THE SHIA ITHNA’ASHERI MADRESSA’S CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
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Principal: SAJJAD GOVANI (Contact through: 020 8954 6247) |
Named Personnel with Designated Responsibility for Child Protection
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Designated Senior Persons |
Deputy Designated Senior Person |
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KASSAM JAFFER (Contact through: 020 8954 6247) |
ALI ASGHAR SHERIFF (Contact through: 020 8954 6247) |
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
MADRESSA COMMITMENT
1. PROVIDING A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT
1.1 Safer Recruitment and Selection
1.2 Safe Practice
1.3 Safeguarding Information for Students
1.4 Partnership with Parents
1.5 Partnerships with Others
1.6 Madressa Training and Induction
1.7 Support, Advice and Guidance for Staff and Volunteers
1.8 Related Madressa Policies
1.9 Student Information
1.10 Roles and Responsibilities
2. IDENTIFYING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WHO MAY BE SUFFERING SIGNIFICANT HARM
3. TAKING ACTION TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN ARE SAFE AT THE MADRESSA AND AT HOME
3.1 Immediate Action
3.2 Responding to Disclosure
3.3 Action by Designated Senior Person or Deputy Designated Senior Person
3.4 Action Following a Child Protection Referral
3.5 Recording and Monitoring
3.6 Supporting the Child and Partnership with Parents
4. ALLEGATIONS REGARDING PERSON(S) WORKING IN OR ON BEHALF OF THE MADRESSA
INTRODUCTION
This policy is in line with Harrow Council Local Safeguarding Children Board’s Child Protection Procedures, in particular Working Together to Safeguard Children (2010) and London Child Protection Procedures (2010). The policy has been prepared with the London Borough of Harrow in response to and in accordance with the statutory rules and regulations that apply to The Shia Ithna’Asheri Madressa (hereafter the “Madressa”).
This policy applies to all adults, including volunteers, working in or on behalf of the Madressa.
MADRESSA COMMITMENT
The Madressa is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all of its students. Each student’s welfare is of paramount importance. We recognise that some children may be especially vulnerable to abuse, e.g. those with Special Educational Needs and those living in adverse circumstances. We recognise that children who are abused or neglected may find it difficult to develop a sense of self-worth and view the world in a positive way. Whilst at the Madressa, their behaviour may be challenging. We recognise that some children who have experienced abuse may harm others. We will always take a considered and sensitive approach so that we are able to provide support for all of our students.
1. PROVIDING A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT
1.1 Safer Recruitment and Selection
The Madressa pays full regard to the DfES guidance Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education (2007). We ensure that all appropriate measures are applied in relation to everyone who is engaged with the Madressa, externally and internally, who is likely to be perceived by the children as a safe and trustworthy adult, e.g. volunteers. Safer recruitment practice includes scrutinising applicants, verifying identity and academic or vocational qualifications, obtaining professional and character references, checking previous employment history and ensuring that a candidate has sufficient health and physical capacity for the job. It also includes undertaking interviews and, where appropriate, Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks.
Statutory rules, underpinned by regulations, mean that:
- a CRB Enhanced Disclosure is obtained for all new appointments and volunteers at the Madressa;
- the Madressa must keep a single central record detailing a range of checks carried out on its staff and volunteers;
- all new appointments and volunteers at the Madressa who have lived outside the UK immediately before their involvement at the Madressa are subject to additional checks as appropriate;
- the Madressa must satisfy itself that all its staff and volunteers have undergone the necessary checks; and
- identity checks must be carried out on all volunteers and staff before they are engaged in any capacity in which they will come into contact with students at the Madressa.
The Principal, the Designated Senior Person, and the Deputy Designated Senior Person are aware of the regulatory requirements, and one of them will be involved in all appointments and arrangements relating to volunteers at the Madressa.
1.2 Safe Practice
The Madressa has adopted Investigation and Referral Support Co-ordinators’ Guidance for Safe Working Practice for the Protection of Children and Staff in Education Settings (2005) to ensure that all staff and volunteers are safe and are aware of behaviour that should be avoided.
