Safe Guarding Children | Skylittleangels

SafeGuarding Children

The Purpose of this Policy This policy describes the procedures to be followed by staff in relation to Safeguarding of children under our care. The policy confirms the responsibility of allstaff members and when appropriate, the role of wider multidisciplinary teams in the protection of children.

Policy statement: Our Commitment to Safeguarding Children

Sky Little Angels work with children, parents, and the community to ensure the rights and safety of our children. Our company always considers the health, development, safety, security, and well-being of the children to be paramount. We acknowledge the utmost importance of the bond between the child and their parent/guardian and intend to provide support in strengthening this in any way we can. It is our responsibility to highlight and act on any concerns for children or their parents/guardians across the entire safeguarding spectrum, from low-level support to targeted interventions, through to child protection. Our prime responsibility will always be to the child, as detailed in the statutory guidance listed below. We work in accordance with the Early Years Foundation Stage Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements (DfE, 2017), and all other required legislation.

Procedures

We perform the following procedures:

Key commitment 1

We are committed to building an 'Environment of safety in which children are protected from abuse and harm in all areas of our care.

We ensure all staff are trained using up-to-date safeguarding policies and procedures and that parents are made aware of them too.
All staff understand that safeguarding is their individual and collective responsibility.
All staff remain alert to potential indicators and signs of abuse and neglect and understand their professional duty to ensure safeguarding and child protection concerns are reported to the local authority children’s social care team or the NSPCC. They receive updates on safeguarding at least annually.
All staff must be confident to ask questions regarding any safeguarding concerns and know not to just take things at face value but can be respectfully sceptical.
All staff understand the rules of early help (as defined in Working Together to Safeguard Children, 2018) and can highlight those children and families who may require early help and enable a route to access it.
All staff appreciate the threshold of significant harm and know how to access services for families, including for any families who are below the standards for significant harm, according to arrangements published by the LSPs.
All staff are aware of their responsibilities under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018. Our staff understand safeguarding legislation, statutory requirements and local safeguarding partner requirements and ensure that any information they may share about parents and their children with other agencies is done so appropriately and lawfully.
We provide support to families who receive appropriate early help by sharing information with other agencies in accordance with statutory requirements.
We will share information lawfully with safeguarding partners and other agencies where it is deemed necessary.
We will always be open and transparent about how we lawfully process data.
All staff understand how to raise their concerns if they feel either the local authority and/or their own organisation has failed to appropriately safeguard, as well as how to follow local safeguarding guidelines to solve disputes between staff and organisations.
All staff know what the organisation expects of them in terms of their expected conduct, and follow our policies and procedures on acceptable behaviour, online safety (including the use of cameras and mobile phones (mobile phones are kept locked away securely throughout the day), whistleblowing, and dignity at the workplace.
Children can build a relationship with members of staff and are supported to voice any worries, concerns, or complaints that they may have in an age-appropriate way.
Our Staff have been instructed in our policy on promoting positive behaviour and follow it in relation to children showing aggression towards other children.
Adequate staffing resources are always provided to meet the needs of children.
Applicants for employment are made aware that the positions are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
Detailed criminal record/ barred lists checks and other suitability checks are carried out for staff/ volunteers prior to their post being confirmed, to ensure that no disqualified or unsuitable person has access to the children.
Employees that have lived in the UK for less than 5 years, would need to provide a good conduct letter from the country they resided.
For any applications that are rejected based on the information disclosed, such applicants have the right to know and to challenge incorrect information.
Detailed criminal records and barred lists checks are carried out on anyone living or working on the premises.
We retain information about staff qualifications, and the identity checks and vetting processes that have been completed including:
the criminal records disclosure reference number.
certificate of good conduct or equivalent where a UK DBS check is not applicable.
the date the disclosure was obtained; and
details of who obtained it.
Staff members are made aware 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).
All staff members remain under supervision, which includes a regular discussion of any safeguarding concerns, and performance and learning needs are reviewed regularly.
Staff are provided with clear expectations in relation to their behaviour [outlined in the employee handbook].
We ensure that the Disclosure and Barring Service are made aware of any person who is dismissed from our employment or resigns in circumstances that would otherwise have led to dismissal for reasons of a child protection concern.
Procedures are in place to record the details of visitors.
Security steps are in place to ensure no unauthorised person has unsupervised access to the children.
We ensure children are not photographed or filmed on video for any other purpose than to record their development or their participation in events. Parents sign a consent form and have access to records holding visual images of their children. Staff do not use personal cameras or filming equipment to record images.
Personal mobile phones are not permitted where children are present.
Our staff members ensure that there is an online safety policy in place.
We keep a written record of all complaints and concerns including the response to each.
We make sure risk assessments are completed, that they are observed and signed by all relevant staff and that they are regularly updated, in line with our health and safety policy.

