Safeguarding

Safeguarding Officers

Miss C Ellis – Deputy Headteacher

Safeguarding Lead

Mrs R Pace

Deputy Safeguarding Officer

Mr J Ellis

Safeguarding Officer

Mr E Morris

Safeguarding Officer

Mr A Ratcliffe

Safeguarding Officer

The Co Chair of Governors at RHS are Mrs C Taylor & Mrs S Naylor

Safeguarding and Promoting the Welfare of Children includes:

• Protecting children from abuse and neglect.
• Preventing impairment of their health or development.
• Ensuring they receive safe and effective care so as to enable them to have optimum life chances.

Child Protection is a part of safeguarding and promoting welfare. This refers to the activity, which is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering or are at risk of suffering significant harm as a result of abuse or neglect. 

Worried about a child

Abuse (physical, sexual, emotional) or neglect can have damaging effects on a child’s health, education attainment and emotional well-being. Some changes in a child’s behaviour may not necessarily indicate that a child is suffering abuse or neglect. In some cases those changes may be symptoms of a hidden disability, un-diagnosed medical condition or changes in medication. If whilst working with a child you become concerned about:

• Comments made by a child
• Marks or bruising on a child
• Changes in a child’s behaviour
• Home conditions or situations
• Appearance or dress
• Information shared by parents/carers about concerns relating to their child.

Please report these concerns to the designated safeguarding officer.

Disclosure by a Child:

Whilst this can be an alarming situation, it is important that you know what to do in such an eventuality and for you to be able to stay calm and controlled. 

• Listen to what is being said without displaying shock or disbelief. Accept what is being said.
• Allow the child to talk freely, listen rather than ask direct questions.
• Re-assure the child, but do not make promises that may not be possible to keep.
• Do not promise confidentiality but explain to the child that you have to tell the appropriate person in order that you can help them.
• Do not interrogate the child or ask leading questions.
• Re-assure the child that it is not their fault.
• Stress that it was right to tell.
• Make them aware that their disclosure will be reported only to those that need to know and can help.
• Record details of the disclosure immediately, including wherever possible the exact words used by the child. Sign and date the record.
• Report your concerns and give your written record to the Designated Safeguarding Co-ordinator to enable the matter to be dealt with in the most appropriate way.
• Be aware of your own feelings about abuse and find someone you can share your feelings with once the procedures have been completed.

It is important to remember the children’s details and names must remain confidential and any discussion that you feel you need to undertake does not allow the child to be identified to anyone else.

Volunteers / Visitors Responsibility

All those who come into contact with children through their everyday work whether paid or voluntary are responsible for their own actions and behaviour. You avoid any contact which would lead to any reasonable person to question your motivation and intention. At Rhyl High School we all have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of our children.

Identity Badges

All visitors within Rhyl high School must wear a visitors badge received from Reception. Any adults without a badge will be challenged.

DBS Certificates

All staff, including supply staff, regular visitors and volunteers are subject to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificates. This is to help ensure that unsuitable people are prevented from working with children. Advice about DBS certificates is available from the school office. 

 What do I do?

• If you think a child has been abused or is at risk of suffering abuse don’t ignore or forget it.
• Contact the school office and ask to speak to one of the Designated Safeguarding Officers.

How you should respond to an allegation against a member of staff

• Take it seriously – do not dismiss it!
• Report directly to the Headteacher (Do not delay)

How you should respond to an allegation against the Headteacher.

• Take it seriously – do not dismiss it!
• Report directly to either Co-Chair of Governors, Cassy Taylor or Sam Naylor (Do not delay)
• The Local Authority Designated Safeguarding Officer can also be contacted on 01824 708169

We are committed to safeguarding and meeting the needs of all our children.

Whole School Designated Safeguarding Lead: Ceri Ellis, Deputy Headteacher

Deputy Leads: Rebecca Pace, Assistant Head, John Ellis, Assistant Head, Elliot Morris, Aaron Ratcliffe

The RHS School Governors with responsibility for safeguarding are Cassy Taylor and Samantha Naylor

Everyone has a responsibility to make sure that children within Rhyl High School are safe.

PLEASE DO NOT:

Decide to do nothing or leave our school without telling anyone.

For further information please refer to:

• Operation Encompass Safeguarding Statement
• Safeguarding Leaflet for Visitors
• Welsh Government Guidance
• Parents/Carers Guide to Social Media
• Parents/Carers Guide to sharing information/images online
• Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy