The parent should be advised however that agreement might not always be possible if the parent wishes the child/young person to attend a part of the meeting which the panel considers not to be in the child/young interests. person’s best The welfare of the child/young person is paramount. • Appendix D Interviewing Best Practice Tips Children/young people Children/young people should be interviewed in the presence of another member of staff, or in • the case of serious complaints (e.g. where the possibility of criminal investigation exists) in the presence of their parents/carers. However, it might not always be possible to conduct an interview in case it prejudices a LADO or police investigation. Schools should contact the LADO, LA safeguarding team and/or Senior Adviser for advice Care should be taken in these circumstances not to create an intimidating atmosphere. • Children/young people should be told what the interview is about and that they can have • someone with them. Staff/Witnesses Explain the complaint and your role clearly to the interviewee and confirm that they • understand the complaints procedure and their role in it. Staff are allowed a colleague to support them at their interview. The colleague must not be • anyone likely to be interviewed themselves, including their line manager. Use open, not leading questions. • Do not express opinions in words or attitude. • Ask single not multiple questions, i.e. one question at a time. • Try to separate from fact by asking interviewees how they know a • ‘hearsay’ evidence particular fact. Persist with questions if necessary. Do not be afraid to ask the same question twice. Make • notes of each answer given. Deal with conflicting evidence by seeking corroborative evidence. If this is not available, • discuss with the complaints co-ordinator/ head teacher/ Chair of Governors the option of a meeting between the conflicting witnesses. Make a formal record of the interview from the written notes as soon as possible while the • memory is fresh. Show the interviewee the formal record, ask if s/he has anything to add, and to sign the record as accurate. Annex E– Code of conduct All parties will:
The parent should be advised however that agreement might not always be possible if the parent wishes the child/young person to attend a part of the meeting which the panel considers not to be in the child/young person’s best interests. • The welfare of the child/young person is paramount. Appendix D Interviewing Best Practice Tips Children/young people • Children/young people should be interviewed in the presence of another member of staff, or in the case of serious complaints (e.g. where the possibility of criminal investigation exists) in the presence of their parents/carers. However, it might not always be possible to conduct an interview in case it prejudices a LADO or police investigation. Schools should contact the LADO, LA safeguarding team and/or Senior Adviser for advice • Care should be taken in these circumstances not to create an intimidating atmosphere. • Children/young people should be told what the interview is about and that they can have someone with them. Staff/Witnesses • Explain the complaint and your role clearly to the interviewee and confirm that they understand the complaints procedure and their role in it. • Staff are allowed a colleague to support them at their interview. The colleague must not be anyone likely to be interviewed themselves, including their line manager. • Use open, not leading questions. • Do not express opinions in words or attitude. • Ask single not multiple questions, i.e. one question at a time. • Try to separate ‘hearsay’ evidence from fact by asking interviewees how they know a particular fact. • Persist with questions if necessary. Do not be afraid to ask the same question twice. Make notes of each answer given. • Deal with conflicting evidence by seeking corroborative evidence. If this is not available, discuss with the complaints co-ordinator/ head teacher/ Chair of Governors the option of a meeting between the conflicting witnesses. • Make a formal record of the interview from the written notes as soon as possible while the memory is fresh. Show the interviewee the formal record, ask if s/he has anything to add, and to sign the record as accurate. Annex E– Code of conduct All parties will:
ghps_complaints_policy_spring_2016.docx