Safeguarding Policy and Procedure.
“THE WELFARE OF THE CHILD IS PARAMOUNT”
This policy has been adopted by the Board of Trustees of My Time for Young Carers who remain
responsible for its review on an annual basis.
Date first adopted: 31st July 2012
Date for next review: June 2022
Signed: Roger Jones (Chair of Board of Trustees)
The following designated person has been nominated by this organisation to refer to allegations or
suspicions of neglect or abuse to the statutory authorities.
The first designated person is:
Debbie Langdon M: 07712 707219
In the absence of the designated person, the matter should be brought to the attention of the second designated person.
The second designated person is:
Roger Jones T: 0208 3934270/ M: 07525 410083
Safeguarding policy
At My Time for Young Carers the safety and welfare of our children/young people is of the utmost importance. All adults working in My Time for Young Carers must protect children from harm and abuse and be aware that any child may be at risk of harm or abuse. We have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of our children under the Children Act 1989 through identifying any child welfare concerns and taking action to address them in partnership with families and other agencies where appropriate.
In addition to our child protection policy, we have policies to cover the roles of staff, children/young people in respect of health and safety, anti-bullying, behaviour management, racism and discrimination.
Our policy applies to all staff, trustees, and volunteers working within My Time for Young Carers.
Definition
Safeguarding is promoting the welfare of My Time members and relates to any child or young person (i.e. under 18 years of age) who has suffered from, or may be at risk of physical injury, neglect, emotional abuse or sexual abuse.
Objective
To contribute to the personal safety of all children/young people attending our activities by promoting child protection awareness, good practice and sound procedures.
Policy Statement
At My Time for Young Carers we believe that children/young people have the right to be treated equally in a safe and friendly environment.
This policy is based on the following principles:
the welfare of the child/young person is paramount
all children/young people, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin,
religious beliefs and/or sexual identity, have the right to protection from abuse
all suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately
all staff/volunteers are trained to understand the nature of abuse and the identification of matters of concern
all staff/volunteers working in this organisation have a responsibility to report concerns to the
designated person/s with responsibility for child protection at the organisation.
We aim to safeguard children/young people by:
adopting child protection guidelines through procedures and a code of conduct for staff/volunteers sharing information about child protection and good practice with children/young people, parents and carers and staff/volunteers
sharing information about concerns with agencies who need to know and involving parents and children/young people appropriately
carefully following the procedures for recruitment and selection of staff/volunteers
providing effective management for staff/volunteers through support, supervision and training
reviewing our policy and good practice regularly.
The Role of the Designated Person
Trustees agree to undertake to appoint a designated child protection person, who must undergo child protection training (at least every 2 years). It is the responsibility of this person to make themselves available for consultation by staff, volunteers, visitors and children/young people and their families.
The name of the designated person and information about their duties will be displayed in the premises where the organisations activities are taking place, so that everyone (including parents/carers) is aware of who to talk to if they have concerns.
In the absence of the designated child protection person, a deputy must be identified.
The named person’s role includes:
ensure that this policy is implemented throughout the organisation and all staff/volunteers are familiar with this policy and procedure.
ensuring that all necessary enquiries, procedures and investigations relating to child protection are carried out
ensuring ‘need to know’ levels of confidentiality and access to secure records
ensuring that all confidential records relating to child protection matters are kept secure
ensuring liaison with child protection agencies at a formal and informal level
ensuring reports of allegations and suspicion of abuse to the appropriate authorities
ensuring that there is adequate induction and training relating to child protection matters
ensuring that each activity carried out by the organisation is sound in terms of child protection as regards personnel, practices and premises
ensuring safeguarding issues are brought to the attention of the board of trustee for scrutiny
The Role of Staff
Everyone involved in My Time for Young Carers’ activities must be alert to the possibility that any child/young people, regardless of race, religion, culture, class or family background, could be the victim of abuse or neglect and must be familiar with these procedures. Concern about a child/young person must be discussed with the designated person immediately so that if necessary, a referral can be made without delay. In urgent situations, referral must not be delayed.
Members of staff or volunteers should not investigate child protection concerns. This is done by Children’s Social Services or the Police. However, if a child/ young person says something, it is vital to listen carefully, so you can record and report it accurately. Records will also assist other members of staff who may have concerns.
