I am committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children.

Aim

The purpose of The Treasure Box’s safeguarding policy is to ensure that every child at my setting is safe and protected from harm.  

This means I will always work to:

•    protect children from maltreatment

•    prevent impairment of children’s health or development

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

•    take action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

This policy will give clear direction to all adults, be they staff, volunteers, visitors or parents, about expected behaviour and my legal responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children at my setting. 

Introduction

My setting fully recognises the contribution it can make to protecting children from harm and supporting and promoting the welfare of all children.  The elements of my policy are prevention, protection and support.

My policy applies to all children, parents / carers, volunteers, visitors and staff.

A child is someone under the age of 18 years old.

Our Ethos

My setting will establish and maintain an ethos where our children feel secure, are encouraged to talk, are listened to and are safe.  Children will be able to talk freely to any member of staff, volunteer or regular visitor to my setting if they are worried or concerned about something.

I, and all staff, volunteers and regular visitors will, either through training or induction, know how to recognise a disclosure from a child and will know how to manage this. I will not make promises to any child and I will not keep secrets.  Every child will know what the adult will do with whatever they have been told.

I will provide activities and opportunities that will equip our children with the skills they need to stay safe.  

At all times I will work in partnership and try to establish effective working relationships with parents, carers and colleagues from other agencies and organisations. 

General Procedures

When any new staff, volunteers or regular visitors join my setting, they will be informed of the safeguarding arrangements in place.  They will be given a copy of my setting’s safeguarding policy and told that I am the Safeguarding Lead Practitioner. They will also be shown the recording format, given information on how to complete, it and who to pass it to.

Any new member of staff or volunteer will have an induction period of 3 months that will include essential safeguarding information. This programme will include safeguarding training through the Safer Programme relating to signs and symptoms of abuse, how to manage a disclosure from a child, how to record, and issues of confidentiality. The induction will also remind any staff and volunteers of their responsibility to safeguard all children and the remit of the role of the Safeguarding Lead Practitioner.

All staff and volunteers will be asked to read this policy yearly, after it has been reviewed and updated if necessary.  They will sign to say they have read and understood the policy.

I will display the reporting and referral flowchart in the entrance area of the playroom, when my setting is operating. Parents / carers and the public can contact Children’s Services on 0344 800 8020 if they have a concern about a child.

All regular visitors and volunteers to my setting will be told where my policy is kept, they will be given a set of safeguarding procedures, they will be told that I am the Safeguarding Lead Practitioner and what the recording and reporting system is.

All parents and carers will be asked to sign a distribution list confirming that they have seen and read my safeguarding policy.  Parents and carers will be informed of my legal duty to assist our colleagues in other agencies with Safeguarding enquiries and what happens should I have cause to make a referral to Children’s Services. 

Parents will sign a consent form at the start of their child’s involvement with my setting, which includes any vital health or otherwise notable information. It also requests permission for photographs to be taken for promotional purposes only.  This will also include a statement making parents/carers aware that by signing, they consent to me sharing information with the relevant authorities, if I have concerns about the welfare of their child/children, but that I do not have to seek consent if there are serious concerns about harm, or likely harm, to their child/children.

Training

Any member of staff will undertake appropriate safeguarding training through the NSCP Safer Programme every three years. 

I actively encourage any staff to keep up to date with the most recent local and national safeguarding advice and guidance. This can be accessed via http://www.norfolklscb.org

I, as the Safeguarding Lead Practitioner, should be used as a first point of contact for concerns and queries regarding any safeguarding concern in my setting.

Safer Staff and Volunteers

All adults who come into contact with our children, have a duty of care to safeguard and promote their welfare. There is a legal duty placed upon me to ensure that all adults who work with or on behalf of our children are competent, confident and safe to do so.

I ensure I adhere to the principles of safer recruitment as per my policy and also the guidance from Norfolk Safeguarding Children Partnership.

I ensure that I:

•    Carefully consider the job description and person specification

•    Circulate all vacancies widely

•    Prepare an information pack

•    Ask for a written application form

•    Define my selection criteria

•    Ask for a written declaration with regards to criminal convictions, spent or otherwise

•    Ask for identification

•    Ask for originals of any qualifications

•    Conduct interviews with at least two people present

•    Ask for at least two references, including the last employer

•    Gain enhanced DBS checks where current Government guidance requires me to

•    Organise a comprehensive induction period which includes familiarisation with my safeguarding policies, procedures and safeguarding training through the Safer Programme.

