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Policy and Guidance Documents

• Working Together to Safeguard Children: A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children - March 2010 (pdf)

The above document sets out statutory and non-statutory guidance on how organisations and individuals should work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. It is addressed to practitioners and front line managers who have particular responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and to senior and operational managers, in organisations.

The DCSF has issued new guidance under Every Child Matters which comes into force on the 1 January 2007. Schools and Local Authority Services need to be aware that this document replaces certain guidance issued previously by the DCSF as follows: Child Protection: Preventing Unsuitable People from Working with Children and Young Persons in the Education Service. Criminal Records Bureau: Managing the Demand for Disclosures Safeguarding Children in Education Safeguarding Children: Safer Recruitment and Selection in Education Settings (PDF) Dealing with Allegations of Abuse against Teachers and other Staff

• Safeguarding Children: Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education (PDF)

• Safeguarding Children: Good Practice Guide for Instrumental Music Teachers

• Safeguarding Children Policy Statement: Child in Need & Child Protection

Managing Allegations Against Staff

•  Guidance for Safer Working Practice for Adults who Work with Children and Young People in Education Settings - March 2009 (DCSF)  EDUCATION  Version
•  Guidance for Safer Working Practice for Adults who Work with Children and Young People - January 2009 (DCSF) WIDER CHILDREN'S WORKFORCE Version

• New Child Protection Procedures for Managing Allegations Against Staff  KCC Sept 2008 
  
• A Guide for Staff and Volunteers who Work With Children and are Facing an Allegation of Abuse. AMA leaflet Dec 2007
• New DCSF - Review of Implementation of guidance on handling allegations of abuse against those who work with children or young people 2009(PDF)

Allegation Outcome Form

• Allegation Outcome Form 

School Policies 

• Exemplar Policy for LA Schools Updated October 2009 
• Positive Handling Policy: Under review and to be updated
• Holding Safely: A Guide for Physically Restraining Children and Young People (PDF)
• Protocols for the Operation of Community Punishment Project Groups in Kent LEA Schools
• School Anti-Bullying Policy (PDF) 
• Confidentiality Policy for Schools
• Guidance for Safe Working Practice for Children and Staff in Education Settings
• Safe Parenting Handbook (PDF) 
• "Child Abuse - what every parent needs to know" (leaflet used by schools)
    

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• Guidelines for School Staff Leaflet   (Word version)
• Guidelines for School Staff Leaflet (PDF version)
• Guidelines for Early Years Staff Leaflet   (Word version)
• Guidelines for Early years Staff Leaflet  (PDF version)

Photographic Images of Children

The Photographic Images of Children Policy and Guidance document has now been updated (March 2009).  These guidelines aim to raise awareness of the potential dangers to children whilst offering practical advice to schools and services in the use of digital technology.

• Policy & Guidance for Kent Schools, Settings and KCC Services on the use of Photographic Images of Children (updated March 2009) (PDF)

Safe Recruitment 

• Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education (Jan 2007) pdf

• Using existing Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks and whether to employ a person before a check  - Ofsted April 2010 
• The Vetting and Barring Scheme - Guidance, October 2009 (ISA link document)
• Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) Update (Independent Safeguarding Authority  - April 2009 Newsletter)

 Link to ISA website

• CRB - ILLEGAL checks - Important note for schools
•  Criminal Records Bureau Checks - Central Record Sample
• On-Line Training for Safer Recruitment
• http://www.kscb.org.uk/ - Link to KSCB Safe Recruitment Practice Guidance October 07 - Please look under Policies and Procedures

Responding to Internet Issues and E-Safety Incidents

• Safer Practice with Technology - Guidance for Adults who Work with Children and Young People  
  • Children's Safeguards Service Screening Tool for Internet and E-Safety Incidents; NEW
  • Children's Safeguards Service Flowchart for Internet and E-Safety Incidents: NEW
  • Children's Safeguards Service Matrix for understanding sexualised behaviour
  • E - Safety Officer Contact list and useful websites
  • Children's Safeguards Service revised matrix
  • Children's Safeguards Service extract from handbook

Link to Kent Trust Web pages: Kent e-Safety Policies and Guidance

Initial Assessment and Referral for Children in Need to Social Services

• Letter to Schools and LA services re Inter Agency Referrals
• Inter Agency Flow Chart
• Inter Agency Referrals Guidance
  • Child in Need & Child Protection Referral Form (for Electronic Completion) Jan 09 NEW
  • Child in Need & Child Protection Referral Form (for printing & faxing) Jan 09 NEW
  • Initial Assessment and Referral Form Guidance Notes (Revised Sept 2008) NEW
    • CHIN Matrix (PDF)
    • Eligibility & Thresholds Criteria (PDF)

As you will see there are two versions of the Inter Agency Referral Form above which can be used, one of which is an electronic version that should be e-mailed directly to contact.assessment.service@kent.gov.uk but youwill still need to subsequently post or fax a signed copy in the usual way. 

The other form is for completion in writing and should be faxed to the CSS County Duty Service on 01233 652 261.

Safeguarding Self Review Tool for Schools 

• DRAFT Self Review Tool for Schools (2009 version) 
• Self Review Tool Part 2 - (Jan 2010 version)

Link to Working Together to Safeguard Children

Ofsted Section 5 Inspections

(8th March 2010) Kent County Council sent a letter to Christine Gilbert, Chief Inspector, Ofsted, Regarding the Section 5 Inspection Framework for Safeguarding in Schools.  To view the letter and response from Ofsted click on the documents below   

• KCC letter to Ofsted           

• Response from Ofsted

Briefing Paper for Inspectors reviewing safeguarding arrangements in schools (April  2010)

• Legal Requirements - Ofsted - FAQ (May 2010)

New Guidelines for Safeguarding Record Keeping in Schools

• Guidelines for Safeguarding Record Keeping in Schools

Kent and Medway Domestic Abuse Good Practice Protocols - Working with Young People in Schools

• Good Practice Protocols (PDF)

Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)

• Protocol for Schools and Settings