Key Commitment 2

We are committed to promptly and appropriately reacting to all incidents, allegations or concerns of abuse that may occur, 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, 2015) and the Care Act 2014.

Response to abuse

We understand that abuse of children can take different forms - physical, emotional, and sexual, as well as neglect.
We ensure that all staff understand the additional vulnerabilities of special educational needs and/or disabilities, as well as inequalities of race, gender, language, religion, sexual orientation, or culture.
When a child suffers from physical, sexual, or emotional abuse or neglect, this may be evident through:
Unusual changes in their behaviour.
Noticeable change in their general well-being.
their comments which may give cause for concern, or the things they say
changes in their appearance
unexplained bruising, marks or signs of abuse or neglect
any reason to suspect neglect or abuse outside of our care
1. We know how to notice children who may need early help, how to provide services for them
We know that we should refer a child who meets the s17 Children Act 1989 child in need definition to local authority children’s social work services
We shall refer any child who may be at risk of significant harm to local authority children’s social work services.
We know and understand the ‘hidden harm’ agenda regarding parents with drug and alcohol problems and other factors affecting parental capacities such as social exclusion, domestic violence, radicalisation, mental or physical illness and parent’s learning disability.
We are aware that children’s vulnerability is potentially increased when they are privately fostered and when we know that a child is being cared for under a private fostering arrangement, we inform our local authority children’s social care team.
We shall act if we have concerns about the welfare of a child who fails to arrive at a session when expected. We will take immediate action to contact the child’s parent to seek an explanation for the child’s absence and be assured that the child is safe and well. If no contact is made with the child’s parents or a member of staff has reason to believe that the child is at risk of significant harm, the relevant professionals are contacted immediately and LSPs procedures are followed. If the child has current involvement with social care the social worker is notified on the day of the unexplained absence.
We understand factors that affect children’s vulnerability that may affect or may have affected, children and young people using our provision, such as abuse of children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities; fabricated or induced illness; child abuse linked to beliefs in spirit possession; sexual exploitation of children, including through internet abuse; Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and radicalisation or extremism.
Regarding radicalisation and extremism, we follow the guidelines outlined in the ‘Prevent Duty guidance for England and Wales published by the Home Office and LSPs.
We ensure appropriate training is undertaken in relation to the local protocol and procedures for responding to concerns about radicalisation.
We know the mandatory duty that applies to teachers, and health workers to report cases of FGM to the police. We are aware that early years practitioners should follow local authority-published safeguarding procedures to respond to FGM and other safeguarding issues, which involves contacting the police if a crime of FGM has been or may be about to be committed.
We are aware that some children and young people are affected by gang activity, complex, multiple or organised abuses, through forced marriage or honour-based violence or may be 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 whom we may meet.
If we become concerned that a child may be a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking, we will refer to the National Referral Mechanism, as soon as possible and refer and/or seek advice from the local authority children’s social work service and/or police.
We will be alert to the threats children may face from outside their families, such as that posed by organised crime groups such as county lines and child sexual exploitation, online use and from within peer groups and the wider community.
If we become aware that a child in our care or that is known to us may be affected by any of these factors, we follow the procedures below for reporting child protection and child-in-need concerns and follow the local procedures as published by the local safeguarding partners.
Where such indicators are apparent, the child's key person makes a dated record of the details of the concern and discusses what to do with a member of staff. The information is stored in the child's personal file.
If a staff member is unhappy with the decision made in relation to whether to make a safeguarding referral, they must follow escalation procedures.
We refer concerns about children’s welfare to the local authority children’s social care team and co-operate fully in any subsequent investigation. In some cases, this may mean the police or another agency identified by the local safeguarding partners.
We respond to any disclosures sensitively and take care not to influence the outcome either through conversations with the way we our children or by asking questions of them (although we may check out/clarify the details of what we think they have told us with them).
Staff are aware that they can contact the NSPCC helpline if they feel that, or organisation and the local authority have failed to take appropriate action to safeguard a child, and this has not been addressed satisfactorily through organisational escalation and professional challenge procedures.
We have a whistleblowing policy in place.
The staff know they can contact the organisation Public Concern at Work for advice relating to whistleblowing dilemmas.

