The following is the adult safeguarding and protection protocols at ICS:
All employees are mandated reporters of child abuse, neglect and/or harassment
Employees are to immediately report any suspicions to a school counselor, divisional principal or the Chief Medical Officer.
All reports will be reviewed by the Safeguarding & Protection team.
The Safeguarding & Protection Team will immediately inform the Safeguarding & Protection Lead (CMO) and divisional principal. The Head of School will be informed by the Safeguarding & Protection Lead (CMO).
A response team will be created and will investigate the case.
All findings are systematically recorded by the team and placed in the adult's cumulative file for documentation of the suspected incident for ICS.
If suspicion is substantial and/or the adult seems to be at risk of further abuse, the team will compile an official report that will be legally translated into Amharic if an Amharic speaking adult is involved.
The report may be officially filed with local and home country authorities and Safeguarding & Protection agencies.
If the suspected perpetrator is the parent, or if the parents do not act in the best interest of protecting their child, the school maintains the right to contact the parents’ employer, the family’s embassy(s) and/or legal authorities, mandate professional counseling and/or revoke enrollment of their student(s) at ICS.
If the suspected perpetrator is a school employee and their continued employment is determined to put other adult/children at further risk, the school maintains the right to contact legal authorities and /or the employee’s embassy, mandate professional counseling and/or terminate the employment contract at ICS
Follow-up services will be provided by the school counseling team and administration as needed
See the response flow chart under Reporting & Response.
Use of Toilets
There are no student-only toilets on campus. An adult may enter any bathroom where students are for supervision and safety reasons. Adults will announce before they enter and will try to have a second adult on hand.
Rooms
Students should not be in a room or tent on their own overnight. Students should not sleep in the same room as adults.
The only exceptions are:
if a student has a sickness or injury which is deemed by a certified medical professional (e.g. school nurse) to require regular monitoring in which case that child may stay in the same room as a medical professional.
If a student has a sickness which is deemed contagious and potentially hazardous for others, once the parent has been notified, if they cannot be collected, in that case they can sleep on their own with the health professional immediately next door. Student room doors must be locked at night, but teachers must have a key.
Use of Public Toilets (away from school)
When students are using public toilets, a teacher must be situated close to the toilet building and if appropriate in the area outside the toilet cubicles. Students should not use public toilets on their own, they must enter in pairs or larger groups. Male teachers should not use urinals when ICS students are present. Male teachers are encouraged to use toilet cubicles even when students are not in sight to avoid any potential inappropriate encounter or allegation regarding a student.
Mobile Phone
All teachers should carry a charged mobile phone and school office and Leadership Team telephone numbers in case of emergencies/reporting etc.
Rationale
In line with ICS’s Safeguarding & Protection Policy, all adults and students have the right to respect and privacy. It is an expectation that students will use the toilet or changing room in a safe, efficient and orderly manner and be treated fairly with respect for their privacy and dignity. However, an appropriate level of supervision must be implemented to safeguard students and to satisfy health and safety considerations. This supervision should be appropriate to the needs and age of the students concerned.
Procedures
There are no student-only toilets or changing rooms on campus.
An adult may enter any toilet or changing room where students are for supervision and safety reasons. Adults will announce before they enter and will try to have a second adult on hand.
Staff should not use the toilet, change, or shower in the same place as students or in a student toilet or changing room.
Male staff must not enter female toilets or changing rooms and vice-versa (unless in an emergency situation). All adults should avoid being in the changing rooms or toilets without just cause.
Cleaning staff should only clean the toilets or changing rooms when students are not in the changing room or toilets. Cleaners should leave the toilet or changing room if a student enters.
This also applies to all field trips and sporting events on campus and off.