Student Safeguarding at Seisen 2017
SEISEN MISSION “Seisen, a Catholic International School, educates future world citizens to become men and women for others and with others, in the spirit of Jesus Christ. Seisen’s mission is to provide a safe environment in order to empower each student, through shared responsibility, creativity, and human interdependence, to develop their unique talents and to become competent and compassionate players in our global society, capable of empowering others and of bringing hope and peace to our ever-changing world”
Moral Obligation â—? We have always had a moral obligation to safeguard the students in our care. â—? We are now required to have a policy in place by CIS and NEASC.
Background â—? May 2014 the Association of International Schools in Africa produced a highly lauded Child Protection Handbook and has given permission for it to be duplicated and customized in schools around the world.
Academic Year 2015 - 2016 â—? Japan Council Of International Schools has declared as a priority the establishment of Child Protection / Student Safeguarding policies in its member schools. â—? Hosted a workshop for admin teams in September 2015 focusing on policies and the May 2014 handbook produced in Africa.
● Has designed a handbook with resources for admin teams to structure their policies ● Has put together resources from the legal, medical and psychiatric fields to help schools establish external multi disciplinary teams for case handling / investigation in our cultural context / host country. ● Recommending guest speakers / training teams for schools
â—? June 2016 report from the International Task Force on Child Protection â—? Website launched with International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC) containing an education portal with resources and a confidential advice center for schools if abuse is suspected or detected.
â—? Recommendation that all schools have a code of conduct as a reference point to change school culture in detecting and reporting abuse â—? Accreditation and Inspection agencies have agreed on recommendations to enhance Child Protection. The recommendations are fully aligned with the value statements contained within the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child
● 13 Essential Questions to be addressed by schools in connection to Child Safeguarding ● 18 Essential Elements that schools are “strongly encouraged to adopt” will be published in November ● Can be viewed on the ICMEC site ○ www.icmec.org
Safer recruitment practices
● Essential Recruiting Practices now recommended when recruiting, screening and assessing candidates. ● Seisen needs to have a statement of commitment to safer recruitment practices: ● “Aligned with the recommendations ITFCP, we hold ourselves to a high standard of effective recruiting practices with specific attention to child protection”
â—? Interpol International Police Certificate â—? Interpol has now launched an initiative to create one police certificate which would reflect criminal background checks in all 190 member countries.
Leadership Certification â—? International Child Protection Leadership Team certification â—? July 2016, AAIE ( The Association for the Advancement of International Education) holds first ever training. Seisen representatives attend.
Safeguarding Handbook Contents: ● Guidelines given to all schools as regards handbook content ● Statement on Student Safeguarding ● Definitions of Abuse ○ Indicators of Abuse ○ Signs in potential offenders
● Code of Conduct ○ Acknowledgement of Code of Conduct ● Child Protection Teams ○ Roles and Responsibilities ● Guidelines on reporting ● Recruitment Practices ● Review Practices
CODE OF CONDUCT â—? PURPOSE - to provide clear expectations to all employees, and volunteers who represent the school and who interact with students (including externally hired coaches, and teaching assistants employed by parents for students with special needs) in both a direct or unsupervised capacity.
â—? Areas covered - communication with students, social media, guardianship,day to day interactions, field trips, use of alcohol, tobacco products, and / or drugs. â—? Reporting of abuse or suspicion of abuse
Mandatory Reporting â—? It is obligatory for faculty, staff, and administrators to report incidents of physical or psychological violence, aggression, harassment, and physical or sexual abuse immediately or within the next school day, to a school counselor who, in turn, shall inform the principal and Head of School.
Mandatory Reporting â—? The counselor shall gather information and provide further written documentation including the date, person or persons involved, and any relevant information
Mandatory Reporting â—? If there is reasonable cause to believe child abuse has occurred as defined within this document, the counselor will report to the Principal who shall follow the steps noted in these guidelines, documenting all aspects of the investigation and resulting actions. â—? The Head of School will be informed at all stages by the principal and/or counselor.
Teams Members of School Child Protection Team / Student Safeguarding Team ● Designated Child Protection Officer (CPO) ● School Division Counselor ● School Nurse ● Division Principal or Assistant Principal ● Head of School
Teams Members of External Multidisciplinary team Recommended by JCIS ● Legal Representative ● Medical Representative ● Psychiatric Representative ● Child Protection Services Representative
Recruitment Recruitment Practices at Seisen International School â—? Aligned with the recommendations of the International Task Force on Child Protection, we hold ourselves to a high standard of effective recruiting practices with specific attention to child protection.
Recruitment
Seisen International School will: a) Perform ‘live contact’ ( phone, skype, face to face) reference checks of at least 2 references b) Perform one reference check from direct supervisor of candidate (minimum level of Assistant Principal) c) Contact all references through business email / business phone numbers d) Verify credentials e) Conduct internet checks of all prospective employees f) Require Police background checks g) Review and update recruitment practices as per ITFCP recommendations/ requirements., CIS / NEASC requirements
Training â—? Seisen International School is committed to general training for all faculty and staff in student safeguarding and to training designated faculty for specific roles in the Student Safeguarding Team. â—? The school year 2016 - 2017 will be used to provide some training and research on best training practices, recommended trainers and review of training.
Annual Review Seisen International School is committed to a yearly review of Student Safeguarding practices and policy to determine effectiveness and relevance. Input from faculty and staff will be welcomed.
Faculty Sign Off ● AUGUST 17TH ( ON OR BEFORE) FACULTY AND STAFF SIGNATURES ● FACULTY MEMBER REFUSING TO SIGN - Meeting with Head of School (and Division Principal if faculty member requests)to discuss concerns. ● All teachers signed off.
Questions ● ●
Closing ● ●
Working Together