Garantarea siguranței și protecției copiilor

Safeguarding and Child Protection

 

NO: 541/11.12.2023
Inim Foundation – Safeguarding and Child Protection

 

At Inim Foundation, it is the responsibility of all staff and other adults (volunteers, trainers, researchers, Board of Advisors) to come into contact with students to care for each and every student. This policy outlines the procedures expected to be taken by any member of staff and is based on Department for Education publications: Working Together to Safeguard Children (2006); Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education (2007); Working Together to Safeguard Children (2010); and Keeping children safe in education: Statutory guidance for schools and colleges (April 2014); as well as best practices from around the world, as advised by the Council of British International Schools.

 

Inim Foundation staff are well placed to observe the outward signs of abuse. The foundation will, therefore:

  • have a varied and inclusive curriculum, including personal safety
  • 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 Inim Foundation whom they can approach if they are worried
  • ensure every member of staff and other adults (including temporary, supply staff, volunteers, and Board of Advisors) know the name and role of the designated senior person responsible for child protection
  • ensure all staff and other adults understand their responsibilities in being alert to the signs of abuse and their responsibility for referring any concerns to the designated senior person responsible for child protection
  • ensure that parents have an understanding of the responsibility placed on Inim Foundation and staff for child protection by the creation of a clearly understandable policy
  • develop effective links with relevant agencies and cooperate as required with their inquiries regarding child protection matters
  • keep written records of concerns about children, even where there is no need to refer the matter immediately
  • ensure all records are kept securely, separate from the main pupil file, and in locked locations
  • develop and then follow procedures where an allegation is made against a member of staff or another adult
  • consistently implement the behavior policy
  • have an HR policy that stipulates appropriate behavior, dress, and ensures students have good role models

 

The aim of the policy is to ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff. More specifically:

  • To educate students and staff on how to keep safe and how to recognize behavior that is not acceptable
  • To recognise and support students and staff who are at risk of abuse
  • To ensure that all staff employed at Inim Foundation understand their responsibility to be alert to signs of abuse and to refer any concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
  • To ensure that new staff and volunteers are only appointed when all the appropriate checks have been made.

 

Staff Training

Records of all those who have attended training on Child Protection are kept centrally. Every employee and volunteer is required to read the policy and ask questions to ensure their understanding.

 

Designated Safeguarding Lead

Inim Foundation has a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). The DSL maintains close links with the rest of the Senior Leadership Team and is responsible for the updating of the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and ensuring that training needs are met.

 

According to Romanian Law, we have a special Social Service Department to which we can refer any serious concerns: Directia generala de asistenta sociala si protectie a copilului Str. G-ral Eremia Grigorescu nr. 37-39 CP 400304, Cluj-Napoca Telefon: +40 – 0264-420146, 420601 Fax: +40 – 0264-420602 E-mail: dgaspc_cluj@yahoo.com

 

Safer Recruitment

All staff, volunteers, and long-term and regular contractors are required to provide a police check before commencing work. All overseas staff will be required to submit a police check from the last country in which they have worked, or, where applicable.

 

Student Awareness

Students are taught about e-safety, ways to stay safe, and appropriate behavior in relationships through the Personal Development and Computing Curriculum. Students are taught about how to raise concerns both in and out of the Inim Foundation.

 

Support

A support plan will be developed by the DSL and any other relevant staff members for students of concern. Support from outside agencies will be sought as necessary. Staff support will be given by the DSL and SLT to address the impact of dealing with disclosures and to support students.

 

Reporting

All concerns will be reported to the DSL within 24 hours. The concerns may be raised in the following situations:

  • a pupil discloses to them personally
  • behavior of, or marks on, the pupil (e.g. bruises, welts, lacerations, abrasions) and/or indications through schoolwork
  • a pupil informs them that he/she knows or suspects that another pupil is being abused
  • another third party informs them that he/she knows or suspects that a pupil is being abused

 

If the DSL is not in the Inim Foundation, the concern should be raised with a member of SLT, who can decide if immediate action is required.

It is recognized that children need protection from:

  • Physical Harm
  • Emotional abuse
  • Sexual abuse
  • Neglect
  • Harmful material on the Internet

 

All reports will remain confidential, with only the DSL and SLT sharing information as relevant. Inim Foundation aims to teach pupils to understand what is acceptable behaviour and to speak up if they believe they or others are not being treated appropriately.

Concern report forms must:

  • Clearly identify which pupil the record refers to, leaving no room for mistaken identity
  • State the name, designation, and signature of the person completing the record
  • Give the date the record was written
  • Show the date(s) and time(s) of any incidents or when a concern was observed
  • Provide details of any witnesses to an incident
  • Distinguish between fact, opinion, and hearsay
  • Describe the concern in sufficient detail
  • Recount anything the pupil has said in their own words, including swear words or intimate vocabulary
  • Be written free of jargon and in a professional manner without stereotyping or discrimination
  • Cross-reference any siblings or extended family members, if relevant
  • Include a completed body map, if relevant, to show any visible injuries
  • Indicate who the record has been given/sent to

 

Allegations about members of staff

Inim Foundation must consider carefully the possibility of abuse if a member of staff has:

  • Behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have harmed, a child physically, emotionally, or sexually
  • Possibly committed a criminal offense against or related to a child
  • Behaved in a way that indicates he/she is unsuitable to work with children

 

When a complaint of abuse is made against a member of staff, there should be immediate consideration of whether the child is at risk and in need of protection. Any employee who becomes aware of an allegation or has concerns of a child protection nature must take immediate steps to ensure that the matter is reported directly to the DSL.

 

It is important that the member of staff reporting the concern acts quickly, and in the event that DSL or the SLT are unavailable, the matter should be reported to the most senior person available at the time. An investigation may be impeded if a concern is reported late.

 

Further action may be taken by Inim Foundation to investigate the matter internally in line with the staff disciplinary procedures.

 

Safeguarding – Record of Concern Form

 

Name of student:

Date of birth:

The contract number under which the child is involved in the foundation’s activities:

Name of person completing this form:

Role in Inim Foundation:

 

Incident witnessed / Disclosure made / Third party information / Concern observed.

Description of concern/incident/disclosure/information: (continued on reverse of sheet Yes/No)

Signature: Date:

 

Body Map attached (Yes/No)

Body Map (complete if needed with Record of Concern):

Mark on the body map above the location and approximate size of the injury you have witnessed.

 

This policy will be reviewed at least every two years, considering any feedback gathered from students, staff, and parents.

 

Reviewed By: Corina Chiorean (CEO of Inim Institute, Responsible for safeguarding policies, Staff health and safety officer, GDPR officer)

Approved Date: September 2023

Following Review: September 2025