SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE POLICY (Scotland)

Adopted on: 1st August 2006 Last Renewal Date: July 2014 The policy is to be reviewed on: July 2015 To be reviewed by the Senior Management Team

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Child Protection Policy (Scotland)

July 2014

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1. Introduction This policy has been developed in accordance with the following guidance and legislation: UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989 The Children (Scotland) Act 1995 The Age of Legal Capacity (Scotland ) Act 1991 The Police (Scotland) Act 1997 The Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003 Protecting Children & Young People The Charter 2004 Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 Sexual Offences Act (Scotland) 2009 National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2014

The Senior Management Team recognises its duty of care towards children and young people; and to work together with other agencies to ensure adequate arrangements exist within our centres to identify, refer, and support those young people who are either suffering from, or at risk of harm. This policy is consistent with the principles of the Newcastle College Group (NCG) Child Protection Policy with due amendment to reflect the legislative framework in Scotland Safeguarding and child protection has to be seen in the wider context in Scotland of Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC), The Early Years Framework and The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. All children and young people have the right to be cared for and protected from harm and abuse, and to grow up in a safe environment in which their rights are respected and their needs met. Children and young people should get the help they need when they need it. Their welfare is always paramount.

2. Equal Opportunities Statement This policy will be implemented in accordance with NCG Equality Strategy. An equality impact assessment has been conducted in July 2014.

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3. The aims of this policy are: 

To support the child/young persons’ development in ways that foster security, confidence and resilience.

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To provide a positive environment in which children/young people feel safe, secure, valued and respected, feel confident and know how to approach adults if they are in difficulties.

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To raise the awareness of all teaching, non-teaching staff and volunteers of the need to safeguard children/young people and of their responsibilities in identifying and reporting possible cases of abuse.

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To provide a systematic means of monitoring children/young people known or thought to be at risk of harm, and ensure we contribute to assessments of need and support plans for those children/young people.

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To acknowledge the need for effective and appropriate communication between all members of staff in relation to safeguarding children/young people.

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To develop a structured procedure within each Rathbone location, which will be followed by all members of staff in cases of suspected abuse.

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To develop effective working relationships with all other agencies involved in safeguarding children/young people.

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To ensure that all adults within each centre who have access to children/young people have been checked as to their suitability. This includes any other community users of our facilities who will have to ensure that appropriate checks of staff and volunteers have taken place

Principles Rathbone procedures for child protection are consistent with locally agreed interagency procedures. We will ensure that: 

The Senior Management Team understand and fulfil their safeguarding and child protection responsibilities.

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Rathbone has a National Safeguarding Advisor and a nominated local safeguarding co-ordinator in each centre who has received appropriate training and will receive refresher training bi-annually

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

Rathbone has a member of staff who will act in the local safeguarding co-ordinator’s absence who has also received appropriate training, and who will have been briefed in the role.

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All members of staff are provided with basic child protection and safeguarding training every three years.

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All members of staff and volunteers know how to respond to a learner who discloses abuse, and the procedure to be followed appropriately, sharing a concern of possible abuse or a disclosure of abuse.

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All parents/carers are made aware of Rathbone’s responsibilities with regard to child/young person protection procedures through publication of the Rathbone Safeguarding Policy which is available on request.

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Rathbone’s selection and recruitment policy adheres to the principles of safe recruitment outlined in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 and includes all appropriate checks on staff suitability through the Disclosure Scotland.

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Rathbone procedures will be reviewed annually.

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The name of the Local safeguarding co-ordinator will be clearly shown in each centre, with a safeguarding statement explaining the centre’s role in referring and monitoring cases of suspected abuse.

4. Responsibilities Rathbone understands that its responsibility to safeguard children/young people requires that any concerns of a safeguarding nature are shared appropriately. 

Rathbone will refer a child/young person if there are concerns about his/her welfare, possible abuse or neglect to the local social work office immediately. A written record of the referral will be faxed/posted/emailed to social work as soon as possible within 48 hours.

The Local Safeguarding Co-ordinator will ensure that: 

Written records of concerns about a child/young person are retained securely.

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All such records are kept confidentially and are separate from individual learner records, with a front sheet listing dates and brief entry to provide a chronology.

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

A cross reference of further record-keeping is marked on the young person’s records.

