any teachers on here

work as, or have any knowledge of the role and duties of the designated teacher for child protection in junior schools?

 

JamDrop has loads of long holidays.

 

Thanks Ponty I'm not great on the roles of the Child Protection Officer sorry. All I can say as a teacher is that we have to obviously report anything that gives concern, and that we are never to tell the child that we won't tell anyone else anything they tell us. I know ours goes to loads of meetings that I have to fill in forms for all the time.

 

He he. Sorry. Couldn't resist it.

 

I'm a Secondary School teacher ^^^ what she said^^^

We have what is call a 'duty of care. 'Concerns would usually be signs of neglect, abuse (bruises etc....) or anything drug/sex related. The safeguarding officer then decides on the course of action. This obviously depends on the circumstances. Sometimes a parental meeting, a CAF (common assessment framework) meeting, which is a voluntary process. There can also be child in need plans, where the child is not seen as being in any danger, however their parent(s)/guardian or the child is struggling to cope with a circumstance. Though I am sure the local authority or social services put this in place after being contacted by the school.

There is also a child protection plan, where the child is viewed as being in danger.

Hope this helps. Though I am not the child protection officer. At our school.

I imagine the role is very similar in any type of school. Being a secondary school teacher, we don't see too many cases. Mostly things like this are identified and dealt with in primary/junior school.

 

What they said ^^^^^ we fill in a concern form which is then passed onto our head / deputy or assistant head. They investigate the incident - talk to the child etc - then decide if any other agency needs to be involved

 

Would there be any circumstances where the designated teacher is allowed to do an intimate assessment of a child involving removing their clothes?

 

I couldn't tell you to be honest. There very well might be something in place for if they have reason to believe that there is an injury/evidence of abuse that is covered up by their clothed area. If we suspect a child has chicken pox/is hurt under their t-shirt for example we have to ask the child to lift their top up and not do it ourselves. Don't know if that is just our school though or what the law says.

 

What if it was trousers and underpants and the child was made to bend over while the teacher inspected him

 

I don't know Ponty Al, I don't know the circumstances. If you have a complaint, then you should take it up with the school/relevant authorities. I have had a child in my class who had bowel problems and needed TAs to help them wipe after visiting the toilet, we also had a diabetic child who had injections in their bottom (not sure why there), so yes, there are circumstances that may warrant that.

 

It's not me, it's my sons partners little boy. I'm certain what's happened is not normal practise so I'm just trying to get any information I can.
I'm going with them to report it tomorrow with the education authority.
To be honest ive spent all day stopping him from going to the school to give this teacher a good hiding

 

Has he tried asking the school what happened first before reporting the teacher who may very well get suspended for (possibly) doing nothing wrong? Of course, if you/he are not satisfied with the answer, then you should most definitely report it.

 

Why have they decided to check them out? Were parent's informed? Have they actually spoken to the parent's? Got to admit I wouldn't do it - I just fill a form in and pass it on. We had a lad who was accidentally kicked between the legs and we phoned mum to come and check him out.

 

Yeah, I wouldn't do it either, but without knowing anymore it's impossible to know if they were in the right or not. From the info we've got the kid could have just been randomly selected, or be bleeding profusely/told the teacher that something was incredibly wrong with his pants area that needed immediate attention. We also don't know who was present at the time.

 

They have spoken to the teacher involved and the headmaster. The responce was totally unsatisfactory

 

I'm not really sure this is the place to be honest. If you have an issue you should raise it through the correct procedures where all sides and facts can be taken in to account

 

The boy told his teacher his bum was sore, she told the designated teacher who did this. He then called the headmaster in to come and look and even the classroom assistant. So all three of them are messing about with a little boys backside for what turned out to excema. But he reported it to social services anyway claiming it was a bruise. SS went to mums took her to school and it clearly was excema.. She took her son home, the SS turned up later and just said it was a mistake. This was last week.
Yesterday this teacher did it again claiming he was checking if the excema was better. Needless to say his mum has removed him from the school. My son went to see the headmaster who claimed he has the right to do it.
To me, this is not right and tomorrow we will see what the LEA say about it

 

I know there are teachers on here so I'm just trying to get their take on things as I am struggling to get my head round it

 

Again I really don't think you should be sharing this on here. As you've rightly said you're going to speak to the LEA

 

Can someone lock/delete this?