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No 37: DSL role during COVID-19

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Overview

During these unprecedented times schools are having to run on reduced staffing numbers and this may include without the school DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead) or Deputy DSL. In most situations the DSL / DDSL will be available by phone to support the school even if they are having to self-isolate. However there may be exceptional circumstances when due to illness another member of the staff team is acting as the DSL with limited knowledge of the role. Wherever possible for good practice this member of staff should be part of the schools senior leadership team (SLT).

In these exceptional circumstances the member of staff acting as DSL will undertake a stripped down version of the role as outlined in KCSiE 2019.

It is strongly recommended that in these circumstances the acting DSL must read the KCSiE 2019 (whole document) as well as refreshing their knowledge on internal policies and procedures.

Key roles for acting DSLs

Monitoring and acting upon safeguarding concerns:

  • Ensure that any concerns are logged on a pupil’s file to continue to build a picture – use current school systems where possible (CPOMS/EduKey/Paper)
  • Ensure any concerns a child is at risk of harm are reported to social care or the police.

Please use the Devon MASH Level of need (threshold) tool (or equivalent) for guidance and if you are still unsure contact the social care consultation links for support:

If a child is open to social care, ensure that any concerns are reported to the allocated social worker. If you are unsure of who the allocated social worker is contact local social work teams on the following numbers:

If following the Safer Me assessment the risk is associated with an individual child / young person you should hold a Safer Me or Safer Me Plus meeting to agree a plan of support to help minimise the identified risks.

Safer Me meeting – Is instead of a TAF (Team around the Family) or CiN (Child in Need) meeting. If school feel that the family need additional support but threshold is not met for social care involvement they should undertake a Safer Me meeting using the assessment framework on DSCP and R4C (Right for Children). If a Safer Me assessment being submitted to MASH is felt to need social care involvement at Section 17 level this will result in a Safer Me meeting held by a named social worker.

Safer Me Plus meeting – Is instead of the traditional Child Protection pathway. If the threshold is met for Section 47 an initial child protection Safer Me Plus Conference will be held but using the Safer Me Plus model of support. Meetings will be chaired by IRO (Independent Safeguarding and reviewing officer).

Children looked After are also considered within the Framework, via a Safer Me CIC review. This meeting is in addition to the statutory meetings already in place. This meeting focuses on managing and responding to risk outside of the care placement. This meeting is facilitated by children’s social care but can be requested by colleagues within the multi-agency.

Key things to look out for:

Physical abuse

Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child.
Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces illness in a child.

Emotional abuse

Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and adverse effects on the child’s emotional development.

It may involve conveying to a child that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person.

It may include not giving the child opportunities to express their views, deliberately silencing them or ‘making fun’ of what they say or how they communicate. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions that are beyond a child’s developmental capability as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the child from participating in normal social interaction. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another.

It may involve serious bullying causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children.

Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, although it may occur alone.

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, including exploitation, not necessarily involving a level of violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative (e.g. rape, buggery or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts. They may include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of sexual online images, watching sexual activities, or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.

Neglect

Neglect is the persistent/ongoing failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development.  Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse.  Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to; provide adequate food, clothing and shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment) protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger, ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate care-givers), ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment.  It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.
Further information on Neglect – including Devon Neglect Toolkit

Domestic, Sexual, Violence and Abuse (DSVA)

Domestic Abuse and Violence is the misuse of power and the exercise of control by one person over another within a close relationship.
It may involve:

  • Physical violence
  • Emotional or psychological abuse
  • Sexual violence and abuse
  • Controlling where you go and who you meet
  • Financial control

If you suspect Domestic Abuse you can complete a DASH RIC (A Risk Identification Checklist) and a MARAC referral.

Link to MARAC | Domestic and Sexual Violence and Abuse

Exploitation

County Lines, sexual (CSE), radicalisation and extremism, modern slavery, criminal gangs, trafficking:

  • The young person could receive something in return for sexual services or behaviour or activities, or enticing someone else into such activities.
  • Could be forced, coerced, bribed or receive something in return for, for example, drug running or working.
  • Always involves a relationship of inequality of power, influence or control.
  • Perpetrators use sophisticated grooming strategies.
  • Frequently seen by the young person as acceptable at first.
  • Violence, coercion, intimidation.
  • Includes the use of technology whereby the young person may not immediately recognise what is being done.

Channel referral for concerns regarding radicalisation.

Female genital mutilation (FGM)

If a member of staff, in the course of their work in the profession, discovers that an act of FGM appears to have been carried out on a girl under the age of 18, the teacher must report this to the police.

Further information and guidance

Safeguarding team contact details:


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