Safeguarding Children Policy

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Contents

1. Introduction

2. Purpose of the Policy

3. Safeguarding

4. Facts about Abuse

4.1 Definitions

4.2 Indications of Abuse

5. Safeguarding Children at Events/Activities

6 Safeguarding Officers

7. Staff and Volunteer Recruitment and Selection

8. Staff and Volunteer Training

9. Staff and Volunteer Code of Conduct

10. Prevention of Bullying

11. ‘Prevent’ and Safeguarding

12. Photographing Children

12.1 Photographers briefing

13. Managing Behaviour, Discipline and Acceptable Restraint

14. Dealing with accidents, misunderstandings or other incidents

15. What should you do if a child/young person makes a disclosure

16. Procedures to follow when making a referral

17. If in doubt

18. Procedure for Reporting and Managing Safeguarding Concerns

19. Confidentiality

20. Support

20.1 For the reporting of suspected abuse

20.2 For the person whom an allegation is made

21. Types of Investigations

21.1 Internal Enquiries and Suspension

22. Other Policies

23. Appendix 1

23.1 Types of Abuse

24. Appendix 2

24.1 Safeguarding Pro Forma

25. Appendix 3

25.1 Useful Contacts

26. Appendix 4

26.1 Legal Framework

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1. Introduction

The Baby Star-Dust Foundation is committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children and young people and will take all reasonable steps to protect them from neglect and physical, sexual or emotional harm. Paid staff, volunteers and trustees will, at all times, show respect for and understanding of the rights, safety and welfare of the children and young people accessing our services, and conduct themselves in a way that reflects the principles of The Baby Star-Dust Foundation.

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2. Purpose of the Policy

The purpose of this policy is to outline the practice and procedures for all paid and voluntary staff within The Baby Star-Dust Foundation, in order to safeguard and promote the welfare of young people accessing our services and activities. It is aimed at protecting the young person and the worker, recognising the risks involved in working with children and young people.

This policy relates to children and young people under the age of 18 and to vulnerable people over the age of 18. The term ‘young people’ will be used to include those under 18 years old and vulnerable adults.

The Baby Star-Dust Foundation will:

• Implement procedures to provide a duty of care for young people, safeguard their well-being and protect them from abuse.

• Respect and promote the rights, wishes and feelings of young people.

• Ensure that all our paid staff and volunteers are carefully selected, trained and supervised, including completing a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

• Carefully assess all risks that young people encounter, and taking all necessary steps to minimise and manage such risks.

• Let parents/carers and young people know how to voice concerns or complaints about anything they might be unhappy about.

• Give parents/carers, young people and fellow professionals information about what we do and what can be expected of us.

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3. Safeguarding

Safeguarding Children: Safeguarding children is defined in the Working Together 2018 as:

• protecting children from maltreatment.

• preventing impairment of children’s health or development.

• ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care.

• taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes. The Baby Star-Dust Foundation recognises that:

• The welfare of the child or young person is paramount;

• All children and young people regardless of race, gender, age, religious belief, disability, sexual orientation or identity have a right to equal protection from harm;

• Some children are more vulnerable to harm as a result of their circumstances, prior experiences, communication needs or level of dependency; and

• Working with children, young people and their parents and/or guardians, carers or other agencies is essential to protecting their wellbeing.

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4. Facts about Abuse

Child abuse occurs when a child or young person has suffered from, or is at significant risk of suffering from, ill-treatment or impairment of development, by any person who knowingly colludes with or fails to prevent the ill-treatment of the child or young person by not ensuring reasonable standards of care and protection.

• All staff and volunteers should be aware that abusers are not just strangers. They can include parents, carers, family members, friends, people in positions of trust and authority, other children or young people, or anyone who has contact with children and young people.

• Children and young people who are abused are often abused by an adult they know and trust.

• Disabled children and young people are more vulnerable to abuse; they are more dependent on intimate care and occasionally they may be less able to tell or escape from abusive situations.

• Misunderstandings and misinterpretations of different cultural and religious beliefs often mean that children and young people from these communities and families may be more vulnerable to abuse going undetected.

• It is important to remember that, although most abusers are men, women also abuse, and that abusers come from all social and ethnic backgrounds and professions.

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4.1. Definitions

The Children Act 1989 definition of a child is: anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday, even if they are living independently, are a member of the armed forces or is in hospital.

