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2. Welcome to Child Protection online learning

3. Scope In June 2004 Section 175 of the Education Act 2002 came into force. This requires Further Education Colleges to make arrangements to ensure that that their functions are carried out with a view to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children attending College. In addition, we must have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State in considering what arrangements we need to make for that purpose of the section. The Children Act 1989 defines a child as any person under the age of 18 years . This includes all 14–16 year old school children attending college as a supplement to their Key Stage 4 curriculum.

9. Definition Child Abuse can involve any one or more of the following: Neglect – the persistent or severe neglect of a child, or failure to protect a child from exposure to any kind of danger, including cold or starvation, or extreme failure to carry out important aspects of care, resulting in the significant impairment of the child’s health or development. Physical injury – actual or likely injury to a child, or failure to prevent physical injury (or suffering) to a child including deliberate poisoning, suffocation.

10. Definition Child Abuse can involve any one or more of the following: Sexual abuse – actual or likely sexual exploitation of a child or young person including prostitution. Emotional abuse – actual or likely significant adverse effect on the emotional ill treatment or rejection Significant harm – where the child is suffering, or likely to suffer significant harm. Bullying – the act of intimidating a child or weaker individual in a physical, verbal or non-verbal manner

11. Policy Statement It is important that children are protected from abuse. Newcastle College recognises that employees and students have a role to play in safeguarding the welfare of children and preventing their abuse. All complaints, allegations or suspicions will be taken seriously and discussed with the College’s designated member of staff before any steps are taken. Where action is necessary, this will be undertaken with due regard to the College’s Child Protection Procedures.

13. Procedure – Points to consider Promises of Confidentiality should not be given as the matter may develop in such a way that these cannot be honoured. Inform the student that there is a legal duty to inform an authorised agency. The arrangements for this should be negotiated with the student. If the complainant is the student him/herself, questions should be kept to the minimum necessary to understand what is being alleged and leading questions should be avoided. Care must be taken in asking or interpreting responses to questions about indications of abuse as this could have an effect on the evidence which is put forward if there are subsequent legal proceedings. No-one in the College should investigate – your role is to record the information only.

14. What to do? In this section you will learn what do to when… Student is under 18 Student is 18 or over You suspect abuse but have no proof Allegations about a member of staff

15. What to do when a student is under 18 Student informs you they are being abused Take a full record of the allegation but do not investigate Contact the member of staff with responsibility for child protection in your school within 2 hours Is the member of staff with responsibility for child protection in your school available? Contact alternative staff member A referral form is provided in DTC for the recording of this information. Additionally, a list of the information to collect is included later on in this unit. A list of staff with responsibility is provided later on in this unit

20. People with Responsibility School Name Tel Number Access to Learning Andrea Wiseman 200 7555 Art & Design Kirsty Tate 200 4505 Business & Care Helen Hepple 200 4366 Construction & Auto Skills Tony Milan 200 4769 Lifestyle Academy Denise Faulds 200 4621 Service Skills Helen Leppan 284 9953 Performance Academy Megan Nicholls 226 7504 OLASS Angela Allen 200 4768 Sixth Form Lynda Evans 200 4025 Skelmersdale & Ormskirk College Jane Hines 01695 52316

21. Other People with Responsibility If none of the above are available, contact Vice Principal, Linda Moore on 0191 200 4134 or, in her absence, Vice Principal, Colin Booth on 0191 200 4191 (student related issues) or Vice Principal, Esme Winch on 0191 200 4092 (where allegations have been made about a member of staff). Director of Student Services – Jacquie Brown 0191 200 4406 Director of School of Business & Care – Chris Webb 0191 200 4548 Director of Human Resources – Dee Fawcett 0191 200 4093 14–16 Co-ordinator – Geoff O’Neil 0191 200 4298