AQW 41550/11-15

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 30/01/2015
Answered On Date: 11/02/2015
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) what training exists to encourage teachers to identify child victims of domestic abuse; and (ii) the correct link-up process with other relevant bodies if a child is identified, or suspected.

Answer:

In schools, domestic abuse comes within the overall child protection agenda.

All schools have a named Designated Teacher (DT) for Child Protection and a named Deputy Designated Teacher. The DT acts as a focal point for child protection within the school through providing advice and support to staff and by liaising with agencies outside the school as appropriate.

All grant-aided schools are required by law to have a child protection policy and to implement it. When preparing its policy a school must take account of advice from the Department, relevant Education and Library Board (ELB) and, in the case of Catholic maintained schools, the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS).

All advice issued from the Department is consistent with the ‘Co-Operating to Safeguard Children’ document and the Area Child Protection Committee Regional Policies and Procedures.

Training on child protection matters is organised by the ELBs and is available to members of Boards of Governors, school principals, DTs and their deputies.

There are clear procedures under the UNOCINI (Understanding the Needs of Children in the North of Ireland) assessment framework to facilitate referral from schools to social services and onward to other agencies such as PSNI, as appropriate.