Cares

Safeguarding Policy and Procedures

  1. Cares
  2. Safeguarding Policy and Procedures

Part A – Policy statement

Introduction

This policy sets out the procedures for staff and volunteers of C.A.R.E.S in relation to   safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

C.A.R.E.S acknowledges its duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, and young people and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice.

These procedures ensure we follow a uniform approach to safeguarding across C.A.R.E.S, following the guidance listed in the ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ 2018 (HM Government) document located on the C.A.R.E.S Safeguarding Policy file.

C.A.R.E.S interacts and provides services for children and young people and vulnerable adults at risk through a variety of regulated activities as outlined below:

  • Schools
  • Youth Centre Activities
  • Personal Development activities
  • Academies
  • Outdoor and Indoor Education Activities/Programmes

Targeted Projects, e.g.:

  • Mentoring Programmes Level 2 – working with Children & Young People aged 11-15 years old.
  • Men’s mental health
  • NEET work with young people (Engaging with young people who are Not in Education, Employment & Training)
  • Resettlement and Tenancy Support

These procedures are applicable to all C.A.R.E.S staff, including sessional support.

staff, volunteers, directors, and contractors. External groups that use the sites will be made aware of C.A.R.E.S Safeguarding Policy, even though they may have their own organisational policy document.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and all staff and volunteers are required to abide by this policy.

All staff (paid or unpaid) have a responsibility to follow the guidance laid out in this policy and related policies, and to escalate any welfare concerns using the required procedures.

The aims of this policy are:

To ensure children, young people and adults who we work with are safe.

To inform and support C.A.R.E.S staff and volunteers in making sure that the safety and welfare of all children, young people and vulnerable adults, adults at risk who access services is paramount.

To raise the awareness of staff and volunteers of the need to safeguard children and of their responsibilities in identifying and reporting possible cases of abuse.

To provide a systematic means of monitoring children/young people/vulnerable adults who are known, or thought, to be at risk of harm.

To emphasise the need for good levels of communication between all members of staff.

To develop and promote effective working relationships with other agencies, especially the Police and Children’s Social Care.

To ensure safe recruitment and that all employees and volunteers within C.A.R.E.S who have access to children/young people, have had the necessary background/experience checks to verify their suitability.

This policy will be reviewed regularly by C.A.R.E.S Management Team.

Values and Principles

  • A child’s welfare is paramount. Each child has a right to be protected from harm and exploitation and to have their welfare safeguarded.
  • Every child, young person or adult at risk who participates in any activities organised by C.A.R.E.S should always be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from all kinds of abuse.
  • C.A.R.E.S is committed to creating and preserving the safest possible environment for children and young people to participate in all programmes and forms of leisure and cultural and educational activity.
  • Each child is unique. Action taken by C.A.R.E.S will be child centred taking account of a child’s cultural, ethnic and religious background, their gender, their sexual orientation, their individual ability and any special needs.
  • Children, parents and other carers should be made aware of their responsibilities and their rights, together with advice about the power of professionals to intervene in their family circumstances.

Individual family members must be involved in decisions affecting them. They must be treated with courtesy and respect and with due regard given to working with them in a spirit of partnership in safeguarding children’s welfare. However, it may not be appropriate to advise parents/carers immediately about a referral depending on circumstances and the advice given by Children’s Social Care. The welfare of the child is paramount in such situations.

  • Each child has a right to be consulted about actions taken by others on his/her behalf in an age appropriate way. The concerns of children and their families should be listened to and due consideration given to their understanding, wishes and feelings. However, it may not always be possible to respect a child/carer’s request for confidentiality. If a child may be at risk of significant harm, there is a duty on C.A.R.E.S as an organisation to share information with Children’s Social Care. This will be explained to the child or family member and appropriate reassurance given.

Personal information is usually confidential. It should only be shared with the permission of the individual concerned (and/or those with parental responsibility) unless the disclosure of confidential information is necessary in order to protect a child or promote their welfare. In all circumstances, information must be confined to those people directly involved in the professional network of each individual child and on a strict ‘need to know bases.

