Safeguarding

Child Protection is part of safeguarding and promoting welfare. It refers to the  activity that is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering, or are  likely to suffer, significant harm.

Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of  children and protect them from harm.

Safeguarding means:

• To protect children from being maltreated.
• To prevent a child facing impairment of their development or physical or mental health.
• To make sure that children are given care that is safe and effective during their childhood.
• To take action to ensure children get the best possible outcomes and life chances.

Safeguarding children and child protection guidance and legislation applies to all children up to the age of 18.

• Children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind.
• We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them.

• The welfare of children is paramount in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take.
• Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.
• All children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse.
• Some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues.
• Extra safeguards may be needed to keep children who are additionally vulnerable safe from abuse.

• Valuing, listening to and respecting them
• Appointing a nominated child protection lead for children and young people, a deputy and a lead trustee/board member for safeguarding
• Adopting child protection and safeguarding best practice through our policies, procedures and code of conduct for staff and volunteers
• Developing and implementing an effective online safety acceptable use policy and related procedures (content 6 of the safeguarding policy)
• Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures so that all staff and volunteers know about and follow our policies, procedures and behaviour codes confidently and competently
• Recruiting and selecting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made (content 8 of the safeguarding policy)
• Recording and storing and using information professionally and securely, in line with data protection legislation and guidance [more information about this is available from the information commissioner’s office: ico.org.uk/fororganisations]
• Sharing information about safeguarding and good practice with children and their families via leaflets, posters, group work and one-to-one discussions
• Making sure that children, young people and their families know where to go for help if they have a concern
• Using our safeguarding and child protection procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately
• Using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately
• Creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise
• Ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place
• Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance
• Building a safeguarding culture where staff and volunteers, children, young people and their families, treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns