Early Years Safeguarding Newsletter
July 2016
Ceri McAteer – Early Years Safeguarding Adviser Tel: 465740 mobile: 07774178011
Early Years Safeguarding Advice and Support from August 2016
You will already be aware that the “cost share proposal” to maintain the post of the Early Years Safeguarding Adviser was unsuccessful and consequently the decision has been made to delete the post. The Early Years Safeguarding Adviser will remain in post until the end of July 2016.
From August 2016 you will be able to access safeguarding advice and support from;
· Family Contact Point (466903) – Advice in relation to concerns around the safety or welfare of a child and for referrals.
· The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) (463854) – Advice in relation to allegations or concerns about adults working with children.
· Your Early Years Consultant (Karen Flower, Elaine Ellis) or Trio for childminders – For general safeguarding queries.
The Local Authority are planning to continue with briefing sessions (3 times per year) to keep you up to date with the most recent child protection news, policies and practice. You will be contacted with dates by the end of term.
Swindon LSCB – Annual Conference
“Laying the Foundations” for Effectively Safeguarding Children in Swindon.
Topics covered
· Neglect
· Attachment
· The Toxic Trio
· Learning from Serious Case Reviews
Cost - £25.00 for EY settings (includes lunch)
Book via Swindon LSCB using the online booking form
http://www.swindonlscb.org.uk/train/Pages/Training-Calendar%20and%20Booking.aspx
Attending Child Protection Conferences – Reminders for Early Years Providers
Following on from the summer term briefing sessions I have summarised the information which was shared with you in regard to the refresh of child protection conferences.
A child protection conference is convened where there are concerns around the safety/welfare of a child. The conference brings together family members (including children where appropriate) supporters, advocates and those professionals most involved with the child and family to make decisions about the child's future safety, health and development.
There are four types of conference;
· An initial child protection conference (ICPC)
· A pre-birth conference, concerning an unborn child.
· A transfer-in, when a child on a child protection plan moves from one local authority to another.
· A review child protection conference (RCPC)
Further information about child protection conferences is available at; http://www.proceduresonline.com/swcpp/swindon/p_ch_protection_conf.html?zoom_highlight=child+protection+conferences
Training
Swindon LSCB recommend that all professionals who attend conferences, or could be asked to attend a conference, attend the one day “Conference and Core Group” training; http://www.swindonlscb.org.uk/train/Pages/Training-Calendar%20and%20Booking.aspx
Attending a conference
· CP Conferences will be held at Clarence House on Euclid Street.
· Coffee/tea will not be provided; you may want to bring your own refreshments.
· You will be required to provide a written report for the conference on the template provided. The report template can be accessed on the Swindon LSCB website at http://www.swindonlscb.org.uk/wav/Pages/Forms.aspx
· The report must be shared with parents/carers prior to attending the Conference (at least 2 days before an initial conference and 5 days before a review).
· Professionals attending a conference are expected to remain for the whole conference, all professionals will be expected to be part of the decision making process.
· During the conference, the chair will identify professionals and family members to be part of the core group. Following the conference there will be regular core group meetings to develop and implement the child protection plan.
Raising concerns
If after attending a conference you have concerns around the way a conference has been conducted or you feel unsafe decisions have been made you need to follow the LSCB Escalation policy which is available at; http://www.swindonlscb.org.uk/procedures/Pages/Home.aspx
The first stage of the Escalation Policy would be for the person attending the conference to raise their concerns with the person chairing the conference.
Ofsted Updates
Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB)
Ofsted inspectors are being asked to ensure that providers have an understanding of the procedures of their Local Safeguarding Children’s Board. It is not enough to make reference to the LSCB in your safeguarding policy, an Inspector may ask you how you keep up to date with local procedures.
Swindon LSCB keeps you up to date through information shared at termly briefing sessions, LSCB newsletters and through all training booked through the LSCB. In addition to these you should also be making regular visits to the LSCB website, it may be useful to set up a direct link to the LSCB from your home page.
http://www.swindonlscb.org.uk/Pages/Home.aspx
Vetting/DBS checks
In addition to ensuring that a provider protects children from any risk presented by persons who live or work on the premises where childcare takes place, Ofsted inspectors are checking that there is no other living accommodation located within the grounds of the setting. Where there is, inspectors must be assured that that those residing in the accommodation do not have unsupervised access to the setting unless they have been vetted.
Online Safety Updates
Appropriate Filtering Guidance
In settings where children have access to the internet it is important that appropriate levels of filtering are established. The UK Safer Internet Centre has produced some useful guidance about establishing appropriate levels of filtering in education and early years settings.
http://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-and-resources/teachers-and-professionals/appropriate-filtering-and-monitoring
It is important to recognise that no filtering systems can be 100% effective and need to be supported by effective supervision and good teaching about the dangers.
Guide to using Facebook in settings to encourage parental engagement.
Facebook is often painted in a bad light and whilst there are certainly issues about its safe use, it is an extremely popular social media platform. Some settings have been using Facebook to engage with parents and have found it very effective, particularly with harder to reach parents. Setting up and managing a Facebook (Business) Page does not have the same issues as a 'normal' account.
ESafety Adviser, Alan Mackenzie, has prepared a very thorough guide to 'Facebook as a School Communication Tool'
http://www.esafety-adviser.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Using-Facebook-in-School-a-complete-guide-V1-1.pdf
Good links to put on your website or parents’ newsletter.
Staying Safe on Minecraft – Information for Parents
http://parentinfo.org/article/staying-safe-on-minecraft
Net aware: Parents guide to the social networks, apps & games that children and young people use
www.net-aware.org.uk/
NSPCC – Guidance for parents about keeping children safe online
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/?mc_cid=633b69242f&mc_eid=49ccf299f4
Transition of Child Protection Records
All of you will have children transferring to new settings. When transferring CP records it is important to;
· Transfer records within 14 days of the child leaving your setting.
· Transfer CP records separately from other records in an envelope marked -CONFIDENTIAL
· Have a face to face handover, if possible, with the designated lead for the next setting.
· Complete a “Transfer of records” front sheet
· Obtain a written receipt for the handover of records and retain this receipt for future reference.
· Ensure all records have a chronology which is complete and up to date
All the above information is available in the “EY guidance for keeping CP records” at
http://schoolsonline.swindon.gov.uk/sc/cp/Pages/child-protection.aspx
Finally, I hope you all have a well-deserved summer break. Thank you all for supporting me in my role and for your commitment to continuously improving safeguarding procedures in your settings.
Have a great summer!
Ceri McAteer .
If you have concerns about the safety of a child do not hesitate to contact Family Contact Point on 466903 or Emergency Duty Service 436699