Part 3 - Safer Recruitment and Safer Working Practice

There is limited oversight over the recruitment and selection processes. Governance and senior leadership have not read the most recent versions of statutory guidance and have not reviewed their practice. Practice has followed previous models and processes without consideration for up-to-date requirements. 

The Designated Safeguarding Lead has ensured that the relevant members of the senior leadership team and the business manager (or equivalent) has appropriate levels of training. The headteacher/principal including the governor completes annual audits of the relevant recruitment and selection processes to ensure compliance with statutory guidance. 

In addition to the conditions in the AMBER: Those responsible for recruitment have completed safer recruitment training certified by a company that makes up the Safer Recruitment Practice Consortium. Training is reviewed every three years. 

• Teacher misconduct: disciplinary procedures - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Safer Recruitment Consortium training information

The setting does record appropriate checks about all staff, including prohibition from teaching checks for any staff undertaking teaching activity, and volunteers and these are held centrally and securely. There are no gaps within the record. There are tabs on the record that evidence appropriate checks for; teaching staff, support staff, volunteers, contractors, visitors, governors, proprietors, trustees, agency, or supply staff.

The setting records all appropriate checks about all staff and volunteers centrally and securely. Where checks have not yet been obtained there are risk assessments in place to cover the interim period. The record is checked and signed off by the headteacher (or equivalent) and governance at least termly and evidence of this is recorded. Any deficits are addressed promptly.

Keeping children safe in education - GOV.UK  (Part 3)

The setting conducts some checks but may rely on others to have conducted some checks on their behalf (i.e., when commissioning a provision from the Bristol City Council Alternative Learning Provision Framework, assuming that the individual has appropriate checks because the setting is on the framework). Quality assurance visits take place on an agreed basis supported by a service level agreement. 

In addition to the conditions in the AMBER: The setting has a robust system in place for requesting and recording evidence of appropriate checks. Quality assurance visits take place on site and obtain the voice of relevant staff, children, and family members). Where deficits may be identified, the setting alerts the appropriate staff as well as wider teams (i.e., When checks have not been carried out on Alternative Learning Provider staff, the setting is notified alongside the commissioning team at Bristol City Council if the setting is on the Alternative Learning Provider framework).

• Alternative Learning Provision framework

The setting does highlight safer working practice issues through annual training. The development of these processes is managed only by SLT. The setting has a system in place to effectively report and record low level concerns.

In addition to the conditions in the AMBER: The setting considers safer working practice as part of safeguarding updates throughout the year. The setting involves the whole staff in the development of low-level concerns policies and processes as well as helping staff to understand their role in managing this. There are processes in place to review and respond effectively to the concerns reported, including the ability to review concerns raised to identify trends.

• developing-and-implementing-a-low-level-concerns-policy.pdf
• Safer Recruitment Consortium training information

The setting has an effective behaviour policy includes procedures around the use of positive handling and restraint, detailing the circumstances in which physical intervention may be used. This is consistent with national guidance – Use of Reasonable Force in schools 2013. For Early Years providers this also includes adherence to the statutory prohibition of the use or threat of corporal punishment. The setting has adequate number of staff fully trained - but all staff receive as a minimum a briefing on de-escalation skills. Children, parents, and carers are aware of settings approach to using physical interventions.

There is a bound or numbered book (or equivalent)

• Voice of child is reflected in recordings of incidents processes.

 A named person responsible for monitoring and signing off all incidents reported (operational) – have assured that the setting is complaint with guidance (contact with parents, follow up with child’s individual behaviour plans to reduce need for physical intervention).

In addition to the conditions in the AMBER:  The setting has a separate positive handling policy. Leadership have learned from serious case reviews and senior leaders have read the ‘Reducing the need for restrictive intervention ‘2019 and have reviewed the setting’s policy and practice to ensure those children with additional needs have reasonable adjustments made. 

 A whole setting approach is undertaken around a ‘team teach’ approach or equivalent. Contextual safeguarding approaches are evidenced with location of interventions identified, assessed, and have interventions. There is evidence of the governance, senior leadership team and Designated Safeguarding Leads to identify data trends that impact on practice.

• Use of reasonable force in schools - GOV.UK
• Reducing the need for restraint and restrictive intervention - GOV.UK

There is evidence that staff have been provided training on what constitutes inappropriate or illegal behaviour. There is a clear understanding of who to report any concerns to and how to do this. Reports are made in a timely way and recorded appropriately.  

Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework - GOV.UK

There is no/ inconsistent process in place to monitor or review arrangements.

There is a consistent process in place to monitor and review arrangements by the Designated Safeguarding Lead and a member of governance. Concerns are followed up and reported to the appropriate multi-agency partners.

In addition to the conditions in the AMBER: Actions are undertaken to identify themes and trends and address concerns at least on an annual basis.