Code of Good Professional Practice
- In the event of a child disclosing information, indicating child abuse, the teacher reassures the child that s/he has been very brave in sharing this information and that s/he has done the right thing.
- The teacher informs the child that s/he (the teacher) cannot keep the information a secret and that this information will need to be shared with other people who can help.
- The teacher records the information, as given by the child, using direct quotes when possible. ONLY facts are recorded. The record is dated and signed by the teacher.
- The teacher, at his/her earliest opportunity, communicates the disclosure to the DLP (Designated Liason Person) or the Deputy DLP, Principal Teacher and Deputy Principal respectively. The teacher supports his/her verbal/verbatim account of the child’s disclosure with the written report referred to in 3 above. A written record of this information handover is made by the teacher in the DLP’s/Principal’s office.
- Following receipt of the disclosure from the teacher concerned, the DLP will follow the appropriate steps as outlined in Department of Education and Science Child Protection: Guidelines and Procedures.
- Confidentiality, as appropriate, applies in all instances.
Note: In instances as described above, as in all Teacher/Staff Member-Pupil Contact, no teacher/staff member meets with/deals with a child in isolation from other children/staff members. This is school policy.