Overview
The complainant (Mrs C) complained that her daughter (Child A) had been bullied at her school (the School), and the School had not recorded the incidents of bullying clearly or managed the bullying in line with Shetland Islands Council (the Council)'s procedures. Additionally, Mrs C complained the Council failed to convene a Complaints Review Committee (CRC) to consider a further aspect of a complaint, which related in part, to the remaining issues subject to investigation.
Specific complaints and conclusions
The complaints which have been investigated are that:
- (a) the methods of recording and collating incidents of bullying were unclear (upheld);
- (b) the procedures for managing incidents of reported bullying were not adhered to (upheld); and
- (c) the Council failed to convene a CRC to hear Mrs C's complaints about the social work department (upheld).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman recommends that the Council:
- (i) support the School in a review of their record-keeping to reflect the incidents of new bullying and episodes of continued bullying. This reporting schedule will highlight the progress being made to address new and older reported episodes of bullying within the School;
- (ii) review the School's criteria for first time/new incidents of bullying and the identification of ongoing bullying issues to be clearly set out separately to reduce the confusion and misunderstanding;
- (iii) support the School's development of appropriate contingency plans to be introduced to the policy of handling bullying when a number of incidents are being reported by the same pupil and evidence is difficult to obtain from other children;
- (iv) ensure the local policies are adhered to and explanations are recorded within the documentation when there is a departure from the prescribed procedure;
- (v) apologise to Mrs C and Child A for the confusion caused as a result of diverting from the documented procedure;
- (vi) review their procedures and practices to ensure CRCs can be held within set timescales; and
- (vii) apologise to Mrs C for the delay in convening a CRC.
The Council have accepted the recommendations and will act on them accordingly.