Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
REGION V - BICOL
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF ALBAY
SOGOD NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
SOGOD, BACACAY, ALBAY

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

School Details: SOGOD NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Sogod, Bacacay, Albay

CHILD PROTECTION COMMITTEE:

CHAIRPERSON: DIANA P. BENASA

School Principal

VICE – CHAIRPERSON: ANNALIE D. CELADIÑA

Guidance Designate

REPRESENTATIVE OF THE TEACHERS:

MAY M. BARCELONA JULIE ANNE B. PEÑA

Faculty Club President GPTA Secretary

PARENT REPRESENTATIVE:

ENRIQUE BELLEN, JR.

PTA President

STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE:

TRICIA ROMANO
SSG President

BARANGAY REPRESENTATIVE:

DINA PANGANIBAN
Barangay Captain
INTRODUCTION:
The first policy of Sogod National High School is the welfare of the students. We are
committed at all time to achieving the highest standards in protecting and safeguarding all
of the entrusted to our care.
In recognition of our statutory responsibilities, we have ensured the appropriate
arrangements are in place to safeguard and promote the welfare of the students.
We recognize that some students may be victim of neglect, physical, sexual, or
emotional abuse and that of the staff at the school are well placed to identify such abuse
and offer support to any child in need.

POLICY STATEMENT:
1. This policy has been approved by the school’s Board of Trustees and is
addressed to all members of staff. It applies wherever staff is working with
students even when it is away from the school for example on a vacation visit.
2. Every student should feel safe and protected from any form of abuse which in
this policy means any kind of neglect, non – accidental physical injury, sexual
exploitation or emotional ill – treatment.
3. Sogod National High School is committed in safeguarding and promoting the
welfare of the students and expect all staff and visitors to share this
commitment.
The school will take a measurable measure to:
1. Ensure that we practice safe recruitment in checking the sustainability of staff to
work with students.
2. Ensure that all visitors to the school are vetted and authorized.
3. Protect each student from the other form of abuse, whether from an adult or
other student.
4. Be alert to signs of abuse both from the school and from the outside.
5. Deal appropriately with every suspicion or compliant of abuse.
6. Design and operate procedures which promote this policy and which so far as
possible, ensures that teacher and others who are innocent are not prejudiced by
false allegation.
7. Support students who have been abused in accordance with his/her agreed child
protection plan.
8. Be alert to the medical needs of the student with medical conditions.
9. Operate robust and sensible health and safety procedures.
10. Take all practicable steps to ensure that the school premises are secure as
circumstances permit.
11. Operate clear and supportive policies on drugs, alcohol, and substance misuse in
accordance with school's agreement.
12. Consider and develop procedures to deal with any other safeguarding issues
which may be specific to individual students.
13. Every complain or suspicion of abuse from within or outside the school will be
taken seriously and in all proper circumstances will be referred to an external
agency such as the DSWD and Child protection Unit of the PNP.

THE CHAIRPERSON

The school has appointed the principal to be responsible for matters

relating to child protection ·and welfare. The main responsibilities of the
chairperson are:

1. To be the first point of contact for parents, students, teaching and non-
teaching staff and e xt ernal agencies in all matters of child protection.
2 . To coordinate the child protection procedures in the school.
 3. To maintain an on-going training programme for all school employees.
4. To monitor the keeping, confidentiality and storage of records in relation to
child protection.
5. To communicate with the child protection officer appointed by DSWD or PNP.
6. To advise and act upon all suspicion, belief and evidence of abuse reported to
her.
7. To keep the vice-Chairperson informed in all actions.
8. To keep all the teachers/students of the different types of abuse.

TYPES OF ABUSE

Abuse can be:

1. Physical Abuse
Ex. Beating or punching Emotional
2. Emotional Abuse
Ex. Rejection and denial of Affection
3. Sexual Abuse
Ex. Assault or encouraging a child or young person to view a pornographic
material.
4. Neglect -failure to provide appropriate care including warmth or medical attention
5. Special Circumstances
Bullying
Domestic violence
Fabricated or induced illness
Foreign exchange visits
Gangs, serious youth violence and violent extremism
Information and communication technology, based forms of abuse
Missing from care and home
Not attending school
Parental lack of control
Parental mental illness
Parents with learning disabilities
Parents who misuse substance
Pregnancy
Private fostering
Self-harming and suicidal behaviour
Sexually exploited children
Spirit possession or witchcraft
Trafficked and exploited children