Recording and disclosures

If a child voices a cause for concern (disclosure), or a member of staff observes signs or signals that give cause for concern, such as changes in behaviour; general well-being; unexplained bruising, marks or signs of abuse or neglect; that member of staff:
listen to the child, offer reassurance, and give assurance that she or he will act.
will not question the child, although it is OK to ask questions for the purposes of clarification.
makes a written record that forms an objective record of the observation or 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.
All such records are signed and dated and kept in the child's personal file, which is kept securely and confidentially.
Where the local safeguarding partners safeguarding procedures stipulate the process for recording and sharing concerns, we shall follow the steps set down by the local safeguarding partners.

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

We keep template forms for recording concerns and to assist with making a referral.
We maintain a copy of this document alongside the procedures for recording and reporting set down by our local safeguarding partners.
Escalation process
If we believe that a referral has not been dealt with properly or that concerns are not being addressed, we will follow the LSPs escalation process.
We shall ensure that staff understand how to escalate concerns.
We shall always follow local procedures published by safeguarding partners to solve professional disputes.
Informing parents
Parents are usually the first point of contact. Issues are discussed with parents to obtain their version of events unless it is felt that this may put the child or other person at risk, interfere with a police investigation, or may delay a referral, or unless it is otherwise inappropriate to seek consent. We will seek advice from social care or the police where necessary.
Parents are consulted when we make a record of concerns in their child’s file and we also make a note of any discussion we have with them regarding a concern.
Where suspicion of abuse warrants referral to social care, parents will be informed while the referral is made, unless the procedures of the local safeguarding partners do not permit this. For instance, where it is believed that the child may be placed at risk.
This may be the case where the parent is the possible abuser or where sexual abuse might have occurred.
Where there is a possibility that advising a parent beforehand may place a child at risk (or interfere with a police action) a member of staff should obtain advice from children’s social care, about whether to advise parents beforehand and should record and follow the advice given.
Liaison with other agencies and multi-agency working
We work under the local safeguarding partner procedures.
The most recent version of ‘What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused’ is available for parents and staff and all staff are familiar with what they need to do if they have concerns.
We follow procedures for contacting the local authority relating to child protection issues and concerns to children’s welfare. This includes maintaining a list of names, addresses and telephone numbers of social workers, to ensure that it in any emergency, we can work successfully with children's social care.
We must notify Ofsted of any incident and any changes in our arrangements which may affect the well-being of children if 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 possible, but no longer than 14 days after the allegations are made.
Details for the local National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) are also kept on file.

Allegations against staff and persons in positions of trust

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.
We make sure that all staff and anyone else working in the setting knows how to raise concerns that they may have about the conduct or behaviour of other people including staff/colleagues.
We separate allegations, and concerns about the quality of care or practice and complaints and have a different process for responding to complaints.
We respond to any inappropriate behaviour displayed by members of staff, or any other person living or working on the premises, which includes:
inappropriate sexual comments; or inappropriate sharing of images
excessive one-to-one attention beyond the requirements of their usual role and responsibilities.
We will highlight and respond to allegations that a person who works with children has:
1. has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child
2. possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child
3. behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children
We respond to any concerns raised by staff and volunteers who know how to escalate their concerns if they are not satisfied with our response
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 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 cooperate 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 member of staff or volunteer will be suspended 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. Where it is appropriate and practical and agreed with the LADO, we will seek to offer an alternative to suspension for the duration of the investigation, if an alternative is available that will safeguard children and not place the affected staff at risk.

