Protecting yourself
False accusations against adults are very rare, and you are almost
certainly at considerably less risk than teachers. However there are a
few things you should do to minimize the risk of any unfortunate
misunderstandings.
Treat everyone with respect, and avoid favouritism.
Remember that someone else may misinterpret your actions,
no matter how well intentioned.
Avoid physical contact with pupils.
Discourage overfamiliarity. If a pupil develops a crush on you,
it’s a good idea to make sure the teacher knows, and perhaps
avoid that particular pupil.
Behave in a friendly but professional way – don’t join in childish
conversations, or use inappropriate language.
Avoid being alone with individual pupils. If a teacher asks you to
work with an individual pupil outside the classroom, ask
whether there is a public space you can use, such as a library
or resource base. Sit on the opposite side of the table to the
pupil.
Do not exchange e-mail addresses with pupils, or arrange to
meet them out of school. (However it is acceptable, for
instance, to tell them that you’re helping with an event at the
Science Festival, and encourage them to attend.)
CHILD PROTECTION ISSUES
It is relatively unlikely that this is something you will have to deal with
during your placement. However, children may regard anyone working
in a school as somebody “safe” to talk to, and perhaps you particularly
as you are nearer their age. This sheet is not a comprehensive guide,
but you should read it so that, in the unlikely event of you becoming
aware of a child who may be being abused, you know what you should
and shouldn’t do. The school will have a policy (which you may ask to
see), and a member of staff in charge of child protection issues; you will
need to pass on any information to the school to deal with.
What is abuse?
Abuse is the intentional harming of a child or other vulnerable person by
someone in a position of trust; this could be a relative, carer, neighbour,
or anyone else who has contact with children or other vulnerable
people.
There are 5 different categories of child abuse that are generally
recognised:
1. NEGLECT – persistent or severe neglect of a child, sufficient to
seriously endanger health or development. For example failure
to provide adequate food, shelter or supervision.
2. PHYSICAL ABUSE – deliberately inflicting physical injury to a
child. For example poisoning, shaking or hitting.
3. SEXUAL ABUSE – involving a child or young person in sexual
activities whether or not the child is aware of what is happening.
This may involve non-contact activities.
4. EMOTIONAL ABUSE – persistent or severe emotional ill-
treatment or rejection of a child by having no feeling of warmth,
care or concern for the child. All child abuse involves some
emotional ill treatment. For example age or developmentally
inappropriate expectations, ridiculing or bullying.
5. GRAVE CONCERN – a child who does not conveniently fit into
one of the above categories, but where social or medical
assessment indicates that there is a significant risk of abuse.
For example the child may live in the same household as an
abused child, or with someone known to be a child abuser.
It is important to remember that few abused children will fit neatly into
one or other category – most of them will be suffering from more than
one form of abuse. For example a neglected child will also be suffering
from emotional abuse.
What should I do if I am worried that a child or young person I
have contact with is at risk of harm?
Share your concerns with the class teacher, link teacher or person in
charge of child protection within the school. They may ask you to write
down your concerns, making sure that what you write down is clear,
factual and without speculation. You may be concerned because of a
change in behaviour, something that you are told, or a general unease.
Even if you think that this may be insignificant, it may fit into a wider
pattern of behaviour, or link in with something that someone else has
noticed, so it is still important to tell someone your concern. The person
in charge of child protection will log concerns, and monitor whether
action needs to be taken.
What should I do if a child or young person wants to tell me about
an abusive situation?
It is very important that you do not promise not to tell anyone else. If
abuse is disclosed, it must be reported. You need to make it clear that if
they tell you about something that is putting them or others at risk, you
will have to pass that information on. If a child asks if they can tell you a
secret, be very wary (although it may turn out to be that they fancy a
child on the other side of the room!).
If a child or young person trusts you enough to tell you about an
abusive situation, it means that they really trust and respect you – so
well done! Once you have made sure that they understand that you
may not be able to keep what they say a secret, and if the child or
young person still wants to tell you, you must make a record of what is
said, as soon as possible, but not while the child or young person is
talking to you. Make a note of the time, date, and place of disclosure,
and if anyone else was in the room.
Pass a copy of the notes you make on to the person responsible for
child protection as soon as you can, and keep the original. You are not
expected to contact social services yourself if you are in a school. Once
you have passed the information on you have done all that is expected
of you. You will not be involved in the decision to pass the information
on to social services, as the school has a duty to protect its pupils from
harm. As they will know the families of their pupils, they will be able to
use this information along with other information to make a decision.
After a child or young person has told you this kind of information, you
are likely to feel very confused. You may want help in coping with
powerful and conflicting emotions about the abuse. These could include
shock, anger, disbelief, self-blame and fear. You may need to talk to
someone else about what they have told you; you may have someone
within college you can talk to, or you may want to contact the
STIMULUS coordinator. Remember to keep the child’s name out of it at
this point; the school will deal with what needs to be done in terms of
reporting matters further.
Things to remember when you are in this kind of situation.
Explain that you can’t keep what they tell you a secret, and that
you need to tell someone if what they tell you is hurting them or
someone else.
Listen to the child or young person. Show that you believe what
they say and are taking it seriously. It is very rare for a child or
young person to report abuse when it has not taken place.
Try not to appear shocked.
Don’t ask any questions that will force the child or young person
to reveal any information that they don’t want to at that time.
Thank the child or young person for telling you, let them know
that it was the right thing to do and reassure them that they are
not to blame.
Don’t make any promises that you may not be able to keep.
Try to write down what was said, the place, time, and who else
was present as accurately as possible.
Don’t confront the alleged abuser yourself.