Confidentiality
Our children / young people and their parents have the right to expect that all My Time volunteers and staff will deal sensitively and sympathetically with their situation. It is important that information is only available to those who need to know it. Parents and where appropriate the child/young person should be told their right to confidentiality may be breached if information comes to light suggesting possible harm to a child/young person. Child protection issues relating to individual cases must never be subject to open discussion at meetings or during activities.
Members of staff or volunteers should also remember not to promise to children/young person to keep “secrets” (see procedure below).
Good Practice
Before any activity starts, the designated person shall ensure that adequate child protection procedures are in place, as follows.
Each parent must fill out a consent form for each child/young person attending any activities
A register must be kept of all children/young people and adults attending the organisations activities
Staff or volunteers will record any unusual events on the accident/incident form or in the session record, unless this includes anything confidential.
Where possible, staff/volunteers should not be alone with a child/young person, although it is recognised that there may be times when this may be necessary.
My Time recognises that some physical touch between adults and children/young people can be healthy and acceptable in public places. However, staff/volunteers will be discouraged from this in circumstances where an adult and child/young person are alone together.
All staff/volunteers should treat all children/young people with dignity and respect in their attitude, language and actions.
Holiday Activities
A bespoke risk assessment will be created for each holiday activity, to be reviewed by trustee(s).
All vehicles hired for outings must be insured and roadworthy.
Drivers should have up-to-date DBS checks and should have been subject to appropriate recruitment procedures.
Staff accompanying trips will carry emergency contact numbers.
If a child/young person goes missing while on a trip, staff/volunteers should instigate an immediate search. If the child/young person cannot be found within half an hour, the appropriate security of the venue and the police should be notified together with the parents.
The remaining children/young people should be supervised by staff/volunteers and returned to parents asap.
Safe recruitment, selection, training and supervision of staff and volunteers
In our recruitment and selection of staff we will always interview candidates by two senior members of the charity, we will scrutinise their current CV. We will always require two references from recent employers, and the appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosure will be conducted.
In our recruitment and selection of volunteers we will always interview candidates. We also require two references., and the appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosure will be conducted.
We keep a central record of all staff and volunteers with the date and outcome of their DBS check. All staff will be appointed a line manager.
Staff and volunteers will work in teams or in open environments where they are not alone with children. Where absolutely necessary, staff members and volunteers may work alone with children/young people, providing that they have undertaken Safeguarding Training.
All staff will:
be given a clear job description setting out expectations for their work and conduct
have completed a satisfactory probationary period
supply the names of two referees, who will be contacted personally
be required to complete an enhanced DBS check on appointment, and every five years thereafter complete Safeguarding Children Level 1 training or have an existing Safeguarding Children qualification and be taken through child protection policy and procedure on induction followed by annual training
wear an ID badge
All volunteers will:
supply the names of two referees, who will be contacted personally
be required to complete an enhanced DBS check where required
complete Safeguarding Children Level 1 training or have an existing Safeguarding Children qualification and be taken through child protection policy and procedure on induction, followed by ongoing training
wear an ID badge
Responding to allegations of abuse
Allegations against a member of staff/volunteer
My Time for Young Carers will fully support and protect anyone who, in good faith, reports their concern that a colleague is, or may be, abusing a child/young person. Where there is a complaint against a member of staff/volunteer, there may be three types of investigation: criminal investigation, child protection investigation or disciplinary/misconduct investigation. The results of the police and child protection investigation may well influence the disciplinary investigation, but this will not necessarily be the case.
Concerns about poor practice
If, following consideration, the allegation is clearly about poor practice, this will be dealt with as a misconduct issue. If the allegation is about poor practice by My Time for Young Carers designated person, or if the matter has been handled inadequately and concerns remain, it should be reported to the chair of the trustees, who will advise how to deal with the allegation and whether or not the organisation should initiate disciplinary proceedings.
Internal enquiries and suspension
The designated person will make an immediate decision about whether any individual accused of abuse should be temporarily suspended, pending further police and social services inquiries. Irrespective of the findings of the social services or police inquiries, My Time for Young Carers will assess all individual cases to decide whether a member of staff or volunteer can be reinstated and how this can be handled sensitively. This may be a difficult decision, particularly where there is insufficient evidence to uphold any action by the police. In such cases, the organisation must reach a decision based upon the available information. This might suggest that, on a balance of probability, it is more likely than not that the allegation is true. The welfare of the child/young person must remain of paramount importance throughout.
