Safeguarding Overview
At Connell Co-op College, we want all young people to remain safe and free from harm. We are committed to playing a full and active part in the multi-agency response to child protection concerns.
We have a legal duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of young people and to have a Child Protection Policy. College staff have a crucial role to play in noticing indicators of possible abuse or neglect through their day-to-day contact with young people, and their work with families.
Parents and carers should be aware that where it appears to a member of staff that a young person may have been abused, the school is required, as part of the local child protection procedures, to report their concern to Manchester Children’s Services immediately.
Principles
- Young people have a right to be safe, to be listened to, valued and respected.
- Parents/carers have a right to be informed of any concerns regarding their child.
- Young people are best protected when parents/carers and college work together.
- All staff are given appropriate training and support.
- All staff are subject to rigorous recruitment checks.
We ensure children are effectively protected
- We have a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and two Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSL) with responsibility for safeguarding and child protection.
- These staff are Rosie Pate (DSL), Carmen Castrillon (DDSL) and Paul Heald (DDSL).
- They attend multi-agency training at least once every two years and local network meetings.
- All staff are trained in basic child protection awareness each year.
- There is a weekly safeguarding slot in staff meetings to discuss safeguarding matters.
- A student-friendly version of the child protection and safeguarding policy is available for all young people on the Connell student site and in the Hive/Beehive.
- The safeguarding policy is accessible on the college website and it’s reviewed by the Co-op Academies Trust annually.
- The college addresses the issue of young people's safety education and awareness through the CORE curriculum.
- We will share all allegations or concerns that a young person has been or is likely to be at risk of significant harm with Manchester Children’s Services (or the appropriate children’s service relevant to the local authority area in which you live).
- College will work with other agencies when it has concerns that a young person may have been abused or neglected.
- College will discuss with parents/carers any concerns they have about their child.
- Confidentiality information from parents/carers about possible child abuse cannot be kept confidential. Information and records about children on the Child Protection Register will be given only to those people who need it and will be kept strictly confidential by them.
Working with parents and carers
- If we have a safeguarding concern about your child, we will communicate this with you whilst consideration is given to the best interests and the safety of the child.
- We encourage all parents and carers to contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead, Rosie Pate, if they have a worry about their child and would like some support. You can contact the DSL by phoning the main college number and asking to speak with Rosie Pate or you can email her at rosie.pate@coopacademies.co.uk or studentsupport@connell.ac.uk.
- The college safeguarding team is available during term time between the hours of 8.30am-5pm and can be contacted by phone (0161 231 9200) and email (studentsupport@connell.ac.uk). Outside these times, our out of hours and out of term time guidance provides a range of information for parents/carers and students.