There is no reason why a DAaRT Officer should be alone with a child at any point during a visit to school.

During the programme you may identify a concern in a number of different ways e.g. spoken, observed (physically or remotely), written in the workbook. Ask yourself the question ‘what are the risks and consequences of this?’ and if you are at all concerned then you must follow this up with the member of teaching staff who is with you at the time.

Your immediate response will depend on the circumstances and may range from a simple acknowledgement of a statement to a quiet word with teaching staff.  At no point should you engage in discussion about your concern or ask any questions of the young person – this is not part of you role and may jeopardise any future investigation.

Make sure the member of staff understands that you have identified a potential safeguarding concern and that you need to follow LEC policy and procedure. It is highly likely that the school will be aware of any safeguarding issues and support will be in place. Where school may be unaware, it is their responsibility to follow this up with their own safeguarding procedures. Ask what they intend to do about the concern. Discuss and agree action with the member of staff or the DSL as appropriate and advise that you are required to follow up to ensure actions have been carried through.

If you are not comfortable or satisfied with the response you can ask to speak to the DSL or the Head in school and/or contact LEC for advice.  Please note: The overall Organsiational Safeguarding Lead (OSL) for LEC is The Manager for Training and Development (TDM). The decision to sign off any reported concern or to make an onward and independent referral to any external safeguarding agency ultimately lies with TDM and the CEO. However, where the DAaRT Officer requires initial clarification or support (i.e., where they may need to contact the OSL) regarding a concern then this may be made in the first instance to either the Senior DAaRT Officer or in his absence the TDM. If you think a child is at immediate risk, this needs to carried out be by telephone and urgently. If any further action needs to be taken you will be advised at this point. There may be very rare cases where LEC will need to act – this is the responsibility of the OSL or the CEO, not the DAaRT Officer.

Complete the Record of Concern form and submit electronically to the office. Please remember to only give the information required on the form – at this point we do not require the child’s full personal details.

In most cases you will have had a thorough discussion and agreed an action plan with school – if this is not the case then you must telephone the OSL for advice. On your next visit check with the teacher and ensure that that the agreed and appropriate action has been taken, if not then again, a phone call to the LEC OSL is required. In most instances reassurance that the matter has been logged on the School’s Child Protection Online Management System (CPOM) and/or contact has been made with parents is adequate and appropriate action. Once the agreed action has been completed, the Record of Concern should be updated and submitted for sign off.

At any point during the process a call to the LEC OSL can be made for support or guidance. If you are unclear or unsure about anything in this guidance please ask for further advice.

Some children are in need because they are suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. The Children Act 1989 introduced the concept of ‘significant harm’ as the threshold that justifies compulsory intervention in family life in the best interests of children and gives local
authorities a duty to make enquiries to decide whether they should act to safeguard or promote the welfare of a child who is suffering, or is likely to suffer significant harm. 

There are no absolute criteria on which to rely when judging what constitutes significant harm and this is not for the DAaRT Officer to judge. Consideration of a variety of factors will be made by the Local Authority. This may involve a multitude of and/or longer-term issues or a single traumatic event, each of which has been associated with having severe impacts upon child welfare or development. More often, significant harm is a compilation of significant events, both acute and long-standing, which interrupt, change or damage the child’s physical and psychological development. Some children live in family and social circumstances where their health and development are not prioritised. A thorough assessment of a child’s circumstances will determine any risk and/or need and inform planning and protection for that child, both immediately and in the longer term. Information/observation provided by a DAaRT Officer and the LEC OSL may be well be included as a part of this assessment.