This document is to be read in conjunction with Clubland Playscheme’s Safeguarding Policy and Basic Safeguarding Training document.
1. AIM OF THIS POLICY
This guidance allows us to respond promptly and appropriately to all incidents or concerns regarding the safety of a child that may occur. Our child protection procedures comply with all relevant legislation and with guidance issued by the Surrey Safeguarding Children Partnership.
2. CONTACT INFORMATION
Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is:
Karen Fitzwater, Company Director; Telephone Number: 07500 956001
Our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads are:
Carrie Nixon, Regional Manager; Telephone Number: 020 8979 3100
Emily McCartney, Deputy Director; Telephone Number: 07825 229171
Wendy Tyler, HR Administrator; Telephone Number: 020 8979 3100
Our setting based Designated Safeguarding Leads are:
Claygate Primary School: Kim Waters, Playscheme Manager and Lydia Allen, Deputy Manager
Cranmere Primary School: Sharon Perrin, Playscheme Manager, Wendy Tyler, Playscheme Manager and Laura Perrin, Deputy Manager
Long Ditton Infant School: Andreja Vukovic, Playscheme Manager and Mairead Halliday, Deputy Manager
Royal Kent School: Sally Offen, Playscheme Manager
Thames Ditton Infant School: Carrie Nixon, Playscheme Manager and Trina Lowther, Deputy Manager
Other useful contacts:
All these telephone numbers are programmed into the setting phones for easy access.
3. HOW TO RESPOND IF A CHILD DISCLOSES ABUSE
If a child wants to confide about having suffered abuse, or has a concern, the following guidelines are to be followed:
DO
- Find somewhere quiet, but if the child is making allegations about a member of staff or if you have concerns about the child’s state of mind then make sure you’re not alone
- Be accessible and receptive
- Stay calm and re-assure the child that they are right to tell you and that they are not to blame
- Without making the child feel uncomfortable, try to find out the facts of the allegation or disclosure using open questions such as:
- Who was there?
- What happened?
- Where did it happen?
- When did it happen?
- Listen to the child and value what they say
- Reassure the child and keep their confidence
DO NOT
- Panic
- Ask someone else to listen to the disclosure – that child has chosen to confide in you because they trust you and feel safe in your care
- Jump to conclusions
- Try to get the child to disclose if they’re feeling uncomfortable
- Stop a child who is freely recalling significant events
- Ask leading questions, such as:
- Did he hit you with a belt?
- Had she been drinking alcohol?
- Has it happened before?
- Did they tell you not to say anything?
- Speculate or accuse anyone
- Make promises you cannot keep (such as not telling anyone about the disclosure)
- Ask them to remove clothing
4. CONFIDENTIALITY
If a child requests confidentiality, it must be explained to them that this cannot be promised as the information must be shared with adults who will be able to protect them from harm. The child should be reassured that only people who need to know about it will be told.
If this results in the child not continuing with the conversation, the concern must be logged and reported immediately.
When sharing information, we only share information that is relevant and only to the relevant parties involved.
5. WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF A CONCERN OR FOLLOWING A DISCLOSURE
If a staff member has a concern about a child and suspects that they are at risk of or are being abused or radicalised, the following process will be followed:
|
Step
|
Action
|
Responsibility
|
Notes
|
|
1.
|
Complete a logging concern form
|
Member of staff with concern or to whom the disclosure was made
|
Found in the Safeguarding folder at each setting
Speak to the setting DSL for support if required
Be accurate and factual with the account. If recording a disclosure, use the child’s own words
|
|
2.
|
Complete a skin map
|
Member of staff with concern or to whom the disclosure was made
|
Found in the Safeguarding folder at each setting
Speak to the setting DSL for support if required
Only if the sign/s of abuse are obvious without asking the child to remove any clothing or the child has voluntarily revealed an injury
|
|
3.
|
Review the level of needs document to identify the level of support needed
|
Setting DSL and Head Office DSL team
|
Found on the Surrey CC website
|
|
4.
