3.5 Safeguarding and Child Protection

Contents

1. Introduction
2. Ensuring the Environment is Safe
3. Staff Recruitment
4. Concerns about Children and Young People
5. Recording
6. Allegations against Staff
7. Dealing with Disclosure

1. Introduction

Each Centre should have a Designated Person for Child Protection.

The Designated Person for Child Protection is the Manager of the Children's Centre. Each Centre should ensure there is a designated person for child protection on duty at each session. This is usually the Manager responsible for the session.

When parents and children are attending any of the services provided by the Children's Centre they should be provided with appropriate safety and protection while participating in the activities organised by the Centre.

The Children's centre should ensure that all staff and others involved in providing activities are confident to respond to concerns about the welfare of the children and young people.

2. Ensuring the Environment is Safe

Staff and managers must be aware of the specific guidance that provides a safe environment.

Staff and Managers should follow the relevant Health and Safety Procedure.

The issues of safety will be monitored regularly at each venue and by the Manager

3. Staff Recruitment

All staff are recruited using best practice, as outlined in the Safeguarding Children and Safe Recruitment in Education  Guidance 2005.   This will mean that all those working with the children will have had Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks and relevant and reliable  references .  This will include all volunteers and student placements

4. Concerns about Children and Young People

Any member of staff who is concerned about the welfare of a child or young person will bring this to the attention of the Designated Person for Child Protection on duty at that session, or the Manager

Examples of concerns could include:

• Unexplained injuries or injuries inconsistent with the explanation
• Changes in behaviour or appearance
• Drug or alcohol use.
• Concerns about hygiene or appearance
• Concern about criminal activity
• Disclosure of sexual or physical abuse
• Disclosure of domestic violence or parental drug/alcohol use
• Behaviour that may indicate that a young person is abusing another.
• Any concerns about the behaviour of a colleague or volunteer in relation to the safety of a young person. NB. Where the concern is about the Designated Person for Child Protection lead on duty at that session the matter must be reported directly to the Manager

The concern will be discussed with the Designated Person for Child Protection on duty at that session, recorded on the concern form and action to be taken will be agreed by the Designated Person for Child Protection on duty at that session in consultation with the worker reporting the concern.  At this stage parents may be contacted, although advice may be sought before this takes place from the Duty Social Worker. Staff should not contact parents if they are exposing the child to a risk by so doing. In cases of suspected sexual abuse parents should NOT be contacted before referring the concern to the Duty Social Worker .

All concerns which may indicate a child is suffering or is likely to suffer Significant Harm MUST be referred to the Social Work Duty Officer.  The Duty Social Worker is available for advice on all situations, even if the concern may not reach this threshold.

If the situation is urgent and is out of hours the Out of Hours Duty Service MUST be contacted.

In circumstances where contacting other agencies with compromise the welfare of the child (such as child abduction) the Police should be contacted immediately via the 999 number.

5. Recording

All concerns about the welfare of a child must be noted on the Concern Form with details of action taken. Injuries observed should be noted on the body map form. Staff should be objective regarding their concerns when referring and not to make a judgment about the abuse.

These forms should be retained locally in separate files and monitored by the local manager responsible for Child Protection.  On a regular basis these files should be reviewed by the Manager.
Referrals to the Duty Social Worker must be sent on the relevant form. A referral may result from a single incident or noting a pattern of lesser incidents.

6. Allegations Against Staff

ALL concerns about the behaviour of a colleague or volunteer must be discussed with the manager on duty at that session. Where the concern is about the manager on duty the matter must be reported directly to the Manager.

All allegations against a member of staff or volunteer will be immediately referred to the Manager, who will refer to the Milton Keynes Local Safeguarding Children Board Procedures Allegations Against Staff, Carers and Volunteers

Where there is an allegation against a member of staff or volunteer consideration will be given to the safety of the individual child and also the wider safety of young people using the service in deciding how to proceed. If the allegation or concern is about a former member of staff the same procedure should be followed.

It is essential that ALL staff understand that the highest level of conduct is required and that colleagues feel confident to challenge behaviour which falls short..

Staff should feel confident to know concerns about a colleague will be treated in confidence.

Staff should see the Representations and Complaints Procedure.

7. Dealing with Disclosure

If a child makes a disclosure to a member of staff, the staff should listen and accept the disclosure, stay calm and emphasise but do not make a promise of confidentiality.  Staff should make no judgment, no leading questions, explain to the child what should happen next, and inform the Designated Manager for Child Protection.   After the disclosure staff should complete a concern form, using the child's words and diagrams and the staff should be objective.  The child or young person should be given time and a private safe place and if possible another member of staff should be present. Staff should adapt the approach of identification and investigation.

Staff should be aware of the child's developmental stage and children with Special Educational Needs who may need additional support to enable them to make a disclosure.

End