SOUTH CHILDWALL RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
Safeguarding Policy – Children
Introduction
SOUTH CHILDWALL RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION (the Organisation) has adopted this safeguarding – children policy and expects every adult working or helping at the Organisation to support it and comply with it.
Purpose of the Policy.
This policy is intended to protect children who receive any service from us, including those who are the children of adults who may receive services from us. Under this policy, the term children shall mean any person who is under eighteen years of age.
The Organisation believes that no child or young person should experience abuse or harm and is committed to the protection of children and young people. This policy is intended to provide guidance and overarching principles to those who represent us, and to guide our approach to child protection and safeguarding.
The Risks to Children
Children can be vulnerable to different forms of abuse and harm. It is important to recognise that abuse and harm of children can cover a wide range of circumstances and behaviours. For example, children can be at risk of:
– physical or emotional abuse
– neglect
-sexual abuse
– female genital mutilation (FGM)
– grooming and exploitation
– trafficking and modern slavery
– exposure to or infliction of domestic abuse
– bullying or cyber bullying
– exposure to other inappropriate content or behaviour, such as violence or criminal behaviour
– self-harm
– physical harm when engaging with activities without adequate supervision
The causal factors of any such harm and/or abuse can also be wide-ranging. For example, children can be placed at risk by family members or by members of the community.
Safeguarding Principles
Safeguarding children from harm and abuse is an essential responsibility for our Organisation. We are committed to ensuring that any child who comes into contact with our services is properly safeguarded. Every person under this policy must ensure that they play an active role in ensuring that children are properly safeguarded.
Every person under this policy holds responsibility for:
– remaining alert and aware of possible safeguarding risks to children
– guarding children against harmful environments with appropriate actions (for example, adequate supervision or ensuring safe environments)
– taking positive steps to maintain the safety and wellbeing of children engaging with us as an Organisation
– reporting concerns expeditiously and appropriately, in line with child protection procedures
– understanding the duty to report specific concerns (and understanding how this interplays with confidentiality)
– challenging any inappropriate or harmful behaviour of any other adult and reporting this accordingly
– acting appropriately in the presence of children
– not taking any inappropriate risks
– not smoking, drinking or taking any form of illicit substances in the presence of children
Safeguarding Officer
Any question, report or concern in relation to the safeguarding of children should be shared with our Safeguarding Officer:
Name: Janet Brown OBE
Email: janalibro@yahoo.com
Telephone: 07957637010
Confidentiality and Data Protection
All personal information we may process relating to children, shall be processed and stored in accordance with our data protection privacy policy which can be requested from the Safeguarding officer.
Responding to a Safeguarding Concern
Where a child is at immediate risk of serious harm, any adult present should call 999. Thereafter, the Safeguarding Officer should be contacted as soon as is reasonably practicable.
Where there is a safeguarding concern but no immediate risk of serious harm, the adult who has heard or witnessed this concern should consult with the Safeguarding Officer as soon as practicable and by no later than the end of that same day.
Where any child makes a disclosure relating to harm or abuse to an adult, it is important to:
– listen calmly and carefully, showing that their views are taken seriously
– provide an appropriate and honest level of reassurance
– avoid interrogating children and asking probing, intrusive and/or leading questions
– avoid making false promises regarding secrets and confidentiality with the child (because any concern of abuse/harm must be shared with the Safeguarding Officer and any subsequent safeguarding referral)
– make a confidential written record of the discussion either during the discussion or immediately afterwards. The record should include the key details of the disclosure together with any relevant times, dates, places and people concerned. Audio and video recordings of children making disclosures should be avoided
– refer all relevant information to the Safeguarding Officer as soon as practicable afterwards, and by no later than the end of the day
Upon receipt of any safeguarding concern, the Safeguarding Officer shall consult with any other relevant persons and will make any appropriate referrals to the relevant authorities, such as the applicable Local Authority Children’s Services department.
Reporting concerns about other adults within the Organisation
Where any person has a concern regarding the conduct of an adult connected to the Organisation, which poses or may pose a safeguarding risk to children such as:
– harming a child either physically or emotionally
– exposing a child to behaviour which may cause physical or emotional harm
– engaging in criminal activity concerning a child
This must be raised in the first instance with an available Allocated Safeguarding Officer so that the next appropriate steps may be agreed and actioned. We recognise that there could be circumstances where a person may need to report a matter that has taken place in a setting outside of the person’s engagement with the Organisation.
