Sunflower After School Club

Safeguarding Policy

Sunflower Club is committed to safeguard children from harm. Sunflower Club believes the welfare of the child is paramount and considers children have the right to be completely secure from both the fear and reality of abuse regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality or beliefs at all times.

Our policy will promote good practice and give a clear direction to staff, volunteers, committee members, visitors and parents about the expected code of conduct, and our legal responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children.

The club will appoint a Safeguarding Lead Practitioner (SLP) and a Deputy SLP. The SLP and Deputy SLP will undergo suitable training, and will be responsible for liaising with social services, Norfolk Safeguarding Children Board (NSCB) and OFSTED in any child protection matter.

Any complaints of suspected or actual child abuse or of children being put at risk will be taken seriously and acted upon immediately. All staff working at the Sunflower Club accepts the responsibility to pass on information and concerns to the SLP or Deputy SLP regarding allegations of abuse, or concerns about a child who may have been abused or is at risk of abuse. In any investigation at all times, the safety, protection and interests of children concerned will take precedence.

The club’s safeguardingprocedures comply with all relevant legislation and other guidance or advice from the Norfolk Safeguarding Children Board (NSCB).

“Children are individuals whose rights, needs and welfare are paramount.”Children Act 1989.

“All children whatever their religion or cultural background must receive the same care and safeguard with regard to abuse and neglect.”Working Together to Safeguard Children 2006.

Safeguarding Code of Conduct for all Sunflower Club Users

We expect all staff, volunteers, committee members and all parents using the club to support us in our Safeguarding Code of Conduct by requesting you:

  • Treat all children with respect and dignity
  • Acknowledge that the children’s welfare and safety is paramount at all times
  • Always act in a professional way and do not accept bullying, swearing or other disruptive behaviour
  • Communicate effectively and professionally with this includes avoiding inappropriate language, remarks and gestures
  • Listen to and act upon any disclosures, allegations or concerns of child abuse or the welfare of children
  • Work with staff and parents on issues of child abuse unless there is suspected sexual abuse when we will follow the written procedures of the Norfolk Safeguarding Children Board
  • Avoid using mobile phones in our setting

Doc Ref: Safeguarding requirements for Staff / Date of Issue: May 06
Reviewed: Feb 12
Reviewed: September 12
Review Date: September 13 / Issue Status: 06
Authorised by: / Manager / Chair

Code of Conduct for Sunflower Club Staff

Sunflower Club aims to comply with Norfolk County Council’s Guidelines on Safer Working Practice and the provision of support and training to staff and volunteers. Our code of conduct expects that:

1.Staff treat all children and young people with respect and dignity

2.Staff ensure that the welfare and safety of children and young people is paramount at all times

3.Staff are offered training in safeguarding every 3 years. Induction training for new staff will include safeguarding. In this way staff will be aware of the main indicators of child abuse and know who to inform if they suspect child abuse, or have a concern

4.Staff listen to, and act upon, any disclosures, allegations or concerns of child abuse and the welfare of children. Staff will be encouraged to share concerns with the Lead or Deputy Safeguarding Practitioner about (a) Any significant changes in children’s behaviour (b)Any unexplained bruising or marks they notice (c) Any comments children make which give cause for concern (d) Any deterioration in a child’s general well being

5.Staff will assist Children’s Services and the Police should they be approached to do so.

6.Where the Safeguarding Lead Practitioner and Deputy Safeguarding Lead Practitioner are absent all staff will be able to follow guidelines in order to follow through any concerns they may have. Safe recruitment practices are adhered to and potential staff are carefully recruited and have 2 verified references and full enhanced CRB checks

7.Staff do not misuse substances such as drugs and alcohol that might have a detrimental effect on children or an individual’s suitability to work in an early years and childcare setting

8.Staff always act in a professional way and do not accept bullying, swearing or other disruptive behaviour. Staff behave appropriately in terms of promoting healthy eating and drinking and all other behaviour, dress and manner

9.Staff maintain professional integrity and recognize appropriate boundaries. This includes avoiding using personal mobile phones, not sharing personal phone numbers with children and parents, and not using social networking sites to communicate to anyone regarding the setting or any aspect of work in an early years and childcare setting

10.Staff take responsibility for informing the Manager of any information about any health/personal issues that might have a detrimental effect on your suitability to work with children

11.Staff will have access to relevant training and the Club will ensure learning is embedded in to our practice

12.Staff are encouraged to avoid putting themselves in situations that may lead to safe-guarding concerns and must avoid spending time alone with children away from others

13.Staff are aware of the need for strict confidentiality at all times

14.Staff will be encouraged to make every effort to minimize time when they are left alone with a child, particularly when supporting children with toileting and intimate care. If staff are alone with a child, the door of the room should be kept open and the Manager or Deputy must be informed of your intention.(ie to support a child with toileting)

15.Staff will be encouraged to communicate with children in a way that enables them to communicate with us

16.Staff meetings will be used to enhance staff members understanding of their safeguarding duties, discuss professional boundaries, and clarify social networking concerns

17.Supervision will regularly be offered to staff in order that they have the opportunity to discuss any safeguarding concerns

Safeguarding Concerns Procedure

The SLP and Deputy SLP shall be responsible for co-ordinating the safeguarding policy undergoing appropriate training every 3 years or sooner if advised, and will be responsible for liaising with children’s services, NSCB and OFSTED in any safeguarding matter.

