Love, Care and Support

Guiding Statements:
The health, safety and protection of our students are of paramount importance and takes priority is all decisions regarding school operations.  In consideration of this the BIBS Child Abuse Policy will be included in the induction Program for all staff new to the school and in Faculty handbooks.
The policy is intended to provide clear direction for staff and to support the school’s commitment to best practice and appropriate procedures to ensure that child protection concerns are handled sensitively and professionally. Bear in mind that not all students who exhibit these signs and symptoms are victims of abuse, but Staff is mandated to report them so they can be investigated.
All decisions related to child protection will be made in the best interest of the child.  This includes the sharing of information.
Indicators of Troubled Children*

Possible Indicators of Abuse:
The student is observed:

• Crying a lot over minor things

• Being anxious, feeling scared and/or insecure

• Becoming aggressive and violent

• Having difficulty with concentrating on their work

• Having difficulty getting on with peers

• Having sleep problems, nightmares and bed wetting

• Health complaints like headaches, stomach aches, and asthma

• Hyperactivity or lack of control

• Conduct problems like truancy, delinquency and stealing

 
*(IBO-OCC Document, Violence in Families, p. 1, 2007)
Dealing with Disclosure:
If a student discloses that he/she has been abused in some way, the member of staff should:

• Listen to what is being said without displaying shock or disbelief

• Accept what is being said

• Allow the child to talk freely

• Reassure the child, but do not make promises which it might not be possible to keep

• Not promise confidentiality, as it might be necessary to refer the student to the Counselor, Head of Section and Head of School

• Reassure the child that what has happened is not their fault

• Stress that it was the right thing to do to tell someone

• Listen rather than ask direct questions

• Ask open ended questions rather than leading ones

• Not criticize the perpetrator

• Explain what has to be done next and who has to be told

 
Responsibilities of Staff Members:

• To familiarize themselves with the BIBS Guidelines for Child Protection and seek to clarify any aspect which is unclear or unfamiliar.

• Staff is expected to provide a safe and caring environment in which children can develop the confidence to voice ideas, feelings and opinions.  Children should be treated with respect within a framework of agreed and understood behavior.

• Report within 2 hours any case of suspected child abuse and be prepared to follow up with a clear, dated, factual and confidential record of the case within 24 hours.

• Maintain confidentiality and refrain from sharing the details of the case with others.  Access to information on a case should be restricted and based on a need t know basis.

• To treat sensitive information they receive about students in a discrete and confidential manner.

• To take responsibility for their own actions and behavior and avoid conduct that would lead any reasonable person to question their motivation and intention.

• Staff members should work, and be seen to work, in an open and transparent way (especially when working with individual students). Staff should not invite students to visit their place of residence unless as guests of his or her son or daughter and with the expressed permission form the parents of the child.

• Staff members should be aware of breaches of the law and other professional guidelines that could result in criminal or disciplinary action taken against them.

 
Procedures:

1. Any member of staff who suspects a case of child abuse must inform the relevant Head of section and Head of School and Counselor with in 2 hours. This pertains to suspected cases of abuse committed on or off BIBS school campus and by members of staff or by parents and other members of the public.

2. The reporting staff member will collate a detailed, accurate and confidential report making reference to specific signs of abuse and submit this document to the Head of Section or Head of School and Counselor.  The written report should be submitted to the relevant Head and Counselor with in 24 hours of the initial verbal report.

3. After receiving a report of suspected child abuse either verbally or in writing, the Head of Section and Counselor will inform the Head of School

4. The Head of School will meet with all stakeholders within 2 hours to consult on next steps.  At this meeting other key people such as the school nurse will be present as requested by the Head of School.

5. In the event of a decision to contact an outside agency the Head of School will make the recommendation and be responsible for the collation of an official school report within 48 hours.

6. The purpose of the initial meeting is to examine the details of the report, interview individuals and determine next steps.  All decisions will be made in the best interest of the child and all allegations will be taken seriously unless there is strong evidence that confirm the allegations as false.

Next Steps Include:

• Await the written report

• Conduct further investigations

• Inform parents of the report/investigation/policy

• Depending on the severity of the case the school may, after consultations in form the relevant Child Protection agency

• To contact outside agencies or professional specialists who can counsel and/or provide support for the family affected by the child abuse.  This is in reference to psychologists or lawyers and also family protective agencies

• To suspend staff members suspected of abuse

 
The Written Report:
As soon as possible following disclosure, record the details of the information received. Include these notes as a basis for writing the formal report.
In the formal report keep it factual and free of assumptions and be sure to include the date, time, place and descriptions of any noticeable non-verbal behavior.  Try as much as possible to include the specific words used by the child.
In cases of physical abuse make note (take pictures if possible) of the nature and positioning of injuries.

*BIBS Guidelines for Child Protection is adapted based on documents from RIS and SIS International Schools. A formal policy will be prepared and presented by the Head of School to the BIBS Board of Directors for approval in school year 2016-17