AJuff Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 If a person you worked with was struggling with her job and was failing to safeguard children would you report her? If a person you worked with breached the e-safety policy would you report her? If a church member failed to oragnise a chaperone for choir breaching the child protection policy would you report it? What a tough week I've had . . . . not sure if I''ve made the right choices and I'm feeling a bit bad about the consequences. The responses I have had back make me question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 The safety of children has to come first every time. In the first example you cite, maybe the individual has problems at home which are impacting on the way s/he is doing the job, and with a bit of support she may improve. To get that assistance and support for the colleague, you would have to alert a third party, so I'd say that you were right to report him/her. In answer to questions 2 and 3. Yes, and yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted February 11, 2012 Author Share Posted February 11, 2012 Thank you for this as I'm feeling a bit rotten about the third. The email I sent to the person responsible, in confidence, he then forwarded the email to the person in question! Can't begin to tell you how the response from them has mae me feel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 I agree with Egluntyne. Although tough, if you knew there was a problem and did nothing about it and then something happened, how would you feel? Sorry you've had such a tough week x I do hope it's not the same person in all three situations Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henchanted Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 Ajuff, I read your post with interest, what awful dilemmas. You don't say whether you drew the individuals attentions to your concerns in any of the 3 situations, before reporting them to a third party. Personally I suspect it will strain your relationships with these people, because if you went behind their backs, rather than discussing it with them before deciding what to do they will be suspicious and untrusting of you in future. You are absolutely right to flag up these safety issues but, you may not know all the facts and personally I would talk to the individuals and see if I have the full picture before deciding whether it needs to go further or not. I hope it works out OK for you, dilemmas, dilemmas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 I agree with Egluntyne. Henchanted I don't know I'd feel able to challenge someone flouting childrens safety (I would if it was direct) and think I would let their supervisor know as well. I think it's their responsibility to find out the facts and act if necessary. It would have been easy to do it anonymously but you didn't, you acted responsibly. Sorry you feel bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 I agree with Eggers too, & would have done the same myself. Well done you I myself reported (in a round about way) a person at work who was in breach of e safety rules just last week,as the person in question had written some truly awful things about another member of staff & it just was not on at all. Confrontation is not my style, but what had been written was so nasty that I felt that it had to be brought to the attention of someone in authority. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mum Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 Thank you for this as I'm feeling a bit rotten about the third. The email I sent to the person responsible, in confidence, he then forwarded the email to the person in question! Can't begin to tell you how the response from them has mae me feel. How very unprofessional of him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted February 12, 2012 Author Share Posted February 12, 2012 For reasons I can't write it would have been impossible to speak to the two in question. What I am most concerned about is the manager of my church. I emailed my concerns and he then forwarded it onto the person in question. He has breached my confidence and is failing as a manager to ensure correct procedures are followed. I have to face them both at church this morning and it makes me feel sick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mum Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 No, *you* don't have to face them *they* have to face YOU! You have no done anything wrong:- ~ church member failed to organise a chaperone (his/her error!) ~ manager breached confidentiality (his/her error!) This is not the school playground where words like "grass/sneak/dobber" come into play. You behaved as a responsible citizen and made the relevant people away of breaches - we *all* have a civic duty to report these things! Hold your head up high and walk with pride. As I said: they have to face you ((hugs)) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 I agree, you've done nothing wrong and have nothing to feel ashamed about although you will feel understandably embarrassed as a result of the email being forwarded (which should never have happened ). Imagine how you'd be feeling if you hadn't said anything and then something awful happened (unlikely but it could happen which is why these rules are in place). Most people would have sat back and said nothing as it's the easiest option. You should feel proud of yourself . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 I hope things go well for you today. I would most definitely refer the conduct of the church manager to a higher authority if I were you. His/her behaviour is disgraceful, and it would appear that this person doesn't 'get' what child protection is about, and in the context of a church setting, this is deeply worrying. If the manager can't follow a procedure, then no-one else will. What is the point of having them if they are to be ignored at whim? If the parents of the children in the choir were aware, I'm darned sure they would back you, and not the slap dash manager. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 Who is the person responsible for child protection? No if's - no but's! The buck stops with them! If in any doubt - come monday morning - this needs to be taken further! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 (edited) They are called rules and procedures for a reason........you were right to report if you had concerns, too many people keep quiet and that is how the issues become bigger or unresolved. I think you should definitely follow up on the forwarding on of the email, definitely not the correct procedure. Hope everything was ok for you thid morning. Edited February 12, 2012 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindafw Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 Having just attended a child protection lecture I assure you that it is a requirement of your employment that if you have any concerns you report them. It is your cp officers job t(if you don't know who that is speak to your line manager) to decide if they require further attention and not yours...further I would advise that you record in your diary that you have made a report (no details) thus if your CP officer does not believe it requires further action and you find at a later date that there is an issue you can flag up that your reported. Reports can be made in a supportive way..they don't have to be damming! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