|
Seek advice from the C-SPA Child Protection Consultation Line
|
Setting DSL and Head Office DSL team
|
Only if required
|
|
5.
|
Complete a neglect toolkit
|
Setting DSL and Head Office DSL team
|
Only if concern or disclosure is suspected to be neglect
|
|
6.
|
Signpost parents/carers to universal services
|
Setting DSL and Head Office DSL team
|
If LEVEL 1 on the level of needs document
|
|
7.
|
Offer parents/carers an Early Help Assessment
|
Setting DSL and Head Office DSL team
|
If LEVEL 2 on the level of needs document
|
|
8.
|
Gain consent form the parents/carers to request support from Children’s Services
|
Setting DSL and Head Office DSL team
|
If LEVEL 3 or 4 on the level of needs document
DO NOT DO if doing so may increase the risk of harm to the child or young person
|
|
9.
|
Download, complete and send a request for support form within 48 hours
|
Head Office DSL team
|
Found on the Surrey CC website
|
|
10.
|
Notify school DSL of concern/request for support made
|
Head Office DSL team
|
|
|
11.
|
In an emergency, call 999
|
Any staff member
|
|
Although it is the responsibility of the DSL to request support from C-SPA when the situation dictates, if a staff member feels that the situation has not been taken seriously enough, they can make the request for support themselves.
6. CONCERN ABOUT RADICALISATON
Under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 all childcare settings have a legal duty to prevent children from the risk of radicalisation being drawn into extremism.
If a member of staff suspects that a child is at risk of becoming radicalised, they will record any relevant information or observations on a logging concern form and refer the matter to a DSL. The DSL will call the ACT anti-terrorism line or report it online.
7. WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF A CONCERN ABOUT OR AN ALLEGATION AGAINST A MEMBER OF STAFF
If a staff member has a concern about another member of staff or an allegation against a member of staff has been made, they are protected by our Whistleblowing Policy and the following process will be followed:
|
Step
|
Action
|
Responsibility
|
Notes
|
|
1.
|
Complete a logging concern form
|
Member of staff with concern or to whom the disclosure was made
|
Found in the Safeguarding folder at each setting
Speak to a DSL for support if required
Be accurate and factual with the account. If recording a disclosure, use the child’s own words
|
|
2.
|
Complete a skin map
|
Member of staff with concern or to whom the disclosure was made
|
Found in the Safeguarding folder at each setting
Speak to a DSL for support if required
Only if the sign/s of abuse are obvious without asking the child to remove any clothing or the child has voluntarily revealed an injury
|
|
4.
|
Seek advice from LADO
|
Setting DSL and Head Office DSL team
|
Refer directly to Head Office DSL team if the concern/allegation is against the Setting DSL
|
|
5.
|
Notify Ofsted of the concern/allegation within 14 days
|
Head Office DSL team
|
Use the online form on the gov.uk/Ofsted website
|
|
11.
|
In an emergency, call 999
|
Any staff member
|
|
8. PRE-EXISTNG INJURIES
If a child comes into our care with an existing injury that has happened outside of our care, this will be recorded on Magicbooking. This helps us to monitor a child’s wellbeing and can help spot instances of abuse. Any pre-existing injuries on non-mobile children must be logged and also reported.
- Create an incident report – can be found next to child’s name on register or in injuries/incidents under centre on the main menu
- Name the incident report ‘Pre-existing injury’
- Complete the form with all the information provided.
- If reported by, or happened during school, log the member of teaching staff who provided the information, save the form and email it to the parent/carer
- If the injury occurred at home do not email it to the parent/carer – the Manager will subtly question the parent/carer about the injury upon collection to ensure their recollection is the same as the child’s
- If the explanation is unsatisfactory or the injury is on a non-mobile child, complete a logging concern form and refer the matter to the DSL
9. RELATED POLICIES
See also our related policies: Basic Safeguarding Training, Safeguarding Policy and Whistleblowing Policy.