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Child Abuse: Children may be vulnerable to neglect and abuse or exploitation from within their family and from individuals they come across in their daily lives. There are 4 main categories of abuse, which are: sexual, physical, emotional abuse, and neglect. It is important to be aware of more specific types of abuse that fall within these categories, they are:

• Bullying and cyberbullying

• Child sexual exploitation

• Child Criminal exploitation

• Child trafficking

• Domestic abuse

• Female genital mutilation

• Grooming

• Historical abuse

• Online abuse

(Further information on types of abuse can be found in APPENDIX 1)

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4.2. Indications of Abuse

There are certain signs of abuse, both in a young person’s appearance and behaviour, which may alert an individual to the possibility that abuse is occurring. Some of these signs are common to all types of abuse; others are more specific.

Knowing the signs to be aware of is essential for recognising a real or potential problem. However, the presence of any one sign in itself may not necessarily mean abuse is occurring, and conversely, a young person who is being abused may show none of the obvious signs. Such factors make the issue of child abuse more complex, but all concerns and suspicions should be reported and acted upon accordingly.

Indications that a young person may be being abused include:

• Unexplained or suspicious injuries such as bruising, cuts or burns, particularly if situated on a part of the body not normally prone to such injuries.

• An injury for which the explanation seems inconsistent

• The young person describes what appears to be an abusive act involving him or her

• Someone else (young person or adult) expresses concern about the welfare of another young person

• Unexplained changes in behaviour or emotions such as becoming very quiet, withdrawn or displaying sudden bursts of temper

• Inappropriate sexual awareness

• Engaging in sexually explicit behaviour, sexually explicit talk inappropriate to the young person’s age

• Distrust of adults, particularly those with whom a close relationship would be expected

• Difficulty in making friends

• Uncharacteristic eating disorders, depression and suicide attempts

• The young person may become withdrawn, introverted and depressed and have low self- esteem and lack of confidence

It is not your responsibility as members of The Baby Star-Dust Foundation to decide whether or not child abuse is occurring, but it is your responsibility to act on those concerns and do something about them.

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5. Safeguarding Children at Events/Activities

• There are three kinds of events/activities:

a) Those open to adults and children of all ages;

b) Those open to children accompanied by a ‘parent’; and

c) Those for unaccompanied children, which are sometimes run alongside other events/activities.

• At events and activities open to all ages, children under 16 must be accompanied throughout by an adult over the age of 18, who must not only bring the child but also takes the child home again afterwards. Young people aged 16 or 17 may attend unaccompanied if they bring written consent and a mobile number for one of their parents.​

• ​All events and activities for children accompanied by a ‘parent’, children under 16 must be supervised throughout the event by and adult over the age of 18 who not only brings the child to the event but also takes them home afterwards. If a lone adult is supervising more than one child, then the children will have to stay together to enable to adult to supervise both children. Young people aged 16 or 17 may attend unaccompanied if they bring written consent and a mobile number for one of their parents.

• At events and activities for unaccompanied children, children under 16 must be enrolled by a responsible adult before being left with the event leader. The enrolment must record the child’s name, age and address and the names and addresses of the child’s parents, plus the parents contact telephone numbers. Young people aged 16 or 17 may attend unaccompanied if they bring written consent and a mobile number for one of their parents.

• Both events and activities are to be defined broadly to include any occasions where the organisation will be providing a service.

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6. Safeguarding Officers

There will be a named trustee for safeguarding children and young people and Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO), with overall responsibility is (Insert name here). The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), who will be responsible for dealing with any concerns about safeguarding is: (Insert name here).

The role of the designated person is to:

• Ensure that The Baby Star-Dust Foundation Safeguarding Policy and Procedures are followed.

• Ensure they, and other staff members know how to make contact with social care and police staff responsible for dealing with safeguarding children concerns both during and after office hours.

• Act as a source of advice on all safeguarding matters within The Baby Star-Dust Foundation and seek further advice and guidance from Fife Council Safeguarding Children Board as appropriate.

• Ensure that a record is kept of any concerns about a child or young person and of any conversation or referrals to statutory agencies.

• Ensure that any such record is kept safely and securely

7. Staff and Volunteer Recruitment and Selection

The Baby Star-Dust Foundation recognises that anyone may have the potential to abuse young people in some way and that all necessary steps are taken to ensure unsuitable people are prevented from working with them. Full details of the recruitment and selection process can be found within the Safer Recruitment Policy.

