Last Updated: 18-APRIL-2024

Child Protection and Safeguarding policy and
procedure

Identifying Harm and Abuse
Abuse means physical, sexual, psychological, emotional or financial abuse (includes
abuse taking place in any setting, whether in a private dwelling, an institution or any
other place)
Neglect means a failure to meet a person’s basic physical, emotional, social or
psychological needs, which is likely to result in an impairment of the person’s wellbeing (for example an impairment of the person’s health or, in the case of a child, an
impairment of the child’s development)
Faith in Families recognises that harm and abuse can take many forms and ensures
that all staff, students and volunteers are aware of what might constitute harm or
abuse and have the appropriate training to recognise, record and report it appropriately.

The following is a non-exhaustive list of examples for each of the categories of abuse and neglect:  

• physical abuse – hitting, slapping, over or misuse of medication, undue restraint, or inappropriate sanctions. 
• emotional/psychological abuse – threats of harm or abandonment, coercive control, humiliation, verbal or racial abuse, isolation or withdrawal from services or supportive networks, witnessing abuse of others. 
• sexual abuse – forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening, including: 

• physical contact, including penetrative or non-penetrative acts;  
• non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, pornographic material or watching sexual activities or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.  

• financial abuse – this category will be less prevalent for a child but indicators could be: 

– not meeting their needs for care and support which are provided through direct payments; or  

– complaints that personal property is missing.  

• neglect – failure to meet basic physical, emotional or psychological needs which is likely to result in impairment of health or development.

Taken from Working Together to Safeguard People: Volume 5 – Handling Individual Cases to Protect Children at Risk

· Informing all parents about the child protection policy and procedures (including relevant contact numbers) as each family starts to use Faith in Families.

· Operating an effective range of policies and procedures that support and safeguard children within the setting.

· Reporting, recording, and monitoring any injuries sustained by a child (while away from the setting, or in our care). We note changes in a child’s behaviour and discuss any issues with parents who will normally be the first point of contact, except when this may be considered to place the child at risk.

Responding to suspicion of

There are two types of disclosure:

1. A disclosure about a child. 2. A disclosure about professional abuse.

1. Action to be taken in the event of a disclosure about a child:

In the event of a member of staff having a concern/suspicion that a child has suffered abuse/neglect or if someone tells them that they or another child or young person is being abused/suffering neglect: The member of staff acts without delay and (as is appropriate to the age/stage of the individual child):

· Listens, showing that they have heard what they are being told and that they take the allegations seriously.

· Does not prompt or ask leading questions.

· Does not ask the child to tell their story more than once.

· Explains what actions they must take (using agreed procedures)

· Does not promise to keep what they have been told a secret or confidential but explains that they will share information only on a ‘need to know’ basis.

The member of staff:

· Writes down, using the exact words, what they have been told. This is done immediately.

· Makes a note of the date, time, place and people present in the discussion.

· Does not confront the alleged abuser.

· Reports the concerns to the registered person/responsible individual and/or designated child protection officer as soon as possible, but without delay.

The registered person/responsible individual/designated child protection officer:

· Reports the concerns immediately (but within 24 hours) to the intake and assessment team duty officer of the local social services department. Verbal referrals are followed up in writing.

· Informs CIW that a referral has been made and that procedures are being followed.

2. Action to be taken in the event of a disclosure about professional abuse-

If the behaviour of a colleague, adult (including volunteers and members of the public) towards children or young people causes concern:

· The procedure above (in 1. Action to be taken in the event of a disclosure about a child) is implemented (and adapted to who is making the disclosure)

· The registered person/responsible individual considers the options for removal/suspension of the member of staff/volunteer from duty without prejudice pending decisions made at the strategy discussion.

· The member of staff/volunteer is informed, and written records of discussions and decisions are made in line with the staff disciplinary policy and procedure.

· The registered person/responsible individual informs CIW of any allegations of serious harm to a child committed by any person looking after children in Faith in families or by any person living, working, or employed on the premises, or any abuse alleged to have taken place on the premises without delay.

· If the allegation is about the registered person/responsible individual it is the responsibility of the designated child protection officer (or deputy) to inform CIW without delay.

· Failure by a member of staff to report suspected abuse will result in disciplinary action being taken.

Guidance for Making the referral:

· The referral is made to Social Services as soon as a problem, suspicion or concern about a child becomes apparent, and at least within 24 hours.

· Outside office hours, referrals are made to the social services emergency duty team or the police.

· The duty social worker taking the referral is given as much of the following information as possible by Faith in Families referrer, (using the form agreed with the LA child protection co-ordinator):

-The nature of the concerns.

-How and why those concerns have arisen?

– The full name, address, and date of birth (or age) of the child.

-The names address and dates of birth/ages of family members, along with any other names which they use or are known by.

-The names and relationship of all those with parental responsibility (where known)

-Information on any other adults living in the household.

-Information relating to other professionals involved with the family, including the name of the child’s school and GP.

-Any information held on the child’s developmental needs and his/her parents’/carers’ ability to respond to these needs within the context of the wider family environment.

-Any information affecting the safety of staff.

-The (registered person/responsible individual designated child protection officer) has responsibility to ensure that child protection concerns are taken seriously and followed through, remaining accountable for their role throughout the child protection process.

-If they remain concerned about a child, they will make representations to the intake and assessment team duty officer of social services.

Record Keeping:

· Faith in Families keeps accurate, concise, and clear records in straightforward language to underpin good child protection practice.

