Clever Clogs Pre-School

Safeguarding Children

Clever Clogs Pre-school 

1.1 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. Our safeguarding Policy is in line with ESCB SET Procedures.

Procedures

We carry out the following procedures to ensure we meet the three key commitments of the Alliance Safeguarding Children Policy.

Key commitment 1
The Alliance is committed to building a ‘culture of safety’ in which children are protected from abuse and harm in all areas of its service delivery.

Staff and volunteers

Our designated safeguarding lead is:

 

 

• We ensure all staff are trained to understand our safeguarding policies and procedures. All staff have an up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding issues in the setting via management.
• All new staff/volunteers/students are given a ‘Starter Pack’ which covers the safeguarding expectations of them, policies and procedures.
• All staff attend regular safeguarding training (explained in further detail in this policy).
• We provide adequate and appropriate staffing resources to meet the needs of children.
• We have strict vetting procedures for recruiting new staff as outlined in our Safer Recruitment Policy. Some of these include carrying out a face to face interview with 2 members of staff, of whom at-least one has had safer recruitment training. We carry out DBS checks, obtain 2 job references, record staff qualifications and certificates. We also ask for photographic proof of identity, require evidence of the right to work in the UK and expect staff to disclose any convictions which may affect their suitability to work with children. Further details and procedures for recruiting staff can be found in our Safer Recruitment Policy, 1.8.
• Staff are registered for the DBS Update service.
• Volunteers do not work unsupervised and are not permitted to be a part of nappy changing or taking children to the toilet.
• We inform all staff that they are expected to disclose any convictions, cautions, court orders or reprimands and warnings which may affect their suitability to work with children (whether received before or during their employment with us).
• 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 a child protection concern.
• All visitors in our setting are required to sign in and out using the visitors folder, located in the backroom cupboard.
• We take security steps to ensure that we have control over who comes into the setting, so that no unauthorised person has unsupervised access to the children.
• We take steps to ensure children are not photographed or videoed 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.

Key commitment 2
The Alliance is committed to responding promptly and appropriately to all incidents or concerns or abuse that may occur and to work with statutory agencies in accordance with the procedures that are set down in ‘What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused’ (HMG 2006)
Responding to suspicions of abuse

• We acknowledge that abuse of children can take different forms – physical, emotional, sexual and/or neglect.
• When children are suffering from neglect, physical, sexual or emotional abuse, this may be demonstrated through:
• significant changes in their behaviour
• deterioration in their general well-being
• their comments which may give cause for concern, or the things they say (direct or indirect disclosure). 
• changes in their appearance, their behaviour, or their play
• unexplained bruising, marks or signs of possible abuse or neglect; and 

any reason to suspect neglect or abuse outside the setting.

• We take into account factors affecting parental capacity, such as social exclusion, domestic violence, substance abuse in the family, mental or physical illness or parent’s learning disability.
• We are aware of other factors that affect children’s vulnerability such as, abuse of children with disabilities, fabricated or induced illnesses, child abuse linked to beliefs in spirit possession, sexual exploitation of children, and Female Genital Mutilation.
• We also make ourselves aware that some children and young people are affected by gang activity, through forced marriage, honour based abuse or may be victims of child trafficking.
• If we believe that a child in our care or that is known to us, may be affected by any of these factors, we follow the procedure below 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 a plan of action with the designated safeguard lead or deputy safeguard lead. The information is stored on the child’s personal file.
• We refer concerns to The Children & Families Hub and co-operate fully in any subsequent investigation. In some cases this may mean the police or another agency identified by the Local Safeguarding Children Board could get involved.
• We take care not to influence the outcome either through the way we speak to children or by asking leading questions.
• 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 person’s refusal to consent to share information if we feel it’s necessary to prevent a crime being committed or intervene 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

• Where a child makes comments to a member of staff that give cause for concern (disclosure), or a member of staff observes signs or signals that give cause for concern, such as significant changes in behaviour; deterioration in general well-being; unexplained bruising, marks or signs of possible abuse or neglect; that member of staff:
• listens to the child, offers reassurance and gives assurance that she or he will take action;
• does not question the child;
• makes a written record that forms an objective record of the observation of disclosure that includes: the date and time of the observation or the disclosure; the exact words spoken by the child as far as possible; the name of the person to whom the concern was reported, with the date and time; and the names of any other person present at the time.
• These records are signed and dated and kept in the child’s personal file, which is kept securely and confidentially.
• The member of staff acting as the ‘designated person’ is informed of the issue at the earliest opportunity.
• 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.

Making a referral to the local authority children’s social care team

• We refer to the ‘Effective Support Windscreen’ located on the staff safeguarding board, to identify the level of support a child may need.
• The first step is to identify groups or agencies who can support the family from the Directory of services (essex.gov.uk). This may include Family Solutions or Home start, to name just a few.
• The next step up would be to arrange a Early Help Plan or organise a Team Around the Family Meeting. Once either of these have been completed, a request for support can be submitted with parents consent, unless there is a significant risk of harm, then it can be submitted without consent.
• A request for support form can be completed and sent via the Essex Safeguarding Children’s Board or the Essex County Council website for those who are level 3 and 4 on the windscreen.
• For those who are believed to be at immediate risk of significant harm, call 0345 603 7627 and ask for the priority line.
• The Children and Families Hub offer a consultation line to offer us guidance and advice about a child – 03456037627. Likewise, Early Help drop in services are available to offer advice every Wednesday online at 12:30-1:30.

