Tutor Quick Link – Safeguarding Action Reference
What to do when it happens
- Reassure the child they have done the correct thing by telling you
- Listen carefully – you are the adult in control of the conversation
- Do not promise confidentiality
- “I will absolutely listen to what you have to say – it might be that I’m not the right person to help you, but what I can say is that I will absolutely do my best to help you find that person and we’ll do it together”
- Make accurate notes (using the child’s words)
- Be empathetic – ‘I’m sorry’, ‘that must have been very sad’
- Open questions – Where? What? When? Who? ‘Tell me a little bit more about that’
- Immediately pass on to the Designated Safeguarding Lead at the School, and then to the Designated Safeguarding Lead at the Music Service
You must report concerns/disclosures on the day to both school and Music Service.
Remember that there are three main strands we cover in safeguarding CPD:
- Abuse is abuse regardless of the motivation or reason.
- Most abuse, including child sexual exploitation, can be identified as part of a power imbalance between the abuser and the abused
- Each person who interacts with a young person ‘holds a jigsaw piece of that young person’s life’ – your jigsaw piece is important as you have 1-to-1 interaction with that young person and more likely to notice that they are suffering, or have a disclosure made to you.
You are not there to fix or solve the issue
You are there to report, support, and get them expert help.