Memorandum submitted by the National Deaf
Children's Society (NDCS)
THE ROLE OF OFSTED: SAFEGUARDING DEAF CHILDREN
INTRODUCTION
In light of evidence showing that deaf children
are more likely to be abused, NDCS is calling on Ofsted to ensure
their needs are considered in its quality assurance arrangements
for children's services.
DEAF CHILDREN
AND THE
RISK OF
ABUSE
Evidence indicates that deaf children are three
to four times more likely to experience abuse. The National Deaf
Children's Society believes that communication barriers mean that
some deaf children may be less likely to learn how to protect
themselves or to inform others what is happening to them. These
communication barriers also mean that deaf children may be specifically
targeted by abusers, particularly in care situations (eg residential
care, private transport to school).
The Department of Health recognised this in
its Mental Health and Deafness: Towards Equity and Access
(2006)[4]
report where it recommended that all Local Safeguarding Children's
Boards (LSCBs) review their child protection arrangements for
deaf children. To NDCS's great concern, we are unaware of any
such review by any LSCB since this recommendation was made two
years ago.
In addition, the NHS report, Quality Assurance
Report 2006-08 (NHS Newborn Hearing Screening Programme)[5],
highlighted the lack of social care involvement in the multi-agency
arrangements for supporting young deaf children and their parents
after diagnosis. Deaf children are not receiving the Children
in Need Assessment required by statute.
THE ROLE
OF OFSTED
NDCS believes that there are a number of issues
that could be usefully explored by the Committee in its inquiry
into the role of Ofsted:
— How Ofsted ensures that the specific
safeguarding needs of deaf children (and disabled children more
widely) are taken into account during its inspections and/or Annual
Performance Assessments (APAs).
— What data Ofsted uses to make judgements
about the quality of safeguarding arrangements of deaf children
(and disabled children more widely), and what steps it intends
to take to improve data collection.
— Whether during its inspections and/or
APAs, Ofsted has looked into whether LSCBs have complied with
the government's recommendation that they review child protection
arrangements for deaf children.
— Whether during its inspections and/
or APAs, Ofsted has considered the findings of the NHS inspections
of the newborn hearing screen programme which in the majority
of cases have raised the issue of lack of social work input—despite
the legal requirement to conduct Children in Need Assessments.
December 2008
4 M http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_410399 Back
5
http://hearing.screening.nhs.uk/QA_Reports Back
| 
