Safeguarding Policy
Quiet Down There CIO Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable or Disabled Adults Policy
Introduction, ethos and aims
For the purposes of this policy a child is under the age of 21 years however a child is defined as a person under the age of 18 in The Children Act 1989. Quiet Down There CIO has a duty of care to safeguard all children & young people involved with its projects, events or volunteering/work experience programme. All children & young people have a right to protection, and the
needs of disabled children and vulnerable adults are included in this policy. Quiet Down There CIO will ensure the safety and protection of all children, young people and vulnerable adults of any age involved in Quiet Down There CIO activities through adherence to the following Legislation, Statutory Guidance and Procedures:
● Children Act 1989, Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
● The Children Act 2004
● Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 Prevent Duty
● Working together to safeguard children HMG 2018
● What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused HMG 2015
● Information Sharing: Advice for practitioners providing Safeguarding Services DfE 2018
Pan Sussex procedures www.bhscp.org.uk Brighton & Hove Safeguarding Children Partnership (BHSCP)
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
QDT’s Designated Safeguarding Person is Emily Atkinson (contact details below).
Roles and responsibilities:
● Liaison with local statutory children’s services, and with BHSCP
● Provide support, advice, and guidance to any other staff on an ongoing basis, and on any specific safeguarding issue as required
Training dates of training: Designated Safeguarding Lead (Level 3) Jan 2024.
Recruitment
When recruiting QDT use safe recruitment practices carrying out thorough checks including agency, students, and regular volunteers. All new employees (and volunteers) will be required to undergo an interview carried out to acceptable protocol and recommendations. All employees and volunteers should receive formal or informal induction, during which:
● A check should be made that the application form has been completed in full (including sections on criminal records and
self-disclosures).
● The job requirements and responsibilities should be clarified.
● Child protection and safeguarding vulnerable adult procedures are explained and training needs are identified. Staff get regular supervision to include discussion of safeguarding concerns and impact. In addition to pre-selection checks, the safeguarding process includes training after recruitment to help staff and volunteers to:
● Analyse their own practice against established good practice, and to ensure their practice is likely to protect them from false allegations.
● Recognise their responsibilities and report any concerns about suspected poor practice or possible abuse.
● Respond to concerns expressed by a child or young/vulnerable person.
● Work safely and effectively with children, young people or vulnerable adults.
We also offer all regular staff the following training:
First Aid
Mental Health First Aid
Suicide prevention
And we will consider supporting any specific training requested from individual staff members.
Staff responsibility
QDT have a folder of safeguarding information in the studio and all staff must take time to familiarise themselves with this material. Staff understand that the definition of safeguarding is to ‘promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm’. All staff have an understanding that abuse is where a child is treated cruelly, violently or forcefully by an adult or another child, causing harm or distress. Children can be at risk of abuse in the home, in social situations and online. Staff have awareness of the specific safeguarding issues that can put children at risk of harm for example, abuse and neglect, peer-on-peer abuse, extremism and radicalisation.
Staff understand that categories of abuse include:
● physical abuse, to intentionally cause bodily injury. Examples include hitting, shaking, poisoning, burning. It can also involve the fabrication of a child’s illness by their parents or careers
● sexual abuse, to force or intice a child to engage in sexual activities. Including physical contact and/or non contact acts- such as involving children in the production of sexual images.
● emotional abuse, the ongoing emotional maltreatment of a child, including being unable to express opinions, overprotection and serious bullying.
● neglect, the failure to prevent harm from happening to a child, including failing to provide adequate supervision for a child or being unresponsive to a child’s basic needs.
When working with children with additional vulnerabilities or who are at an increased risk we will ensure staff are aware of any non sensitive information about additional needs or risks. This could include children with SEND, homeless children, children with learning disabilities, children in the care system, children who are carers. We keep a register of all children and staff on the premises and record all visitors. We have a printed register of all children attending a session and
record their arrival and departure on the register. Those without DBS checks will not be left in supervision.
Responding to signs or suspicions of abuse
We will work within BHSCP guidelines to identify signs of possible abuse and neglect at the earliest opportunity and respond in a timely and appropriate way.