Usually, any appropriate steps following a safeguarding referral in respect of an individual connected to the organisation will include either:
– further initial enquiries
– escalation to the applicable Local Authority Children’s Services department for assessment and/or the police for investigation
– instigation of any appropriate disciplinary, formal investigation processes
– a referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service, or any other relevant regulatory bodies. Any person within the Organisation who has allegations made against them shall be informed properly a formal meeting of the particulars of the allegations and the relevant next steps which shall be taken. Such a meeting should ordinarily be held by the Safeguarding Officer. On certain occasions, such a meeting may not be convened until this has been approved by any authorities involved (such as the police or the Local Authority).
Any person from within the Organisation who has allegations made against them shall be treated fairly. Enquires, investigations and decisions taken shall be just and fair, with the safety of any child concerned at the heart of the process.
Any person from within the Organisation who makes an allegation against another person from within the Organisation shall be listened to, taken seriously and shall be treated fairly and justly throughout the process of enquiries, investigations and decision making.
Safeguarding Children at Events and Activities
Responsibilities and planning
Typically, we may arrange litter picks which could involve children, where all children must be accompanied by an adult, who must take responsibility for the safety of the child under their care.
The Safeguarding Officer shall hold ultimate responsibility for the safety and appropriateness of the event. They may however appoint a delegate for some responsibilities of a specific event.
Although the Safeguarding Officer and any appointed delegates will hold ultimate responsibility for overseeing the safety for events and activities, all individuals under this policy must also play an active role in ensuring the safety of children at all times.
For certain types of events or activities, we may issue an additional code of conduct, policy, or some specific other requirements which are specific to that occasion. Any such additional documentation will be made available to all those concerned (members, parents, guardians etc.) in advance. They should be read carefully and adhered to.
Venues
The location for any events or activities which are held by us shall be risk assessed properly in reference to the suitability and safety for children. Fire and safety procedures and precautions shall be made clear to all those involved.
First Aid
Any accident or injury concerning a child should be brought to the attention of the nearest first aider and should thereafter be formally reported to the Safeguarding Officer.
Where we hold any events or activities whereby a child attends alongside their parent or guardian, parents and guardians should ensure that children are properly supervised.
Managing Risks Posed by Other Children
It is important for all adults engaged by us to recognise that children can face harm from their peers. This can commonly take the form of bullying. Bullying can be defined as any behaviour which is:
– repeated; and
– has the intention of hurting somebody either physically or emotionally.
Bulling can sometimes be motivated by prejudices based on certain groups, for example gender, race, religion or sexual orientation. Bullying can often include:
– physical harm perpetrated against another child
– name calling and threats
-cyberbullying (threats and abusive comments made via technology)
Any instance of bullying or concern relating to possible bullying between children at any event or activities arranged by us will usually be dealt with by us in the first instance, and reported to the safeguarding officer.
Where any behaviour amounting to bullying continues following this, the parent and safeguarding office should be informed
All steps in relation to the prevention or management of bullying should be taken in consultation with the Safeguarding Officer
Photography
On some occasions, we may take photographs featuring children. We recognise that photography of children carries risks, such as:
– the potential for images to be re-used, shared or adapted in a damaging or inappropriate manner
– the general risk of sharing images and the impact this could have on child’s public image as they grow older
In view of these risks, we will:
– always ask for permission from a child’s parent/guardian before taking and sharing any image of them
– always ensure that a child and their parent/guardian are properly informed how an image will be used and shared
– always ensure that a child’s identity is protected as far as is possible within any published material
-ask that parents, guardians, children and any other person connected to them who may wish to share any of our published images which feature other children, to refrain from doing so unless they have the permission of the other children and their parent/guardian
– always store photos in accordance with our data protection policy.
We ask that any members of the public attending our events or activities do not take photographs of children without permission.
Other Policies
We have referred within this document to data protection policy which should be read in conjunction with this policy:
This Policy is approved and endorsed by SOUTH CHILDWALL RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION and is due for review every year.
Signed: BSCameron Chair
GTitchmarsh Treasurer
Date: 22nd February 2022