CPD middle-level leaders’ course in leading...

Do you recognize this poster? There should be a copy of it at your school. Find out if the school received it and where it is.

In case you do not have easy access to the poster, here are the Dos and Don’ts from the poster:

Dos (things you should always do)

I will always:

• respect and uphold the rights of the child in all my activities;
• take any report of child abuse seriously and report any incident following the correct procedure;
• advise a child disclosing information that they should tell me everything they can, but I will not promise to keep it a secret as I might need to inform the correct authorities to help them;
• report any concern related to a child (including suspicions, incidents or allegations) in accordance with incident reporting procedures;
• support individuals who report child abuse incidents and bring such information to the attention of the relevant authority dealing with child safeguarding;
• ensure that taking images of children and recording them (audio and video) is done in accordance with BLF’s child protection and safeguarding policy;
• ensure that the use of the images of children does not put the child at risk of being identified or located;
• strive to be a role model for child safeguarding and protection by preventing and responding to any form of child abuse and displaying high standards of professional behaviour at all times; Treat children in a manner which is respectful of their rights, with integrity and dignity, and considering their best interests without any discrimination;

• create and maintain an environment which prevents the abuse and exploitation of children;
• Cooperate fully and confidentially in any investigation of concerns or allegations of abuse against children.

Don’ts (things you should never do)

I will never:

• use language, make suggestions or offer advice that is inappropriate, offensive or abusive to children;
• spend excessive time alone with children and will ensure visibility to others when interacting with children;
• tolerate any physical and/or verbal contact with children that is sexually provocative;
• develop physical/sexual relationships with children or relationships which could in any way be deemed exploitative or abusive;
• have a child or children (with whom I am working or any other child outside my family) stay overnight at my home;
• take images (including videos and photographs) or interview children, their parents, teachers or guardians, or members of their communities, without their written consent;
• condone or participate in behaviour towards children which is illegal, exploitative, abusive or unsafe;
• slap, hit, inflict physical or emotional harm, or abuse children in any other way;
• act in ways intended to shame, humiliate, belittle or degrade children, or otherwise perpetrate any form of emotional abuse;
• hire children as ‘house help’;
• use BLF assets to access, view, create, download, or distribute sexually abusive images of children;
• jeopardise the consortium’s reputation or position, whether during or after business of working hours.