  • Explanations by professionals to children, their families and other carers should be plainly stated and jargon-free. Unavoidable technical and professional terminology should be explained in simple terms.
  • Sound professional practice is based upon positive inter-agency collaboration, evidence-based research and effective supervision and evaluation.
  • Early intervention is important to recognise and utilising the Early Help Assessment Framework (this can be located on C.A.R.E.S Safeguarding Procedures document) will support professionals. This is an important principle of practice in multi-agency arrangements for safeguarding the welfare of children.

Legal Framework

The policy is based on relevant legislation and guidance to protect children/young people & vulnerable adults.

The key legislation is set out below:

  • Children Act 1989
  • Children Act 2004 (1a)
  • Children Act 2014
  • Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018
  • Care Act 2014 (Care and Support Statutory Guidance)
  • Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
  • Every Child Matters 2004
  • Sexual Offences Act 2003
  • United Convention on the Rights of the Child 1991
  • The Police Act – CRB 1997 NHS and Community Case Act 1990
  • Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998
  • Data Protection Act 2018 (GDPR, General Data Protection Regulation)
  • Care Standard Act 2000
  • Mental Health Act 2007
  • Mental Capacity Act 2005
  • Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974

Definitions

Working Together to Safeguard Children (HM Government, 2018), defined safeguarding 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 life chances and to enter adulthood successfully.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is about embedding practices throughout the organisation to ensure the protection of children, young people and / or vulnerable adults wherever possible.

Child

A child is anyone from pre-birth up to 18 years whatever their circumstances (including independent living, further education, in hospital, in custody, in the armed forces).

Vulnerable Groups

Whilst legally not classed as children, some especially vulnerable young people are entitled to services beyond the age of 18. This includes care leavers up to the age of 25 and young people with special needs and disabilities.

The term ‘child’ is used throughout this document to refer to both children and young people.

Adult at Risk

An ‘adult at risk’ is someone aged 18 or over who:

  • has needs for care and support (whether the local authority is meeting any of those needs) and
  • is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse and neglect and
  • as a result of those care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of,

or the experience of abuse or neglect (Care Act 2014)

Parents and Carers

The parent is the person who has parental responsibility for the child. This is usually the mother of the child and the father of the child if the parents are married. If parents are not married, birth fathers can obtain parental responsibility through jointly registering the birth of the child; parental responsibility agreement with the mother or applying through the Courts.

Other people can have parental responsibility through various routes including adoption, residence orders, emergency protection orders or they are appointed as guardians. Where children are subject to Care Orders,

the Local Authority has (shared or full) parental responsibility. Children can be looked after by ‘carers’ such as foster parents, residential care staff, extended family or others acting in a parenting role.

Child protection

Child protection is part of safeguarding and promoting children’s welfare. It is an activity which is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering, or are likely to suffer, significant harm.

Significant harm

The Children Act 1989 introduced the concept of Significant Harm as the threshold that justifies compulsory intervention by Children’s Social Care in family life in the best interests of children.

Under Section 47 of the Children Act 1989, where the local authority have reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm, the authority shall make such enquiries as they consider necessary to enable them to decide whether they should take any action to safeguard or promote the child’s welfare.

Decisions about significant harm are complex and should be informed by a careful assessment of the child’s circumstances, including discussions between the statutory agencies and with the child and family where appropriate.

When judging what constitutes Significant Harm it is necessary to consider:

  • The family context, including the family’s strengths and supports;
  • The child’s/young person’s development within the context of the family and within the context of the wider social and cultural environment.
  • Any special needs, such as medical condition, communication difficulty or disability that may affect the child’s development and care within the family.
  • The nature of harm in terms of the ill treatment or failure to provide adequate care.
  • The impact on the child’s health and development:
  • The adequacy of parental care.

Child in need

The Children Act 1989 (S17) states that children in need are those whose vulnerability is such that they are unlikely to reach or maintain a satisfactory level of health and development or their health and development will be significantly impaired, without the provision of services by the local authority, plus those who are disabled. Critical factors in deciding whether a child is in need are:

  • What will happen to a child’s health and development without services being provided
  • The likely effect the services will have on the child’s standard of health and development.

Private fostering

Private fostering is when a child or young person (aged under 16, or under 18 if disabled) stays with someone other than a parent or close relative for a period of 28 days or more. The person could be extended family (e.g. a cousin or great aunt), a family friend or another non-relative.

