To wonder to myself if this man shpuld be a school governor

[lolaflores]

My good friends husband is and has for sometime abused her mentally, emotionally, financially. Previously she left and there was an order he only saw the children under supervised contact.
She returned and yhings havent changed much. In fact, since she has secured a job he has escalated to physical menace. On one occasion the police were called.
He is go govenor at a faith school. Involved at church etc.
Sgould he have discloses the police i cident and the previous order aboit supervised contact with his own kids.
As his behavioyr to my friend deteriorates i nust cant bear the doubleife and i am genuinely scared for her.
I am banished from the house and get evils when he sees me.
There isntuch i can dp is tjere

Typing on phone on a bis hotting speed bumps

Presumably none of that affects his ability to help make joint decisions regarding the running of the school, as part of the governing body.

However, any cautions or criminal convictions received between now and his next DBS check, should be declared and the GB will make any decisions as to whether he's brought them or the school into disrepute.

I doubt hell mention them frankly. Makes me sick seeing him co tstructing this lie and seemingly untouchable.

Well to be honest, it's not the place of governing bodies to get involved in individual governor's personal lives. As it's unlikely to affect his ability to fulfill his duties, I don't think anyone will see it as their business unless as I say, he ends up bringing the school into disrepute or his next DBS certificate throws anything up.

I wouldn't be very keen on him being a governor at my child's school if this is the way he behaves. Irrespective of whether he can make decisions you would have to question his integrity. However I don't really know how this would be picked up by any safeguarding checks carried out by governing bodies so would be interested to hear what others have to say.

I would nt get so involved in your friends marriage, she has chosen to go back to him, so you can't help her. I also have to say you ve only heard one side of the story.

northern i have witnessed the behaviour. But the duplicitous personality leaves me with a qustion mark as to hos motal fibre. Hr also teaches religion class to the kids....

He was only allowed supervised access to gis own kids previously. But now he can teach a class, my own kid included. Can anyway explain the grounds for a decision regarding supervised access? Is he deemed a risk? Thats an honest question not a statement

This is an obvious safeguarding issue.
The leaders of the school need to be informed, if he teaches he needs an enhanced CRB which he would not pass if updated.
Faith schools are regulated and they should pay attention to your reasonable comments.
If he has police history it is not just gossip. X

I doubt anyone with his record could claim to be upholding the values and ethos of the school. The DBS check should flag up the supervised contact order (or does it? - not 100% sure tbh) but I would consider contacting the safeguarding responsible person at the school.

Should the local safeguarding board be involved if the police have been involved?

Yes to living a life that does not mirror the schools principles which i think a governor should embody.
The police episode was a very recent event so expect they dont know.
I fear i wont be listened to if i approach the school. But if i write it down they have to respond.

Well then I think you know what you have to do.

redexpat I think I should contact the school. The coward in me suggests I should remain anonymous but that doesn't hold up under scrutiny does it. TIme to put my big woman boots on and I don't know where I left them.
But it just bugs the hell out of me and I don't know if i could just shrug my shoulders when it all goes wrong and just say...well I didn't want to get involved although I knew.

Yes, you need to raise a safeguarding issue with the school. Too many issues get discounted because people are afraid to make a fuss, or think someone else will do something. At the very least you will have officially raised concerns which cannot be ignored by th school. This is especially important if he is going to be alone with children.

If the police involvement was recent, any DBS check may not reflect it. Report to school.

If he's been violent and police or ss were involved they obviously haven't found out enough about the family and realised he teaches. They would have to have a LADO meeting and decide if he could continue.

Is he a governor who happens to teach a few lessons he specializes in, or helps out, or is he a proper qualified teacher AND happens to be a governor?

Either way I would raise it with the safeguarding lead at the school, but be prepared your friendship might not survive too well, depending on your friend's reaction.

He isnt a teacher. He teaches part of the faith curriculum.
There is the sensitive issue that my friend would be upset. I know another governor well enough to approach her casually. Maybe talk it through and go from there.

I would suggest contacting Ofsted or the safeguarding dept of your LA

You need to flag it up, I know it will be difficult but at our school the governors have to have DBS checks, and I think they now have to sign declarations if there are any other offenses? There must be something school can check, in between DBS checks?

It's a major safeguarding issue and I know as a parent I would be very grateful if another parent flagged up an issue

I would flag it to either/ or both the LA or the Diocese (as its a faith school) - the most relevant would be any court ordered supervised access, and is his DBS up to date?

Definitely a safeguarding issue especially as the police are involved. Inform the school and local authoritt

He wasnt charged with the domestic incident but it was logged and allowed home but they warned him an eye was being kept out for any further carry on. I would like to approach the diocese as he is very active and i dont think it should continue.
I know i am going to be a sole voice and there will be the cry of "sullying a mans reputation" but i know its true and there is evidence of it. I dont want him to get away with it and think he is untouchable because of hos position

If the police know that he works in a school or is involved in regulated activity (which he is if he is dealing with young people), then they can/will refer to the DBS if they believe he is a risk. If you get nowhere with school or LA, might be worth reporting to police (the fact that he's involved in a regulated activity) as if they don't know, they won't refer.

The diocese should have a publicly findable safeguarding policy complete with who to contact (including holiday cover). You should be able to report confidentially. I would hope they would take it very seriously as this is a very live issue at present.

Op,
Suggest you don't speak to another governor - you need to refer this formally - a chat with a governor could be seen as gossip or undermining?
The Local Authority should have a LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) who you could contact if you don't want to make a safeguarding referral via Social Services.