THE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL LTD

SAFEGUARDING YOUNG PEOPLE WHO

ATTEND A TAS PROGRAMME

© 2010 by The Alternative School Ltd. All rights reserved.

Team: All Staff Working for TAS

Date: MAY 2010

Reviewed: MAY 2009

To be reviewed: MAY 2011

1) Statement of Intent

TAS recognises its duty to ensure that young people are protected from harm and therefore
makes this general statement of policy.

2) Policy Statement

TAS works to:

 Safeguard the welfare of young people we work with by protecting them from physical,
sexual and emotional harm.

 Support the creation of an environment where young people are listened to and are
encouraged to talk about themselves, their lives and any concerns they may have.

TAS recognises that young people suffer abuse when they are:

Physically abused

 actual or bodily injury

 failure to prevent injury

Sexually abused

 actual or likely sexual exploitation

Emotionally abused

 persistent or sever emotional ill-treatment or rejection affecting emotional or behavioural

development

Neglected

 Persistent or severe neglect or failure to protect from exposure to danger.

© 2010 by The Alternative School Ltd. All rights reserved.

3) Child Protection

Child abuse occurs when the behaviour of someone in a position of greater power causes harm
to a child or young person.

Abuse can take a number of forms, including:

 physical injury
 sexual abuse
 emotional abuse
 Neglect.

All local authorities will have clear procedures and policies for responding to the disclosure of
abuse. This is the responsibility of the Social Services Child Protection Team, and people
working with young people should be aware of these guidelines.

Code of Practice

Behaviour Statement

TAS will ensure that all TAS staff, volunteers and those working for sub-contractors/partners in
delivery, or other organisations working with our young people:

a) Always;
 be aware of these guidelines
 treat everyone with respect
 provide a good example to others
 ensure that another adult is present when in the company of young people (ideally mixed
genders)
 respect a persons right to privacy
 encourage young people and adults to feel comfortable and caring enough to point out
attitudes and behaviour they do not like
 remember that someone might misrepresent your actions and your comments, no matter
how well intentioned
 recognise that caution is required, particularly in sensitive moments, such as when
dealing with bullying, bereavement, grief, or abuse
 be aware of the possible implications of contact with young people
 On residential: ensure that there is separate sleeping accommodation for leaders and
male and female young people. Ensure that all reasonable precautions are taken to
protect young people from ‘outsiders’

b) Never;
 Permit abusive youth peer activities (e.g. initiation ceremonies, ridiculing, bullying)
 Jump to conclusions
 Never allow yourself to be drawn into any inappropriate attention seeking behaviour by
young people (e.g. crushes) or anything which could lead to physical contact. This should
be avoided.
 Exaggerate or trivialise child abuse issues
 Show favouritism to any individual
 Make suggestive remarks or gestures
 Rely upon ‘just your good name’ to protect you

© 2010 by The Alternative School Ltd. All rights reserved.

  Believe ‘it could never happen to me’, either dealing with abuse or being accused of
committing abuse

What to do if one-to-one is unavoidable

 Make sure you are aware of the TAS lone worker policy
 Make sure it is for as short a time as possible
 Ensure that you are accessible to others
 Tell someone else where you are going, what you are doing and why
 Try to move with the young person to areas where there are more people
 Try to use rooms with surveillance cameras
 Try to avoid unnecessary physical contact, especially if the young person or other people
could misconstrue it
 If you do have to touch a young person, ensure that you get their permission first.

Action Statement
If you suspect, or are told that a young person is being abused by either the
person themselves, another young person or an adult.

 You must always refer – you must never investigate

 Write down the facts, as you know them or the nature of the allegation in detail.
 Pass on the information to your CENTRE MANAGER / line manager immediately who
will seek further guidance from the school C.P. liaison officer or Sue Roscow (TAS
Advisory Board Member & Child Protection Lead Person (NHS). TAS centre managers
are Michelle Gilman and Catherine White, their line manager and C.P. Lead person is
Kirsty-Anne Pugh. Should none of these be available, document the incident and
discuss with one of the above as soon as you can / within 24 hours. Any written
information must be stored in an envelope marked confidential and put with the learners
details, kept in the top drawer of the locked cabinet.
 It is the duty of The Centre Manager first, secondly the Line Manager if Centre Manager
not available to report this incident immediately to the child protection officer within the
young persons school. Details of these contacts can be found below.
 Ensure that the young person is given the opportunity to talk to you, or another person if
appropriate.
 Listen to the young person without interruption, and do not ask questions about what you
may suspect
 Do not approach a suspected abuser yourself
 Provide support as appropriate, bearing in mind this code of practice
 Accept at face value what the young person says
 Do not pass judgement on what is said, but do try to alleviate any fears or guilt which the
young person may have
 Make it clear that you can offer support, and that you must pass on the information

It is the policy of TAS to safeguard the welfare of all young people by taking reasonable steps to protect
them from physical, sexual and emotional harm.

Signed: ____________________________________ Date: ________________

Director

© 2010 by The Alternative School Ltd. All rights reserved.

Child protection Procedures (to support TAS child protection statement).
All staff to read and refer to the document, Safe from harm (issued by the home office), and TAS
Code of Practice.
 All staff will complete and sign a CRB Disclosure Form to provide permission for checks
to be made with the Criminal Records Bureau.
 The process of implementing this policy is the responsibility of the Head – Kirsty-Anne
Pugh along with the SMT.

School Child Protection Contacts -

Marsden Heights Community College Alison Edwards 0844 412 7383

Pendle Vale Community College Warren Price 01282 682240

Pendle Vale College Andy Blackburn 01282 682240

West Craven High Technology College Gill Cornwell 01282 812292

Primet High School Debra Harrison 01282 863970

Park High School Doug Clark 01282 865200

Pupil Access Team Paul Sandiford 01254 220722

Hargher Clough Kelly Dawson 01282 421142

Oswaldtwistle School Christine Ritson 01254 231553

Unity College Nathan Rogan 01282 436 311

Ryddings Martin Breckell 01254 231 051

Hollins High School

Sharples School

© 2010 by The Alternative School Ltd. All rights reserved.