Let's try anyone who uses "aloud" instead of "allowed" we don't have to read your posts, shall we?
sic: By NiceTry on Sat 15-Mar-08 13:14:50
And anyone who uses 'of' instead of 'have' I don't even bother to read your posts.
Pot and kettle anyone?
Interesting that all the "he was a druggie" hearsay came to light on a Sunday afternoon - do you work in a very small town NiceTry? Because I wonder how it is that you came up with this interesting information on a Sunday afternoon, but were not privy to it on Thursday night, when presumably after colleague came to talk to you. If I was up for disciplinary action and wanting union help I would make absolutely sure that my rep knew all the details, including how I gave all this background to the CP officer and school nurse who said something along the lines of "oh well, who cares, she's just a tart anyway" which is how it's coming across from your posts. Knowing our child protection team (and I work for the people who provide the training and support) I think it highly unlikely. The guidance is very clear that if in doubt ask for advice. In fact here it is:
What to do if you are worried about a child
You must always report any worries you have about a child.
Your agency should have a person responsible for children?s safeguarding that you can discuss any concerns with. They will pass the information on to children?s services-social care if needed. Make sure you know who the responsible person is for your agency.
If you do not know who the person is, or it is an emergency, contact children?s services duty worker on 020 7525 1921.
If anyone is injured or there is immediate
danger call the emergency services on 999.
If a young person tells you they are being abused
DO
? listen to them carefully
? tell them they have been right to tell you and you will have to tell someone else who can help them
? write down exactly what you remember of the events as soon as possible.
DO NOT
? ask a lot of prompting questions e.g. ?did your Dad give you those bruises?
? tell them you will keep a secret
? tell their parent or carer before you have sought advice from children's services if it may put the child at risk or if the allegation
is one of sexual abuse.
This is from a leaflet produced by Social Care and distributed to all staff in health, education and other public sector agencies that have contact with children. It's based on national guidance and I suspect is what your colleague decided to deviate from.
Re confidentiality the school nurse would have been following that of her employing organisation, which usually says something like this "Children under the age of 16 who have the capacity and understanding to take decisions about their own treatment are also
entitled to make decisions about the use and disclosure of information they have provided in confidence."
For teachers the policy will be something more along these lines "The general rule is that staff should make clear that there are limits to confidentiality, at the beginning of the conversation. These limits relate to ensuring childrens? safety and well being. The pupil will be informed when a confidence has to be broken for this reason and will be encouraged to do this for themselves whenever this is possible."
So long as she said to the child that she would tell her parents before the child told her she needed a pregnancy test then she would be all right on the confidentiality front. Otherwise she should have warned the child and sent her straight to the school nurse before she was told any details. Re the child protection angle, she should have followed the school's policy. If she thought the CP officer wasn't taking her seriously she should have spoken to her Head teacher or social services.