Our responsibilities to DBS
A referral to the DBS is required if an employee or volunteer may have presented a risk to a vulnerable person. DBS require a referral in the following circumstances
sacked them because they harmed someone
sacked them or changed their role because they might have harmed someone
were planning to sack them for either of these reasons, but they resigned first
What to do if you suspect that abuse may have occurred
Any concerns must be immediately reported to the session leader or project manager who will bring it to the attention of the designated person at My Time for Young Carers
Guidance for staff/volunteers on dealing with their earliest concerns is provided in Appendix 3.
The designated person will:
take into account information from staff/volunteers, children/young people or parents/carers who have child protection concerns and record this information
assess the information quickly and carefully and ask for further information, as appropriate
consult with the statutory child protection services
ensure that the parents/carers of the child/young person are contacted as soon as possible, following advice from the social services department
ensure a referral to a statutory child protection service or to the police without delay.
If the organisation's designated person is the subject of the suspicion/allegation, the report must be made to the chair of the trustees, who will refer the allegation to social services.
Suspicions will not be discussed with anyone other than those named above.
It is the right of any individual to make direct referrals to the child protection agencies. If, for any reason, you believe that the designated people have not responded appropriately to your concerns, then it is up to you to contact the child protection agencies directly.
If a child makes a disclosure of abuse:
make notes as soon as possible (ideally within one hour of being told)
write down exactly what the child/young person has said, what you said in reply and what was happening immediately before you were told (for example, what activity was taking place)
record dates, times and when you made the record
keep all your handwritten notes secure
report your discussion to the session leader, project manager or designated person as soon as possible
if the designated person is implicated, you need to report to the second designated person
if both are implicated, report to social services
do not discuss your suspicions or allegations with anyone other than those nominated above
the designated person must consider carefully whether or not it is safe for a child/young person to return home to a potentially abusive situation, and, if necessary, they should take immediate action to contact social services in order to discuss putting safety measures into effect.
Allegations of physical injury or neglect
If a child/young person has a symptom of physical injury or neglect, the designated person will:
contact social services for advice in cases of deliberate injury or concerns about the safety of the child/young person, but they must NOT inform the parents/carers
seek emergency medical attention if necessary
inform the child’s/young person’s doctor of any suspicions of abuse
in other circumstances, speak with the parent/carer and suggest that medical
help/attention is sought for the child/young person
if appropriate, encourage the parent/carer to seek help from social services
if the parent/carer fails to act, seek advice from Surrey Single Point of Access (C-SPA):
Surrey: Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm call 0300 470 9100
Out of these hours call the emergency duty team 01483 517898
Allegations of Sexual Abuse
In the event of allegations or suspicions of sexual abuse, the designated person will:
contact the social services duty social worker for children and families directly, but must not speak to the parent or to anyone else
seek advice from Surrey Single Point of Access (C-SPA)
collect and clarify the precise details of the allegation or suspicion and provide this information to social services, but should not attempt to carry out any investigation into the allegation or suspicion of sexual abuse
while allegations or suspicions of sexual abuse should normally be reported to the designated person, their absence should not delay referral to social services.
Responding to a child making an allegation of abuse
It is important not to make promises that you may not be able to keep. Do not say that you will keep confidential what a child/young person is about to tell you, as you may need to take advice from someone who can help.
Find an appropriate early opportunity to explain that it is likely that the information will need to be shared with others.
Remain calm-if you are shocked, upset or angry the child/young person will sense this and this could stop them from saying more.
Listen carefully to what the child/young person is saying.
Allow the child/young person to continue at their own pace.
Ask questions for clarification only and at all times avoid asking questions that suggest a particular answer. Do not interrogate.
Reassure the child/young person that they have done the right thing in telling you and they have done nothing wrong.
Tell them what you will do next and with whom the information will be shared.
As soon as possible, record in writing what was said, using the child’s/young person’s own words.
Make a note of the date, time, any names mentioned and to whom the information was given and ensure that the record is signed and dated.
Helpful statements to make:
‘I believe you (showing acceptance of what the child/young person says).’
‘Thank you for telling me.’
‘It’s not your fault.’
‘I will help you.’
‘Why? Who? When? Where?’
Do not say:
‘Why didn’t you tell anyone before?’
‘Are you sure that this is true?’
‘I don’t believe it!’
Never make promises you cannot keep.
Remember
If in doubt, consult
Do not ignore concerns, even if these are vague
Your first responsibility is to the child/young person
Support for dealing with the aftermath of abuse
Consideration will be given to the kind of support that children/young people, parents/carers and members of staff/volunteers may need. Referrals to GPs, social services, helplines and support groups will be considered.
