All candidates working with Step Teachers are expected to act appropriately and maintain high standards of conduct, professionalism and safeguarding when working with children and young people.
If at any time whilst working with Step Teachers should an incident take place or an allegation be made against you, we will follow a set procedure which is detailed below. This procedure has been designed to ensure consistent and fair treatment for all and to establish the facts quickly. No action will be taken until the matter has been fully investigated.
- If a school informs us of a particular incident or allegation, but they do not wish to take the matter further, the Designated Safeguarding Lead will call you to arrange a meeting to discuss the incident or allegation.
- You will not be offered any further work until after the meeting and will not be paid by Step Teachers during this time.
- During the meeting you will have the opportunity to discuss the incident and put forward your version of events. After the meeting a decision will be made regarding whether you can continue to work for Step Teachers.
- Where it is decided that further work will be offered, it is expected that additional training will be
completed before recommencing work. - If a school informs us of a particular incident or allegation and they are taking the matter further, the school will inform the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and the school will investigate the incident or allegation.
- If the incident or allegation reaches the LADO threshold, a position of trust meeting will be organised, where representatives from Step Teachers, the school, and in some instances, the police and social workers meet with the LADO to discuss the incident or allegation.
- Depending on the incident or allegation, we may need to meet with you to discuss this and you will have the opportunity to put forward your version of events. Notes will be taken of this meeting and shared with all the parties involved.
- This process can be lengthy, and you will not be offered further work until the conclusion of this process. You will not be paid by Step Teachers during this time.
- We will keep you informed of the progress throughout the matter and offer you support.
- Our decision regarding whether to work with you again will be based on the outcome of this process.
- Outcomes will be one of the following:
- The allegation is malicious – you can continue working through Step Teachers.
- The allegation is unsubstantiated – you can continue to work through Step Teachers. However, it is expected that additional training will be completed before recommencing work.
- The allegation is unfounded – you can continue working through Step Teachers.
o The allegation is substantiated, and the harm test has been reached – you will not be able to continue being registered with Step Teachers and we will have a legal obligation to make a referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service and Teaching Regulation Authority (if applicable). - The allegation is substantiated but the harm test has not been reached – you will be invited to a safeguarding review meeting and a decision will be made as to whether you can continue working through Step Teachers
A safeguarding review meeting will be held by the Designated Safeguarding Lead and a note taker. As agency workers are not employees, you do not have the right to be accompanied. However, in the interest of general fairness we will allow a trade union representative or another person to accompany you if you feel that is necessary. If you intend to be accompanied, then advance notice must be given.
Please note that if you become the subject of an allegation or investigation by another agency, employer, TRA, DBS, police or any other body, you must notify your consultant immediately.
