SAFER VISITING POLICY

Transcription

1 SAFER VISITING POLICY Date of policy: May 2010 Date for review: October 2013 Date of update: October 2012 (This Policy may be subject to change as Safeguarding measures/guidance changes)

2 CONTENTS 1. Introduction Procedures Scope Revisions of the policy Safer Visiting Procedure for Receiving Visitors Regular Visitors (accompanied) Regular Visitors (unaccompanied) Appendix A (Agreement). 6 Page 2 of 6

3 1. Introduction In compiling this policy the school has taken into account guidance on CRB checks and from the following: Department for Education Ofsted Shropshire Council 1.1 Purpose The guidance indicates that safer visiting is the responsibility of every member of staff and the policy should be reflected in every aspect of safer visiting, across the school. Safeguarding judgements need to be made in relation to all individuals that a student in school may come into contact with, as they may be perceived to be safe and trustworthy adults. This policy is intended to be a working document, which sets out the procedures to be followed for individuals visiting the school. 1.2 Scope This policy covers only the procedures for reception of visitors to the school. It is linked to and is part of the wider issue of safeguarding of children and young people. The school issues a document Child Protection a Brief Summary to all staff at the beginning of each academic year; this document sets out the remit of the school for safeguarding of students in the school and the procedures to be followed in the event of any safeguarding concerns. 1.3 Revisions of the policy As a working document, this policy will be revised as new guidance is received. The policy will be reviewed at least once a year. 1.4 Safer Visiting The DCSF 2006 guidance on safeguarding of children and young people states It is not necessary to obtain a CRB disclosure for visitors who will only have contact with children on an ad hoc or irregular basis for short periods of time, or secondary pupils undertaking voluntary work or work experience in other schools. However, it is good practice to ensure that visitors sign in and out, and are escorted whilst on the premises by a member of staff or appropriately vetted volunteer. Page 3 of 6

4 2. Procedure for Receiving Visitors A visitor is anyone who comes into school who is not an employed member of the school staff. Signing in/out All visitors, regardless of how they are categorised MUST sign in and out. This is part of the school s policy on safeguarding of the students, but it is also necessary in case of fire. Visitors can be signed in at the following places: Reception - any visitor Training School groups of occasional visitors attending training courses. Student Support occasional visitors. Occasional visitors (accompanied) are those visitors who come into school on an irregular and infrequent basis and therefore have not been issued with a Marches School photo ID badge. At the point of signing in they will be issued with a Marches school paper visitor or contractor badge which will bear the current day s date. This must be handed in and destroyed by the Receptionist when the visitor signs out. Departments MUST ensure this happens. All visitors in this category (except those identified separately below) MUST be accompanied at all times whilst on the school site. 1. Police Officers Where Officers are NOT known to Reception or Student Support Services the Police ID badge they are wearing must be checked against the photo board provided; if they do not appear on the photo board or the West Mercia Police website, they must be accompanied. 2. OFSTED Inspectors will be asked by Reception to show their Ofsted badge and they should be checked against the photo on their badge. If this is not provided please refer to the Headteacher s office for guidance. 3. Visitors who attend school events - e.g. sports matches, drama/music performances, parents evenings. In these circumstances these are not regular visitors requiring checks to be carried out. Staff in attendance at these events are asked to be vigilant with regard to visitors to ensure that they are not left unsupervised with students. Regular visitors (un-accompanied) Regular visitors are individuals or contractors who: Come into school once a week or more Come into school on 4 days in one month or more, Are required to stay overnight with students (e.g. on school trips) Need unsupervised access to students It may not be appropriate for all regular visitors to have further checks and it may be preferable that some regular visitors be escorted at all times while on site. For those regular visitors who need to be unaccompanied on site, the school will carry out all appropriate checks (please refer to the Safer Recruitment Policy - school staff, volunteers, visitors and contractors or the Personnel office for Page 4 of 6

5 guidance). The individuals or contractors will then be issued with a Marches School photo ID visitor or contractor badge. Once signed in, visitors in this category are entitled to access to the school site unaccompanied as they will have undergone the appropriate safeguarding checks to entitle them to wear the badge and understand that they must have it on show at all times whilst on the school site. The agreement shown in appendix A should be signed by the recipient when a badge is issued. Their photo ID badge must not be taken off the school site and will be handed to the individual when they sign in and must be returned when they sign out, with the exception of Sodexo, Shire Catering, NIC Cleaning staff and Governors. The team managers for Shire Catering and NIC Cleaning will supervise the issuing and collection of badges for their own staff and will be responsible for their staff in the event of a fire. Sodexo staff work outside and start at unsociable hours so they hold their own badges. Governors often attend meetings after school hours so some of them retain their badges. Badges for regular visitors will be held on Reception or in Student Support Centre. When badges are issued to visitors, the photos will be checked against the visitor to verify their ID. As stated above, the safeguarding of children and young people in school is the responsibility of all staff. In order for this procedure to work effectively, with the exception of visitors signing in and out in Student Support, it is necessary for all departments in school to notify Reception of all expected visitors, in advance of the visitors arrival. In the case of visitors who attend regularly, the department may provide a list of these visitors and the day/time of the visits to Reception. Departments making arrangements for contractors to visit should liaise with the Site Manager to arrange such visits within the school holidays. If it is necessary for a contractor to visit during term time, the individual must be accompanied by a member of the department at all times whilst on site. If a member of staff sees anyone on site who is: not wearing a Marches ID badge (grey lanyard) wearing a visitors badge (any colour lanyard except grey) but is unaccompanied the member of staff should ask them who they are, ask them to produce their badge and explain that they must have their badge on display. If they do not have a badge or are unaccompanied wearing a visitors badge, the member of staff should accompany them to Reception. If a member of staff needs assistance they should contact a member of the Leadership Group. Page 5 of 6

6 Agreement (Issued with Marches Photo ID Badge Visitor/Contractor) Appendix A This badge is issued to you as an unaccompanied school visitor/contractor on the following conditions: Your badge should be collected when you sign in on arrival and handed back in when you sign out on departure. The ID badge must be on show at all times whilst on site. Your safety and wellbeing during your visit are important to us. As a visitor you have a legal duty to care for the Health and Safety of yourself and others. The school cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage to vehicles and/or personal possessions whilst using or visiting the premises. The Marches School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and as such expects all visitors/contractors to share this commitment. If you have any concerns that a child has been harmed, is at risk of harm, or you receive a disclosure, please contact the main Reception as quickly as possible, and ask to speak to a member of staff with responsibility for child protection. If the fire alarm should sound please leave by the nearest safe exit and report to a Fire Marshall on the Astro Turf. Do not re-enter the building until you are told it is safe to do so. The Marches School is designated a no smoking workplace; therefore, smoking is prohibited anywhere on the school premises. Should your circumstances change you must notify the school. In the event that you do not adhere to any of these conditions, the ID badge will be withdrawn, along with the facility for unaccompanied visiting. This badge is issued to you alone and you are responsible for its safe keeping. In the event of loss, you must notify the school immediately. Replacement badges will be charged for. Name (block capitals):. Signed: Date:.. Page 6 of 6