, the Headmaster, Chair of Governors in the case of a concern about the Head teacher, or the LADO in the appropriate local authority, which for a Surrey based M:Tech employee in Surrey.

Mrs Rebecca McLaughlin

office@mtechonline.co.uk

Tel:

01483 578114 (Office)

07834 601050 (Mobile)

Director Responsible

The Director of M:Tech who has responsibility for Child Protection is Education Director, Mr Christopher Pietrek.

Child Protection Training

M:Tech requires induction, provided by the DSL, in child protection, (updated regularly but at least annually) for all staff working with children.

Staff Responsibility

All M:Tech staff has an obligation to report to the school DSL, and the M:Tech DSL if:

• There is a safeguarding concern or suspicion of abuse or neglect of a pupil by anyone, and if there is any misconduct, whether or not toward any specific child or children of a kind that might be expected to develop into abuse or improper behaviour towards children.

• A child discloses abuse, neglect or allegations of abuse, or information suggests that to be the case, whether committed against them or another child and whether by another child or any other person. If the allegation is against an M:Tech teacher or employee of the school concerned and the M:Tech DSL is not available, the report must be made to the Education Director who will immediately contact the Head or DSL of the school attended by the child concerned.

These obligations represent an inescapable personal and professional responsibility for all M:Tech staff in the protection of children from harm.

What Constitutes Abuse and ‘or neglect’?

(Definitions taken from Working together to safeguard children HM Government 2018 (updated in Dec 2020) and Keeping children Safe in education DfE 2023), where further detail can be found).

Abuse

A form of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm or by failing to act to prevent harm. Children may be abused in a family or an institutional or community setting by those known to them or, more rarely, by others. Abuse can take place wholly online, or technology may be used to facilitate offline abuse. Children may be abused by an adult or adults, or by another child or children.

Physical Abuse

A form of abuse which may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces illness in a child.

Emotional Abuse

The persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development.

It may involve conveying to a child that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may include not giving the child opportunities to express their views, deliberately silencing them or “making fun” of what they say or how they communicate. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions that are beyond the child’s developmental capability, as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the child from participating in normal social interaction. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill treatment of another. It may involve serious bullying (including cyber bullying) causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, though it may occur alone.

Sexual Abuse

Involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example, rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside of clothing. They may include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse Sexual abuse can take place online, and technology can be used to facilitate Offline abuse. Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children. The sexual abuse of children by other children is a specific safeguarding issue in education.

Children anyone who has not reached their 18th birthday. The fact that a child has reached 16 years of age, is living independently or is in further education, is a member of the armed forces, is in hospital or in custody in the secure estate, does not change his/her status or entitlements to services or protection.

Child Sexual Exploitation

Child sexual exploitation is a form of child sexual abuse. It occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity (a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or (b) for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator. The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual. Child sexual exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology.

Neglect

The persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in serious impairment of the child’s health or development.

Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance misuse. Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to provide:

adequate food and clothing, shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment);
protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger; ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate care-takers);
or ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment.
Abandonment – leaving a child alone and unattended in circumstances that are appropriate for their age and/or level of understanding

It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to a child’s basic emotional needs.

Indications or Signs of Possible Abuse

Persistent or multiple bruising
Minor injuries on unlikely places
Burns or bites
Regressive behaviour
Depression or withdrawn behaviour
Attention seeking
Promiscuous behaviour
Sexually explicit language, literature or sexting
Disturbing creative writing

This is not a comprehensive list and any concern about a child’s welfare should be reported to the DSL.

What To Do If You Suspect A Child Is Being Abused

If you witness or are informed of any misconduct, whether or not toward any specific pupil or pupils, of a kind that might be expected to develop into abuse or improper behaviour towards pupils:

Record it fully as soon as you can, including any actual words used, and sign and date the record.
Tell the school’s designated DSL
Do not delay
Believe what a child tells you
Do not gossip about your suspicions
Inform M:Tech’s DSL

Dealing With Suspicions

Any suspicions that a child has been abused and any misconduct that you have seen or has been reported to you, whether or not toward any specific pupil or pupils, of a kind that might be expected to develop into abuse or improper behaviour towards pupils must be discussed with the DSL or Director DSL immediately.

It is always better to share a concern which may later prove to be groundless, than to wait for certainty which may mean actual injury to the child. You will be failing in your duty of care if you do not report your concerns immediately to the DSL.

What To Do If Someone Tells

Listen:

Do not promise confidentiality
Do not ask leading questions
Do not promise that things will get better
Do not apportion blame
Stay calm and convey this through work and action
Reassure the child that you are taking them seriously
Allow the pupil to finish without directly questioning or stopping him
Ensure that you have a full understanding of the facts as related by the pupil
When the pupil has finished explain what you are going to do next

Record:

Write down as much as possible and as soon as possible
Use the pupil’s own words as far as possible
Sign the notes and record the date and time
Include details of any witnesses

Report:

Tell the DSL at the child’s school as soon as possible and immediately if the child is in danger, and also report to the DSL for M:Tech.

You have now fulfilled your duty and you should not take any further action or reveal this information to anyone else. If you find that the school DSL has not made a referral yourself, ensure that the M:Tech DSL is made aware.

Allegations Against School or M:Tech Staff

If any member of M:Tech staff has reason to believe that a member of the school staff, or other adult working with children, has abused a pupil, or has witnessed or been informed of any misconduct, whether or not toward any specific pupil or pupils, of a kind that might be expected to develop into abuse or improper behaviour towards pupils, that suspicion must be reported to the M:Tech DSL immediately.

Likewise if a situation arises where you believe an action or comment you made to a child may be misinterpreted, or a complaint could follow, you should make the school DSL aware as soon as possible the same day, and the M:Tech DSL.

Notifications

M:Tech Education Services is fully cognisant of and compliant with the statutory duty imposed upon them by the Education Act 2002 and the guidance in Part Four of “Keeping children safe in education” to discuss any concerns with the Local Authority Designated Officer LADO in which it is alleged that a teacher or member of M:Tech staff:

Behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child:

Possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to, a child: or
Behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates he or she would pose a risk of harm to children.

M:Tech will report to the Disclosure and Barring Service within one month of leaving the business any person who resigned, or is no longer used because he or she is considered unsuitable to work with children, following this consultation with the LADO and any ensuing process.

Staff recruitment and safe practice

M:Tech ensures that we practise safe recruitment in checking the suitability of our staff to work with children and our recruitment process has regard to the DfE publication “Keeping Children safe in education” DfE September 2022.

At appointment, our induction includes the requirement to read and follow this document alongside “What to do if you are worried a child is being abused” (DfE - for practitioners) and to abide by our code of conduct/behaviour policy. Our staff are also required to acquaint themselves with the name of the DSL in any school they work in, the school’s safeguarding and behaviour policy and also the procedure to deal with missing children.

Review:

M:Tech undertakes an annual review of the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and procedures and the efficiency with which the related duties have been discharged.

Any deficiencies or weaknesses in child protection arrangements will be remedied without delay.