Safeguarding Update

Safeguarding Update

LEI Twilight Session3rd June 2014

Helen West – Education Safeguarding Manager

Aims

• To outline the basic expectations of all professionals employed within the Directorate in regard to child protection

• To enable staff to feel confident in understanding their own roles and responsibilities for safeguarding children.

• To provide staff with an overview of expected professional conduct and the safeguarding implications of a failure to adhere to such standards

WHAT IS CHILD ABUSE

• Neglect • Physical Abuse • Sexual Abuse• Emotional abuse

NEGLECT

• Squalid or dangerous home conditions• Child left unsupervised• Parents who don’t respond to children health needs• Not dressed for weather• Persistent hygiene issues

EMOTIONAL

• Children who self harm cut or scratch themselves deliberately

• Children who run away from home• Anxious or withdrawn children• Lack of validation from caregivers• Persistent negative perspective of the child

PHYSICAL

• Hitting , shaking• Bruising ( especially in little babies )• Burns• Fabricated or induced illness

SEXUAL

• Usually alerted via disclosure• Children having sexual knowledge that is not usual in

the age group• Issues of normalising sexual language or behaviour• Encouraging children to behave in sexually

inappropriate ways or forcing a child to sexually touch

Grooming behaviour• Grooming by definition – is not an aggressive

process• It can happen to anyone• Potential abusers are very skilled individuals – have

high level communication skills – often have the appearance of acceptability / approval

• Remember abusers are usually known to the abused (child)

Other circumstances to consider

• Domestic abuse• Child sexual exploitation• Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking / Trafficking• Missing children• Forced Marriage / Female Genital Mutilation

Basic expectations of professionals

• Listen to the voice of the child• Inform the designate or senior staff member of your concern

immediately – Do not delay• Make a written account of what you have witnessed or been

told

LISTEN – SHARE - RECORD• Do not confront an alleged abuser• Do not worry you may been mistaken

How much information required?

• The childs view (where possible)• As much as is relevant to the child and family in line with the DoH

assessment framework • Historical info• Professional knowledge• Wider family and context• Community & agency involvement• Professionals cannot remain anonymous unless there is a risk assessmnet

to justify this

Date&

Time

Significant Event – Record factual observations(to include child’s comments verbatim, clearly list the situation, task being undertaken at the time, how many others present and any environmental factors that contributed, others adults present, how was the incident/event concluded, comments made to the child)

Parent/CarerComments

Staff Member recording incident/event

Strictly Confidential- Significant Event Record – to be secured with CP Records 

Name : D.O.B :School :

Significant Event – Record factual observations

(to include child’s comments verbatim, clearly list the situation, task being undertaken at the time, how many others present and any environmental factors that contributed, others adults present, how was the incident/event concluded, comments made to the child)

• Childs Comments – What did they actually say, quote their words, do not put asterix instead of swear/difficult words. If you cannot remember exact words do not use speech marks and state you are being approximate.

•  Situation and task being undertaken – Where was the incident, what was the child supposed to be doing, was this a usual task/situation for the child to be in, was this something the child would not have experienced before. Were clear instructions given to the child about the expected task/situation.

• Others present – How many other children were present, were any involved, what was their contribution to the incident.

•  Environmental factors – Was there anything about the child’s physical surroundings that effected their behaviour?

•  Other adults present – Do you need to cross reference your account of the incident with anyone else’s?

•  Event/incident conclusion – How did the matter end, what was the child’s behaviour like at the end of and after the incident

•  Adults comments to the child – What words were actually spoken to the child at the end of the incident/event

Not all items above will be relevant for all recordings, just be mindful of the headings and record information that is available, do not feel compelled to ‘tick every box’. Recording must be;

 Timely – within the same working day, if child protection as soon as practically possible.

 Factual – Do not record your opinion, imagine you are a video camera watching the incident, and write a narrative that is descriptive but not overly complicated

Safe recruitment and allegations against professionals

• Everybody has a duty to report concerns about those working with children and young people.

• Whistle blowing policy• Child Protection Policy/Procedures• Section 4.3 of the All Wales Child Protection Procedure

“Professional Abuse” • All professionals allegations MUST be reported to Social

Services WITHOUT delay

Concerns about a professional

• Recognise information as an allegation• All allegations MUST be reported to Children's Services• Inform Senior manager immediately – Do not delay• Make a written record of the information (Date time etc)• Do not share the information with the person causing concern• Do not attempt to investigate• Do not judge the information you have been given

Required actions in response to safeguarding concerns – For Designated Professionals

• Immediate welfare of the child• Risk assessment around the professional to ensure immediate

safeguards are in place• Consideration of Child Protection investigation• Consideration of Criminal investigation• Opportunity to investigate via employment law

Current data

• 30 cases this academic year • 10 of physical abuse – restraint, over chastisement• 12 of those – professional conduct – including failure to report• Examples of incidents within personal life leading to concern

Downloading child pornography, poor judgement in social media, contacting children outside of work, drug use, Domestic Abuse, physical violence, residing with a person of concern to children or Vulnerable Adults

Recent examples

• Failure to report• Grabbing, pulling or gripping childrens clothes• Sitting on children (non appropriate restraint)• Living with a known drug addict/dealer• Residing with a sex offender• Breach of confidentiality• Facebook/Social networking

Self Protection

• Clear communication with all parties• Risk assessment• Documented behaviour plans• Clear task planning• Regular supervision discussions and reporting processes• Do not make assumptions – be explicit• Common sense

Safeguarding children is the concern of everyone who works with children