CRB

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CRB Safe Recruitment
KEITH ABBOTT ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FINANCE
CORPORATE SERVICES NOVEMBER 2005
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CRB Audit Summer 2004

• Summer 2004 was the initial CRB Audit
• Schools were ranked as unsatisfactory
• SPS was ranked as satisfactory
• CRB working group established
• Series of recommendations implemented by LEA
  and SPS
• Awareness raising with schools and governors
  together with revised guidance

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CRB Follow-up Audit Summer 2005

• SPS/LEA implemented all recommendations from
  the first report
• SPS/LEA ranked as providing high assurance in
  respect of controls
• Schools ranked as providing minimal assurance
  - the lowest possible ranking
• Ranking due to fact that schools audited have
  not implemented the recommendations

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Audit of Procedures for Safeguarding Children in
Schools (Summer 2005)

• Focus was on
• Safe recruitment procedures in schools
• Whether LEA is providing appropriate support,
  guidance and assistance
• Whether schools are adhering to the guidance

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Key Findings

• Childrens Safeguards Service and SPS do
  provide good support and advice
• Schools are aware of current legislation and
  have documented policies and procedures
• Schools have staff trained in Child Protection
  and Safe Recruitment
• However,
• 81 of staff records examined had one or more
  of the required recruitment checks missing
• 24 of staff did not have an appropriate CRB
  check (this is basically the same percentage as
  identified through both CRB audits)
• The overall audit view on school processes is
  that there is a very high risk that staff may be
  recruited who have a history of abusing children

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Action

• Peer review instigated following discussion
  and agreement with Cluster chairs
• Awareness raising through these meetings and
  Governor Briefings
• We have highlighted the information on Safe
  Recruitment which was already on Clusterweb
• CRB working group are looking at some of the
  issues raised in this latest audit report
• In the longer term Safe Recruitment procedures
  will form part of the compliance visits

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Safe Recruitment The Context for Change

• Fred and Rosemary West
• Sir William Utting People Like Us 1997
• Lauren Wright
• Safeguarding Children Joint Chief
  Inspectors Report October 2002
• Lord Lamings Report on the Inquiry into the
  death of Victoria Climbie Feb 03
• The Soham murders 2002
• Sir Michael Bichards Inquiry Report 2004
• The Children Act 2004

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Section 175 2002 Education Act

• LEAs and Governing Bodies of maintained
  schools and FE institutions are required to
  ensure that their functions are carried out with
  a view to safeguarding and promoting the
  welfare of children
• The above must have regard to any guidance
  issued by the Secretary of State

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Achieving these aims requires systems designed
to

• Provide a safe environment
• Prevent unsuitable people working with children
• Promote safe practice and challenge poor and
  unsafe practice
• Identify child welfare concerns and take action
• Contribute towards effective partnership working

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2003-2004 National Audit CP Allegations against
Education Staff

• 2357 allegations recorded by 89 LEAs (Kent 191)
• 64 physical abuse / inappropriate handling
• 17 sexual abuse
• 66 referred to LEA in 24 hours (Kent 90)
• 67 male staff
• 10 Head teachers (Kent 6)
• 80 concluded in 3 months (Kent 86)
• 19 staff less than 1 year service
• 17 staff were supply teachers (Kent)
• 2003 - Child Abuse in Education
• 52 convictions for child sexual abuse
• 63 convictions for child pornography
• 16 convictions for physical assault

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Bichard Recommendations

• Those particularly relevant to safe recruitment
  and selection in schools are
• Training for those conducting interviews
  (16-18)
• A registration scheme (19)
• Vetting (20-31)
• In addition, it is important for schools and
  others to record and refer any concerns to Social
  Services or the Police if information sharing is
  to be improved.

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Bichard Recommendation 16 Interview Training for
Head teachers and School Governors

• 50-60,000 initial audience
• On-line package with 5 modules available
  through NCSL, initially available to mainstream
  schools
• Plans to make it available to Independent
  Schools and FE Colleges
• Secure Website
• Insights into recognising behaviour of
  individuals who may not be suitable
• Whole package to be completed before
  confirmation that training has been undertaken
  effectively

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Bichard Recommendation 17
From a date to be agreed (currently March 2006),
no interview panel to appoint staff working in
schools should be convened without at least one
member being trained (through the on-line
process).
Bichard Recommendation 18
Relevant inspection bodies should, as part of
their inspection, review the existence and
effectiveness of a schools selection and
recruitment arrangements. ECM - new inspection
framework
Bichard Recommendation 21
All posts, including those in schools, that
involve working with children, and vulnerable
adults, should be subject to the enhanced
disclosure check. Vetting consultation, took
place last term.
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DfES Guidance applies to

• All staff and governors engaged in recruiting
  and selecting
• Personnel Human Resources providers
• Employment agencies
• Contractors where employees work in
  educational settings
• Recruitment of staff who may have contact with
  children, plus those with responsibility

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Good Practice in Recruitment Selection

• Policies and Procedures which every school should
  have
• An agreed Child Protection Policy
• An agreed Recruitment and Selection procedure
  which is consistently used
• Staff procedures including Discipline,
  Grievance, Capability and Whistleblowing
• Clear guidelines for managing allegations

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Action for Schools and Educational Establishments

• Undertake regular self evaluation and review
  of procedures and practices to ensure best
  practice (Self-Review Tool)
• Use training and support from the Childrens
  Safeguards Service, and from HR providers to
  ensure procedures and practices are being
  undertaken effectively

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DfES Guidance
1. Safeguarding Children in Education (Sept
2004) 2. Safer Recruitment and Selection in
Education Settings (June 2005) 3. Dealing
with Allegations of Abuse Against Teachers and
Other Staff (Nov 2005)