The designated person will differentiate between how to respond to low level concerns, a disclosure by a child or when a child is in immediate danger following the threshold document https://www.bhscp.org.uk/documents/brighton-hove-helping-children-and-families-threshold-document/
Signs of abuse may include:
● significant changes in children’s behaviour
● deterioration in children’s general well-being
● unexplained bruising, marks or signs of possible abuse or neglect
● children’s comments which give cause for concern
● any reasons to suspect neglect or abuse outside the setting, for example in the child’s home or that a girl may have been subjected to (or is risk of) female genital mutilation (FGM)
● inappropriate behaviour displayed by other members of staff, or any other person working with the children, for example: inappropriate sexual comments, excessive one-to-one attention beyond the requirements of their usual role and responsibilities; or inappropriate sharing of images
FGM is when a female’s genitals are deliberately altered or removed for non-medical reasons, the NSPCC has a helpline available 0800 028 3550 and advice to keep children and young people safe.
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/female-genital-mutilation-fgm/ To report a FGM concern call the Police on 101 and contact FDfF (details below).
If any of the following occur you should report this immediately to another colleague and record the incident. You should also ensure the parents/carer are informed:
● if you accidentally hurt a child, young person or vulnerable adult
● if he/she seems distressed in any manner
● if a child, young person or vulnerable adult appears to be sexually aroused by your actions
● if a child, young person or vulnerable adult misunderstands or misinterprets something you have done.
Accidents must be recorded in the accident book and shared with a manager.
Prevent
Prevent is one of the 4 strands of CONTEST, the UK’s Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The Prevent Strategy aims ‘to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism’.
We will work in accordance with the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015. If we have a concern that a person we will complete the online referral form https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/community-safety-partnership/prevent-terrorism-and-extremism/prevent-referral-form and email to [email protected]
Our Prevent lead is Lucy Jefferies (contact details below).
Channel training
Course 1 – Awareness Course – completed in Jan 2024
Course 2 – Referrals Course – completed in Jan 2024
Information sharing, consent and confidentiality
Information will only be shared with those who need to know. We will follow guidance from BHSCP, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Information Sharing: Advice for Practitioners. We keep a record of our decisions to share information, with or without consent, and our reasons/rationale for it. Sensitive records are password protected.
Use of photographic/filming equipment at events
There is evidence that some people have used public events as an opportunity to take inappropriate photographs or film footage of children,young, vulnerable or disabled people. All organisations have a duty of care to be vigilant and any concerns should be reported to the Director. Video as an artists’ tool: there is no intention to prevent filmmakers using video equipment as a legitimate tool. However, performers and their parents/carers should be made aware that this is part of the programme
and such films should be stored safely. Participants’ parents or guardian’s permission must be sought in writing if the footage is to be used in any public capacity. All images will be held securely and deleted in accordance with GDPR. Parents & visitors will not use mobile phones on premises when young people are present.
Allegation against yourself or staff and volunteers
If an allegation is made we will:
● Inform Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) [email protected] immediately without internal
investigation
● Cooperate with any investigation
● Take guidance from the LADO for Brighton & Hove on appropriate suspension or alternative. Contact details below.
● Inform Trustees and pass responsibility onto the Chair of Trustees if concerns relate to the designated person or the Director
● Referral concerns to DBS if allegations substantiated or person leaves employment before investigation would have concluded in a dismissal for safeguarding concerns.
Action
1. Concerns about poor practice:
● If, following consideration, the allegation is clearly about poor practice, the Director as the Designated Officer will deal with it as a misconduct issue.
● If the allegation is about poor practice by the Director or if the matter has been handled inadequately and concerns remain, it should be reported to a Trustee who will decide how to deal with the allegation and whether or not to initiate disciplinary proceedings.
2. Concerns about suspected abuse:
● Any suspicion that a child, young person or vulnerable adult has been abused by either a member of staff or a volunteer should be reported to the Director, who will inform the Board of Trustees and then take such steps as considered necessary to ensure the safety of the child, young person or vulnerable adult in question and any other person who may be at risk.