Appendix 1
Definitions of abuse
Physical abuse
Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing harm to a child/young person.
Physical harm may also be caused when a parent/carer feigns the symptoms of, or deliberately causes, ill health to a child/young person whom they are looking after. This situation is commonly described as factitious, fabricated or induced illness in children/young people or ‘“Munchausen syndrome by proxy’.
A person might do this because they enjoy or need the attention they get through having a sick child/young person.
Physical abuse, as well as being the result of a deliberate act, can also be caused through omission or the failure to act to protect.
Emotional abuse
Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional ill treatment of a child/young person, such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s/young person’s emotional development. It may involve making a child/young person feel or believe that they are worthless, unloved, and inadequate or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of the other person.
It may feature expectations being imposed on a child/young person that are inappropriate for their age or stage of development. It may also involve causing a child/young person to feel frequently frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of a child/young person.
Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of ill treatment of a child/young person, though it may occur alone.
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child/young person to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child/young person is aware of, or consents to, what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative acts such as rape, buggery, or oral sex, or non-penetrative acts such as fondling.
Sexual abuse may also include non-contact activities, such as involving children/young people in looking at, or in the production of, pornographic material, or watching sexual activities or encouraging children/young people to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.
Boys and girls can be sexually abused by both males and females, whether adults or other children/young people.
Neglect
Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s/young person’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, which is likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s/young person’s health or development. It may involve a parent or a carer failing to provide adequate food, shelter or clothing, leaving a child/young person at home alone or failing to ensure that a child/young person gets appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s/young person’s basic emotional needs.
It is accepted that, in all forms of abuse, there are elements of emotional abuse and that some children/young people are subjected to more than one form of abuse at any time.
These four definitions do not minimise other forms of maltreatment.
Note
Recent guidance identifies other sources of stress for children/young people and families, such as social exclusion, sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, the mental illness of a parent/carer or drug and alcohol misuse. These may have a negative impact on a child/young person’s health and development and may be noticed by an organisation caring for a child/young person. If it is felt that a child/young person’s well-being is adversely affected by any of these situations, the same procedures should be followed.
Recognising and responding to abuse.
The following signs may or may not be indicators that abuse has taken place but the possibility should be considered.
Physical signs of abuse
Physical signs of abuse may include:
any injuries not consistent with the explanation given for them
injuries which occur to the body in places which are not normally exposed to falls or games
unexplained bruising, marks or injuries on any part of the body
bruises which reflect hand marks or fingertips (from slapping or pinching)
cigarette burns
bite marks
broken bones
scalds
injuries which have not received medical attention
neglect, undernourishment, failure to grow, constant hunger, stealing or gorging food, untreated illnesses, inadequate care
repeated urinary infections or unexplained stomach pains.
Changes in behaviour which can also indicate physical abuse may include:
fear of parents/carers being approached for an explanation
aggressive behaviour or severe temper outbursts
flinching when approached or touched
reluctance to get changed in front of others – for example, wearing long sleeves in hot weather
depression
withdrawn behaviour
running away from home.
Emotional signs of abuse
Emotional signs of emotional abuse may include:
a failure to thrive or grow, particularly if a child/young person puts on weight in other circumstances – for example, in hospital or away from their parents/carers
sudden speech disorders
persistent tiredness
development delay, in terms of either physical or emotional progress.
Changes in behaviour which can also indicate emotional abuse include:
obsessions or phobias
sudden underachievement or lack of concentration
inappropriate relationships with other children and/or adults
being unable to play
attention-seeking behaviour
fear of making mistakes
self-harm
fear of the parent/carer being approached regarding their behaviour.
Sexual abuse
Physical signs of sexual abuse may include:
pain or itching in the genital/anal area
bruising or bleeding near genital/anal areas
sexually transmitted disease
vaginal discharge or infection
stomach pains
discomfort when walking or sitting down
pregnancy
Changes in behaviour which can also indicate sexual abuse include:
sudden or unexplained changes in behaviour, such as becoming withdrawn or aggressive
fear of being left with a specific person or group of people
having nightmares
running away from home
sexual knowledge which is beyond the child’s/young person’s age or developmental level
sexual drawings or language
bed-wetting
eating problems such as overeating or anorexia
self-harm or mutilation, sometimes leading to suicide attempts
a child/young person saying they have secrets that they cannot tell anyone about
substance or drug abuse
suddenly having unexplained sources of money
not being allowed to have friends (particularly during adolescence)
acting in a sexually explicit way with adults.
