Copyright © Acorn Pre-School & the Mighty Oaks 2010

Registered Charity No. 1042353 - Ofsted No. EY371758 - PSLA No. 1580

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Safeguarding children
General Welfare Requirement: Safeguarding and Promoting Children’s Welfare
States that the provider must take necessary steps to safeguard and promote the welfare of children
1.2 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.

Procedures
Staff and volunteers
§ Lynn Meadows is the designated person who coordinates safeguarding children issues.
§ 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 Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 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. See the disciplinary action section of this policy.
§ We have procedures for recording the details of visitors to the setting.   
§ All access points to the setting are secured, ensuring that we have control over who enters the setting and that no unauthorised person has unsupervised access to the children.
§ We take steps to ensure children are not photographed or filmed on video for any other purpose than to record their development or their participation in events organised by us. Parents sign a consent form and have access to records holding visual images of their child.

 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.
§ We take into account factors affecting parental capacity, such as social exclusion, domestic violence, parent’s drug or alcohol abuse, mental or physical illness or parent’s learning disability.
§ We are aware of other factors that affect children’s vulnerability such as abuse of disabled children, fabricated or induced illness, child abuse linked to beliefs, sexual exploitation of children such as through internet abuse, that may affect or may have affected children and young people using our provision.
§ We also make ourselves aware that some children and young people are affected by gang activity, by complex, multiple or organised abuse or maybe victims of child trafficking. While this may be less likely to affect young children in our care we may become aware of any of these factors affecting older children and young people who we may come into contact with.
§ Where we believe a child in our care or known to us may be affected by any of these factors we follow the procedure for reporting child protection concerns.
§ 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 manager or whoever is acting as the 'designated person'. The information is stored on the child's personal file.
§ We will seek advice from and refer any concerns to the local authority Children’s Social Care department (the Intake and Assessment Team) and we will co-operate fully in any subsequent investigation. In some cases this may mean the police, Ofsted or another agency, as identified by the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board, may become involved.
§ We take care not to influence the outcome either through the way we speak to children or by asking questions of children.
§ We take account of the need to protect young people aged 16-19 as defined by the Children Act 1989. This may include students or school children on work placement, young employees or young parents. Where abuse is suspected we follow the procedure for reporting any other child protection concerns. The views of the young person will always be taken into account, but the setting may override the young persons refusal to consent to share information if it feels that it is necessary to prevent a crime from being committed or intervene where one may have been or to prevent harm to a child or adult. Sharing confidential information without consent is done only where not sharing it could be worse than the outcome of having shared it.

Recording suspicions of abuse and disclosures
§ If a child discloses information to a member of staff or we observe signs or signals that gives us cause for concern, for example, a significant change in behaviour; deterioration in their general well-being; unexplained bruising, marks or signs of possible abuse or neglect. Then that member of staff:
o listens to the child, offers reassurance and gives assurance that she or he will take action;
o does not question the child;
o makes a written record that forms an objective record of the observation or disclosure that includes:
o the date and time of the observation or the disclosure;
o the exact words spoken by the child as far as possible;
o the name of the person to whom the concern was reported, with date and time; and
o the names of any other person present at the time.
§ We may seek advice from or refer any concerns to the Intake and Assessment Team and we will cooperate fully in any subsequent investigation. In some cases this may mean the police or another agency as identified by the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board, may become involved.
§ These records are signed and dated and kept in the child's personal file which is kept securely and confidentially.
§ Where the Local Safeguarding Children Board stipulates the process for recording and sharing concerns, we include those procedures alongside this procedure and follow the steps set down by the Local Safeguarding Children Board.

Informing parents                                
§ If appropriate, we will discuss our concerns with parents to gain their view of events. If we consider the child is at risk, the Intake and Assessment Team will become our first point of contact and we will follow their advice.
§ We make a note of any discussions we have regarding a concern.
§ If a suspicion of abuse warrants referral to social care, we will then be guided by the Intake and Assessment Teams response and act accordingly.

 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 notify the registration authority (Ofsted) of any incident or accident and any changes in our arrangements which may affect the wellbeing of children or where an allegation of abuse is made against a member of staff.

Allegations against staff
Complaints
§ We ensure that all parents know how to complain about the behaviour or actions of staff, volunteers or visitors within the setting, or anyone working on the premises occupied by the setting, which may include an allegation of abuse. Details on how to make a complaint are on our notice boards and on our website.
§ We follow the guidance of the Local Safeguarding Children Board when responding to any complaint that anyone at the setting, has abused a child.
§ We respond to any disclosure by children or staff that abuse by anyone at 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 social care 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 social care in conjunction with the police.
§ Where the management committee and children’s social care agree it is appropriate in the circumstances, the chairperson will suspend the member of staff, 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 volunteer has been dismissed due to engaging in activities that caused concern for the safeguarding of children or vulnerable adults, we will notify the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) of relevant information so that individuals who pose a threat to children (and vulnerable groups), can be identified and barred from working with these groups.

 Training
§ We seek out training courses, as provided by the local authority, 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.

 Curriculum
§ We introduce key elements of keeping children safe into our planning, to promote the personal, social and emotional development of all children. This will empower them to become strong, resilient and listened to and it will help them develop an understanding of how and why 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 or Social Care.

 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 only if appropriate under the guidance of the Local Safeguarding Children Board.

Safeguarding the Welfare of Children