● The Director will refer the allegation to the social services department which may involve the police, or go directly to the police if out-of-hours.
● The parents or carers of the child, young person or vulnerable adult will be contacted as soon as possible following advice from the social services department.
● The Director should also notify the Board of Trustees who will deal with any media enquiries.
● If the Director is the subject of the suspicion/allegation, the report must be made to the Board of Trustees who will refer the allegation to social services.
Confidentiality
Every effort should be made to ensure that confidentiality is maintained for all concerned. Information should be handled and disseminated on a need to know basis only.
This includes the following people:
● The Director
● the parents or guardian of the person who is alleged to have been abused
● the person making the allegation
● social services/police
● the alleged abuser (and parents if the alleged abuser is another child, young person or vulnerable adult). Seek social services advice on who should approach the alleged abuser.
Information should be stored in a secure place with limited access to designated people, in line with data protection laws (eg that information is accurate, regularly updated, relevant and secure).
Internal enquiries and suspension
● The Quiet Down There CIO Director will make an immediate decision about whether any individual accused of abuse should be temporarily suspended pending further police and social services inquiries.
● Irrespective of the findings of the social services or police inquiries the Board of Trustees will assess all individual cases to decide whether a member of staff or volunteer can be reinstated and how this can be sensitively handled. This may be a difficult decision, particularly where there is insufficient evidence to uphold any action by the police. In such cases, the Board of Trustees must reach a decision based upon the available information, which could suggest that on a balance of probability; it is more likely than not that the allegation is true. The welfare of the child, young person or vulnerable adult should remain of paramount importance throughout.
Support to deal with the aftermath of abuse
● Consideration should be given to the kind of support that the child, young person or vulnerable adult, parents and members of staff may need. Use of helplines, support groups and open meetings will maintain an open culture and help the healing process. The British Association for Counselling Directory is available from The British Association for Counselling, 1 Regent Place, Rugby CV21 2PJ, Tel:01788 550899. www.bacp.co.uk
● Consideration should be given to what kind of support may be appropriate for the alleged perpetrator.
Allegations of previous abuse
Allegations of abuse may be made some time after the event (eg by an adult who was abused as a child or by a member of staff who is still currently working with children, young people or vulnerable adults).
Where such an allegation is made, Quiet Down There CIO should follow the procedures as detailed above and report the matter to the social services or the police. This is because other young people, either within or outside the venue, may be at risk from this person. Anyone who has a previous criminal conviction for offences related to abuse is automatically excluded
from working with children. This is reinforced by the details of the Protection of Children Act 1999.
Action if bullying is suspected
If bullying is suspected, the same procedure should be followed as set out in ‘Responding to suspicions or allegations’ above.
Action to help the victim and prevent bullying:
● Take all signs of bullying very seriously.
● Encourage all children, young people or vulnerable adults to speak and share their concerns. (It is believed that up to 12 children per year commit suicide as a result of bullying, so if anyone talks about or threatens suicide, seek professional help immediately). Help the victim to speak out and tell the person in charge or someone in authority.
● Investigate all allegations and take action to ensure the victim is safe. Speak with the victim and the bully(ies) separately.
● Reassure the victim that you can be trusted and will help them, although you cannot promise to tell no one else.
● Keep records of what is said (what happened, by whom, when).
● Report any concerns to the Quiet Down There CIO Director, Child Protection Officer or the school (wherever the bullying is occurring).
Action towards the bully(ies):
● Talk with the bully(ies), explain the situation, and try to get the bully(ies) to understand the consequences of their behaviour. Seek an apology to the victim(s).
● Inform the bully(ies)’s parents/carers.
● Insist on the return of ‘borrowed’ items and that the bully(ies) compensate the victim.
● Provide support for staff member who work with the victim.
● Impose sanctions as necessary.
● Encourage and support the bully(ies) to change behaviour.
● Hold meetings with the families to report on progress.
● Inform all organisation members of action taken.
● Keep a written record of action taken.
