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Safe and well: Good practice in schools and education authorities for keeping children safe and well

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Introduction and Order Form

A handbook for staff, schools and education authorities in the care and welfare of children and child protection.

Education authorities are responsible for the development of information and guidance for staff to ensure awareness of children's needs, and the local practice and procedures to be followed when there are concerns about children's safety and wellbeing. The Safe and Well handbook does not replace local procedures; they may be used to supplement local guidance or as a benchmark of requirements. Local structures and culture must inform detailed local procedures. The aim for all staff, schools and education authorities must be to make sure children get the help they need when they need it and to achieve the best possible outcomes for children who need help, support and protection, in partnership with other agencies.

The task of enabling staff in schools to play their part in keeping children safe and well cannot be left to guidance alone. Within a policy framework that is regularly reviewed, staff must be developed and systems and procedures practiced to ensure schools feel prepared, and that staff and pupils can be appropriately supported.

The guides are presented in four sections:

For all staff:

Safe and Well, your role in helping schools support children, young people and families and protecting children

This pocket guide is for all staff, providing information for basic awareness and introducing staff to the Child Protection Co-ordinator role in their school or service. The guide has space to incorporate local contact information and is available to order as a pocket-sized resource. Many authorities already use such a device for informing staff at all levels.

For schools:

Safe and Well, a guide for school Child Protection Co-ordinators

The guide proposes a role for a Child Protection Co-ordinator in each school or service, or cluster of schools. This person may be the Headteacher, or may be a member of the school's Personal Support or Guidance team or other appropriate member of staff. This person will have responsibility for receiving concerns referred by others and taking appropriate action. It is a crucial role for children and young people in making sure they get the help they need when they need it, and for education authorities to help ensure consistency of approach. The guide provides a reminder for schools of the wide ranging policies and practice that integrate with their role of helping children to be safe and well.

For education authorities:

Safe and Well, education authority collaboration and support for schools

The guide proposes that in each education authority a designated member of staff, a Child Protection Officer, should:

• co-ordinate the authority-level response when a concern arises

• support and enable schools to be effective in helping children to be safe and well

• develop appropriate links, joint planning and partnership working with other agencies.

This guide does not repeat school-level information - the Child Protection Officer should refer to the school guide to develop his or her support and development role.

For schools and authorities:

A guide for schools and authorities on action to take when a child goes missing from education

This guide provides information on steps that schools and education authorities should take when children lose contact with schools or other services.

The guide provides templates and information on how to inform the national Children Missing Education (Scotland) service if this is required.

For schools and authorities:

Safe and Well A-Z, a guide to practice issues for special awareness

The A-Z guide describes a wide range of issues about which some consideration of children's safety, wellbeing and protection may be required. The information does not replace local guidance and in many cases, refers to more detailed and specific national guidance or other resources on the subjects. The guide is an at-a-glance reminder for staff.

For schools and authorities:

Law and policy

The law and policy section provides a snapshot of legislation and policy relevant to schools' and education authorities' work in keeping children safe and well.

Updates

The ring-binder format is designed to accommodate new sections and inserts that may be produced from time to time, which update schools and authorities on policy and practice.

Order Form

If you wish to order quantities of this document, an order form is available to Scottish local authorities and schools. EDPSID@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

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Page updated: Thursday, August 25, 2005