Nature Base Safeguarding Policy
Children and Families Hub: 01534 519000
EARLY HELP: 07797 92057
Jersey Authority Designated Officer (JDO) 01534 443566
JDO@health.gov.je
Safeguarding Partnership Board (SPB): 01534 442742
At Nature Base, safeguarding children and their families is vital to support our work in the community, this policy is based on the Children’s [Jersey] Law 2002, and Working Together to Safeguard Children in-line with the Safeguarding Partnership Board and the Jersey’s Children First standard practice framework adopted across agencies, services and settings in the public, community and voluntary sectors in Jersey. This sets the shared values and principles that underpin the way that we work with children and families across the continuum of need. More Information can be found here: https://jerseyscb.proceduresonline.com/index.htm
This Safeguarding policy applies to staff, volunteers; paid or unpaid, carers, family members and members of the public. We believe that safeguarding is ‘Everyone’s Business’
CHILD PROTECTION:
The welfare and safety of children is paramount and our aim is to protect children from all types of abuse, whether it be physical, emotional, sexual or neglect. We have policies in place along with procedures to follow to help keep children safe during our sessions and prioritise partnership with parents/carers and organisations in line with ‘Working together to Safeguard Children’ and ‘The Jersey Child First’ practise model framework.
Having a safeguarding policy in place not only protects and promotes the welfare of children and their families but also enhances the confidence of staff, volunteers, students and their parents/carers.
DEFINITIONS OF ABUSE SEXUAL ABUSE:
Involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in
sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example, rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside of clothing. They may also include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse. Sexual abuse can take place online, and technology can be used to facilitate offline abuse. Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children.
EMOTIONAL ABUSE:
The persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to a child that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meets the needs of another person. It may include not giving the child opportunities to express their views, deliberately silencing them or making fun of what they say or how they communicate. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions that are beyond a child’s developmental capability, as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the child participating in normal social interaction. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill- treatment of another. It may involve serious bullying (including cyber bullying), causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, though it may occur alone.
PHYSICAL ABUSE:
A form of abuse which may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a child.
NEGLECT:
The persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development. Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse. Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to:
1. Provide adequate food, clothing and shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment);
2. Protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger;
3. Ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate care- givers);
4. Ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment.
It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.
RECOGNISING POSSIBLE SIGNS OR INDICATIONS OF ABUSE
1. Another child tells you.
2. The child may tell you something has happened to them.
3. Unexplained injuries/markings.
4. Change/regression in behaviour.
5. Using explicit sexual language.
6. Change in hygiene, clothing, eating habits.
7. Withdrawal from adults or peers.
RECOGNISING WHY CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS (SEN) ARE MORE VULNERABLE TO ABUSE AND NEGLECT
FAMILY
• There might be additional emotional, physical and financial demands on families raising a child with special educational needs.
• The child with additional needs and their families might be more socially isolated, reducing their support networks.
• Difficulties in accessing adequate resources and support for a child with disability can affect family stress levels.
VULNERABILITY
• A child with additional needs might lack good understanding of social relationships, personal boundaries, protective behaviours, sexual awareness, and what abuse is.
• Children with a physical disability might be more vulnerable to neglect or to rough and intrusive personal care. They may also be physically unable to resist or avoid abuse.
• If communication is difficult, children find it hard to let someone know that abuse is occurring.
• Children with behavioural issues are more likely to be dealt with in a forceful or restrictive way, and indicators of abuse might be wrongly attributed to the behavioural issue.
• Children with special educational needs might be more dependent on others to have their needs met and care may be provided by someone other than a parent or primary carer.
• Greater structure and protection of children with disability can teach them to be more compliant with adult demands.
• Children might accept abusive treatment if they have low understanding, self-esteem or a low perception of their abilities.
• Children with special educational needs and their families can be more socially isolated.
WORKING WITH PARENTS AND CARERS
Parents and carers have the main responsibility for safeguarding and promoting their child’s welfare. We always have Parents or a ‘Responsible Adult’ present during our sessions and recognise the importance of working in partnership with them to ensure the welfare and safety of their children. Where we carry out work in a school environment we will ensure that we have sight of the school Safeguarding Policy and Procedures and work to adhere to these requirements in line with our own policy and procedures.
STAFF/TRAINING
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Sophie Moulson
Our DSL is required to attend a local Safeguarding Designated Lead course and keep training and knowledge up to date.
Any Staff or Volunteers ‘Leading’ sessions will be required to undertake relevant safeguarding training.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES DSL
• Protect children from harm
• Preventing impairment of children’s health or development
• To ensure all staff/volunteers are fully aware of Nature Base’s safeguarding and child protection policy, and that these are implemented.
• To provide a safe environment for staff, volunteers and parents to raise a concern.
• A go to person for staff, volunteers and parents or carers to disclose any concerns/worries they may have about a child or children
• To ensure all staff/volunteers have a good understanding of their role in identifying and the process of reporting a safeguarding concern.
• To ensure the correct procedures are followed and action taken when an allegation is made against a member of staff/volunteer or parent.
• The DSL can seek advice from the Children and Families Hub at any time but the child’s name will have to be given. Before this can happen the DSL needs to make the parent/carer(s) aware that they will be taking their concern further (unless advised otherwise, in the interest of the child).
• The DSL will make the Children and Families Hub enquiry, but in their absence the Staff member/Volunteer will complete the qnuiry, ensuring all information is accurate and confidential.