My aim is to provide a safe and supportive environment which secures the well-being and very best outcomes for our children.  I do recognise that sometimes the behaviour of adults may lead to an allegation of abuse being made. 

Allegations sometimes arise from a differing understanding of the same event, but when they occur they are distressing and difficult for all concerned. I also recognise that many allegations are genuine and that there are some adults who deliberately seek to harm or abuse children.

I will take all possible steps to safeguard our children and to ensure that the adults in my setting are safe to work with our children. I will always ensure that the Norfolk Safeguarding Children Partnership’s procedures are followed. 

All adults who come into contact with children, will be made aware of the steps that will be taken if an allegation is made.  I will seek appropriate advice from the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) within 24 hours of a concern or allegation being made.  The LADO can be contacted via the referral/consultation forms under ‘how to raise a concern’ at www.norfolklscb.org or a message left on 01603 223473 for ongoing cases. 

Staff will not investigate these matters.  I will seek and work with the advice that is provided.  Should an allegation be made against me, as the Safeguarding Lead Practitioner, this will be reported by the staff member or volunteer raising the concern directly to the LADO.

There are sensible steps that every adult should take in their daily professional conduct with children.  These can be found in the NSCP Safer Programme Safer Working Practice (this guidance is on the NSCP website and also included in my procedures).

Records and Confidentiality

If I am concerned about the welfare or safety of any child in my setting, I will record my concerns immediately on the agreed report form.

Any information recorded will be kept in a separate named file, in a secure cabinet and not with the child’s file.  These files will be the responsibility of me, the Safeguarding Lead Practitioner and information will only be shared within the organisation on a need to know basis for the protection of the child.  

Any safeguarding information will be kept in the file and will be added to.  Copies of referrals will be stored in the file. 

All information is confidential, however if there is a safeguarding or child protection concern about a child, then information can be shared with other agencies, namely the Police or Children’s Services.

Reports of a concern to me, the Safeguarding Lead Practitioner, must be made in writing and signed and dated by the person with the concern.

Roles and Responsibilities

As the Safeguarding Lead Practitioner, I will liaise with Children’s Services and other agencies where necessary and make referrals to Children’s Services using the procedure below. 

Any concern for a child’s safety or welfare will be recorded in writing and given to me, the Safeguarding Lead Practitioner, who will be responsible for ensuring that all staff members and volunteers are aware of my policy and the procedure they need to follow.

As the Safeguarding Lead Practitioner, I will ensure that all staff, volunteers and regular/repeat visitors have received appropriate Safeguarding information during induction and have been trained by the Safer Programme.  

As the Safeguarding Lead Practitioner, I will ensure that my safeguarding policy is in place and is reviewed annually.  The content of my policy has been written following consultation with the Safer Programme.

At all times, as the Safeguarding Lead Practitioner, I will ensure that safer recruitment practices are followed.  

My setting undertakes to remedy without delay any weakness in regard to safeguarding arrangements that are brought to my attention. 

Procedures for Handling Disclosures

A child may decide to disclose information that may indicate that they are suffering from abuse or neglect.  A child chooses to speak to an adult because they feel that they will listen and that they can trust them. The adult needs to listen to what the child has to say, and be very careful not to ‘lead’ the child or influence in any way what they say.

It is important that the adult remembers to:
•    Stay calm 
•    Listen and be supportive 
•    Not ask any leading questions, interrogate the child, or put ideas in the child’s head, or jump to conclusions
•    Not stop or interrupt a child who is recalling significant events
•    Never promise the child confidentiality – it must be explained that information will need be to be passed on to help keep them safe
•    Avoid criticising the alleged perpetrator 
•    Tell the child what must be done next  (the safeguarding process must be followed)
•    Record what was said immediately as close to what was said as possible.  Also record what was happening immediately before the child disclosed. Be sure to sign and date the record in ink.
•    Contact the designated person immediately 
•    Seek support 

I am clear that the Local Authority and Police must lead any investigation into any allegation regarding safeguarding.  