Close relatives (where private fostering does not apply) are defined as:

  • Grandparents
  • Siblings
  • Uncles / aunts (full blood / half blood or by marriage)
  • Stepparents

Private foster carers are required to inform the local authority of the arrangement in advance and again when the arrangement begins.

Vulnerable Children

Some children may be at increased risk of harm or abuse. All staff must therefore give consideration and attention to children who:

  • Have disabilities or special educational needs
  • Live in a known domestic abuse situation
  • Are affected by parental substance misuse
  • Have parents with learning difficulties or disabilities
  • Have parents with mental health issues
  • Are asylum seekers
  • Live away from home, including in local authority, foster care or private fostering arrangements
  • Have chaotic home situations or a transient lifestyle
  • Are Young Carers
  • Are vulnerable to discrimination on the grounds of ethnicity, religion, or sexuality
  • Have English as an additional language

This list is not exhaustive

What is child abuse?

Child abuse is maltreatment of a child. Someone may abuse a child either by directly inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm. Child abuse occurs in family, institutional and community settings.

Children could be abused by an adult or adults, or by another child or children.

The four types of abuse are described below, along with signs and indicators for each type.

Recognising abuse is not straightforward and it is not your responsibility to decide whether a child has been or is at risk of being abused. However, you do have a responsibility to act on concerns, to enable appropriate investigations to take place and actions to be taken to protect children. If in any doubt you should always seek advice from your line manager in the first instance and the safeguard lead and refer to Children’s Social Care.

Physical abuse

Physical abuse is actual or likely physical injury to a child, or failure to prevent physical injury or suffering to a child. Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocation or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical injury may also be caused when a parent feigns the symptoms of, or deliberately causes ill health to a child they are looking after.

Signs and indicators

Physical injuries should always be interpreted considering the child’s medical and social history, stage of development, and the explanation given. Accidental bruises are generally seen on the bony parts of the body and often on the front, so bruising or injuries on soft parts such as cheeks, abdomen, back or buttocks may be a cause for concern. A delay in seeking medical treatment is also a cause for concern although you should bear in mind with burns that blistering may not develop immediately.

Physical signs of abuse may include:

  • Bruising, marks or injuries anywhere on the body which are unexplained or inconsistent with an explanation given

Clusters of bruises, often on the upper arm or outside of the thigh

  • Cigarette burns
  • Human bite marks
  • Broken bones
  • Scalds with upward splash marks
  • Multiple burns with clearly demarcated edges.

Behavioural signs may include:

  • Fear of parents being approached for an explanation
  • Aggressive behaviour or severe temper outbursts
  • Flinching when approached or touched
  • Reluctance to get changed, for example in hot weather
  • Depression
  • Withdrawn behaviour
  • Running away from home.

Emotional abuse

Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional ill treatment of a child to cause severe and

persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to a child that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they only meet the needs of another person. It may include not giving the child opportunities to express their views, deliberately silencing them or making fun of what they say or how they communicate. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed, including interactions beyond the child’s capability, overprotection or limitation, or preventing normal social interaction. It may involve serious bullying (including cyber bullying) causing children to frequently feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of ill treatment of a child, though it may also occur alone.

Signs and indicators

Emotional abuse can be very difficult to detect, as there are often no physical signs. There may be a developmental delay due to a failure to thrive and grow, although this may not be evident unless, for example, the child gains weight in other circumstances away from their parent’s care. Emotional abuse can also take the form of not being allowed to mix or play with other children.

Behavioural indicators may include:

  • Neurotic behaviour, e.g. sulking, hair twisting, rocking
  • Being unable to play
  • Fear of making mistakes

Sudden speech disorders

  • Self-harm
  • Fear of parent being approached about their behaviour

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, whether the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including penetration (e.g. rape or buggery) and non- penetrative acts such as kissing and touching. They may involve non-contact activities such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of pornographic materials or watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse, including via the internet.

Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children.

Signs and indicators

In most cases, it will be behavioural rather than physical signs which cause you to become concerned.