· Faith in Families arrangements for retention, storage and destruction of electronic and paper records of child protection matters meet the relevant regulations (including Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR 2018) and requirements made by the Information Commissioner’s Office.

· Records kept by Faith in Families are shared on a need-to-know basis with social services departments.

Faith in Families child protection records:

-Use clear, straightforward language.

-Are signed, dated, and timed.

-Are concise, legible and comply with professional standards and requirements.

-Are accurate in fact and distinguish between fact, opinion, judgement, and hypothesis.

-Are organised and include detailed recording and chronologies and summaries, including all contacts.

-Are comprehensive.

-Clearly record judgments made and actions and decisions taken.

-Clarify where decisions have been taken jointly across agencies or endorsed by a manager.

-Record both formal and informal supervision discussions.

-Record directions given, and agreements or disagreements made in consultation with supervisors or managers.

· Faith in Families representative/child protection officer attends any multi-agency discussion (this may be a meeting or via telephone) and provides reports as necessary and appropriate.

· The strategy discussion considers risk associated with any allegation and should determine whether or not a member of staff will be suspended from duty without prejudice (reference staff recruitment and employment, and whistle blowing policy)

· Decisions are recorded in writing.

Throughout a child protection investigation Faith in Families will:

· Make every effort to build and maintain trusting and supportive relationships between families, staff and volunteers.

· Do all it can to support and work with the child’s family.

· Share any confidential records on a child with the child’s parents, except in cases in which parents are implicated and evidence gives rise for concern.

Additional guidance:

Look at NMS 20 outcome: children are protected from harm and abuse and parents are confident that all possible steps to protect children from abuse are taken.

Regulation 22(1)(a) and (b)

Look at:

· NMS 20.2 states that you must be familiar with the Welsh Government’s statutory guidance on safeguarding children under the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014

·https://gov.wales/safeguarding-guidance

·https://www.safeguarding.wales/

·https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2019-05/working-together-to-safeguard-people-volume-5-handling-individual-cases-to-protect-children-at-risk.pdf

· Information provided by your local authority; you should understand how the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB) works in your area –https://safeguardingboard.wales/find-your-board/

-https://socialcare.wales/learning-and-development/safeguarding

· United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC): Article 19 states that children have the right to be protected from violence, abuse, and neglect.

· Publications and guidance about staff recruitment and induction provided by Social Care Wales: https://socialcare.wales/learning-and-development/all-wales-induction-framework-for-early-years-and-childcare

· Further advice on employment can be sought from ACAS; www.acas.org.uk

· Information about DBS checks https://www.gov.uk/dbs-check-applicant-criminal-record/get-a-standard-or-enhanced-dbs-check-for-an-employee

· Guidance about confidentiality by the Information Commissioner’s Office (01625 545740 or visit https://ico.org.uk

· The Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 received Royal Assent on 20 March 2020 and will come into force on Monday 21 March.

· The purpose of the legislation is to help protect children’s rights; it builds on the Welsh Government’s commitment to children’s rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Under the law, parents and other adults acting in a parental capacity will no longer be allowed to physically punish children in Wales.

NMS 21 – notification of significant events.

· Inform CIW about a significant event on your CIW online account :

-If the behaviour of a colleague, adult (including volunteers and members of the public) towards children or young people causes concern: it is important to differentiate between cases involving issues such as poor professional practice and cases that give rise to child protection concerns (including cases involving abuse of trust). While the former may be handled through disciplinary procedures or other avenues, child safeguarding concerns should always be dealt with through local child protection procedures.

CIW requirements:

-People working in childcare settings that are registered by CIW are required to maintain /update safeguarding training every three years (as well as food hygiene and first aid training). You must have a designated Safeguarding Officer and Deputy in your group setting (NMS 20.4) to take a lead responsibility for safeguarding matters. Name them in your policy/procedures.

-Check your local authority website for information and leaflets that you can keep in your setting for parents’ guidance.

Look at:

· the Prevent Duty Guidance for England and Wales (July 2015). This is the statutory guidance issued under section 29 of the Counter-terrorism and Security Act 2015.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevent-duty-guidance/revised-prevent-duty-guidance-for-england-and-wales  https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2018-03/respect-and-resilience-developing-community-cohesion.pdf https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevent-duty-guidance

· Training: Home Office online learning course  https://www.elearning.prevent.homeoffice.gov.uk/edu/screen1.html

A Prevent Duty statement can be included within your Child Protection & Safeguarding policy or alternatively, a stand-alone policy can be created.

Consider:

· the potential for female genital mutilation (FGM) in specific culture groups https://gov.wales/female-genital-mutilation-guidance-professionals

· how the activities you provide reinforce children’s understanding of living and playing in an environment of mutual respect where each child can learn that they have a right to have a say and to be listened to https://www.childcomwales.org.uk/uncrc-childrens-rights/ is a useful website with lots of resources.

· Drones are not permitted to be used in or around the setting area. It is considered a breach of safeguarding the children of the setting. If a drone is in the surroundings of the setting, then the children must be taken inside, and the incident is to be reported to the senior leader/designated safeguarding lead.

· Guidance from Wales on managing disclosures: https://www.safeguarding.wales/chi/cp/c2p.p2.html

This child protection (safeguarding) policy and procedure was passed for use in Faith in Families

On: 19th February 2024

By: Cherrie Bija Position: CEO

Date of planned review: 6 months