Managing allegations against staff

Designated Trustee: Bob Smith
Designated Safeguarding officer: Headteacher: Adam Abdelnoor 
Deputy DSO: Head of Pastoral Care: Amanda Hannah
Review date: April 2012

Dealing with an allegation that a staff member or volunteer has abused a child is difficult but must be taken seriously and dealt with carefully and fairly.
We need
•    a safe recruitment process
•    procedures in place for dealing with allegations of abuse against people who work with children.
It is important that all who work with children are aware of these procedures within their organisation or setting and know where to access them should the need arise.

All allegations are taken seriously and objectively and dealt with in a timely manner.

We will inform our Local area designated officer of all allegations and will look to the officer for advice and guidance in the management of these.

All our staff are expected to know who they should go to in their organisation or setting with concerns about the behaviour of, or an allegation against, a colleague or any other adult who works with children.
•    This is the Designated Safeguarding Officer (or their deputy)  identified at the head of this document

Advice to staff
If you have a concern that a person may have behaved inappropriately or have received information that may constitute an allegation you should:
•    Report it to the designated safeguarding officer as soon as possible, however trivial it may seem
•    Make a signed and dated written record of your concerns
•    Maintain confidentiality
•   
You should not:
•    attempt to deal with the situation yourself;
•    make assumptions, offer alternative explanations or diminish the seriousness of the behaviour or alleged incidents;
•    keep the information to yourself or promise confidentiality;
•    take any action that might undermine any future investigation

The same action should be taken if the allegation is about abuse that has taken place in the past

N.B If a child has clearly been injured and/or there is clear evidence of significant harm or risk of significant harm, immediate referral to the police or social care or emergency services can be considered

Remember that the safety and welfare of the child is your overriding concern. In an emergency – refer directly to Police or Social services

Action by designated safeguarding officer
When a report is made to the designated safeguarding officer it will be clear in some cases that an immediate referral must be made to social care or the police for investigation, as a child appears to have been harmed or is at risk of significant harm or a criminal act appears to have been committed.

Otherwise and in addition we will
•    Report the allegation at the earliest opportunity to the  Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
•    Collate and record information we have and personal details about
•    keep alert for patterns which might suggest the abuse goes further afield and involves other children and adults;
•    Manage information sharing in line with SWCCP guidance

The designated safeguarding officer will ensure that all records are up-to-date and include the final decisions and actions that conclude the case.  Information will be shared in a timely manner and in accordance with local information sharing protocols and current child protection procedures.

While the allegation is being considered or investigated every effort will be made to maintain confidentiality, and guard against publicity.

Local Authority Contacts
Bath and NE Somerset   
Trina Shane
trina_shane@bathnes.gov.uk
01225 477000

North Somerset
Linda Bunting
Service Leader QA and Safeguarding
linda.bunting@n-somerset.gov.uk
01275 888244

Somerset   
Claire Winter (LADO)
LSCB Co-ordinator
CWinter@somerset.gov.uk
01278 437274

Basis for this policy
South West Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures
http://www.online-procedures.co.uk/swcpp/
(last accessed August 5 2011)