Safeguarding
children
Safeguarding
children and child protection
(Including managing
allegations of abuse against a member of staff)
Policy
statement
Our setting will work with
children, parents and the community to ensure the rights and safety of children
and to give them the very best start in life. Our safeguarding policy is based
on the three key commitments of the Pre-school Learning Alliance Safeguarding
Children Policy.
EYFS
key themes and commitments
|
1.3 Keeping
safe |
2.1 Respecting each other 2.2 Parents as partners |
3.4 The wider context |
4.4 Personal,
social and emotional development |
Procedures
We carry out the following
procedures to ensure we meet the three key commitments of the Alliance
Safeguarding Children Policy.
The
Staff
and volunteers
§ Our
designated persons ( members of staff)
who co-ordinate child protection issues are: Tracy Wilkinson and Trudy Whitehead
|
|
§ Our
designated officer (a committee member) who oversees this work is: Kirsty Randall
§ We
ensure all staff and parents are made aware of our safeguarding policies and
procedures.
§ We
provide adequate and appropriate staffing resources to meet the needs of
children.
§ Applicants
for posts within the setting are clearly informed that the positions are exempt
from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
§ Candidates
are informed of the need to carry out 'enhanced disclosure' checks with the
Criminal Records Bureau before posts can be confirmed.
§ Where
applications are rejected because of information that has been disclosed,
applicants have the right to know and to challenge incorrect information.
§ We abide
by Ofsted requirements in respect of references and Criminal Record Bureau
checks for staff and volunteers, to ensure that no disqualified person or
unsuitable person works at the setting or has access to the children.
§ Volunteers
do not work unsupervised.
§ We abide
by the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Act requirements in respect of any
person who is dismissed from our employment, or resigns in circumstances that
would otherwise have lead to dismissal for reasons of child protection concern.
§ We have
procedures for recording the details of visitors to the setting.
§ We take
security steps to ensure that we have control over who comes into the setting
so that no unauthorised person has unsupervised access to the children.
The
Alliance is committed to responding promptly and appropriately to all incidents
or concerns of abuse that may occur and to work with statutory agencies in
accordance with the procedures that are set down in 'What to do if you’re
worried a child is being abused' (HMG 2006).
Responding
to suspicions of abuse
§ We
acknowledge that abuse of children can take different forms - physical,
emotional, and sexual, as well as neglect.
§ When
children are suffering from physical, sexual or emotional abuse, or may be
experiencing neglect, this may be demonstrated through the things they say
(direct or indirect disclosure) or through changes in their appearance, their
behaviour, or their play.
§ Where
such evidence is apparent, the child's key person makes a dated record of the
details of the concern and discusses what to do with the setting leader or
manager who is acting as the 'designated person'. The information is stored on
the child's personal file which is key group colour coded and kept in a locked
cupboard
§ We
refer concerns to the local authority children’s social care department and
co-operate fully in any subsequent investigation.
NB In some cases this may mean the police or another agency identified by the
Local Safeguarding Children’s Board(LSCB).
§ We take
care not to influence the outcome either through the way we speak to children
or by asking questions of children.
§ We
use the detailed procedures and reporting format contained on the ‘What To Do If You’re Worried A Child Is Being Abused’ Flowchart
for Referral and the LSCB guidelines when making a referral to Children’s
Services or other appropriate agencies.
Recording suspicions of
abuse and disclosures
§ Where
a child makes comments to a member of
staff that gives cause for concern (disclosure), observes signs or signals that
gives cause for concern, such as significant changes in behaviour;
deterioration in general well-being; unexplained bruising, marks or signs of
possible abuse or neglect that member of staff:
§ listens
to the child, offers reassurance and gives assurance that she or he will take
action;
§ does
not question the child;
§ makes
a written record that forms an objective record of the observation or
disclosure that includes:
§ the
date and time of the observation or the disclosure;
§ the
exact words spoken by the child as far as possible;
§ the
name of the person to whom the concern was reported, with date and time; and
§ the
names of any other person present at the time.
§ These
records are signed and dated and kept in the child's personal file which is
kept securely and confidentially.
Making
a referral to the local authority social care team
§ The Local
Safeguarding Children Board guidelines publication contains detailed procedures
for making a referral to the local Children’s Services team. Pre-School has a template form for recording
concerns.
§ We keep a
copy of this document, the ‘What To Do If You’re Worried A
Child Is Being Abused’ referral Flowchart and follow the detailed guidelines
given.
§ All
members of staff are familiar with these publications and the template record of concern form and follow
the procedures for recording and reporting.
Informing
parents
§ Parents
are normally the first point of contact.
§ If a
suspicion of abuse is recorded, parents are informed at the same time as the
report is made, except where the guidance of the Local Safeguarding Children
Board does not allow this.
§ This will
usually be the case where the parent is the likely abuser. In these cases the
investigating officers will inform parents.
Liaison
with other agencies
§ We
work within the Local Safeguarding Children Board guidelines.