• Staff/volunteers along with the DSL may need to attend Child protection Conferences and will be given sufficient time to carry out their responsibilities.
• Make referrals where children may be in need of protection or child protection concerns and understand the process of making a Children and Families Hub enquiry.
• Sharing information and working in an integrated way to ensure a co- ordinated response from agencies to support families and meet the child’s needs.
• To review the safeguarding policy annually and update where necessary. The Designated Safeguarding Lead is responsible for all records being accurate and up to date
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and require all staff/volunteers to share this commitment.
RECORDING AND STORING INFORMATION
The Designated Safeguarding Lead is responsible for all records being accurate and up to date. The following will be recorded:
• What triggered the concern, where and when.
• What action was taken
• Any incidents or signs of abuse or neglect. These will be dated and recorded. The information is kept locked away and/or stored on a password protected laptop. This is only accessible to the DSL or other agencies if necessary. This information must be kept on file for 20 years.
Here at Nature Base we have the following steps in place:
• Photographs and Videos that include children should only be taken on Nature Base devices.
• No photo’s to be taken on staff/volunteers phones of children.
• Permission sought from Parent/carers for children to have their picture taken where they are identifiable for social media, websites and promotional literature.
• Photo’s including children that are not being used are regularly deleted.
• Devices that are used to take photos at the sessions are password protected.
CONCERN ABOUT A CHILD
If a member of staff/volunteer has any cause for concern regarding a child’s well-being they will instantly report it to the DSL who will then seek advice from JADO or the Children and Families Hub. If a Children and Families Hub enquiry form needs to be completed, they will advise whether the parents should be contacted or consent is needed by assessing each situation individually. All information passed on must be documented. If parents have any concerns about their own child or another child within the group, they should contact the DSL if they prefer or contact Children and Families Hub directly on 519000.
ALEGATIONS AGAINST Staff/Volunteers/DSL
In the circumstance of misconduct of practice, we/you should firstly notify the Children and Families Hub to decide the appropriate course of action. In the circumstance of an ongoing investigation, it may be that the employee/volunteer/DSL has to be supervised at all times with restricted duties or in more serious circumstances or sessions, suspended until further notice. The ISS (Independent Safeguarding Standards) will also be made aware of any allegations and be involved in the investigation.
STAFF/VOLUNTEERS CONFIDENTIALITY
Staff/Volunteers names will be kept confidential from parents when concerns or information involving a child are shared with the DSL.
Names will only be disclosed to the appropriate authorities if requested e.g. Health and Social Services, the States of Jersey Police etc.
NAPPY/SOILED PANTS
There should be no need for Staff/Volunteers to change nappies/soiled pants at any time during our sessions as a Parent/’Responsible Adult’ it present. Should an ‘unavoidable’ situation occur e.g a parent has been involved in some sort of accident; that meant the child would be in distress or experience extreme discomfort should they not be cared for in this way; then staff/volunteers can assist with this; if they have a valid DBS check in place.
With any safeguarding matter we are obliged to inform the Children and Families Hub as soon as possible by phone.
CHILDREN LIVING WITH DOMESTIC ABUSE
Domestic abuse can have a very negative impact on a child’s well-being, leading to psychological and emotional abuse.
If we are concerned that a child is living with these circumstances and may be at harm of emotional or physical abuse, the DSL will contact the Children and Families Hub.
We aim to have a child centered approach to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children at Nature Base.
REMEMBER IT’S NOT “what if it’s not” IT’S “What if it is” THE KEY - IS NOT TO DO NOTHING!
The below agencies are in place for us and/or parent/carer as a go to for information if needed.
JERSEY CHILDREN FIRST
This model supports a smooth transition between early help and children’s social work services. It provides information on who to contact in services for children who may need it and when. Anyone who suspects or believes that something is not right with a child, need to know that they have a responsibility to do something about it, and Jersey Children First explains this.
“It is designed for all those working with children from pre-birth to 19 with emerging or known additional or complex needs/disabilities, including Looked -After Children and those in need of protection.”
JCF has shared tools and guidance to help practitioners make a decision to whether a child needs an assessment.
The model also sets out shared values, principles and qualities for all those working with children and their families. One of the models main aims is understanding the importance of engaging children and families, and the practitioner qualities assists this.
https://www.gov.je/Caring/JerseysChildrenFirst/Pages/AboutJerseysChildrenFirst
SAFEGUARDING PARTNERSHIP BOARD
The Jersey SPB co-ordinates work to help safeguard children and adults, as well as an umbrella to other agencies, such as the Children and Families Hub.
Their website provides information on how to report a concern, courses on all forms of safeguarding issues, as well as monitoring procedures and challenge the effectiveness of Jersey’s safeguarding arrangements - https://safeguarding.je
INDEPENDENT SAFEGUARDING AND STANDARDS
They are responsible for anyone under the age of 18 who may be at risk or suffering from any form of abuse or neglect.
They also investigate allegations on professionals or organised abuse which may not be connected to a particular child or household.
Job roles within the ISS
• Jersey Authority Designated Officer (JADO)
• A manager “ISS’s manager is the custodian of jersey’s child protection register.”
• Independent reviewing officers – these officers monitor looked-after children.
• Child protection advisers – Monitor children with a child protection plan.
• Administration staff
https://www.gov.je/Caring/IndependentMonitoring/IndependentSafeguardingStand ards/Pages/home.aspx
This Policy will be reviewed every 6 months or when we are made aware of relevant changes in practice.
Scheduled training with the Safeguarding Partnership Board should be kept up to date and audited every 6 months
