Issue Date of This Version 1/08/2024

Review Period for This Document - One Year from Original Issue

Due Date for Review/Expiry 1/08/2025

Purpose and Scope
The department for Education issues safeguarding statutory guidance – Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023 (KCSIE). Impact Academies & Camps fully recognises its responsibilities for safeguarding children. Our policy applies to all staff working with us.
The aims of this policy are:
– To support the children’s development in ways that will foster security, confidence and independence.
– To provide an environment where children feel safe, secure, valued and respected. Should they face any difficulties of any matter a member of staff shall be willing to listen and help to provide suitable action.
- To provide an environment where children with learning challenges are catered for, and all their requirements are met to enable them to have a successful and enjoyable learning experience. Such requirements may include Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADHD, Asperger’s, Autism and medical conditions (this list is not exhaustive).
- To raise awareness of the need to safeguard children and their responsibility in identifying and reporting possible cases of abuse.
- To monitor children that may be at the risk of harm and provide the best environment to accommodate their requirements.
- Provide good levels of communication between all members of staff, parents and children.
– Ensure all staff working at the school are suitable to carry out the job in question by checking and verifying identification, carrying out a CRB/DBS check and also undergoing First Aid Training Procedures and Responsibilities Procedures will follow those that have been set out by the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB).
- Not only include protection from adults but peer on peer abuse (amongst students) where a child may be at risk. Staff are trained to identify and act on this abuse.
- To protect children from gangs of criminal origin which may expose a child to drugs, alcohol, sexual exploitation, modern slavery and missing persons.
- Where a child has arrived at Impact and there may be signs that they are under the influence of alcohol, drugs or may have been smoking this will be reported.
- Ensure all staff at Impact are suitable to carry out the job in question. Our procedures include; identification verification, Enhanced DBS checks, staff training and appropriate First Aid.

Procedures and Responsibilities

Procedures will follow those that have been set out by the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB).

• Ensure there is a Designated Senior Member of Staff.
• Ensure there is a Deputy Member of Staff in the absence of the Designated Senior Member of Staff.
• Ensure there are Nominated Members of Staff in the absence of the Designated Senior Member of Staff and Deputy Member of Staff.
• Ensure that all members of staff are aware of the relevant nominated members of staff. Although nominated staff are in place, anybody within the organisation can make a referral in an emergency.
• Ensure that duty of care towards students and staff is carried out by raising awareness of illegal, unsafe and unwise behaviour.

These procedures will be reviewed annually. When staff join this school they will be required to read through this policy and have a chance to ask any questions as part of their induction programme. The basic induction programme will include information on how to notice signs and symptoms of abuse, how to manage a disclosure from a child, whom to inform and finally how to record any evidence and plans of action.


Managing A Disclosure
Teachers and non-teaching staff in schools are in a unique position to observe children’s behaviour. In most cases staff members build a pastoral relationship with children and will play the part to listen and comfort the children during trying times. Impact Academies & Camps staff will listen carefully to a child’s disclosure and will ask questions of the following nature:
– How did that happen?
– Was there anything else happening at that time?
– Have you spoken to someone about this?

Under no circumstances will staff demand or forcefully pressurise the child. All answers will be documented and reported to the appropriate body.

Supporting Children
We recognise that a child who is abused or witnesses violence may feel helpless, humiliated, may blame themselves and find it difficult to develop and maintain a sense of self-worth. Our school may provide some form of stability in the children’s lives where they want to open up to personal matters. Under these circumstances, this will be reported to the relevant MASH/Central Duty Team.

Allegations Against Staff
We understand that a pupil may make an allegation against a member of staff. If such an allegation is made, the member of staff receiving the allegation will immediately inform the Designated or Deputy Member of Staff who will take the following actions:

• REMOVE & REPLACE: The staff member who has the allegation made against them will be removed and a replacement member who is adequately trained will step in until further notice.
• CONTACT LADO: We will follow their instructions (please see relevant details below)
• CONTACT OFSTED: 0300 123 1231 and follow up in writing to enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk
• INFORM PARENT: Parents will be contacted and informed about any incidents involving their child/children unless the LADO have advised against this.

Supporting Staff
As Impact Academies & Camps provides a very pastoral environment to children, it may prove to be rather stressful or upsetting for a staff member to comfort a child that is experiencing such difficulties. As duty of care to staff, Impact Academies & Camps will offer the opportunity for staff to talk through their anxieties and provide any support required to ensure they are able to work with children.

Confidentiality
We recognise that cases dealt with any child are treated with respect and as a private matter.

Other Issues
With relation to safety of children, Impact Academies & Camps also treats the following as urgent matters: Bullying, Racism, and any other form of abuse.

Health And Safety
This policy has been documented separately and can be found on the Internal Impact Academies & Camps Noticeboard or as per request.

Record Keeping
Any member of staff receiving a disclosure of abuse from a child or young person, or noticing signs or symptoms of possible abuse will make a notification to the Designated Senior Member of Staff, Deputy Member of Staff and/or Nominated Member of Staff. This incident will be documented together with the plan of action and/or outcomes with dealing with relevant bodies such as the Local Police or Council.

Complaints Or Concerns Expressed By Pupils, Parents And/Or Staff
We recognise that listening to children is an important and essential part of safeguarding them against abuse and neglect. To this end any expression of dissatisfaction or disquiet in relation to an individual child will be listened to and acted upon in order to safeguard his/her welfare. We will also seek to ensure that the child or adult who makes a complaint is informed not only about the action the school will take but also the length of time that will be required to resolve the complaint. The school will also endeavour to keep the child or adult regularly informed as to the progress of his/ her complaint.
Our complaints policy has been documented separately and can be found on our website or as per request.

Safeguarding Concerns & What to Do
1. Speak to the child and see if they will disclose their concerns
2. Speak to a designated member of staff of your concerns
3. Write this down or email a member with: date/time, what was said to you, what you have said. Keep it factual and unbiased.
4. In the unlikely event, no one is around to support and you feel that the child may be in danger, call local authorities within your local area.

Concerns about your child
If you have any concerns about a child being harmed or at risk of harm please contact Greenwich, Newham or your local Council.
“It is everyone’s responsibility to protect children”

Children and their parents may need urgent help.
Please contact Greenwich / Newham Children Services or your local Council:

• For general enquiries about children's services, please email the Families Information Service on fis@royalgreenwich.gov.uk. To contact the child referral team, please call 020 8921 3172. For out of hours emergencies, please call 020 8854 8888.
• If your referral requires urgent attention, please contact Newham Contact Centre on 0208 430 2000 who will transfer you to the social work duty team. In case of an emergency or you feel that a child is at immediate risk, please also call 999 and request support from the police. If you are a parent/carer or a member of the public and want to make a referral or make an anonymous request, you can contact the MASH (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub) on 0203 373 4600.

If you do not feel comfortable about telling your council, or you are not sure if you are right, you can also speak to a police officer, teacher, health visitor, doctor or the NSPCC. The most important thing is to tell someone who can help.
If you believe a child is in immediate danger you should phone the police. Call 999.

Child concern report – please send us an email to info.rugan@gmail.com or london@impactacademies.co.uk if you are worried about a child’s safety. Please supply as much information as you can.

Contact Information
Designated Senior Member of Staff
Mihai Rusu
07511668405
Info.rugan@gmail.com & london@impactacademies.co.uk

Deputy Members of Staff
Marius Gangan
07902830008
Info.rugan@gmail.com & london@impactacademies.co.uk

Nominated Members of Staff
Jwaad Hussain
07435424085
Info.rugan@gmail.com & london@impactacademies.co.uk