3.10.2 Countering of Bullying |
SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER
This procedure applies to children placed in foster care, but the principles apply to the placement of all Looked After Children. Therefore, where Looked After Children are placed with parents, relatives or friends or in placements outside the authority, the social worker must ensure these or other adequate procedures are applied.
RELATED CHAPTERS
Children's Homes: Involving the Police - Joint Protocol
OTHER DOCUMENTS
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Contents
1. Definition of Bullying
Bullying is defined as behaviour or actions of a person, group of people or a whole organisation designed to cause distress or to hurt a person or group of people. Further detail of what may constitute bullying is contained in Countering Bullying Guidance.
2. Placement Planning
If there is a risk that a child is likely to be bullied or may be the perpetrator of bullying behaviour, the Strategies for managing and reducing the risks must be outlined in his/her Placement Plan.In the absence of any such strategy, the following must be applied.
3. Notifications and Management Review
There are different notifications procedures depending on the persistence and seriousness of the bullying:
3.1 Notifications of Minor or Non-Persistent Bullying
Where bullying is not persistent or not serious, it should be notified to the family placements worker and social worker at the first opportunity; they will decide what action to take in the circumstances.
3.2 Notifications and Management Review of Persistent or Serious Bullying
Serious or persistent episodes of bullying are deemed to be Incidents and must be notified to the social worker and family placements manager via the family placements worker as soon as possible but within 1 working day.
The social worker should decide whether to inform the child’s parent(s).
It will also be necessary to decide whether the bullying constitutes Significant Harm; if so, a referral should be considered under the Area Child Protection Procedures.
If the matter is referred under the Child Protection Procedures, the Designated Manager (Section 47 Enquiry - Looked After Child) must be notified.
In any case, all incidents of serious or persistent bullying must be subject to a Management Review, as set out in Section 5, Management Reviews of Incident - General Guidance.
4. Recording
There are different recording procedures depending on the persistence and seriousness of the bullying
4.1 Recording of Minor or Non-Persistent Bullying
Minor or non-persistent bullying should be recorded by the social worker on the child’s Chronology. In Foster Homes, minor or non-persistent bullying must be recorded in the Foster Carer’s Diary of Events for the child. The Supervising Social Workers should make a note on the case file. In Children’s Homes, minor or non-persistent bullying must be recorded in the child’s Daily Record.
4.2 Recording of Persistent or Serious Bullying
Unless otherwise agreed between the social worker and manager/supervising social worker and set out in the child’s Placement Plan, incidents of persistent or serious bullying must always be recorded as Incidents as set out in Incidents - General Guidance.
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