Remember that it is not only adult men who sexually abuse there are increasing numbers of allegations against women and children. In all cases, a child disclosing sexual abuse does so because they want it to stop, so they must always be listened to and taken seriously.

Physical signs may include:

  • Pain or itching in the genital area
  • Bruising or bleeding near the genital area
  • Sexually transmitted disease
  • Vaginal discharge or infection
  • Stomach pains
  • Discomfort when walking or sitting down
  • Pregnancy

Behavioural signs may include:

  • Sudden or unexplained changes in behaviour, e.g. becoming aggressive or withdrawn
  • Fear of being left with a specific person or group of people
  • Having nightmares
  • Running away from home
  • Sexual knowledge beyond a child’s age or stage of development
  • Sexual drawings or language
  • Bed wetting
  • Eating disorders such as anorexia
  • Self-harm or suicide attempts

A child saying, they have secrets they cannot share

  • Substance misuse
  • Having unexplained money or possessions
  • Not being allowed to have friends
  • Sexualised behaviour towards adults.

Neglect

Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and / or psychological needs, likely to result in the impairment of the child’s health or development. It may occur during pregnancy due to maternal substance misuse. It may involve a parent failing to provide adequate food, shelter and clothing, failing to protect a child or young person from physical or emotional harm or danger, failing to ensure adequate supervision, or failing to ensure access to the appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of or unresponsiveness to a child’s basic emotional needs.

Signs and indicators

Neglect can be very difficult to recognise yet may have some of the most lasting and damaging effects

on children.

Physical signs may include:

  • Constant hunger, stealing food
  • Constantly dirty or smelly
  • Loss of weight or being underweight
  • Inappropriate clothing for the conditions.

Behavioural signs may 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.

Child Exploitation

Child Sexual Exploitation Child Sexual Exploitation is a form of child sexual abuse. It occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child under the age of 18 into sexual activity:

(a) In exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or

(b) For the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator. The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual. Child Sexual Exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur using technology. (Home Office 2017)

Child Criminal Exploitation

Child Criminal Exploitation occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of a person under the age of 18 and may coerce, manipulate or deceive a child under that age into any activity

(a) In exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or

(b) For the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator and/or

(c) Through violence or the threat of violence.

The victim may be exploited even if the activity appears consensual (i.e. moving drugs or the proceeds of drugs from one place to another). Child Criminal Exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur using technology. (Home Office 2018)

County Lines

County lines is a term used to describe gangs and organised criminal networks involved in exporting illegal drugs into one or more importing areas (within the UK), using dedicated mobile phone lines or other form of “deal line”. They are likely to exploit children and vulnerable adults to move (and store) the drugs and money and they will often use coercion, intimidation, violence (including sexual violence) and weapons. (Home Office 2018)

County lines is a form of Child Exploitation (CE). It is a major, cross-cutting issue involving drugs, violence, gangs, safeguarding, criminal and sexual exploitation, modern slavery, and missing persons. The response to tackle it involves the Police, the NCA (National Crime Agency) and a wide range of Government departments, local government agencies and VCS (voluntary and community sector) organisations.

County lines activity and the associated violence, drug dealing, and exploitation have a devastating impact on children, vulnerable adults and local communities.

Cuckooing

Urban gangs establish a base in the market location, often by taking over the homes of local vulnerable adults by force and/or coercion, in a practice referred to as ‘cuckooing’. Urban gangs then use children and vulnerable people to move drugs and money.

Compromised Care/Toxic Trio

Sometimes children need to be safeguarded due to the impact of factors which reduce their parent or carer’s ability to care for them. This can have severe consequences for the child if it is not identified or no action is taken.

The term ‘Toxic Trio’ has been used to describe the issues of domestic abuse, mental ill health and substance misuse which have been identified as common features of families where harm to children has occurred. They are viewed as indicators of increased risk of harm to children and young people.

Compromised care may arise due to:

Domestic Abuse

Domestic abuse and violence are any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. This can encompass but is not limited to the following types of abuse:

  • psychological
  • physical
  • sexual
  • financial
  • emotional

Mental ill Health

Working Together, describes the wide range of conditions covered by the term mental ill health, including – depression and anxiety, and psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Mental illness may be associated with alcohol or drug use, personality disorder and significant physical illness.

