Guidance for Safe Working Practice
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guide
The vast majority of adults who work with children in
education settings act professionally. They seek to provide a
safe and supportive environment, which secures the well-being
and very best outcomes for children and young people in their
care. It is recognised that achieving these aims is not always
straight forward. Much relies on pupil and staff interactions
where tensions and misunderstandings can occur. It is here that
staff behaviours can give rise to allegations being made
against them. Allegations may be genuine, malicious or
misplaced. They may arise from differing perceptions of the
same event, but when they occur, they are inevitably
distressing and difficult for all concerned.
Staff working in education settings have expressed concern
about their vulnerability and have requested clearer advice
about what constitutes illegal behaviour and what might be
considered as misconduct. They have asked for practical
guidance about which behaviours constitute safe practice and
which behaviours should be avoided. This document has been
produced in response to these concerns and covers the following
areas.
- Exercise of Professional Judgement
- Power and Positions of Trust
- Confidentiality
- Propriety and Behaviour
- Dress and Appearance
- Gifts
- Infatuations
- Social Contact
- Physical Contact
- Physical Education and Other Activities that require
Physical Contact
- Showers and Changing
- Pupils in Distress
- Behaviour Management
- Care, Control and Physical Intervention
- Sexual Contact with Young People
- One to One Situations
- Overnight Supervision and Examinations
- Transporting Children
- Educational Visits and After School Clubs
- First Aid and Administration of Medication
- Intimate Care
- Curriculum
- Photography, Video and other Creative Arts
- Internet Use
- Whistleblowing
- Sharing Concerns and Recording Incidents