Disciplinary action

Where a member of staff has been dismissed due to engaging in activities that caused concern for the safeguarding of children or vulnerable adults, we will notify the Disclosure and Barring Service 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.

Key commitment 3

We are committed to promoting awareness of child abuse issues throughout our training and learning programs for adults. We are also committed to empowering children through our early childhood curriculum, promoting their right to be strong, resilient, and listened to.

Training

Training opportunities are sought for all adults involved in the setting to ensure that they can recognise the signs and signals of possible physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse (including child sexual exploitation) and neglect and that they are aware of the local authority guidelines for making referrals. Training opportunities should also cover extra familial threats such as online risks, radicalisation, and grooming, how to identify and respond to families who may need early help, and organisational safeguarding procedures.
Our staff receive appropriate training, as recommended by the local safeguarding partners, every two years and refresh their knowledge and skills at least annually.
We ensure that all staff know the procedures for reporting and recording any concerns they may have about the provision.
We ensure that all staff receive updates on safeguarding via emails, newsletters, online training and/or discussion at staff meetings at least once a year.

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 within sight and/or hearing of other staff.

Curriculum

We introduce key elements of keeping children safe into our system 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 for individuals, having positive regard for children's heritage arising from their colour, ethnicity, languages spoken at home, and 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 partners and in line with the GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018, and Working Together 2018.

Support to families

We believe in building trusting and supportive relationships with families, staff, and volunteers.
We make clear to parents our role and responsibilities in relation to child protection, such as the reporting of concerns, information sharing, monitoring of the child, and always liaising 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 worker in relation to the setting's designated role and tasks in supporting that child and their family, after any investigation.
We will engage with any child in need plan or early help plan as agreed.
Confidential records kept on a child are shared with the child's parents or those who have parental responsibility for the child in accordance with the Confidentiality and Client Access to Records procedure, and only if appropriate under the guidance of the local safeguarding partners.

Important Child Welfare Contacts

Legal framework

Primary legislation

Children Act (1989 s47)
Protection of Children Act (1999)
The Children Act (2004 s11)
Children and Social Work Act 2017
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (2006)
Childcare Act (2006)
Child Safeguarding Practice Review and Relevant Agency (England) Regulations 2018

Secondary legislation

Sexual Offences Act (2003)
Criminal Justice and Court Services Act (2000)
Equality Act (2010)
General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) (2018)
Childcare (Disqualification) Regulations (2009)
Children and Families Act (2014)
Care Act (2014)
Serious Crime Act (2015)
Counterterrorism and Security Act (2015)

Further guidance

Working Together to Safeguard Children (HMG, 2018)
What to do if You're Worried a Child is Being Abused (HMG, 2015)
Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families (DoH 2000)
The Common Assessment Framework for Children and Young People: A Guide for Practitioners
(CWDC 2010)
Statutory guidance on planning to safeguard and promote the welfare of children under section 11 of the Children Act 2004 (HMG 2008)
Hidden Harm – Responding to the Needs of Children of Problem Drug Users (ACMD, 2003)
Information Sharing: Advice for Practitioners providing Safeguarding Services (DfE 2018)
Disclosure and Barring Service: www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check
Revised Prevent Duty Guidance for England and Wales (HMG, 2015)
Inspecting Safeguarding in Early Years, Education and Skills Settings, (Ofsted, 2016)
Safeguarding Children (Pre-school Learning Alliance 2013)
Safeguarding through Effective Supervision (Pre-school Learning Alliance 2013)
The New Early Years Employee Handbook (Pre-school Learning Alliance 2016)