Drug or alcohol misuse of parent or carer

If a parent or carer misuses drugs or alcohol, this may impact on their parenting capacity, but it is important not to generalise or make assumptions in this respect. Some substances may induce behaviour that increases the risk of harm or neglect to the child. The child’s/young person’s safety may also be compromised in other ways. There is evidence that substance misuse in pregnancy can have a serious effect on the unborn child.

Other types of abuse

In addition to the above, there are other types of abuse which should also be considered. These are:

  • Fabricated or induced illness (formerly known as Munchausen’s by proxy)
  • Child trafficking / private fostering / forced marriage
  • Female genital mutilation
  • Peer abuse and bullying
  • Abusive Images of Children
  • Online Abuse

Responsibilities and Accountabilities

The key responsibilities at various levels of the organisation are:

C.A.R.E.S Board Members:

C.A.R.E.S Board members have a responsibility to ensure that C.A.R.E.S has an appropriate, accessible safeguarding policy and procedures in place and to ensure that enough resources are allocated so that the policy can be effectively implemented.

The safeguarding policy will be reviewed regularly, and the revised version presented to the board.

C.A.R.E.S Management Team

  • C.A.R.E.S Management Team has a clear commitment to the importance of safeguarding and promoting children’s
  • welfare – the safety of children and young people are paramount
  • C.A.R.E.S Management Team is accountable to the Knowsley Safeguarding’s Children Board (KSCB) in adhering to national guidance on safeguarding and child protection

C.A.R.E.S will:

  • Ensure that there are clear priorities within the organisation for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, explicitly stated in C.A.R.E.S strategic policies and procedures
  • Ensure that this safeguarding policy is reviewed and updated in line with statutory requirements and policy changes
  • Implement safe recruitment to consider the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people, including arrangements for appropriate checks on board members, staff and volunteers
  • Provide the appropriate training for board members, staff and volunteers so that everyone is equipped to carry out their responsibilities effectively
  • Provide appropriate supervision and challenge to board members, staff and volunteers
  • Ensure that there are clear policies and procedures, including procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse against members of staff and volunteers and whistleblowing, promoting a culture that enables issues about safeguarding to be addressed
  • Ensure that there is appropriate sharing of information to safeguard and promote the welfare of children
  • Comply with C.A.R.E.S Principles and Values: to promote a culture of listening to, engaging with and seeking the views of children and young people
  • Ensuring that there are adequate policies (and procedures as described above) for vulnerable adults.

Recruitment and Selection

Please refer to our Safer Recruitment Policy (see appendices – Recruitment and staffing- Recruitment and Vetting and Confidential Declaration Form safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people in its care. As an employer, C.A.R.E.S expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Training and Induction

All newly appointed staff and volunteers at C.A.R.E.S will receive training, support, information and guidance to ensure they understand their role and responsibilities regarding Safeguarding.  This will include:

  • Details of the structure of the organisation will be provided, including the details of overall responsibility for child protection within the organisation
  • Details of the organisations Aims, and Objectives will be provided
  • An assessment of staffs (paid and unpaid) training and development requirements will be completed
  • The roles and responsibilities of staff and volunteers within the organisation will be clarified
  • Clear details of the expectations, roles and responsibilities of all newly appointed staff and volunteers will be provided
  • All staff and volunteers must agree and sign up to the organisations Child Protection Policy and procedures
  • Training, information and a copy of the organisations Code of Conduct will be provided
  • The contact details and roles and responsibilities of the organisations Child Protection Officer will be provided

Safeguarding Roles

Safeguarding – Responsibilities for C.A.R.E.S staff

Designated Safeguarding Lead is Danielle Brand – Co-Founder and Director

Designated Safeguarding Officer – Gemma Anyon

Nominated Trustee for Safeguarding – John McIntyre

To reinforcing and supporting C.A.R.E.S’s safeguarding policies and procedures so they are fully implemented and followed by all staff by ensuring;

  • Sufficient time and resources are allocated to enable the designated lead and other staff to discharge their responsibilities.
  • All staff and volunteers feel able to raise concerns about poor or unsafe practice with regard to children, and such concerns are addressed sensitively and effectively in a timely manner in accordance with agreed whistle-blowing policies, where appropriate.

