Page 36 - TASIS Safeguarding - Child Protection Policy

APPENDIX 2 - MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES OF STAFF INCLUDING THE DSL AND DEPUTY DSLs:
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and Deputy DSL: They are members of the school’s senior leadership (SLT) with the status and authority to carry out the duties of the posts of DSL/Deputy DSL and /Deputy Prevent Officers. The Deputy DSL will act as DSL in their absence and otherwise will carry out safeguarding tasks and duties as specified by the DSL in accordance with the details set down below. The core responsibility of the DSL, who is a member of the SLT, is to take lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection, maintain an overview of safeguarding within the school, to open channels of communication with local statutory agencies and to monitor the effectiveness of policies and procedures in practice. This is explicit in the job description. The DSL, who has the status and authority within the school to carry out the duties of the post is given the time, funding, training, resources and support to provide advice and support to other staff on child welfare and child protection matters, to take part in strategy discussions and interagency meetings—and/or to support other staff to do so—and to contribute to the assessment of children. If the DSL is unavailable, the Deputy DSL will carry out these duties.
Duties Of The DSL
Managing Referrals
The DSL is expected to refer cases of suspected abuse to the local authority Children’s Services as required:
• The LADO for child protection allegations which concern a member of staff or volunteer;
• The Disclosure and Barring Service where a person is dismissed or left due to risk/harm to a
child and/or the Police if a crime may have been committed;
• Support staff who make referrals to local authority Children’s Services and the Channel
programme;
• Refer cases to the Channel programme where there is a radicalisation concern as required;
• To liaise with the Proprietor for Safeguarding Issues and to keep links with Surrey MASH and
the LADO;
• Keep staff aware of child protection procedures and ensure staff are alert to changes in
children’s behaviour, which could indicate that they may be in need of help or protection.
Work with others
The DSL is expected to:
• Liaise with the Head of School to inform them of issues especially on-going enquiries under
section 47 of the Children Act 1989 and Police investigations, and liaise with the local authority in order to obtain ‘early help’ and support for students in accordance with Section 17 Children Act 1989;
• As required, liaise with the “Case Manager” (as per Part four) and the Designated Officer(s) at the local authority for child protection concerns (all cases which concern a staff member); and liaise with staff on matters of safety and safeguarding and when deciding whether to make a referral by liaising with relevant agencies. Act as a source of support, advice and expertise for staff.
Undertake training
The DSL and Deputy DSLs undergo specific training to be updated every 2 years. In addition, they refresh their knowledge and skills in order to keep up with any developments relevant to their role (this might be through e-bulletins, meeting other DSLs or reading new safeguarding developments) in order to:
• Understand the assessment process for providing early help and intervention, for example through locally agreed common and shared assessment processes such as early help assessments;
• Have a working knowledge of how local authorities conduct a child case conference and a child protection review conference and be able to attend and contribute to these effectively when required to do so;
• Ensure each member of staff has access to and understands the school’s Child Protection