Safe working practice ensures that students are safe and that all staff and volunteers:
- are responsible for their own actions and behaviour and should avoid any conduct that would lead any reasonable person to question their motivation and intentions;
- work in an open and transparent way;
- discuss and/or take advice from the Madressa’s management over any incident that may give rise to concern;
- record any incidents or decisions made about such incidents;
- apply the same professional standards regardless of gender or sexuality; and
- are aware that breaches of the law or other professional guidelines could result in criminal or disciplinary action being taken against them.
The Madressa maintains a record of all relevant training received by the Principal, the Designated Senior Person and the Deputy Designated Senior Person as per the guidance.
1.3 Safeguarding Information for Students
The Madressa is committed to ensuring that students are aware of behaviour towards them that is not acceptable and understand how they can keep themselves safe. All students will be made aware in lessons of the senior member of staff at the Madressa who is responsible for child protection. We will inform students about the people they can talk to, both inside and outside the Madressa, of their right to be listened to and heard and what steps can be taken to protect them from harm.
As the Madressa runs only on Sundays, and all the students also attend normal schools, they are also aware of whom and which organisations they can contact externally if it is necessary. Reference is, nevertheless, also made to the following websites that may be relevant for students:
1.4 Partnership with Parents
The Madressa shares a purpose with parents to keep children safe from harm and promote their welfare, and is committed to working with parents positively, openly and honestly. We ensure that all parents are treated with respect, dignity and courtesy. We respect parents’ rights to privacy and confidentiality and will not share sensitive information unless we have permission or it is necessary to do so in order to protect a child.
The Madressa will share with parents any concerns we may have about their child unless doing so would be likely to place a child at risk of harm (see Section 3.3 Action by Designated Senior Person). We encourage parents to discuss any concerns they may have with a Designated Senior Person. We alert parents to our policy by making it available on our website.
1.5 Partnerships with Others
The Madressa recognises that it is essential to establish positive and effective working relationships with other agencies. The Madressa has an excellent relationship with Harrow Borough’s current Local Authority Designated Officer and through her all of the other agencies with which the Madressa needs to be in contact. The Madressa will, if and when it is necessary, use the designated Common Assessment Framework Form (which came into effect on 1 April 2011) (the “CAF Form”) to notify other agencies as required. The Madressa is also aware of other agencies and organisations, which are listed in Section 1.7.
For ease of reference, the Harrow Local Safeguarding Children Board’s website can be found at www.harrowlscb.co.uk, and the key contact numbers are:
Local Authority Designated Officer 020 8901 2690
Harrow Council – Children’s Access Team 020 8901 2690
Local Safeguarding Children Board 020 8901 2690
Emergency Duty Team (Weekends/Bank Holidays) 020 8424 0999
1.6 Madressa Training and Induction
Processes are in place to ensure that the Madressa’s senior members of staff with designated responsibility for child protection undertake basic child protection training and training in inter-agency procedures (provided by Harrow Local Safeguarding Children Board) and refresher training at two-year intervals. The Principal and all other Madressa staff and volunteers, including non-teaching staff, will undertake appropriate induction training to equip them to carry out their responsibilities for child protection effectively, which will be kept up to date by refresher training at three-year intervals.
1.7 Support, Advice and Guidance for Staff and Volunteers
Staff and volunteers will be supported by the Designated Senior Person as well as the Deputy Designated Senior Person, who in turn will be supported by the Principal as well as the Vice Principal. It is recognised that advice and support will always be available from Harrow Council’s Children’s Access Team. Reference is also made to the following:
Care Quality Commission – www.cqc.org.uk
Child Exploitation Online Protection Centre – www.ceop.gov.uk
Children’s Workforce Development Council – www.cwdcouncil.org.uk
Churches Child Protection Advisory Service – www.ccpas.co.uk
Child Protection in Sport Unit – www.thecpsu.org.uk
Department for Education – www.education.gov.uk
General Social Care Council – www.gscc.org.uk
Harrow Local Safeguarding Children Board – www.harrowlscb.co.uk
London Safeguarding Children Board – www.londonscb.gov.uk
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children – www.nspcc.org.uk
National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations – www.ncvcco.org
Teachernet – www.teachernet.gov.uk
1.8 Related Madressa Policies
It is understood that safeguarding covers more than the contribution made to child protection in relation to individual children. It also encompasses issues such as student health and safety, bullying and a range of other issues; for example, arrangements for meeting the medical needs of children and the provision of first aid.
