Child Protection,

Challenging Behaviour
& Health and Safety
Tian Barratt
Outreach Strand Leader
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Aims of Session
To explore child protection issues and increase awareness
To refresh your understanding of your role and
responsibilities with regards to child protection issues
To refresh strategies for positive behaviour management
To recap Health & Safety issues and your responsibilities

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What is Child Protection?
Child Protection exists because some children face abuse
physical, emotional, sexual or through neglect

1989 Children Act brought together all laws relating to child
protection into one piece of legislation

For purposes of Child Protection a child is anyone under
18

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How does Child Protection Work?
Two main ways:
Preventing abuse in the first place e.g. DBS
checks
Dealing with it effectively when it is
discovered to protect the child

The Local Authority has a duty to investigate claims of abuse or neglect
(Children Act 1989)
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DBS Check
Disclosure and Barring Service (previously CRB)

Purpose is to keep vulnerable people safe e.g. elderly,
learning/physical disabilities and children

Central organisation for checking
No criminal convictions
Not on sex offenders register


Safeguarding & Child Protection
All student ambassadors should
Treat everyone with equal respect, whether staff or young person
Be aware that you are a role model for young people and a
representative of UoS
Discourage negative attitudes or behaviour (e.g. ridicule, racism etc)
Inform young people if their behaviour is inappropriate
Ensure that the young people are safe
Try to involve all of the young people
Always refer back to the project leader if there
are problems
Safeguarding & Child Protection
To avoid misunderstanding of your intention or actions
Avoid any physical contact with the young people
Ensure you are never left alone with a young person
Never give out personal contact details or accept friendship requests on
social networking sites
Never agree to meet or make contact with a young person outside the
designated hours and location of the event
Dress appropriately for work; also dont make suggestive remarks or
gestures within the hearing or sight of young people
Keep your mobile phone with you during events but keep it out of site
Never use camera phones. Photos should be taken ONLY using the camera
supplied by project staff for the event.

Safeguarding & Child Protection
Four main definitions of abuse:
Neglect - the persistent failure to meet a childs basic physical and/or
psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the childs
health or development.
Physical - may involve hitting, shaking, burning or otherwise causing
physical harm to a child.
Sexual - forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual
activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening.
Emotional - the persistent emotional ill-treatment of a child such as to
cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the childs emotional
development.
If because of someones behaviour, speech, attitude or
appearance you suspect abuse or have concerns, you should
refer it on.

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Your Role
There are two ways that you might find out about
abuse/neglect in school

1) You might suspect something
2) A pupil/student might tell you

Safeguarding & Child Protection
If a child or young person discloses something to you
Tell the child you will listen to what they want to say
Do not interrogate or ask probing questions
Explain that you cannot keep secrets
Tell the child what you are going to do next
Make notes about disclosure and store in a secure place

Safeguarding & Child Protection

A disclosure of this nature should be referred to the
member of the Recruitment and Outreach Team who is
responsible for the event. They will ensure that your
concerns are passed on to the Child Protection Officer
at the school or college.
Similarly, if you have suspicions that a child needs
some help, you should discuss this with the person
responsible for the event.


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Dont Worry!
Your responsibility is to pass information on

You are not a social worker, nor are you expected to be

The chances of a pupil telling you about abuse are very, very
small

Challenging Behaviour
Managing challenging behaviour
Examples of Challenging Behaviour.
Managing challenging behaviour
Stay calm
Respect personal space and be aware of body position
Work on the positives
Use reasoning
Keep your non verbal cues non-threatening
Diversion first
Avoid touch
Set and enforce reasonable limits
Managing challenging behaviour
Positive strategies for behaviour management
Catch them being good
Allow pupils some control
Allow pupils to make mistakes
Dont over-react
Show pupils respect and you are more
likely to receive it
If someone misbehaves, concentrate on the actions
rather than the person
Keep trusting them and give them chances to
improve their behaviour


Health & Safety
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Health & Safety
Need to take reasonable care for Health & Safety of yourself and others
in school (pupils, teachers, support staff etc.)
You will need to follow all the rules and regulations
Keep your safety and that of the pupils at the forefront of your mind
If in doubt, ask a member of staff

Any questions?



ambassador@southampton.ac.uk

www.southampton.ac.uk/studentambassadors