If I have a concern about a child or children, I will telephone the Children’s Advice and Duty Service (CADS) on 0344 800 8021 immediately.  I will be put through to a Social Worker who will take all of the relevant details.  I will make sure I am prepared with the full details of the child and family, plus what my concerns are, details of any support I have provided to the child/family and what I would like to happen.  I will ensure I gain consent from the parent/carer, unless to do so would place the child at further risk of harm or undermine a criminal investigation. If I have not sought consent from the parent/carer, I will inform the CADS worker of this and the reason for this. 

The CADS worker will agree a way forward with me and keep me informed.  They will send me a written record of our conversation within 5 working days.  The outcomes could include a full referral to the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) for further investigation, the Police, or for work with Early Help.  I will not investigate and will be led by the Local Authority and/or the Police.

I will make careful records of all conversations, in ink, including the dates and times of who I spoke to, the information shared and the action agreed.  I do not need to send a written referral.

Full details on this process can be found at www.norfolklscb.org under ‘How to Raise a Concern’.

I understand if I am unhappy about a decision made by CADS or MASH I can use the Resolving Professional Disagreements policy on www.norfolklscb.org and contact the Safer Programme for more advice on this process.

I will contact CADS immediately if I have concerns, it is important that I do not delay.

Working Together 2018

What is abuse and neglect?

A form of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm. Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting by those known to them or, more rarely, by others (e.g. via the internet). They may be abused by an adult or adults, or another child or children. 

Physical abuse

A form of abuse which may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a child. 

Emotional abuse

The persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as 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 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 on children. These may include interactions that are beyond a child’s developmental capability, as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the child participating in normal social interaction. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another. It may involve serious bullying (including cyber bullying), causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, though it may occur alone. 

Sexual abuse

Involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example, rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside of clothing. They may also include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse Sexual abuse can take place online, and technology can be used to facilitate offline abuse. Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children.

Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to: 
•    provide adequate food, clothing and shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment); 
•    protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger; 
•    ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate care-givers); or 
•    ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. 

Defined for the purposes of this guidance 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; and 
•    taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes. 

Neglect

The persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development. Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse. 

It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs. 

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children

Child protection

Part of safeguarding and promoting welfare. This refers to the activity that is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering, or are likely to suffer, significant harm.

Relevant Guidance and Legislation

•    Working Together 2018 

•    What to do if You’re Worried a Child is Being Abused 2015

•    Children Act 2004

•    Children Act 1989

•    Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families

Norfolk Threshold Guide http://www.norfolklscb.org

Other Relevant Policies

To underpin the values and ethos of my setting and my intent to ensure our children/young people are appropriately safeguarded the following policies are also included under our safeguarding umbrella:

1. Equality of opportunity
2. Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
3. Administration of medicines, and support to children with medical needs 
4. Behaviour management
5. Complaint procedure
6. Dropping off and collection including non collection
7. Children who go missing
8. Emergency evacuation
9. Nappy changing/personal care
10. Admissions
11. Safer recruitment
12. Using a Key person
13. Observation, assessment and planning
14. Partnership with parents
15. Confidentiality
16. Health and safety
17. Risk assessment
18. Staff disciplinary procedures
19. Whistle-blowing
20. Allegations against adults
21. Accidents and incidents
22. E-safety including:
Use of images, photography and videos
Use of social media sites
Use of mobile phones
Empty pockets policy (Found within the E-safety policy.)
23. Transitions
24. Conflict of Interest, Including Baby Sitting
25. Smoking, Alcohol and Drugs
26. Data Privacy and the General Data Protection Regulation
27. Staff Code of Conduct
28. Attendance
29. Touch and physical contact

30. Safeguarding Policy (long version)

Useful Contacts

Children’s Services 24 hours ………………………………….. 0344 800 8020

Children’s Advice and Duty Service……………………0344 800 8021

Norfolk Police……………………………………………………………. 101

In an emergency ……………………………………………………….. 999

Local Authority Designated Officers (LADO) Team   01603 223473

Norfolk Safeguarding Children Partnership (NSCP) www.norfolklscb.org 

Safer Programme………………………………………………………. 01603 228966

Named Designated Child Protection Officer

The following designated staff are in post;

Safeguarding Lead Practitioner is………… Louise Lawson

Telephone number is 01692 598291 or 07956 647529

Policy Review

I will always make any changes immediately to my procedures in line with Norfolk Safeguarding Children Partnership’s guidance on http://www.norfolklscb.org

This policy will be reviewed on 01/09/22