The Madressa’s Anti-Bullying Policy is set out at: http://www.madressa.net/policies-rules-procedures-etc/bullying
The Madressa’s Classroom Rules are set out at: http://www.madressa.net/policies-rules-procedures-etc/classroom-rules
The Madressa’s Virtual Learning Environment Guidelines are set out at:
http://www.madressa.net/policies-rules-procedures-etc/virtual-learning-environment
The Madressa’s Complaints Procedure is set out at: http://www.madressa.net/policies-rules-procedures-etc/complaints
Regarding confidentiality, the Madressa follows the guidelines set by Harrow Local Safeguarding Children Board as well as the laws of England and Wales by ensuring that information is secure (see also Section 1.9 Student Information). Personal information about children and families held by the Madressa is not normally disclosed without the consent of the subject. As is well understood, UK law permits the disclosure of confidential information as necessary to safeguard children.
1.9 Student Information
In order to keep children safe and provide them with appropriate care, the Madressa requires accurate and up-to-date information regarding:
- names and contact details of persons with whom the child normally lives;
- names and contact details of all persons with parental responsibility for the child (if different from above);
- emergency contact details for the child (if different from above);
- details of any persons authorised to collect the child from the Madressa (if different from above); and
- any other factors that may impact on the safety and welfare of the child.
The Madressa will collate and store this information in accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998.
1.10 Roles and Responsibilities
The Madressa recognises the following:
The Madressa’s overarching parent body, the Executive Committee of the KSIMC of London, has the responsibility to ensure that:
- the Madressa has a child protection policy and procedures in place that are in accordance with Local Authority guidance and locally agreed inter-agency procedures, and that the policy is made available to parents on request;
- the Madressa operates safe recruitment procedures and makes sure that all appropriate checks are carried out on all staff and volunteers who work with children;
- the Madressa has procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse against staff and volunteers that comply with guidance from the local authority and locally agreed inter-agency procedures;
- a senior member of the Madressa’s leadership team is designated to take lead responsibility for child protection;
- staff and volunteers undertake appropriate child protection training;
- it remedies, without delay, any deficiencies or weaknesses regarding child protection arrangements;
- there is appropriate liaison with the Local Authority Designated Officer and/or partner agencies in the event of allegations of abuse being made against the Principal; and
- it reviews its policies and procedures annually and, as and when necessary, informs the Local Authority of them and how the above duties have been discharged.
The Principal should ensure that:
- the policies and procedures adopted by the Madressa’s overarching parent body, the Executive Committee of the KSIMC of London, are implemented and followed by all staff and volunteers;
- sufficient resources and time are allocated to enable the Designated Senior Person and other members of staff to discharge their responsibilities; and
- all staff and volunteers feel able to raise concerns about poor or unsafe practice in regard to children, and that such concerns are addressed sensitively and effectively in a timely manner in accordance with agreed whistle-blowing policies.
The Senior Member of Staff with Designated Responsibility for Child Protection (i.e. the Designated Senior Person) should:
- refer cases of suspected abuse or allegations to the relevant investigating agencies (i.e. Harrow Council – Children’s Access Team, or the Police);
- act as a source of support, advice and expertise within the educational establishment;
- liaise with the Principal to inform him/her of any issues and ongoing investigations, and ensure that there is always cover for this role;
- maintain detailed and accurate written records;
- ensure that the Madressa’s child protection policy is updated and reviewed annually, and work with the overarching body regarding this issue;
- recognise signs of abuse and when it is appropriate make a referral;
- have a working knowledge of how the Local Safeguarding Children Board operates and the conduct of a Child Protection Case Conference and be able to attend and contribute to these;
- ensure that all staff and volunteers have access to and understand the Madressa’s child protection policy;
- ensure that all staff and volunteers have induction training; and
- obtain access to resources and attend any relevant or refresher training courses at least every two years.