3. Concerns outside the immediate environment (eg a parent or carer)- procedure for responding to safeguarding concerns:
● Where appropriate all concerns will be passed on to the designated lead (Emily Atkinson) as soon as possible. In the first instance pass concerns verbally but then follow in writing. Make sure the information is factual.
● Designated person will make the decision on the assessed risk, this should reflect the history of the child. If they feel it meets the threshold for referral, they need to notify parents unless it would place the child at significant risk. Make contact to Front Door for Families (EDfF), contact details below. Referrals made verbally must be confirmed in writing within 24 hours.
● If the threshold for referral is not met the designated person may request staff to monitor specific aspects of the child’s presentation, behaviour, attendance, etc. with a timescale for review.
4. Information for social services or the police about suspected abuse:
To ensure that this information is as helpful as possible, a detailed record should always be made at the time of the disclosure/concern, which should include the following:
● The child, young person or vulnerable adult’s name, age and date of birth.
● The child, young person or vulnerable adult’s home address and telephone number.
● Whether or not the person making the report is expressing their own concerns or those of someone else.
● The nature of the allegation. Include dates, times, any special factors and other relevant information.
● Make a clear distinction between what is fact, opinion or hearsay.
● A description of any visible bruising or other injuries. Also any indirect signs, such as behavioural changes.
● Details of witnesses to the incidents.
● The child, young person or vulnerable adult’s account, if it can be given, of what has happened and how any bruising or other injuries occurred.
● Have the parents or guardian been contacted?
● If so, what has been said?
● Has anyone else been consulted? If so, record details.
● If the child, young person or vulnerable adult was not the person who reported the incident, has the child, young person or vulnerable adult been spoken to? If so, what was said?
● Has anyone been alleged to be the abuser? Record details.
● Where possible referral to the police or social services should be confirmed in writing within 24 hours and the name of the contact who took the referral should be recorded.
If you are worried about sharing concerns about abuse with a senior colleague, you can contact social services or the police direct, or the NSPCC Child Protection Helpline on 0808 800 5000, or Childline on 0800 1111.
Contact Details
● Designated Person: Emily Atkinson 07881951177
● Prevent lead: Lucy Jefferies 07774469826
● Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO): [email protected]
● Front Door for Families (FDfF): T. 01273 290400 (9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, 9am to 4.30pm Friday); Emergency out of hours T. 01273 335905 or 335906
● Police: T. 01273 665502 or 0845 6070999 or 101
● Prevent Coordinator: Nahida Shaikh, Partnership Community Safety Team – T. 01273 290584; M. 07717303292; E. [email protected]
● NSPCC Whistleblowing: 0800 028 0285
● Public concern at work: 020 3117 2520
Partners
Where Quiet Down There CIO or staff are working in partnership with other organisations and the work involves children, young people, disabled or vulnerable people of any age Quiet Down There CIO should use the Policy and Guidelines as the basis for discussion and where appropriate include explicit conditions relating to child protection and safeguarding vulnerable
adults in the partnership agreement. This may be achieved by a simple reference to our Policy and Guidelines and/or those of our partners. Copies of the Policy and Guidelines may be shared with other organisations to assist this process.
Quiet Down There CIO funding other organisations
Where Quiet Down There CIO is funding, whether through cash or other contributions, the work of other organisations and that work involves children, young people or vulnerable adults we should, if necessary, seek to influence the way in which the organisation carries out that work to ensure that Child Protection and Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults is a factor in the
way their work is carried out.
Declaration
On behalf of Quiet Down There CIO, we, the undersigned, will oversee the implementation of the Child Protection and Safeguarding Vulnerable Adult Policy and take all necessary steps to ensure it is adhered to.
Signed: Lucy Jefferies Signed: Victoria Patrick
(nb One of the signatories should be a Child Protection representative on the Board of Directors/Trustees)
Name:Lucy Jefferies
Position within QUIET DOWN THERE CIO: Director
Date: 28/01/24
Name:Victoria Patrick
Position within QUIET DOWN THERE CIO: Chair of Trustees
Date:28/01/24
Policy reviewed 28/01/2024