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NUGENT EDUCATION LTD

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN POLICY

It is the aim of this policy for all Nugent Education staff to be aware of the signs and symptoms of abuse, and that they understand their responsibilities to the children and young people that they work with and what steps to take if a disclosure of abuse is made. 

Terms of Reference: - Legislation – section 47(1) The Children’s Act 1989.

“The local authority has a duty to investigate situations where it has ‘reasonable cause to suspect that a child who lives, or is found in their area is suffering; or likely to suffer significant harm’. Enquiries must be made to decide whether it should take any action to safeguard the child’s welfare.”

In all instances we will:

• Ensure that safe practice and awareness of protection laws and guidance is a responsibility of all Nugent Education staff.
• Ensure that all staff working directly with young people or vulnerable adults in creative arts workshops and other settings have undergone appropriate checks according to DfES requirements and Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000.
• Exercise care in taking, storing and using photographs or videos of young people and vulnerable adults, and do so only with prior written permission from the school, organization or care setting when commissioning images for marketing and PA purposes.
• Demonstrate exemplary behavior in any dealings with children, young people and vulnerable adults.
• Make sure that all staff receive and read a copy of this policy.

CATEGORIES OF CONCERN:-

Neglect: The persistent or severe neglect of a child which results in significant impairment of the child’s health or development. e.g.

• Failure to provide adequate food, clothing or shelter (including abandonment or exclusion from home)
• Failure to protect from physical or emotional harm.
• Failure to meet child’s basic emotional needs.
• Failure to ensure adequate supervision.
• Failure to ensure access to appropriate medical care.

Physical Abuse: Deliberate or intended injury to a child. e.g.

• Hitting shaking, throwing, burning, scalding, drowning, suffocating, or poisoning.
• Deliberate inducement of an illness.

Sexual Abuse: Actual or likely sexual exploitation. e.g.

• Use of force or enticement to take part in sexual activity penetrative, or non – penetrative.
• Involvement in non contact activities such as looking at or making abusive images.
• Encouraging children to watch sexual activities.
• Encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.
• Any sexual activity with a child under the age of 16. (with or without agreement)

 Emotional Abuse: Persistent or severe emotional ill treatment or rejection which adversely affects the child’s emotional and behavioural development. e.g.

• Conveying to a child that they are worthless, unloved or inadequate.
• Overprotection, limiting exploration and learning, preventing normal social interaction or imposing inappropriate expectations.
• Causing a child to feel frightened or in danger by the witnessing of violence towards another person whether domestic or not.

RECOGNITION OF POSSIBLE ABUSE:

It is extremely difficult to determine if abuse has occurred. However, during creative arts workshops involving, for example, writing and crafts, kids, young people and vulnerable adults may feel inclined to express issues that may be cause for concern.  Practitioners should be aware that someone exhibiting any of the following signs, does not guarantee that abuse has occurred:

• Disclosure.
• Non accidental injury, bruising or marks.
• Explanation inconsistent with injury.
• Several different explanations for an injury.
• Reluctance to give information about an injury
• A sudden change in behaviour – aggression, extroversion, depression, withdrawn.
• Attention seeking
• Hyperactivity
• Poor attention
• Appear frightened of parents or family members
• Abnormal attachment between parent and child
• Indiscriminate attachment
• Hyper alertness.
• Reduced response.
• Frozen watchfulness.
• Nightmares.
• Anxiety/irritability.
• Abdominal pain/headaches.
• Poor self esteem.
• Poor peer relationships
• Act in an inappropriate way for age
• Over sexualised play/talk or drawings.
• Excessive or inappropriate masturbation
• Self harm/eating disorder
• Frequent visits to the toilet (urinary infection).
• Reluctance to change for P.E.
• Failure to thrive
• Poor hygiene
• Recurrent/untreated infections of skin or head lice
• Untreated health/dental issues
• Frequent absence from school or repeated lateness
• Delay in meeting normal developmental milestones

PROCEDURES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The procedure route will depend upon the urgency of the situation and whether it is merely a suspicion of abuse or an actual disclosure.

Suspicion of Abuse (if abuse is suspected but there has been no disclosure.)

1.       Believe the child and reassure them that they were right to talk to you.

2.       Record the facts and conversation in writing immediately afterwards using the exact words spoken not implied. Sign and date the report (it may be required as evidence.)

3.       Report the suspicion to the Designated Person responsible for Child Protection. The Designated Person will take the appropriate action.

Disclosure

1.       Allow the child to talk – ask only open questions e.g. “Can you tell me more about….” Do not press for detail, put forward your own ideas or use words that the child has not used themselves.

2.       Stay calm and reassuring.

3.       Do not make promises that cannot be kept e.g. confidentiality – tell the child that you will have to tell someone else who will be able to help.

4.       Believe the child but do not apportion any blame to the perpetrator. (it may be someone they love)

5.       Reassure the child that they were not to blame and they were right to talk to you.

6.       Ask the child if they have told anyone else.

7.       Keep an open mind.

8.       Record the conversation and facts verbatim in writing immediately afterwards (writing notes during the interview may put undue pressure on the child). Sign and date the report (it may be required as evidence).

9.       Establish details of full name, D.O.B. address and names of parents/guardians.

10.    Report to the Designated Person who will contact the Social Services Department as necessary.

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

If the designated Person is not available, establish the facts and details as above and contact the Social Services you can contact the St Helens Safeguarding Children Board by e-mail SafeguardingChildrenBoard@sthelens.gov.uk or Telephone 01744 456985 If you have a concern about a child you can ring St Helens Contact Centre directly on 01744 456600 or if outside normal office hours, including weekends you can contact our Emergency Duty Team on 0845 0500 148       

• Discuss the situation and ask for advice
• Social services will contact the police (Child Protection Unit) as necessary.
• Keep a written note of all disclosures and action taken.
• If action is taken, then contact the Designated Person ASAP to inform them.