Due to its work with children, The Baby Star-Dust Foundation is exempt from regulations governing the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Therefore, all staff and volunteer applicants for positions within The Baby Star-Dust Foundation are required to disclose on their Application Form all previous criminal convictions, even if they are “spent” convictions. Any information provided will be treated in the strictest confidence.

a) All potential candidates for both paid and voluntary positions within The Baby Star-Dust Foundation will be asked to complete a The Baby Star-Dust Foundation application form.

b) All potential candidates will be interviewed by a panel consisting of a minimum of two The Baby Star-Dust Foundation staff members and/or directors.

c) If a person is thought to be suitable for a role, a minimum of two written references will be taken up and may be confirmed by telephone.

d) All staff, volunteers and directors offered a role within The Baby Star-Dust Foundation will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. If staff, volunteers and directors are in possession of a clear DBS check that was carried out in the 6-months prior to their appointment with The Baby Star-Dust Foundation and are willing and able to present the original disclosure certificate, The Baby Star-Dust Foundation will allow them to begin work, whilst another check is carried out.

e) Employees and volunteers will have an Enhanced DBS check every 2 years.

f) If a DBS disclosure reveals a criminal record, this will not automatically ban the person from working at The Baby Star-Dust Foundation. The Baby Star-Dust Foundation will discuss the offence with the applicant and take into consideration the circumstances of the offence, the type of offence, when committed, etc. and assess fairly to ensure fair appointment and selection.

g) All paid positions are subject to a probationary period within which time the effectiveness of the delivery, performance and suitability for the post shall be monitored by The Baby Star- Dust Foundation.

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8. Staff and Volunteer Training

All staff and volunteers working within The Baby Star-Dust Foundation will receive information and basic training in safe conduct and what to do if they have concerns about a child or young person. This will include information on recognising where there are concerns about a child or young person, and where to get advice.

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Training levels should be appropriate to the employee’s contact with children and young people and

their responsibilities for child welfare within The Baby Star-Dust Foundation:

• Employees and volunteers working directly with children and young people must attend recognised safeguarding children awareness training (e.g. training run by the local Safeguarding Children Board) as soon as this can be arranged following their appointment. This training must be updated every 2 years.

• Employees who may have indirect contact with young people during the course of their work e.g. Office Manager must receive advisory information and Safeguarding Children awareness training from the Safeguarding Officer.

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9. Staff and Volunteer Code of Conduct

Always remember that while you are caring for any children and/or young people you are in a position of trust and your responsibilities to them and the organisation must be always uppermost in your mind.

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DO NOT

• Use any kind of physical punishment or chastisement such as smacking or hitting.

• Give lifts in your own car, unless prior arrangements have been made with all relevant people, i.e. parents/carers, your line manager, and there is appropriate business insurance on the car.

• Use non-prescribed drugs or be under the influence of alcohol.

• Allow a young person to use discriminatory, demeaning or offensive language unchallenged.

• Behave in a way that frightens or demeans any young person.

• Use racist, sexist, discriminatory, demeaning or offensive language.

• Invite young people to your house or arrange to see them outside the set activity times.

• Disclose your personal address, personal email address or telephone number to a young person

• Engage in a sexual relationship with a young person.

• Make sexually suggestive comments to a young person.

• Engage in rough or physical games, including horseplay.

• Let allegations a young person makes go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted upon.

• Rely upon your good name to protect you or believe “it could never happen to me.”

• Give young people presents or personal items*.

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*Exceptions could be: buying a young person a small birthday token or leaving present. Any gift should come from The Baby Star-Dust Foundation and be given in a professional capacity and be agreed with a senior staff member. Similarly, do not accept gifts yourself other than small tokens for appropriate celebrations (e.g. birthdays, Christmas), which you should mention to your line manager.

DO:

• Exercise caution about being alone with a young person. In situations where this is unavoidable, ensure another worker or volunteer knows what you are doing and where you are.

• Ensure that any physical contact is open and initiated by the young person’s needs, e.g. for help with personal care. Always prompt young people to carry out personal care themselves and if they cannot manage ask if they would like help.

• Talk explicitly to young people about their right to be kept safe from harm.

• Listen to young people about their right to be kept safe from harm.

• Listen to young people and take every opportunity to raise their self-esteem.

• Work as a team with your colleagues. Agree with them what behaviour you expect from young people and be consistent enforcing it.

• Remember if you have to speak to a young person about their behaviour you are challenging

‘what they did’ not who they are’.

• Make sure you have read the Safeguarding Policy and Procedure and that you feel confident that you know how to recognise when a young person may be suffering harm, how to handle any disclosure and how to report any concerns.

• Where possible encourage parents/carers to take responsibility for their own children.

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10. Prevention of Bullying

We will not tolerate the bullying of children either by adults or other children. If any incident of child-on-child bullying should arise at and event run by The Baby Star-Dust Foundation, those involved will be separated immediately and the parents of the children involved will be asked to deal with the matter.