All staff and volunteers should:
- fully comply with the Madressa’s policies and procedures;
- attend appropriate child protection training; and
- inform the Designated Senior Person of any concerns.
2. IDENTIFYING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WHO MAY BE SUFFERING SIGNIFICANT HARM
Teachers, volunteers and other adults in the Madressa are well placed to observe any physical, emotional or behavioural signs which may indicate that a child may be suffering significant harm. Relationships between staff and volunteers, students, parents and the public that foster respect, confidence and trust can permit disclosures of abuse and/or alert Madressa staff or volunteers to such concerns.
For clarification:
A child is anyone who has not yet reached his or her 18th birthday.
Harm means ill-treatment or impairment of health and development, including impairment suffered from seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another person. In this context, development means physical, intellectual, emotional, social or behavioural development; health includes physical and mental health; and ill-treatment includes sexual abuse and other forms of ill-treatment that are not physical.
Abuse may be physical, sexual or emotional. Physical abuse 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. Sexual abuse includes enticing a child to take part in any form of sexual or sexually perverted activity, including encouraging a child to behave in a sexually inappropriate way, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. Emotional abuse is 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 children that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. Such expectations 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 interactions. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another person. It may involve bullying, causing children to frequently 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 in isolation.
Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, which is then likely to result in serious impairment of the child’s health or development. Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse. Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to:
- provide adequate food and clothing and/or 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 caretakers); and
- ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment.
It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.
3. TAKING ACTION TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN ARE SAFE AT THE MADRESSA AND AT HOME
It is not the responsibility of the Madressa staff and volunteers to investigate welfare concerns or determine the truth of any disclosure or allegation. All staff and volunteers, however, have a duty to recognise concerns and maintain an open mind. Accordingly, all concerns regarding the welfare of students will be recorded and discussed with the Designated Senior Person responsible for child protection (or another senior member of staff in the absence of the Designated Senior Person) prior to any discussion with parents.
3.1 Immediate Action
Staff and volunteers will immediately report:
- any suspicion that a child is injured, marked or bruised in a way that is not readily attributable to the normal knocks or scrapes received in play;
- any explanation given that appears inconsistent or suspicious;
- any behaviours which give rise to suspicions that a child may have suffered harm (e.g. worrying drawings or play);
- any concerns that a child may be suffering from inadequate care, ill-treatment or emotional maltreatment;
- any concerns that a child is presenting signs or symptoms of abuse or neglect;
- any significant changes in a child’s presentation, including non-attendance;
- any hint or disclosure of abuse from any person; and
- any concerns regarding person(s) who may pose a risk to children and, e.g., live in a household with children present.
3.2 Responding to Disclosure
Disclosures or information may be received from students, parents or other members of the public. The Madressa recognises that those who disclose such information may find doing so personally difficulty, having first chosen carefully the person(s) with whom they wish to speak. Accordingly, all staff and volunteers will handle disclosures with sensitivity. Such information cannot remain confidential, and staff and volunteers will immediately communicate what they have been told to the Designated Senior Person and make a contemporaneous record.
Staff and volunteers will not investigate but will, wherever possible, elicit sufficient information to pass on to the Designated Senior Person so that he/she is able to make an informed decision of what to do next.
Staff and volunteers will:
- listen to and take seriously any disclosure or information that a child may be at risk of harm;
- make sufficient attempts to ensure that the person disclosing is not forced to speak instead to another member of the Madressa;
- clarify the information if necessary;
- make sufficient attempts to keep questions to a minimum and of an ‘open’ nature, e.g. ‘Can you tell me what happened?’ rather than ‘Did [the person] hit you?’
- make sufficient attempts not to show signs of shock, horror or surprise;
- not express feelings or judgements regarding any person alleged to have harmed the child;
- explain sensitively to the disclosing person that the member of staff has a responsibility to refer the information to the Designated Senior Person;
- reassure and support the disclosing person as far as possible;
- explain that only those who ‘need to know’ will be told; and
- explain what will happen next and that the disclosing person will be involved as appropriate.
