Child Protection Policy

Arthog Outdoor Education Centre

 

 

 

Introduction

 

The staff and Arthog Management Committee fully recognise the contribution it makes to the life of the centre.  We recognise that all staff, including volunteers, have a full and active part to play in protecting those who use our facility from harm.

 

All staff and committee members believe that Arthog should provide a caring, positive, safe and stimulating environment which promotes the social, physical and moral development of the individual child.

 

The aims of this policy are:

 

To support the child’s development in ways that will foster security, confidence and independence

To raise the awareness of both teaching and non-teaching staff of the need to safeguard children, and of their responsibilities in identifying and reporting possible cases of abuse in line with Local and National procedures and guidance

To provide a systematic means of monitoring children known or thought to be at risk of harm.

To emphasise the need for good levels of communication between all members of staff, schools and centre users.

To develop a structured procedure within the facility, which will   be followed by all members of the Arthog staff in cases of suspected abuse.

To develop and promote effective working relationships with other agencies, especially the Schools, Police and Social Services

To ensure that all adults within our facility who have access to children have been checked as to their suitability.

 

 

2.0       Procedures

 

2.1       Our facility procedures for safeguarding children will be in line

with the Children Services Authority (CSA)* and Local

Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) ** procedures.

We will ensure that:

 

We have a designated member of staff for Child Protection who undertakes regular training.

 

We have a Deputy member of staff who will act in the Designated Person’s absence and deal with any child protection issues.

 

All members of staff develop their understanding of the signs and indicators of abuse and all permanent staff have accessed the three hour LSCB training course on raising child protection awareness.

 

All members of staff know how to respond to a young person who discloses abuse.

 

All parents/carers are made aware, if they so wish, of the responsibilities of Arthog staff members with regard to child protection procedures as documented in the “Yellow Compliance Files” and the supporting LSCB standard procedures**.

 

   Our procedures will be regularly reviewed and up-dated.

 

   All new members of staff will be given a copy of our child

   protection procedures as part of their induction into Arthog.

 

*DfES/0027/2004 “Safeguarding Children in Education”

** Telford & Wrekin Local Safeguarding Children Board Procedures (posted on OLE & Borough of Telford & Wrekin Websites)

*** “Working together to Safeguard Children” HM Government 1999(to be revised 2005)

 

3.0     Responsibilities

 

  The Designated Person is responsible for:

 

Adhering to the LSCB, CSA’s and school procedures with regard to referring a child if there are concerns about possible abuse

 

Keeping written records of concerns about a child even if there is no need to make an immediate referral for action

 

Ensuring that all such records are kept confidentially and securely and are separate from general information

 

Ensuring that an indication of further record-keeping in terms of verbal advice given is logged on a specific form, copies will be included in the “Yellow File”.

 

Ensuring that any young person who may be at risk is accommodated accordingly in consultation with user groups and their Designated Person.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.0      Supporting Children

 

      We recognise that a child who is abused or witnesses violence

may find it difficult to develop and maintain a sense of self worth. We recognise that a child in these circumstances may feel helpless and humiliated.  We recognise that a child may feel self blame.

 

We recognise that the schools and other voluntary organisations may provide the only stability in the lives of children who have been abused or who are at risk of harm.

 

We accept that research shows that the behaviour of a child in these circumstances may range from that which is perceived to be normal to aggressive or withdrawn.

 

Our facility will support all young people by:

 

Encouraging self-esteem and self-confidence whilst not condoning aggression or bullying.

 

Promoting a caring, safe and positive environment within their time at Arthog and when under our care away from the facility.

 

Liaising and working together with all other support services and those agencies involved in the safeguarding of children.

 

Notifying Children’s Social Services as soon as there is a significant concern.

 

Providing continuing support to a young person about whom there have been concerns whilst at Arthog, by ensuring that appropriate information is forwarded under confidential cover to the user groups Designated Person.

 

Having a stand alone policy on bullying to compliment all other policies on child protection.

 

      Confidentiality

 

      We recognise that all matters relating to Child Protection are

      confidential.