  1. All concerns, allegations or queries should be reported without delay, to the SLP or Deputy SLP. If the SLP or Deputy SLP is unavailable staff can contact the NSCB if you have concerns about a child’s immediate safety. (Tel 0344 800 8014).
  1. The SLP or Deputy SLP will follow the procedures laid down by theNSCB andwill be responsible for taking any necessary action.
  1. A safeguarding concern form will be completed.
  1. Sunflower Club will assist children’s services and the police, as far as it is able, during any investigation of abuse or neglect. This will include disclosing written and verbal information and evidence.
  1. Ofsted will be informed of any allegations of abuse against a member of staff, student or volunteer or any abuse that is alleged to have taken place on the premises or during a visit or outing.
  1. The SLP or Deputy SLPand members of Sunflower Club staff must ensure that all concerns and allegations are treated with sensitivity and in strict confidence.
  1. Staff will be aware to listen, observe and act, taking into consideration the child’s wishes and feelings.

Doc Ref: Safeguarding concerns procedure / Date of Issue: May 06
Reviewed: September 12
Review Date: September 13 / Issue Status: 04
Authorised by: / Manager / Chair

LADO Safeguarding Concerns

Procedure if an Allegation or Concern is about a member of staff, volunteer or committee member.

This policy is to be used alongside Sunflower Club’s Whistleblowing Policy.

If a member of staff suspects another member of staff, volunteer or committee member of abusing a child they should report their concerns directly to the SLP or Deputy SLP. If the allegations relate to the Manager, SLP or Deputy SLP then the Chair or Vice Chair must be contacted immediately.

1.The SLP or Deputy SLP will report any concerns, or allegations against a member of staff to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) within one working day of receiving an allegation or concern.

2. The LADO will discuss the case with the Manager or SLP and will oversee to its conclusion.

3. Advice with regard to any concern can be obtained from the LADO at any time. Contact tel no is 01603 223473. Details of how to contact the LADO will be displayed at all times.

4. Sunflower Club will take appropriate action in relation to the findings of any LADO investigation into allegations of abuse, consistent with it’s duties to protect the safety of children and up hold fair processes for staff, students and volunteers.

Reporting to NSCB

Any allegation of abuse made by a child against staff, volunteers of committee members must be referred immediately. Whenever there is a suspicion that a crime may have been committed (eg sexual, physical abuse or neglect) NSCB will notify the police.

Suspension and Disciplinary Action

Any member of staff, a student or volunteer under investigation for the alleged abuse of a child, will be subject to the provisions of the Staff Disciplinary & Grievance Procedures policy. In most circumstances the member of staff, volunteer or committee member will be suspended from duty. This suspension is for the protection of the child and in the interests of the member of staff during the investigation, and should not be taken as a prejudgment of guilt. If disciplinary proceedings are initiated this may include:

a)Inter-agency safeguarding process where decisions will be made on a professional judgement. Any civil proceedings to protect the child will be based on the balance of probabilities.

b)Police investigation into whether or not a crime has been committed.

c)Employer’s disciplinary procedure looks to discover whether a staff member has been guilty of a level of misconduct in the course of their duties as an employee or volunteer.

All 3 investigations must be pursued to a definite conclusion.

All 3 investigations must be conclusive that the allegations were not substantiated before a member of staff, volunteer or committee member could be re-instated into their former position.

What is abuse and neglect?

Abuse and neglect are forms of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm. Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting, by those known to them or, more rarely, by a stranger for example, via the internet. They may be abused by an adult or adults, or another child or children.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse 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 fabricatess the symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a child.

Emotional Abuse

Emotional Abuse is 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 children that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet 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 arebeyond the 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.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take pare 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 (eg rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside of clothing. They may 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 (including via the internet.)

Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children.

Neglect

Neglect is 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:

  • Provide adequate food, clothing and shelter (including exclusion from home or
  • abandonment;
  • Protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger;
  • Ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate care-givers); or
  • Ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment.

It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.

Doc Ref: what is abuse and neglect? / Date of Issue: May 06
Reviewed: september 12
Review Date: september13 / Issue Status: 04
Authorised by: / Manager
Tina Anderson / Chair
Joanne Doleman

Sunflower Club

Safeguarding Concern Form

Always take great care to distinguish between fact and opinion when recording suspected incidents of child abuse.

Child’s Name
Date of Birth / Today’s Date
Address
Date of Incident
Incident:
What is said to have happened/ what was seen? Who was involved?
Where did the incident occur?
What were you doing?
In what way did you become concerned?
Who else (if anyone) was there?
Child’s Words
Was the child able to say what happened, if so how did they describe it?
Concern Details:
Can any evidence of abuse be recorded eg bruises, bleeding, changed behaviour
Plan of Action
Who has been told about it? Give dates and timesof all who have received a report either verbal or written
Are the parents aware of these concerns? What, if anything has been said to the parents?
Record any comments made by the parent
Action now needed
Include time and date and who the action have been agreed with.
Name of person completing this form: / Signature

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