Visitors and Volunteers
As an Academy we are committed to safeguarding and meeting the needs of children. We hope this leaflet will provide some useful advice and information when working with children at Danesholme Infant Academy.
What are my responsibilities as a Volunteer?
All those who come into contact with children through their every day work whether paid or voluntary have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
DBS checks
Danesholme Infant’s Recruiting and Selection Procedures specify that all volunteers who work with children will require a DBS Disclosure. These are completed online.
Please also inform the Head of Academy immediately if you become subject to any criminal investigation, caution or conviction. This helps to protect you as well as the young people in your care.
What should I do if I am worried about a child?
If you become concerned about:
· Comments made by a child
· Marks or bruising on a child
· Changes in the child’s behaviour or demeanour
Please report this to the class teacher who will pass the information on to a Designated Safeguarding Lead.
What should I do if a child discloses that s/he is being harmed?
Although the likelihood of this is small it is important to know what to do in such an eventuality as children rarely lie about such matters.
· Listen to what is being said without displaying shock or disbelief; accept what is being said
· Allow the child to talk freely
· Reassure the child, but do not make promises that might not be possible to keep
· Do not promise confidentiality but explain to the child that you have to tell their teacher or Principal in order that they can help him/her
· Do not interrogate the child or ask leading questions
· Reassure the pupil that it is not their fault
· Stress that it was the right thing to tell
· Listen rather than ask direct questions
· Do not criticise the alleged perpetrator
Immediately record details of the disclosure, including wherever possible the exact words or phrases used by the child. Please ensure you have signed and dated the record and passed immediately to the DSL.
What should I do if the alleged abuser is a member of the Academy staff?
You should report such allegations to the Head of Academy.
What should I do if the alleged abuser is the Headteacher?
You should report such allegations to the Executive Principal or Education Director.
How do I assure that my behaviour is always appropriate?
Appropriate relationships with children should be based on mutual trust and respect.
As a volunteer you may well be working closely with children sometimes on a one to one basis.
Children, especially when they are young, are often spontaneously affectionate and tactile and it is important not to alienate them through lack of response or by appearing to reject this. You should, however, be careful about touching pupils.
If you are working with a pupil on his/her own always ensure that the door is left open or that you can be visible to others.
Do not photograph pupils, unless requested to by the class teacher, exchange e-mails or text messages, or give out your own personal details.
Please help us to safeguard the children in our care by following these guidelines.
No child should suffer harm, either at home or at Academy. Everyone who works in our Academy has a responsibility to make sure that all our children are safe.
This information has been given to you to make sure you understand what is expected of you. Please ask a member of staff or DSL if you are unclear about anything in it, and keep the leaflet in a safe place, so that you can read it again if you need to.
If you are worried about the safety of any young person in our Academy, you must report this to a Designated Safeguarding Lead.