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

  • The designated safeguarding lead should take lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection.
  • Take part in strategy discussions and inter-agency meetings.
  • Support to staff members in carrying out their safeguarding duties and who liaises with other services, including children’s social care and the police.
  • Provides support to safeguarding officers in carrying out their safeguarding duties and who liaises with other services, including children’s social care and the Police?
  • Liaise with the Director to inform them of issues especially on-going enquiries under Section 47 of the Children Act 1989 and police investigations.
  • As required, liaise with the case manager and designated officers at the local authority or LADO for child protection concerns (all cases which concern an allegation made against a staff member or volunteer).
  • Liaise with staff on matters of safety and safeguarding and when deciding whether to make a referral by liaising with relevant agencies. Act as a source of support, advice and expertise for staff.
  • Ensure the organisations’ policies are known, understood and used appropriately.
  • All employees and volunteers complete safeguarding training to confirm they have received and understood the policy and process. Extra support to be put in place where necessary.
  • Ensure this policy is reviewed annually (as a minimum) and the procedures and implementation are updated and reviewed regularly, and work with governing bodies or proprietors regarding this.
  • Ensure the child protection policy is available publicly and parents know referrals about suspected abuse or neglect may be made and the role of the organisation (C.A.R.E.S) in this.
  • Link with the local KSCB (Knowsley Safeguarding Children Board) to make sure staff are aware of training opportunities and the latest local multi-agency policies on safeguarding.
  • The designated safeguarding lead (or Safeguarding Officers) should always be available (during C.A.R.E.S working hours) for staff in C.A.R.E.S to discuss any safeguarding concerns.
  • To arrange adequate and appropriate cover arrangements for any out of hours/weekend activities so that they can be available in person, and on the telephone for lead workers to contact them. All C.A.R.E.S safeguarding leads have access to and manage a safeguarding email.
  • To attend relevant MASH strategic meetings and act as an advisory for C.A.R.E.S Safeguarding Officers
  • Provides support to staff members in carrying out their safeguarding duties and who liaises with other services, including children’s social care and the police.
  • Refer cases of suspected abuse to the local authority Children’s Social Care as required, report to Safeguarding Lead.

Support staff who make referrals to local authority children’s social care, report to Safeguarding Lead.

  • Refer cases to the Channel programme where there is a radicalisation concern as required, report to Safeguarding Lead.
  • Support staff who make referrals to the Channel programme, report to Safeguarding Lead.
  • Refer cases where a person is dismissed or left due to risk/ harm to a child to the Disclosure and Barring Service as required, report to Safeguarding Lead.
  • Refer cases where a crime may have been committed to the Police as required, report to Safeguarding Lead.
  • The safeguarding lead or Safeguarding Officers should always be available (during C.A.R.E.S working hours) for staff in C.A.R.E.S to discuss any safeguarding concerns.
  • To arrange adequate and appropriate cover arrangements for any out of hours/weekend activities so that they can be available in person, and on the telephone for lead workers to contact them.
  • As required, liaise with the case manager and designated officers at the local authority or LADO for child protection concerns (all cases which concern an allegation made against a staff member or volunteer). Report to safeguarding Lead
  • Where necessary to contact the MASH team for guidance on

C.A.R.E.S Staff

  • All staff (paid or unpaid) will be made aware of C.A.R.E.S’s Safeguarding Policy and procedures through the induction process and or updated through regular training. As such, staff should understand their responsibilities with regards to safeguarding children and young people.
  • Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and all staff and volunteers are required to abide by this policy. All staff have a responsibility to follow the guidance laid out inthis policy and related policies, and to pass on any welfare concerns using the required procedures.
  • We expect all staff to promote good practice by being an excellent role model, contribute to discussions about safeguarding and to positively involve people in developing safe practices.
  • All staff should keep written records of concerns about a child even if there is no need to make an immediate referral. Staff should ensure that all such records are kept confidentially and securely.