SIGN OF ABUSE

1. The student says she/he has been abused or asks a question which gives
rise
that interference.
2. There is no reasonable or consistent explanation for a student's injury,
there have been a number of injuries; there is a pattern to the injuries.
3. The student's behaviour stand out from the group as either being
extreme model behaviour or extremely challenging behaviour; or there
is a sudden change in the student's behaviour.
4. The student asks to drop the subjects with particular teacher and seem
reluctant to discuss the reason.
5. The student's development is delayed.
6. The students loses or gain weight rapidly
7. The student appears neglected e.g. dirty, inadequate clothed
 8. The students are reluctant to go home or has been openly rejected by his
order parents or careers.
DUTIES OF STAFF & EMPLOYEES

1. To protect students from abuse

2. To be aware of child Protection procedures and to follow them.
3. To know how to access and implement the procedures,
independently if necessary
4 . To keep a sufficient record of any significant complaint, conversation or
event
5. To report any matters of concern to the chairperson

PROCEDURE
- Initial Complaint
An employee suspecting or hearing a complaint of abuse:
1. Must listen carefully to the young person and keep an open mind.
Employee should not take a decision as to whether or not the abuse has
taken the place.
2. Must not ask leading question which suggests its own answer.
3. Must re - assure young person but not give a guarantee of absolute
confidentiality. The employee should explain that they need to pass the
information to the chairperson of the child protection committee who will
ensure that the correct action is taken.
4. Must keep a sufficient written record of the conversation and should
include the date, time and plac e of the conversation a n d the essence of
what was said and done by whom and whose presence. The record should
be signed by the person making it and should use names, not initials. The
records must be kept securely and handed to the chairperson.

PRESERVING EVIDENCE

All evidence for example, scribbled notes, mobile phones containing text
messages, clothing and computers, must be safeguarded and preserved.

REPORTING

All suspicion or complaint of abuse must be reported to the Chairperson

Action by the chairperson of the child protection committee:

The action to be taken will take into account:

1. The local inter - agency procedures of the DSWD/PNP

2. The nature and seriousness of the suspicion or complaint. A complaint
involving serious criminal offense will always be referred to the
DSWD/PNP without further investigation within the school.
3. The wishes of the student who was complained, provided that the student
is of sufficient understanding and maturity and properly informed.
However, there may be times when the situation is so serious that
decisions may need to be taken, after all appropriate consultation, that
override the student’s wishes.
4. The wishes of the complainant's parents, provided they have no interest
which is in conflict with the student's best interest and that they are
properly informed. Again, it may be necessary, after all appropriate
consultation, to override parental wishes in some circumstances. If the
chairperson is concerned in disclosing information to parents would put a
 young person at risk, or it is against the students wishes, or he/she would
take further advice from the relevant professionals before making a
decision to disclose.
5. Duties of confidentiality so far are applicable.
6. The lawful rights of the school community including its employees.
7. If there is room for doubt as to whether a referral should be made, the
chairperson must consult the DSWD/PNP or other appropriate professionals
on a no name basis without identifying the family. However, as soon as
sufficient concern exits that a young person maybe at risk of significant
harm, a referral will be made without delay.

REFFERAL GUIDELINES

A referral to the DSWD/PNP where not normally be made where:

1. The complaint does not involve a serious criminal offense.

2. A referral would be contrary to the wishes of a student complaint who has
sufficient maturity and understanding and properly informed, and contrary
also to the wishes of the complainants’ parents.
3. The case is one that can be satisfactorily investigated and dealt with under
the school's internal procedure. However, if during the course of the internal
procedures, it appears that the situation is more serious, the chairperson
will again consider whether a referral shall be made in accordance with the
action by the chairperson of the child protection policy.

EXTERNAL
AGENCIES
Whether or not a school decides to refer complaint to the DSWD/PNP, the
parents and students will be informed in writing of their right to make their
own or referral to the concerned agencies.

INFORMING PARENTS
Parents will n o r m a l l y b e kept i nf ormed o f any action to b e taken
u n d e r t h e s e procedures. However there maybe be circumstances when
the chairperson will need to consult the heads of the agencies.

CONFIDENTIALLY AND INFORMATION SHARING

The school will keep all child protection records confidential, allowing
disclosure only to those who need the information to safeguard and promote
the welfare of children. The school will cooperate with police and social
services to ensure that all relevant information is shared for the purpose of
child protection investigations.

Prepared by:

ANNALIE D. CELADIÑA
HT-1, Guidance Designate
Attested by:

DIANA P. BENASA
Principal I