Adults in our school take all welfare concerns seriously and encourage children and young people to talk to us about anything that worries them. All staff believe that our school should provide a safe, caring, positive and stimulating environment that promotes social, physical and moral development of the individual child. All staff recognise when young people are at risk and how to access help if it is needed.
Our processes are based upon the statutory guidance for schools and colleges - Keeping Children Safe in Education (September 2023)
Should a child suffer significant harm, or be likely to do so, Cox Green will do all it can to take action to protect them. Action will also be taken to promote the welfare of a child in need of additional support, even if they are not suffering harm or at immediate risk.
Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all practitioners should make sure their approach is child centred. This means they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child.
School staff are particularly important, as they are in a position to identify concerns early, provide help for children, promote children's welfare and preventing concerns from escalating.
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility.
Roles and Responsibilities of our staff
Due to day to day contact with students, staff are well placed to observe the outward signs of abuse. Students will often identify with an adult in the school as someone who will listen to their concerns and be supportive. All staff therefore:
- Keep the student’s welfare as paramount;
- Establish and maintain an environment where students feel secure, are encouraged to talk, and are listened to;
- Ensure students know that there are adults in the school whom they can approach if they are worried;
- Make it clear at disclosure by a student, that not all issues can be kept confidential as staff have a duty of care and must report any issues of alleged abuse or at risk behaviour;
- Report any issues to the members of staff responsible for Child Protection and complete a concern on our electronic system CPOMS.
- Receive regular safeguarding and child protection updates as required, but at least annually, to provide them with relevant skills and knowledge to safeguard children effectively.
- Referring a child to Social Care if there are concerns about possible abuse or neglect. Anyone can make a referral and if for any reason a staff member thinks a referral is appropriate and one hasn’t been made they can and should consider making a referral themselves.
- If a child is in immediate danger, or is at risk of harm, contact should be made with the SAFE team at Cox Green and a referral should be made to children’s social care and/or the police immediately.
- All staff are also familiar with 'What to do if you're worried a child is being abused'.
- Cox Green School participates in Operation Encompass which is a police initative to ensure good communication regarding domestic abuse incidents.