The Local Safeguarding Co-ordinator will also: 

Act as a focal point for staff to discuss concerns and liaise with other agencies, particularly Lead Professionals and the National Safeguarding Co-ordinator.

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Attend (or delegate this requirement to another appropriately informed member of staff) case conferences, family support meetings, core groups, or other multi-agency planning meetings, contributing to the assessment process, and providing reports as required, which have been shared with the parents.

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Comply with any recommendations of the Child Protection Plan or Children’s Plan as appropriate

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Ensure that any child/young person that we are aware of being currently on the Child/Young Person Child Protection Register, who is absent without explanation for two days is referred to their key worker’s social work team.

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Ensure that all centre staff are aware of this policy and know how to recognise and refer any concerns.

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Ensure that all staff receive regular updates on child protection and safeguarding, and receive refresher training as required.

5. Supporting Children/Young People 

Rathbone recognises that a child/young person who is abused, who witnesses violence or who lives in an abusive environment may feel helpless and humiliated, may blame him/herself, and find it difficult to develop and maintain a sense of self worth.

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It is also understood that the centre may provide the only stability in the lives of children/young people who have been abused or who are at risk of harm.

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Rathbone is fully aware that research shows that the behaviour of a child/young person in these circumstances may range from that which is perceived to be normal to aggressive or withdrawn.

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6. Rathbone Centres will support all children and young people by: 

Subscribing to the principles contained in the Protecting Children & Young People Charter (2004) - young people get the help when they need it - make sure young people are alright and not put at more risk - be listened to seriously - be able to discuss issues in private if they want to - ensure young people are involved in, and understand decisions about their lives - ensure they have a named person to help them

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Encouraging the development of self-esteem and resilience in every aspect of the centres life including through the curriculum.

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Promoting a caring, safe and positive environment within all centres.

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Liaising and working together with all other support services and those agencies involved in the safeguarding of children/young people.

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Notifying social work or the police as soon as there is a significant concern.

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Providing continuing support to a child/young person (about whom there have been concerns) who leaves the centre by ensuring that such concerns are forwarded under confidential cover to social work as a matter of urgency.

7. Confidentiality 

Rathbone understands the framework of confidentiality in respect of safeguarding ands child protection matters.

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The Local safeguarding co-ordinator will disclose personal information about a learner to other members of staff on a need to know basis only.

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All staff must be aware that they have a professional responsibility to share information with other agencies in order to safeguard children/young people, in consultation with the Local Safeguarding Coordinator.

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All staff must be aware that they cannot promise a child/young person confidentiality which might compromise the safety or well-being of the young person or that of another.

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Rathbone will always undertake to share the intention to refer a child/young person to social work with their parents/carers unless to do so could put the child/young person at greater risk of harm, or impede

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a criminal investigation. If in doubt, we will consult with social work on this point.

8. Supporting Staff  Rathbone recognises that staff working in centres who have become involved with a child/young person who has suffered harm, or appears to be likely to suffer harm may find the situation stressful and upsetting. 

Staff will be supported by providing an opportunity to talk through their anxieties with the local safeguarding co-ordinator and to seek further support from another source if preferred, subject to rules of confidentiality.

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Staff have access to advice on the boundaries of appropriate behaviour. Guidance for Safer Working Practice for Adults who Work with Children and Young People provides advice on this and the circumstances which should be avoided in order to limit complaints against staff of abuse of trust, and/or allegations of physical or sexual abuse

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Staff have access to support and appropriate workshops, courses or meetings as organised by local agencies or Rathbone.

10. Prevention Rathbone centres play a significant part in the prevention of harm to our young people by providing them with effective lines of communication with trusted adults, supportive friends and an culture of protection. Throughout the organisation, Rathbone will seek to: 

Establish and maintain an ethos, which is understood by all staff, which enables children/young people to feel secure and encourages them to talk knowing that they will be listened to.

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Ensure that all children/young people know there is an adult in the centre whom they can approach if they are worried or in difficulty.

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Provide across the curriculum, in Scotland ‘The Curriculum for Excellence’, opportunities which equip children/young people with the skills they need to stay safe from harm and to know to whom they should turn for help.

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Adopt the principles of good practice and maintain the organisational priority of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people

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11. Further advice and support 

Further information, support advice and guidance is available from the National Safeguarding Advisors at [email protected] or [email protected]

12.