§
We have a copy of 'What to do if you’re worried a
child is being abused' for parents and staff and all staff are familiar with
what to do if they have concerns.
§
We have procedures for contacting the local
authority on child protection issues, including maintaining a list of names,
addresses and telephone numbers of social workers, to ensure that it is easy,
in any emergency, for the setting and social services to work well together.
§
We notify the registration authority (Ofsted) of
any incident or accident and any changes in our arrangements which may affect
the wellbeing of children.
§
If a referral is to be made to the local authority
Children’s Services department, we act within the area’s Safeguarding Children
and Child Protection guidance in deciding whether we must inform the child's
parents at the same time.
Allegations
against staff
§ We
ensure that all parents know how to complain about the behaviour or actions of
staff or volunteers within the setting, or anyone living or working on the
premises occupied by the setting, which may include an allegation of abuse.
§ We
follow the guidance of the Local Safeguarding Children Board when responding to
any complaint that a member of staff, or volunteer within the setting, or
anyone living or working on the premises occupied by the setting, has abused a
child.
§ We
respond to any disclosure by children or staff that abuse by a member of staff
or volunteer within the setting, or anyone working on the premises occupied by the
setting, may have taken, or is taking place, by first recording the details of
any such alleged incident.
§ We
refer any such complaint immediately to the local authority's Children’s
Services department to investigate. We also report any such alleged incident to
Ofsted and what measures we have taken. We are aware that it is an offence not
to do this.
§ We
co-operate entirely with any investigation carried out by Children’s Services
in conjunction with the police.
§ Where
the management committee and Children’s Services agree it is appropriate in the
circumstances, the chairperson will suspend the member of staff on full pay, or
the volunteer, for the duration of the investigation. This is not an indication
of admission that the alleged incident has taken place, but is to protect the
staff as well as children and families throughout the process.
Disciplinary
action
§ Where
a member of staff or a volunteer is dismissed from the setting because of
misconduct relating to a child, we notify the Independent Barring Board
administrators so that the name may be included on the Protection of Children
and Vulnerable Adults Barred List.
The
Training
§ We
seek out training opportunities for all adults involved in the setting to
ensure that they are able to recognise the signs and signals of possible
physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and neglect and that they are
aware of the local authority guidelines for making referrals.
§ We
ensure that all staff know the procedures for
reporting and recording their concerns in the setting.
Planning
§ The
layout of the room allows for constant supervision. No staff member or
volunteer is able to take a child to the bathroom or is left alone with a child
on a one-to-one basis without being visible to others unless they have received
and shown evidence of a fully enhanced CRB disclosure.
Curriculum
§ We
introduce key elements of keeping children safe into our programme to promote
the personal, social and emotional development of all children, so that they
may grow to be strong, resilient and
listened to and that they develop an understanding of why and how to keep
safe.
§ We
create within the setting a culture of value and respect for the individual,
having positive regard for children's heritage arising from their colour,
ethnicity, languages spoken at home, cultural and social background.
§ We
ensure that this is carried out in a way that is developmentally appropriate
for the children.
Confidentiality
§ All
suspicions and investigations are kept confidential and shared only with those
who need to know. Any information is
shared under the guidance of the Local Safeguarding Children Board.
Support
to families
§ We
believe in building trusting and supportive relationships with families, staff
and volunteers in the group.
§ We
make clear to parents our role and responsibilities in relation to child
protection, such as for the reporting of concerns, providing information,
monitoring of the child, and liaising at all times with the local children’s
social care team.
§ We
will continue to welcome the child and the family whilst investigations are
being made in relation to any alleged abuse.
§ We
follow the Child Protection Plan as set by the child’s social care worker in
relation to the setting's designated role and tasks in supporting that child
and their family, subsequent to any investigation.
§ Confidential
records kept on a child are shared with the child's parents or those who have
parental responsibility for the child in accordance with the Confidentiality
and Client Access to Records procedure and only if appropriate under the
guidance of the Local Safeguarding Children Board.
Legal
framework
§ Children Act (1989 s47)
§ Protection of Children Act (1999)
§ Data Protection Act (1998)
§ The Children Act (Every Child Matters) (2004)
§ Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (2006)
§ Sexual Offences Act (2003)
§ Criminal Justice and Court Services Act (2000)
§ Human Rights Act (1999)
§ Race Relations (Amendment) Act (2000)
§ Race Relations (Amendment) Act (1976) Regulations
§ Equalities Act (2006)
§ Data Protection Act (1998) Non Statutory Guidance
§ Working Together to Safeguard Children (revised HMG 2006)
§ What to do if you’re Worried a Child is Being Abused (HMG 2006)
§ Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families
(DoH 2000)
§ The
Common Assessment Framework (2006)
§ Statutory guidance on making arrangements to safeguard and promote the
welfare of children under section 11 of the Children Act 2004 (HMG 2007)
§ Information Sharing: Practitioners’ Guide (HMG 2006)
Useful
Pre-school Learning Alliance publications:
§ Child Protection Record (2007)