3.3 Action by Designated Senior Person or Deputy Designated Senior Person
Following any information raising concerns, the Designated Senior Person will consider:
- any urgent medical needs of the child;
- discussing the matter with other agencies involved with the family, if any (for example Harrow Council’s Children’s Access Team);
- consulting with all appropriate persons, e.g. the police; and
- the child’s wishes;
and then decide:
- wherever possible, to talk to parents, unless doing so may place a child at risk of significant harm, impede any police investigation and/or place the member of staff, volunteers or others at risk;
- whether to make a child protection referral to Harrow Council’s Children’s Access Team because a child is suffering or is likely to suffer significant harm, and whether this needs to be undertaken immediately;
or
- whether or not to make a referral at this stage;
- whether further monitoring is necessary; or
- whether it would be appropriate to undertake an assessment (e.g. a CAF Form) and/or make a referral for other services.
All information and actions taken, including the reasons for any decisions made, will be fully documented. A CAF Form will accompany all referrals to Social Care.
3.4 Action Following a Child Protection Referral
The Designated Senior Person or other appropriate member of staff will:
- make regular (or as is appropriate) contact with the agency involved;
- wherever possible, contribute to the Strategy Discussion;
- provide a report for, attend and contribute to any subsequent Child Protection Conference; and
- where possible, share all reports with parents prior to meetings.
3.5 Recording and Monitoring
Accurate records will be made as soon as practicable and will clearly distinguish between observation, fact, opinion and hypothesis. All records will be signed and dated, any information given will be recorded and a note made of the location, and a description of any injuries seen will be submitted. Such records will be maintained confidentially by the Designated Senior Person for the minimum period required by law and, in the interim, only dealt with consistently with this policy.
3.6 Supporting the Child and Partnership with Parents
The Madressa recognises that the child’s welfare is paramount. However, good child protection practice and outcomes rely on a positive, open and honest working partnership with parents. Whilst we may, on occasion, need to make referrals without consultation with parents, we will make every effort to maintain a positive working relationship with them whilst fulfilling our duties to protect any child. We will provide a secure, caring, supportive and protective relationship for the child. Children will be given a proper explanation (appropriate to age and understanding) of what action is being taken on their behalf and why. We will always endeavour to preserve the privacy, dignity and right to confidentiality of the child and parents. The Designated Senior Person will determine which members of staff and volunteers ‘need to know’ personal information and what they ‘need to know’ for the purpose of supporting and protecting the child.
4. ALLEGATIONS REGARDING PERSON(S) WORKING IN OR ON BEHALF OF THE MADRESSA
Circumstances may arise where an allegation is made against any person working in or on behalf of the Madressa that he/she has behaved in a way that has harmed a child or may have harmed a child or possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child. In such instances where the person has behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates that he/she is unsuitable to work with children, we will apply the same principles as set out in this document and will always follow the Harrow Local Safeguarding Children Board’s guidance regarding allegations of abuse against a person who works with children.
Whilst we acknowledge that such allegations (as all others) may be false, malicious or misplaced, we also acknowledge that in sokhme cases there may be a basis for them. It is therefore essential that all allegations are investigated properly and in line with agreed procedures.
The initial action taken in these circumstances will be as follows:
- The person who has been told about an allegation or witnessed an event will immediately inform the Principal and record the allegation.
- In the event that an allegation is made against the Principal, the matter will be reported to the Designated Senior Person, who will proceed as ‘the Principal’.
- The Principal will take steps, where necessary, to secure the immediate safety of children and any urgent medical needs of the children.
- The member of staff subject to an allegation will not be approached at this stage unless this is necessary to address the immediate safety of children.
- The Principal may need to clarify any information regarding the allegation; however, no person will be interviewed at this stage.
- The Principal will consult the Local Authority Designated Officer (see contacts list in Section 1.5) to determine whether it is appropriate for the allegation to be dealt with by the Madressa or whether there should be a referral to Social Care and/or the police for investigation.
- Consideration will be given throughout to the support and information needs of students, parents and staff and volunteers.
- The Principal will inform the Designated Senior Person of any allegation.