Pre employment checks

Oxfordshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Anyone who is to be employed by a Oxfordshire County Council School will be subject to certain pre-employment checks.

These include:

  • An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS).
  • A Children’s Barred List check (CBL).
  • Two pre interview references for posts that directly involve working with children. These will usually be the candidate’s current employer and previous employer.
  • Right to Work
  • Pre-employment medical screening

"Do's" and "Don'ts" of working with children

If you work or volunteer in a school it’s essential that you understand how you should conduct yourself to minimise the risk of becoming the subject of any child protection processes. This list summarises what to do and what not to do when working with children.

 

Do:

  • Read, understand and follow the school's child protection procedures.
  • Understand the role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
  • Report to the Headteacher/Designated Safeguarding Lead any concerns about child welfare/safety.
  • Report to the Headteacher any concerns about the conduct of other school staff / volunteers / contractors.
  • Record in writing all relevant incidents.
  • Work in an open and transparent way.
  • Discuss and report any incidents of concern or that might lead to concerns being raised about your conduct towards a child.
  • Report to the Headteacher any incidents that suggest a pupil may be infatuated with you or taking an above normal interest in you.
  • Dress appropriately for your role.
  • Only use e-mail contact with pupils via the school's system.
  • Avoid unnecessary physical contact with children.
  • Make sure you understand the rules about physical restraint.
  • Where physical contact is essential for educational or safety reasons, gain the pupil's permission for that contact wherever possible.
  • Allow children to change clothes with levels of respect and privacy appropriate to their age, gender, culture and circumstances.
  • Use humour to defuse difficult situations.
  • Avoid working in one-to-one situations with children.
  • Avoid volunteering to house children overnight.
  • Make sure that areas of the curriculum that may involve sexually explicit information are taught in accordance with school policies.
  • Be careful about recording images of children and do this only when it is an approved educational activity.
  • Contact your professional association or trade union if you are the subject of child protection concerns or allegations
  • Co-operate with any investigation into child protection issues in the school.
  • Listen to pupils when they express concern (rumours) about staff and refer these concerns to the Headteacher.

Don't:

  • Take any action that would lead a reasonable person to question your motivation and/or intentions.
  • Misuse in any way your power and influence over children.
  • Use any confidential information about a child to intimidate, humiliate or embarrass a child.
  • Engage in activities out of school that might compromise your position within school.
  • Establish or seek to establish social contact with pupils outside of school.
  • Accept regular gifts from children.
  • Give personal gifts to children.
  • Communicate with pupils in inappropriate ways, including via personal e-mail and mobile phone.
  • Pass your home address, phone number, e-mail address or other personal details to pupils/children.