No.48: Allegations and concerns about adults

Summary: a guide for school staff

Part 4 of Keeping Children Safe in Education 2021, as in previous years, details schools’ and any education setting’s responsibilities and role to ensure that any allegations or concerns are managed appropriately when about other adults. Central to this is the understanding, including for volunteers, contractors, agency staff and visitors, should they see, hear or know of behaviour, any allegation or concern must be reported. Such a concern should be made to the Headteacher or equivalent school leader in writing. Should the allegation or concern be about the Headteacher, then the Chair of Governors, or equivalent named person within the setting’s safeguarding policy be contacted, again in writing.

It is for the Headteacher to act upon the information they receive using part 4 of KCSiE to inform and support their decision making process. Adults must therefore be confident in their understanding of what such concerns might be, including if about visiting agency staff such as supply teachers. Such a concern or allegation must be shared in writing to the appropriate adult. This understanding should be confirmed through staff training, the setting’s safeguarding policy and from clarity about adult’s behaviour, including when using technology within the code of conduct.

Allegations that may meet the ‘harm threshold’

On receipt of an allegation, the Headteacher must consider if the following criteria has been met, referred to as the ‘harm threshold’. Has the adult, for whom the allegation has been shared:

• behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child and/or
• possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child and/or
• behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates he or she may pose a risk of harm to children; and/or
• behaved or may have behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children

This list could include behaviour that has taken place outside of the school or through a digital means.

Where this is, or likely to be the case, the Headteacher must seek support and guidance of the local authority designated officer (LADO). The LADO will work with the Headteacher (or Chair of Governors should the allegation be about the Headteacher) to support any investigation, immediate actions required to safeguard children and consider, depending on nature of the allegation, if the Police or other relevant agency/agencies become involved.

In managing any such allegation, the Headteacher will, at all times take into account the welfare of all concerned.

Concerns that do not meet the harm threshold

Concerns of any nature may arise in several ways and from a number of sources. For example: suspicion; complaint; or disclosure made by a child, parent or other adult within or outside of the organisation; or as a result of vetting checks undertaken. It is important that schools and colleges have appropriate policies and processes in place to manage and record any such concerns and take appropriate action to safeguard children. Creating a culture in which all concerns about adults are shared responsibly and with the right person, recorded and dealt with appropriately, is critical.

The term ‘low-level’ concern does not mean that it is insignificant, it means that the behaviour towards a child does not meet the ‘harm threshold’. A low-level concern is therefore any concern – no matter how small, and even if no more than causing a sense of unease or a ‘nagging doubt’ – that an adult working in or on behalf of the school or college may have acted in a way that is inconsistent with the staff code of conduct, including inappropriate conduct outside of work should be reported in the same way as allegations to the Headteacher. Where a concern is about the Headteacher, this should be shared with the Chair of Governors or named adult in a similar role.

Examples of such behaviour could include, but are not limited to:

• being over friendly with children
• having favourites
• taking photographs of children on their mobile phone
• engaging with a child on a one-to-one basis in a secluded area or behind a closed
• door
• using inappropriate sexualised, intimidating or offensive language

Adults who have any such concerns must therefore be confident in their role to share these with the appropriate adult. Such concerns will be managed within the schools local policies and procedures.

Summary

• All adults working in a setting must understand their role in sharing any concerns whether low level, or a more significant allegation
• Adults need to recognise that such concerns could arise in school, out of school or through the use of technology
• Leaders need to ensure that all staff understand, within the context of their setting examples that would need reporting and to whom including should these be about the Headteacher
• Each setting must confirm through its policies and code of conduct who and how to report including if such concerns/allegations are about the Headteacher
• All adults must understand the above points equally refer to concerns or allegations about volunteers, agency staff including supply teachers and contractors
• Governors must ensure that the settings policies and procedures reflect these points through staff induction and ongoing training

Links to further information

Keeping Children Safe In Education: Specifically part 4
NSPCC – Managing allegations of abuse – guidance and links for school leaders and staff
Guidance for safer working practice – Safer Recruitment consortium