Receives unexplained/unidentified phone calls whilst in placement Has a history with missing links and unexplained moves Grooming Grooming can happen in person, online and in gangs or groups. Once they have established trust, groomers will exploit the relationship by isolating the child from friends or family and making the child feel dependent on them. They will use any means of power or control to make a child believe they have no choice but to do what they want. Groomers may introduce 'secrets' as a way to control or frighten the Sometimes they will blackmail the child, or make them feel ashamed or guilty, to stop them telling anyone about the abuse. Groomers can use social media sites, instant messaging apps including teen dating apps, or online gaming platforms to connect with a young person or child. They can spend time learning about a young person’s interests from their online profiles and then use this knowledge to help them build up a relationship. It’s easy for groomers to hide their identity online - they may pretend to be a child and then chat and become ‘friends’ with children they are targeting. Groomers may look for: usernames or comments that are flirtatious or have a sexual meaning public comments that suggest a child has low self-esteem or is vulnerable Groomers don’t always target a particular child. Sometimes they will send messages to hundreds of young people and wait to see who responds. Groomers no longer need to meet children in real life to them. Increasingly, groomers are sexually exploiting their victims by persuading them to take part in online sexual activity. Groomers may be male or female. They could be any age. Many children and people don't understand that they have been groomed, or that what has happened is abuse. Grooming can be more than just one single person, it can happen in gangs or groups of people who are of both the same, and different, age, ethnicity, religion and social backgrounds. For further guidance please refer to
18.1 Crookhey Hall School will ensure risk assessments are in place and regularly updated for children, specific activities and visits. Crookhey Hall will maintain a risk register in respect of known safeguarding risks both site specific and child specific and the control measures in place to control these risks. 18.2 Crookhey Hall School and staff will ensure we are doing everything possible to assess, control, and reduce the risks to acceptable levels. Thus promoting a safe, positive environment and promoting and protecting children from known and unnecessary risks 18.3 Crookhey Hall will ensure staff are regularly briefed and informed of changes to risk assessments to effectively manage the risks. 19. Recording and Reporting Learning from Serious Case Reviews continues to identify the need for improved record keeping and information sharing, both within and between agencies. All concerns, discussions and decisions made and the reasons made for these decisions should be recorded in writing. In in doubt about recording requirements staff should discuss with the DSL. Crookhey Hall School recognises that accurate and up-to-date record keeping is essential for a number of reasons: It helps the school identify causes for concern at an early stage. Often it is only when a number of seemingly minor issues are taken as a whole that a safeguarding or child protection concern becomes clear. It helps the school to monitor and manage its safeguarding practices. It helps to evidence robust and effective safeguarding practice in inspections and audits. Accurate and specific records are important there are child protection and safeguarding concerns e.g. a chronology of information gathered and action taken. Crookhey Hall School has clear procedures for reporting and recording child protection concerns (please refer to the ‘Child Protection Record keeping procedures’ document). This should be read in conjunction with: Keeping Children Safe in Education (Sept 2016) - Information Sharing: Guidance for practitioners and Managers (DfE 2015) The procedures give clear guidance on: Recording reports Storing child protection (CP) files
Appendix 3: Signs of Abuse Physical Signs Changes in Behaviour Physical Abuse unexplained bruising, marks or injuries on any part of the body multiple bruises- in clusters, often on the upper arm, outside of the thigh cigarette human bite marks broken scalds, with upward splash marks, multiple burns with a clearly demarcated edge fear of parents being approached for an explanation aggressive behaviour or severe temper outbursts flinching when approached or touched reluctance to get changed, for example in hot weather depression withdrawn behaviour running away from home Emotional Speech disorders Delayed physical development Substance abuse Ulcers, severe allergies Failure to thrive Self-harm neurotic behaviour e.g. sulking, hair twisting, rocking being unable to play fear of making mistakes sudden speech disorders self-harm fear of parent being approached regarding their behaviour developmental delay in terms of emotional progress Sexual pain or itching in the genital area bruising or bleeding near genital area sexually transmitted disease vaginal discharge or infection stomach pains discomfort when walking or sitting down pregnancy sudden or unexplained changes in behaviour e.g. becoming aggressive or withdrawn fear of being left with a specific person or group of people having nightmares running away from home sexual knowledge which is beyond their age, or developmental level sexual drawings or language bedwetting eating problems such as overeating or anorexia