To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) any mandatory safeguarding actions that must be taken immediately following the arrest of a member of school staff; (ii) whether current guidance explicitly requires a formal risk assessment at that stage, including what is done with that risk assessment.

The Department’s guidance ‘Dealing with Allegations of Abuse against a Member of Staff (DE Circular 2015/13)’ sets out the actions to be taken where an allegation of abuse is made against a member of school staff, including where an arrest has occurred.

The guidance requires that safeguarding considerations are treated as paramount. Immediate actions include ensuring that children are safeguarded; referral of the matter to the PSNI and Social Services in line with child protection procedures; notification of the employing authority and Board of Governors; and consideration of precautionary measures, including suspension or removal from duties involving contact with children, where necessary. Suspension is described as a neutral act and is considered where it is required to protect children or the integrity of the investigation.

The guidance does not explicitly require a formal, written risk assessment to be completed immediately following an arrest. However, it does require that employers and Boards of Governors assess risk when considering interim safeguarding measures. Such considerations inform decisions taken, are kept under review as circumstances change, and are handled appropriately and confidentially.