Part B – Safeguarding Procedures

Staff and/or volunteers who are concerned about the safety or welfare of a child/young person or an adult at risk should ALWAYS Seek appropriate advice and support from their line manager/lead worker and/or the Safeguarding Officers/Lead.

Discuss concerns with the Safeguarding Lead/Officers; in any case this should always occur within 24 hours.

Record concerns and actions on appropriate form (Part B – Appendix 1)

See Flowchart Part B – Appendix 2 which offers clear guidance in respect of the referral process; this MUST be followed.

Make a referral to Children’s Social Care

Staff or volunteers should NEVER:

Do Nothing

Make assumptions about the actions of another professional or agency

Fail to discuss concerns with a Line Manager/Lead Worker and one of the Safeguarding

Lead/Officers (within 24 hours)

Attempt to resolve the matter themselves

What to do if you are concerned about a child/young person

Children/Young people making disclosures of abuse

It is recognised that a child/young person may seek you out to share information about

abuse or neglect or talk spontaneously individually or in groups when you are present. In these situations, if a child/young person makes a disclosure to you, you should:

Follow the 4 R’s

  • Listen to the child/YP/VA
  • Take what they say seriously
  • Accept what the child/YP/VA says
  • DO NOT ask for (other) information
  1. Reassurance
    • Stay Calm/reassure the child/YP/VA that they have done the right thing in talking to you
    • Be honest with child/YP/VA do not make promises you can’t keep
    • Do not promise confidentiality – you have a duty to refer the child/YP/VA who is at risk
    • Acknowledge how hard it must have been for the child/YP/VA to tell you what happened
  1. React
    • React to the child/YP/VA only as far as is necessary for you to establish whether you need to refer this matter, but do not interrogate them for details
    • Do not ask leading questions
    • Make sure that they are no longer at immediate risk of harm – if so then consider informing emergency services
    • Explain what you must do next and to whom you must talk
    • Explain and if possible, seek agreement that you will have to discuss the situation with someone else and will do so on a ‘need to know’ basis.
  1. Record
    • Make some brief notes at the time and write them up more fully as soon as possible – Record of Concerns document
    • Take care to record dates, timing, setting and personnel as well as what was said
    • Be objective in your recording – include statements and observable things rather than your/interpretations or assumptions and as far as possible recording the exact words used by the child/YP/VA
  1. Refer
    • It is an expected responsibility for all members of C.A.R.E.S to respond to any suspected or actual abuse of a child/YP/VA in accordance with C.A.R.E.S procedures.Contact Knowsley Mash Team on 0151 443 2600 to refer and complete a MARF immediately

      There is an expected responsibility for all members of C.A.R.E.S to respond to any suspected or actual abuse of a child/young person or vulnerable adult in accordance with C.A.R.E.S’s procedures.

      Discuss the matter with the Safeguarding representative immediately.

Procedure for raising concerns and reporting

Remember that where there are any concerns that a child/young person may have been and/or may be at risk of abuse, the child’s needs must always come first, and the priority must always be to safeguard the child.

If you are concerned about a child/young person you must talk to one of the people designated as responsible for safeguarding within your organisation. At C.A.R.E.S these people are:

Designated Safeguarding Lead

Danielle Brand
Co-Founder and Director
Mobile: 0753 888 0576
Email: danielle@caresltd.co.uk

Safeguarding Officer

Gemma Anyon
Mobile: 0770 689 3202
Email: gemma@caresltd.co.uk

Safeguarding Officer

YES Project Manager – Ann Norris
Mobile: 07971309838
Direct: 0151 549 1494
Email: ann.norris@centre63.co.uk

Immediate Action to Ensure Safety

Immediate action may be necessary at any stage in involvement with children and families.

IN ALL CASES IT IS VITAL TO TAKE WHATEVER ACTION IS NEEDED TO SAFEGUARD THE CHILD/YOUNG PERSON OR ADULT AT RISK.

For example: If emergency medical attention is required this can be secured by calling an ambulance (dial 999) or taking a child to the nearest A&E (Accident and Emergency) Department of the local hospital.

If a child/young person or vulnerable adult is in immediate danger the police should be contacted (dial 999) as they have the power to remove a child immediately if protection is necessary, via

Police Protection Powers. Children’s Social Care must also be notified immediately.