Robust processes during construction projects deliver effective
safeguarding
Scores of people, from many different
companies and organisations gain access to a School during a
construction project. Access is often unrestricted.
The challenge
Consultants, Local Authority representatives,
building inspectors, main building contractor, subcontractors
(including ground workers, bricklayers, electricians, plumbers,
plasterers, decorators...) all have access to schools leading up to
and during a construction project. The list of individuals visiting
the school from a variety of companies and organisations can seem
endless.
For a significant proportion of most projects site
personnel are segregated in a self contained site. But does
segregation provide a restricted access that is effective enough
for Safeguarding? Does it matter who is on the site over the
hoarding? What about less restricted access at the beginning and
end of construction projects when the extent of the site is not as
clear?
There are many questions and challenges for schools
to deal with during projects. There are elements of building work
that are not easy to contain, such as window replacement around an
entire school and work required to electrical services where much
wider access to the school is required.
The response
One approach to take is to view all workers
undertaking construction activities in schools as visitors. As such
schools need to manage this significant additional volume of
visitors in accordance with their safeguarding policy.
There are cost implications towards contractors in
the requirements demanded of them and as such, it is also important
to set out the requirements at tender stage to avoid additional
costs and delays to construction projects later on.
Our experience with clients on many projects has
highlighted eight key steps that can play a major role in achieving
effective safeguarding:
- Complete segregation of site from the school
wherever possible.
- Contractor’s management team, including site
foreman to have Enhanced CRB disclosure.
- All workers, including subcontractors that will
have access to the school, beyond
site hoarding/boundary to have Enhanced
CRB disclosure.
- All workers to have minimum ‘list 99’ clearance,
but ideally Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)
disclosure.
- Contractor to manage list of workers that are on
site and provide information to school on a daily basis.
- Everyone working beyond the site hoarding/boundary
or visiting the school should fully comply with the school’s
procedures prior to accessing the school. This might include
presenting an original CRB certificate and photographic
identification.
- Deliveries to site should only be to the segregated
site compound and managed/supervised by the main
contractor.
- Mobile phones with a camera facility belonging to
workers should be left in the site cabin.
Changes ahead
From 2010 the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)
disclosure process will work alongside the Independent Safeguarding
Authority (ISA) registration. All new people being checked will
need to be ISA registered and from 2015 all people working in a
regulated activity must be ISA registered.
Who’s accountable?
Head teachers and Governors are accountable.
It’s the School that needs to make the call concerning the extent
of management policies and procedures that are implemented and have
confidence that they are effective in safeguarding children and
young people during construction projects.
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the 'effective safeguarding' article [95 kb]