Neglect
Physical signs of neglect may include:
constant hunger, sometimes stealing food from other children/young people
being constantly dirty or smelly
loss of weight or being constantly underweight
inappropriate dress for the conditions.
Changes in behaviour which can also indicate neglect include:
complaining of being tired all the time
not requesting medical assistance and/or failing to attend appointments
having few friends
mentioning being left alone or unsupervised.
Appendix 2
Good Practice Guidelines
All personnel should be encouraged to demonstrate exemplary behaviour in order to protect themselves from false allegations. The following are common sense examples of how to create a positive culture and climate.
Good practice means:
always working in an open environment (for example, avoiding private or unobserved situations and encouraging open communication with no secrets)
treating all children/young people equally, and with respect and dignity
always putting the welfare of each child/young person first
maintaining a safe and appropriate distance with children/young people (for example, it is not appropriate for staff/volunteers to have an intimate relationship with a child/young person or to share a room with them)
building balanced relationships based on mutual trust, empowering children/young people to share in the decision-making process
making the organisations activities and other off-site activities, fun, enjoyable and safe
keeping up to date with technical skills, qualifications and insurance
involving parents/carers wherever possible – for example, by encouraging them to take responsibility for their children/young people in changing rooms
ensuring that parents/carers, staff/volunteers, coaches or officials work in pairs, if groups have to be supervised in changing rooms
ensuring that, when mixed groups are taken away, they are always accompanied by a male and a female member of staff/volunteer (but remember that same-gender abuse can also occur)
ensuring that at residential events, adults do not enter children’s/young people’s rooms or invite children/young people into their rooms
being an excellent role model, including not smoking or drinking alcohol in the company of
children/young people
giving enthusiastic and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism
recognising the developmental needs and capacity of children/young people and not pushing them against their will
keeping a written record of any injury that occurs, along with the details of any treatment given
requesting written consent from parents/carers, if it is necessary for staff/volunteers to transport children/young people in their cars.
Practices to be avoided
Avoid spending unnecessary amounts of time alone with children/young people away from others.
Practices never to be sanctioned
The following should never be sanctioned. You should never:
engage in rough, physical or sexually provocative games, including horseplay
share a room overnight with a child/young person
allow or engage in any form of inappropriate touching
allow children/young people to use inappropriate language unchallenged
make sexually suggestive comments to a child/young person, even in fun
reduce a child/young person to tears as a form of control
allow allegations made by a child/young person to go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted upon
do things of a personal nature for children/young people or disabled adults that they are able do for themselves
invite or allow children/young people to stay with you at your home unsupervised.
Appendix 3
Reporting allegations or suspicions of abuse
If you have any concerns about a child/young person being abused, you should inform the
session leader or project manager who will inform the first designated person named below. If
the no. 1 contact is unavailable, then the 2 nd designated person should be informed. In the case
of an emergency, agencies listed below should be informed.
1. Debbie Langdon
2. Roger Jones
Important contacts outside the organisation
Surrey Single Point of Access (C-SPA):
Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm call 0300 470 9100.
Out of these hours call the emergency duty team 01483 517898.
In an emergency, when you are concerned for the child’s immediate safety you should call Surrey Police
on 999.
SUTTON
Children’s First Contact Service (CFCS)
Sutton Civic Centre
St. Nicholas Way
Sutton
Surrey
SM1 1EA
Tel: 020 8770 6001/6072
childrensfirstcontactservice@sutton.gov.uk
Police stations: Surrey Police: 01483 571212 Police: 101 (Non-emergency)
NSPCC Child Protection Helplines: Help for adults with Child Protection concerns: 0808 800 5000
and Child Line: 0800 1111
Guidance for Reporting Abuse: STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
Organisation: My Time for Young Carers
Name of person reporting: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Name of child/young person: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Age and date of birth: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Parent’s/carer’s name(s): ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Home address: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Are you reporting your own concerns or someone else’s? Please give details.
Give a brief description of what has prompted the concerns – include date, time and an outline of specific incidents.
Any physical signs? Behaviour signs? Indirect signs?
Have you spoken to the child/young person? If so, what was said?
Have you spoken to the parent(s)/carer(s)? If so, what was said?
Has a specific person been alleged to be the abuser? If so, please give details.
Have you consulted anyone else? Please give details.
Action taken
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