The team will review all child-on-child bullying and assess the future risk to children. If appropriate, the team will consider banning a child from future events but only in accordance with the rules and procedures of the organisation. Allegations of adults bullying will be dealt with in accordance to with this policy.

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11. ‘Prevent’ and Safeguarding

Prevent is a community safeguarding programme which works to protect those at risk of radicalisation. It does not work to criminalise or marginalise individuals or groups of society. It works to find the suitable support and intervention to challenge extreme views.

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The Baby Star-Dust Foundation will use the recommended PREVENT safeguarding referral form and follow the usual safeguarding procedure stated within this policy.

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Identifying potential signs of radicalisation. Research from a variety of organisations has shown that there are possible indicators that contribute to a person being radicalised. Indicators are:

• An increase in extreme views relating to a social sector of Government policy

• The downloading, viewing or sharing of extremist propaganda

• An individual becoming withdrawn and increasingly intolerant of modern views

• A change in appearance or behaviour, with an individual becoming isolated

• The expression of a desire or intent to support or take part in terrorist activity.

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12. Photographing Children

It is not the intention of this document to prevent the use of video or photography equipment. Video used in an appropriate way is a valuable coaching aid and family photographs of young people are part and parcel of many family lives. However, there is evidence that some people have used social events as an opportunity to take inappropriate photographs or film footage of young and disabled people in vulnerable positions. It is advisable that all individuals be vigilant with any concerns to be reported to The Baby Star-Dust Foundation representative or responsible person at an event.

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12.1. Photographers briefing

a) If you are commissioning professional photographers or inviting the press to an activity or event it is important to ensure they are clear about your expectations of them in relation to child safeguarding.

b)  Ensure all individuals involved are aware of what is appropriate in terms of content and behaviour.

c)  The Baby Star-Dust Foundation event co-ordinator or organiser must ensure they are aware of all individuals taking photographs. They may decide, in the interests of safety, to insist all official photographers wear identification.

d) As part of the event information sheet all participants and parents should be informed if there is to be a photographer present. Parents should also be given the opportunity to object if they do not wish images of their child to be used.

e)  Inform parents that a photographer will be in attendance at an event and ensure they consent to both the taking and publication of films or photographs.

f) Event co-ordinators and organisers should not allow unsupervised access to any children or one to one photo sessions at events.

g)  If a photo shoot is arranged outside a The Baby Star-Dust Foundation event but is in any way connected to The Baby Star-Dust Foundation activities, or photographs are to be used within The Baby Star-Dust Foundation literature, then the child’s parents must be informed by The Baby Star- Dust Foundation.

h) Avoid the use of the first name and surname of individuals in a photograph. This reduces the risk of inappropriate, unsolicited attention. Easy to remember rules of thumb are the following:

• If the child is named, avoid using their photograph.

• If their photograph is used, avoid naming the child.

• In situations where it is necessary for children in photographs or films to be named ensure there is permission from both the child and parent(s).

i)  Ask for parental permission to use an image of a young person. This ensures that parents are aware of the way the image of their child is used to represent The Baby Star-Dust Foundation.

j)  Ask for the child’s permission to use his or her image. This ensures that they are aware of the way

the image of themselves is to be used to represent the The Baby Star-Dust Foundation.

k)  Create a recognised procedure for reporting the use of inappropriate images to reduce the risks to children.

l) Current The Baby Star-Dust Foundation guidance allows children to be named in some publications and events. Individual briefings will be given. It is important that contact details for the young person with a name or photograph are NOT given.

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At The Baby Star-Dust Foundation events that are open to the general public where young people are involved the following guidelines should be used:

“No unauthorised photography” signs should be erected informing people that anyone wishing to take photography should register their intentions with The Baby Star-Dust Foundation representative.

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13. Managing Behaviour, Discipline and Acceptable Restraint

• Adults supervising children at the organisation’s events must never use any form of corporal punishment. If physical restraint is absolutely necessary to prevent injury to any person or to prevent serious damage to property, then the minimum necessary restraint may be used – but for that purpose only.

• Unacceptable behaviour at the organisations events for unaccompanied children will generally be stopped by separating the children from each other and from the group. Those involved will be suitably supervised and returned to the care of their parents as soon as possible.

• The organisation may apply a further disciplinary sanction; namely the banning of the child/ren from one or more future events over the following 18 month period. Any such sanction would be determined and applied by the DSO: (Insert name here).

• A parent who is aggrieved by this ban may appeal to the organisation who will hear the views of all relevant persons. The decision of the organisation is final. Any such appeals should be made to, and will be determined by the DSO: (Insert name here).

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