Related Policies/Procedures

Allegations against staff All staff should take care not to place themselves in a vulnerable position with a child/young person. It is always advisable for interviews or work with individual young persons or parents to be conducted in view of other adults. Rathbone understands that a young person may make an allegation against a member of staff, but it is important that a fair and balanced approach should be taken to ensure that both the young person and the member of staff are safeguarded. 

If such an allegation is made, the member of staff receiving the allegation will immediately inform their line manager who will then immediately discuss the content of the allegation with the National Safeguarding Advisor or HR

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If the allegation made to a member of staff concerns their line manager, the person receiving the allegation will immediately inform the National Safeguarding Advisor or HR, without notifying their line manager first.

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The management of allegations is outlined in greater detail in the Allegations Against Staff Policy

Whistleblowing Rathbone recognises that children/young people cannot be expected to raise concerns in an environment where staff fail to do so; therefore all staff should be aware of their duty to raise concerns about the attitude or actions of colleagues. If necessary, they should speak to their local director or the Rathbone designated officer.

Behaviour Our policy includes guidance on physical intervention, standards of behaviour, rewards and sanctions.

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Preventing & Tackling Bullying Our policy on the prevention and management of bullying acknowledges that to allow or condone bullying may lead to consideration under child protection procedures.

Admissions This policy provides minimum level of information required for admission as well as providing the risk assessment framework

Racist Incidents Our policy on racist incidents is set out in a separate policy and acknowledges that racist incidents may lead to consideration under child/young person protection procedures.

Domestic or Inter-relational Abuse Our policy on domestic violence is set out in a separate policy. It recognises that exposure to domestic violence can have a serious impact on a child/young person’s development and emotional well-being and acknowledges that staff themselves can be victims or perpetrators of domestic violence.

Health & Safety The Health & Safety Policy, set out in a separate document, reflects the consideration we give to the protection of our children/young people both physically within the centre environment, and for example in relation to internet use, and when away from the centre when undertaking trips and visits.

Safe Recruitment and Selection Rathbone has a Safe Recruitment and Vetting Policy which endorses the principles of the Bichard Inquiry and establishes good recruitment practice

Safeguarding Young People in the Use of Technology This procedure provides guidance on the safe use all forms of electronic media both for staff and young people

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Special Educational Needs and Learners with Difficulties and/or Disabilities This procedure is aimed at promoting the successful inclusion of learners with special needs within Rathbone provision

Complaints Policy and Procedures This provides a complaints process for young people and learners.

Confidentiality Guidance on the rights of young people about information held by Rathbone, and our policy on sharing information with others.

12. Further Guidance This policy is supported by a range of practice guidance documents which are available on the intranet. Documents include:         

Safeguarding Young People Managers Guide Deliberate Self Harm Referral Guide Information and Record Keeping Guidance for Safer Working Practice for Adults who Work with Children and Young People Work Experience Lone Working with Young People Young People Living Away from Home Sexual Exploitation

This policy will be reviewed annually.

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Appendix 1

Definitions of Abuse National Child Protection Guidance for Scotland 2010

1. Sexual Abuse Sexual abuse is any act that involves the child in any way for the sexual gratification of another person, whether or not iti is claimed that the child consented or assented. Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative or non-penetrative acts. They may include non contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, pornographic material or in watching sexual activities, using sexual language towards children or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways

2. Neglect Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in serious impairment of the child’s health and development. It may involve a parent or carer failing to provide food , shelter or clothing, to protect a child from physical harm or danger, or to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include the neglect of, or failure to respond to, a child’s basic emotional needs. Neglect may also result in the child being diagnosed as suffering from ‘non organic failure to thrive’, where they have significantly failed to reach normal weight and growth or development milestones and where physical and genetic reasons have been medically eliminated.

3. Emotional Abuse Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional neglect or ill treatment that has severe and persistent adverse effects on a child’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to a child that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may involve the imposition of age or developmentally inappropriate expectations on a child. It may involve causing children to feel frightened or in danger; or exploiting or corrupting children. Some level of emotional abuse is present in all types of ill treatment of a child; it can occur independently of other forms of abuse.

4. Physical Abuse Physical abuse is the causing of physical harm to a child or young person. Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning or suffocating. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer feigns the symptoms of, or deliberately induces ill health to a child they are looking after.

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