Shoud I mention this to the HT as a safeguarding issue?

[hillyhilly]

A dad regularly collects one of my childrens classmates (Y2) smelling as if he has spent the afternoon in the pub. I was telling DH as he absolutely reeked of fags and booze today and one of my children said "mummy there's a strange smell in this school".
However, although he always seems coherent enough (I do know him so I speak to him at least once a week), I am a governor at the school and it just occurred to me that maybe I should notify the head. I don't think he is driving with her, his wife works but used to collect her so maybe she waits in the car.
Am I being a sticky beak or should I speak up?

As long as he isn't driving & as long as he is coherent enough to look after a child I don't see it as a problem.

So what if he has spent the afternoon in the pub?

How regularly?

I would.

I disagree Pictures
It is a possible CP issue and I would ask that school assess your concern.
The CP designated officer should be the one to assess any risk, not the parent. If you pass on your concern they may decide not to take any action, or they might already have information or previous concern forms that indicate there is a CP risk.
Pass it on and allow the professionals to make that judgement.

If you know him to speak to, why don't you ask him what he's done with his day in a chatty way?

Could it be that he works in a pub?

Always pass on concerns. Few of us are qualified to judge and none of us have all the relevant information. Let the people in a position to decide safely do their job.

I would want you to tell me .

As a governor and if I got on well with HT I'd probably mention it in an "I know it's not really my business but..." way. As a HT/CT I would probably then just keep a bit of an eye out and react if I thought I should. Not as sever as calling SS but still raising your concerns.

I don't think it's any of your business. As long as he's safe to look after his own child, it's not your concern.

Unless he's putting the child in a car then you should mind you own business. There's no indication he's unfit to look after his own child.

Speak to the safeguarding member of staff for your school. You have no idea what other matters may be in the knowledge of the school regarding this child. Better to share your genuine concern. Those who say it is none of your business - well it won't be the OP's business as once she has passed on her observation she will not be told what has happened by staff.

Barworker?

I think that unless he is visibly quite drunk (slurring words, stumbling, saying inappropriate things) you shouldn't say anything. Surely the teacher sees him and probably has much more background information on the family, a parent smelling of alcohol combined with a child in dirty clothing, regular late pick ups or a hungry child would ring alarm bells for me but a clean, happy well looked after child who's dad smells of drink isn't anyone else's concern, as far as I know consuming alcohol and looking after children (as long as you are capable of meeting their needs) is ok. If it was a family who went to a beer garden for Sunday lunch and the dad smelt like a pub would it be ok? Or a mum who had some friends over on Friday evening for some glasses of wine? Is it just that it's afternoon drinking or do you think parents should never consume alcohol when they are going to be around children?

As someone who has been involved in child protection I agree 100% with JWIM. If you ever have any concerns you should report them. It may not be a problem but it might indicate an issue. Those who are trained and have all the relevant information can decide whether or not any action is needed.

I'm afraid that people who say, "none of your business" or, "it may be innocent so don't do anything" help to create a culture of silence which allows child abuse to thrive. If you ever have concerns you should always share them with the member of staff responsible for safeguarding.

I think you should report it to a designated person with CP responsibility. And stress you are doing so as concerned parent who has spotted it and don't know what to make of it, not because you are a governor.

As a passing comment, neglect of a child is incredibly difficult for SWs to evidence. Reports from a variety of sources help build up a picture.

If there are no other concerns then it won't go anywhere. But if the child is already on the 'radar' then this could be another useful piece of information to help support the family or protect the child.

Please raise this.

(adopter).

I'd better tell my dad to stop going to the pub on Friday afternoons then before he picks ds up from school for me (he often takes ds with him afterwards )

It could be that he's called for a quick pint after school, this would then smell quite strong and if he's walked to the school while smoking a cigarette, this would also explain the strong smell. There could be any number of explanations, most of them innocent but maybe just mentioning to your safeguarding officer, as pp suggested, might be the best solution.

I imagine my Dad had this smell about him on quite a few occasions, I was perfectly well looked after though.