Informing Parents

• Parents are normally the first point of contact. We discuss concerns with parents to gain their view of events, unless we feel this may put the child in greater danger.
• We inform parents when we make a record of concern in the child’s file and that we also make a note of any discussion we have with them regarding a concern.
• If a suspicion of abuse warrants referral to social care, parents are informed at the same time that the referral will be made, except where the guidance of the Local Safeguarding Children Board does not allow this, for example, where it is believed that the child may be placed in greater danger. 
• This will usually be the case where the parent is the likely abuser. In these cases the social workers will inform parents.

Liaison with other agencies

• We work within the Local Safeguarding Children Board guidelines.
• We have the current version of ‘What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused’ available for parents and staff and ensure that all staff are familiar with what they need to do if they have concerns.
• We keep important contact details such as email addresses and phone numbers for social workers who are working on any child protection cases of children in our setting. This is to ensure it is easy, to make contact with them.
• We notify the registration authority (Ofsted) of any incident and any changes in our arrangements which may affect the well-being of children or where an allegation of abuse is made against a member of staff (whether the allegations relate to harm or abuse committed on our premises or elsewhere). Notifications to Ofsted are made as soon as reasonably practicable, but at the latest within 14 days of the allegations being made.

Allegations against staff

• We ensure that all parents know how to complain about the behaviour or actions of staff or volunteers within the setting, or anyone living or working on the premises occupied by the setting, which may include an allegation of abuse.
• We respond to any inappropriate behaviour displayed by members of staff or any other person working with the children, which includes:
• inappropriate sexual comments
• excessive one-to-one attention beyond the requirements of their usual role and responsibilities
• inappropriate sharing of images
• physical, emotional or sexual abuse
• neglect
• bullying and intimidating behaviour
• We follow the guidance of the Local Safeguarding Children Board when responding to any complaint that a member of staff or volunteer within the setting, or anyone living or working on the premises occupied by the setting, has abused a child.
• We respond to any disclosure by children or staff that abuse by a member of staff or volunteer within the setting, or anyone living or working on the premises occupied by 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 Designated Office (LADO) to investigate: 03330 139797.
• We also report any such alleged incident to Ofsted, as well as 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 team and children’s social care agree it is appropriate in the circumstances, the chair/director/owner will suspend the member of staff on full pay, 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.

Key commitment 3
The Alliance is committed to promoting awareness of child abuse issues throughout its training and learning programmes for adults. It is also committed to empowering young children, through its early childhood curriculum, promoting their right to be strong, resilient and listened to.
Training

• All staff attend annual in-house safeguarding training at the start of each academic year, which consists of one full day. This training is delivered by our designated safeguarding leads, who have both attended a Train the Trainer course, enabling them with the knowledge and skills to train staff at level 2.
• Training covers the 4 key areas of Abuse, FGM, Radicalisation, County Lines, Domestic Abuse, Forced Marriage, Homelessness, Online Safety and Witchcraft. We cover what safeguarding is, what staffs safeguarding responsibilities are and how they should respond, record and report disclosures. We teach our staff about Whistleblowing, LADO and the Children & Families Hub. We also cover important/relevant documents and providers, such as the SET Procedures, Effective Support Windscreen and the ESCB.
• Designated Safeguarding leads attend Level 3 safeguarding training every 2 years.
• All staff also attend annual online refresher Prevent Duty training, which is carried out in the January of every year. Safeguarding leads also attended online Prevent Duty Referrals course.
• Staff’s knowledge of safeguarding is also updated at staff meetings where necessary, such as through discussions and or handouts.

 

Planning

• The layout of the rooms allows for constant supervision. No child is left alone with staff or volunteers in a one-to-one situation without being visible to others.

Curriculum

• We introduce key elements of keeping children safe into our programme to promote the personal, social and emotional development of all children, so that they may grow to be strong, resilient and listened to and so that they develop an understanding of why and how to keep safe.
• We create within the setting a culture of value and respect with regard to British Values for all individuals, 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.

Confidentially

• 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.

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, information sharing, 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.

Attendance

• We understand the need to routinely record children’s absences and the reasons given by parents.
• We undertake first day absence calls in respect of any child where the parent has not contacted the setting with a reason for absence.
• If a child has been absent for 3 consecutive sessions without contact from the family, we will share our concerns with the child’s health visitor and social worker. If they do not have a HV or social worker, we may contact the Children & Families Hub consultation line.
• We will discuss issues of non-attendance with the family and explore options to encourage attendance, such as reducing or rearranging sessions to make them more accessible.

 

 

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