3.9.2 Countering of Bullying |
SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER
This procedure applies to children placed in foster care, but the principles apply to the placement of all Looked After Children. Therefore, where Looked After Children are placed with parents, relatives or friends or in placements outside the authority, the social worker must ensure these or other adequate procedures are applied.
The procedures in this Chapter must be read in conjunction with Countering Bullying Guidance.
AMENDMENT
This chapter was slightly updated in March 2012 in regard to the Placement Plan recorded in the Placement Information Record.
Contents
1. Definition of Bullying
Bullying is defined as behaviour or actions of a person, group of people or a whole organisation designed to cause distress or to hurt a person or group of people.
Further detail of what may constitute bullying is contained in Countering Bullying Guidance.
2. Placement Planning
If there is a risk that a child is likely to be bullied or may be the perpetrator of bullying behaviour, the strategies for managing and reducing the risks must be outlined in his/her Placement Plan (recorded on the Placement Information Record).
In the absence of any such Strategy, the following must be applied.
3. Notifications and Management Review
There are different notifications procedures depending on the persistence and seriousness of the bullying:
3.1 Notifications of Minor or Non-persistent Bullying
Where bullying is not persistent or not serious, it should be notified to the family placements worker and social worker at the first opportunity; they will decide what action to take in the circumstances.
3.2 Notifications of Persistent or Serious Bullying
Serious, one-off, episodes of bullying are deemed to be Incidents; and must be notified to the social worker and family placements manager via the family placements worker as soon as possible but within 24 hours.
The social worker should decide whether to inform the child’s parent(s).
Where serious bullying persists, the social worker and family placements worker, in consultation with the family placements manager, should come to a decision about whether it is deemed to be an Incident and whether they should be notified on each occasion or at specified intervals.
It will also be necessary to decide whether to notify the child’s parent(s).
If the bullying is serious or persists, the family placements manager/worker and social worker should consider whether the bullying may constitute Significant Harm; if this is likely, a referral should be considered under the London Child Protection Procedures.
If the matter is referred under the Child Protection Procedures, the Designated Manager (Serious Illness/Accident/Notifiable Illness) must be notified.
In any case, any incidents of persistent or serious bullying must be subject to a Management Review as set out in Section 5, Management Reviews of Incidents - General Guidance.
4. Recording
There are different recording procedures depending on the persistence and seriousness of the bullying
4.1 Recording of Minor or Non-persistent Bullying
Minor or non-persistent bullying should be recorded by the social worker on the child’s Chronology and, by foster carers, in the child’s Daily Record (with detail provided on a Detail Record).
4.2 Recording of Persistent or Serious Bullying
Unless otherwise agreed between the social worker and family placements worker and set out in the child’s Placement Information Record, incidents of persistent or serious bullying must always be recorded as Incidents.
Please see Incidents - General Guidance
End