Work not listening to safety concerns - risk of violence at work.

[GoldenTiger]

So I work in a small school with children that all have frequent episodes of aggression where physical interventions are required.

On my risk assessment it states that other staff will be present to do restrictive hysical interventions but this isn't possible due to the nature of the work, it's often that children are unsettled at once, leaving me alone in violent situations. I raised my concerns to my manager who spoke to HR who have said I am to 'intervene as usual', so I am to carry out restrictive physical interventions and step in physical aggressive situations when I'm alone, despite my risk assessment saying staff will be available, which they're not. HR have also said I'm to still remain seated in the back of the car, in between children, which we've had multiple situations where aggression has occurred in cars. Again, I'm told its business as usual and pregnancy doesn't change this. My work has been deemed high risk of physical violence and high risk of work related stress on my risk assessment.

I've been told I can swap schools, where aggression is very slightly less common, although it's still frequent and very much a risk and again, if (more like when) I'm alone, I'll have to still continue to intervene.

I really don't feel supported at all, especially when I'm told it's 'business as usual' despite making them aware I'm pregnant (6 weeks, but I've had to tell as soon as I found out due to the high risk job).

Are you in a union?

I'd be contemplating going off sick until your RA is robust and implemented. Not worth it.

What would your ideal solution to this be? Could you transfer to mainstream school for the time?

What do you want the risk assessment to say

I work for an independent school so transfer to mainstream wouldn't be an option right now unfortunately

If you’re using RPIs that frequently, your school is already doing things wrong. Have they never heard of de escalation?

Then they have you taking children out in cars when they’ve just deemed the same children such a danger to themselves or others that they need to be physically restrained? This school sounds like a complete shit show, not an educational setting.

Ultimately, if the risk is so high and there’s no adjustment you get put on on paid leave. In these types of places where assuming 50% of the children have displayed violence in recent past you might need admin work in an office, different class, not lone work etc. it’s tricky when the kids are there for behavioural difficulties.

I’m shocked that this is such a common occurrence and the response seems to be just the same each time from you post- the children’s’ behaviour and the school response is what I mean. And then the same kids are going out and about?

In you shoes I’d go and see my GP and get their opinion. I’d also speak to a union for some advice. As you get much further along it will be an issue, the physicality of it. What happens then?

I am so sorry that this is what's happening for you. You really don't need that in pregnancy, especially early pregnancy - such unnecessary stress. Have a professional conversation with HR/the relevant people. Show them the risk assessment and explain it simply cannot be "business as usual", because your baby is worth more than that. Explain that you will be putting your baby first and that means you either are accomodated appropriately, or your doctor will sign you off. Note how your doctor isn't happy that this is a safe work environment for you or your baby and is keen to sign you off. Even if a white lie, it might move them into transferring you into a safer section of the school. Best of luck.

Abit of an update.. or lack of. I emailed HR to which I had no response and I was eventually told by my manager that this needs to go through him, not HR.

I've raised my concerns, 100% of children have shown recent violence towards staff and although they're not violent all day, every day and we do have the odd day where there's no violence, it's always a possibility due to unpredictability and on numerous occasions I've been left alone, because there's been no other options which is why I've asked for work to guarantee I'll never be alone, but I've been told this isn't possible due to 'the nature of the job'. So, where do I go from here? I don't recieve company sick pay, only SSP so long term sick isn't ideal.

Your trade union rep should be able to help you with this. Good luck.

It doesn’t sound like it’s possible or safe to do your job when pregnant and there isn’t really anything your workplace can do about that as it’s just the nature of the job. Having another member of staff by your side at all times doesn’t make sense, it would be expensive for them and there would still be a significant risk to your safety.

Get some proper advice but it’s likely that you’ll have to go off sick.

Sending sympathy. I work in a similar setting. Unfortunately, with us, it is not the school doing stuff wrong, it is the traumatic households the children come from where they witness violence as normal. They have been excluded from everywhere before they come to us.
We are all told to prioritise keeping ourselves safe - go and hover in a corridor if things escalate.
The car one I would say a point blank no - my colleagues would never let a pregnant colleague do this. Do your colleagues know yet?
These settings, although rewarding to work in, just don’t have the same conditions as mainstream.
Sorry I can’t offer a solution, but just prioritise keeping safe until one is found.

My colleagues do know but we're such a small setting, that even prioritising your own safety in a corridor is near on impossible if we have dysregulated children 😞 there's not always staff available for support due to them supporting other dysregulated children. For example, even I was called on the other day to support a staff member with two dysregulated children because all other staff were occupied with other children requiring support.

It's hard isn't it in settings where realistically, it is the nature of the job. If staff are available I've been more able to prioritise my safety by leaving the room but it's not always been possible and I've had to interviene due to being alone whilst no other staff were available. It's all very unpredictable.. my colleagues know, just due to the setting being what it is and they try to not leave me alone but there's always multiple times a day where I am due to staff being needed with other children and we're such a small team.

Hi Op
Please see the following guidance to support you:
https://www.acas.org.uk/managing-your-employees-maternity-leave-and-pay/check-health-and-safety-risks
your employer must risk assess and identify any possible risks to you, then consider how to mitigate this.
if they cannot mitigate through reasonable adjustments they should try to identify other work, such as admin or other less risky roles
If there is no other work available and the risk to your safety remains, they should consider a medical suspension (paid)

It's very up hard in such a setting, as you are essentially saying you can't do your job-the one they have hired you to do.

I would speak to your regional union rep.

You sit in the back of a car inbetween two children?
Apologies if I’m being ignorant as I work in mainstream school but this would never be allowed. We don’t even sit next to a child vomiting on a coach trip/mini bus, but lean over the aisle.

@SullysBabyMama very different situations. We often transport children by car and have to sit in the back with them so they don’t take their seatbelt off etc. We don’t have coaches or minibuses with an aisle. Even some children who come in a taxi have an extra adult provided by the taxi company in the back with them.

Yes, it's the norm in smaller school settings (I'm talking 7 children in the entire school), children are taken out in cars rather than minibuses so a staff member must sit between children at all times to avoid any incidents from occuring

Thank you! I've already contacted ACAS who suggested I spoke to my HR in writing but they just won't respond, saying I need to go via my line manager but the last time my line manager spoke to them following my concerns was when I got the "business as usual" when you're alone with children, despite ACAS saying being alone shouldn't be allowed due to foreseeable risks

Speak to Pregnant then Screwed and ask them whether they think you have a case to be medically suspended

I’ve worked in special schools and what you are describing sounds really unsafe. When we had frequently violent children they would have 2:1. The school just are not staffing this correctly. I question the amount of physical restraint going on too. That should be a last resort and if you are getting to ‘last resort’ that often, then you have set up the environment in a way that isn’t supporting the needs of the students and staff. So many red flags…
BUT the fact they are expecting you to continue whilst pregnant is appalling. You need to be on office duties or on paid leave. Ring ‘pregnant and screwed’ charity for advice but pretty certain your employer is on wildly thin ice here.

Union and Pregnant Then Screwed. There are plenty of schools but you only have one chance to keep your baby safe.