Good Recording Practice

Please refer to the below if a child makes a disclosure to you:

Important

Victims should be taken seriously, kept safe and never be made to feel like they are creating a problem for reporting abuse, sexual violence or sexual harassment
• Reassure the child and listen carefully – it is important that they know you believe them
• Do not say you will not say anything to anyone – in fact you have a duty to disclose this to another person so do not promise confidentiality
• Make sure you take detailed notes, write everything down. If you are unable to take notes at the time, you should do so as soon as you are able.
• Ask open questions if appropriate, do not lead the conversation to find out what has happened. Use words such as tell me, explain or describe, and allow the student to speak
• Avoid words such as what, why, how when – these will be asked by the relevant agency if appropriate.
• Ensure that you notify the police by calling 999 if you believe that the young person is at immediate or serious risk of harm
• Contact the DSL Robbie Piper or Lana Foster or DDSL Su Warren or James Foster as soon as practicable and in any case within 24 hours
• If the disclosure is made out of hours, please use the emergency phone number 01273 836060.

Process:

1. Remember to use the correct ‘TED’ questioning technique:

T ell me
E xplain to me
D escribe to me

2. Do not ask leading questions and only ask questions if you need to clarify what the student has said.

3. Give the victim as much privacy as possible.

4. Limit your questioning.

5. Establish whether the child needs medical attention – the welfare of the child is paramount.

6. Record the following:

• Time and date of your interview
• Full details of the child, name, date of birth
• Time and date of the incident if possible (tell me when this happened)
• Location of incident (tell me where this happened)
• Record exact words used by the child about the incident (describe to me what happened)
• Record any questions asked to the child
• Identity of the suspect and their location (tell me who did this and where they are now)
• Establish whether there was anyone else there during the incident (tell me who else was there when this happened)
• Has this been reported to anyone else?
• Were there any witnesses to the incident?
• Record the demeanour of the child

Sign and date your report and send your report immediately to jen@brightworld.co.uk or, in her absence, lana@brightworld.co.uk along with a phone call to ensure swift receipt. If out of hours then call the emergency phone on 01273 836060. If a child is in immediate danger then remove them from the situation and call the police.

produced in consultation with Safeguarding Associates for Excellence SAFE June 2018

The charity Young Minds, has shared some thoughtful tips about talking to people who need support:

• Help the person you are talking to feel comfortable. Explain that you care, that you want to listen and you wont be judgemental
• Give the person you are talking to time and permission to talk about whatever is on their mind
• It is OK to stay silent when they finish talking. It may encourage them to talk more.
• Don’t feel like you need to have all the answers, simply listening can be enough.