 

      The Designated Person at Arthog will disclose any 

            information about a young person to other members of staff on a need

            to know basis only.

 

            All staff are aware that they have a professional

            responsibility to share information with other agencies in order

            to safeguard children**.

 

     All staff are aware that they cannot promise a child to keep secrets.

 

 

     

     Supporting Staff

 

      We recognise that staff working at Arthog who have become

involved with a child who has suffered harm, or appears to be likely to suffer harm may find the situation stressful and upsetting.

 

We will support such staff by providing an opportunity to talk through their anxieties with the Designated Person and to seek further support as appropriate.

 

 

      Allegations against staff

 

     We understand that a young person may make an allegation against a

           member of staff.

 

     If such an allegation is made, the member of staff or facility user

           receiving the allegation will immediately inform the Designated Person.

 

     The Designated Person on all such occasions will discuss the content

           of the allegation with the Principal Officer Child Protection for Schools

           & Early Years, or in their absence, the Safeguarding Advisory Service.

 

     If the allegation made to a member of staff or facility user concerns the

           Designated Person then will immediately inform the Deputy member of

           staff at Arthog who will consult with the Principal Officer for

           Schools & Early Years or the Safeguarding Advisory Service.

 

     The facility has adopted policies for managing

           allegations against staff, a copy of which is readily available 

           from Human Resources. However;

 

If such an allegation is made, the member of staff subject to the allegation will be assigned a designated HR contact to support them through the process.

 

Soon after the allegation is made, a decision will be taken as to whether a Joint Strategy Meeting needs to be convened to discuss the matter further.

 

If it is decided at that meeting that an investigation should commence, this may be initially led by the Police and Social Services, prior to it being referred back to the Local Authority to investigate under agreed disciplinary procedures

 

     Whistleblowing

 

     We recognise that children cannot be expected to raise

                 concerns in an environment where staff fail to do so.

 

     All staff should be aware of their duty to raise concerns, where

           they exist, about the attitude or actions of colleagues or other users.

 

 

     

     Physical Intervention

 

      We have adopted a policy on Physical Intervention and

understand that staff must only use physical intervention as a last

resort, and that at all times it must be the minimal force necessary to

prevent injury to another person.

 

      We recognise that physical intervention of a nature which

            causes injury or distress to a child may be considered under

            child protection or disciplinary procedures.

 

     This policy has been adopted in line with the local authority policy on

           Physical Intervention (see Yellow File)

 

 Bullying

 

Our policy on bullying is set out in a separate document and

            acknowledges that to allow or condone bullying may lead to

            consideration under child protection procedures. These will be

            documented as incidents in their own right (see Yellow File)

 

 Racist Incidents

 

Our policy on racist abuse is set out in a separate policy and

            acknowledges that repeated racist incidents or a single serious

            incident may lead to consideration under child protection

            procedures. These will be documented like all other incidents.

 

 Prevention

 

12.1     We recognise that the facility plays a significant part in the prevention

of harm to young people by providing them with good lines of

communication with trusted adults, supportive friends and an ethos of

protection.

 

    The Arthog community will therefore:

 

Establish and maintain an ethos where children feel secure and are encouraged to talk and are always listened to.

 

Ensure that all children know there is an adult at the facility whom they can approach if they are worried or in difficulty.

 

Include in the Arthog syllabus, where possible, opportunities to equip children with the skills they need to stay safe from harm and to know to whom they should turn for help.

 

Health & Safety

 

Policies on Health & Safety are set out in a separate document (see Yellow File). It reflects the consideration we give to the protection ofour children both within the facility environment and when away from the facility, when undertaking trips and visits. This includes all staff working with children. Our staff adhere to high standards of instruction and follow National Governing Body Guidelines in all Outdoor and indoor activities.

 

Useful Contacts

 

This policy has been written in conjunction with Arthog by the

      Safeguarding Advisory Service

 

 

For further assistance, please contact:

 

Anne Cole

Safeguarding Advisory Service Manager

Tel:   01952 385652

 

Mark Turner

Principal Officer Child Protection (Schools & Early Years)

Tel:   01952 385686

 

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