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Safeguarding Policy

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All employees and volunteers have a duty under the Children Act 2004 and the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. During discussions with therapeutic parents, all staff receive training to recognise where a child may be at risk.

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Confidentiality and Safeguarding

The Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma respects the confidentiality of service users and will not disclose information to a third party without consent unless that information concerns the safety and welfare of children or vulnerable adults. If it is determined that a child, young person or vulnerable adult is at risk of harm, The Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma has a duty to consult with and inform the relevant statutory agencies. The Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma is aware of issues surrounding trauma and allegations, and its staff do not have direct contact with children, working exclusively with parents. The Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma may recommend that therapists, counsellors, and social workers carry out direct work with children. Still, these experts are not The Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma CIC employees and will be governed by their own professional bodies’ Safeguarding procedures.

 

Everyone at The Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma will:

Put the safety of children, young people, and vulnerable adults at the centre of our work, and work in a way that recognises that the emotional state and mental health of therapeutic parents have a fundamental impact on the emotional well-being of children in their care.

  • Work in partnership with parents, carers and families to promote honesty and mutual respect.

  • Be vigilant and aware of issues surrounding compassion fatigue (blocked care) and its potential impact on the child and the parent.

  • Ensure all staff, including volunteers, understand the agency’s safeguarding procedures

  • Use language appropriate to the age and culture of each person and will explain any unavoidable technical or professional terms

 

 

PROCEDURE

Recognising abuse

To ensure that children are protected from harm, we need to understand what types of behaviour constitute abuse and neglect. You may hear parents describing historic abuse and disclosing traumatic events. Abuse which has happened in the past and is known about does not need to be reported, especially in the case where the child has been moved to a safer environment, i.e. adopted.

Abuse and neglect are forms of maltreatment. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm, for example, by hitting them, or by failing to act to prevent harm, for example, by leaving a small child home alone or leaving knives or matches within reach of an unattended toddler.

There are four categories of abuse: physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and neglect.

 

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 fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces illness in a child (this used to be called Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy but is now more usually referred to as fabricated or induced illness).

 

Emotional abuse

Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child, such as causing 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 for meeting another person's needs. It may feature age – or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions that are beyond the child’s developmental capability, as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the child from participating in normal social interaction. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another. It may involve serious 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, although it may occur alone.

 

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, including prostitution, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative and non-penetrative acts. They may include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, pornographic material or watching sexual activities, or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.

 

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 misuse. Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to provide adequate food clothing or shelter, including exclusion from home or abandonment; failing to protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger; failure to ensure adequate supervision, including the use of inadequate caretakers; or the failure to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.

(Definitions taken from Working Together to Safeguard Children)

 

If you suspect a child is at risk of harm

There will be occasions when you suspect a child may be at serious risk, but you have no ‘real’ evidence.  When you contact The Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma CIC office, the designated Safeguarding Officer (SO) will be alerted. This will be a qualified, registered social worker with significant experience in both Child Protection AND therapeutic parenting. The SO will be responsible for deciding whether the information needs to be referred to and will be responsible for doing so. The designated authority may wish to speak to you at some point, so it is important that you keep a written record of what you remember.

 

Taking action

Key points to remember for taking action are:

 

  • in an emergency take the action necessary to help the child, for example, call 999

  • report your concern to The Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma office 01453 519000  by the end of the day

  • do not start your own investigation

  • If information comes to light over the weekend and you believe the child to be in serious danger, phone the police or your local authority. The correct number can be found by looking up ‘Safeguarding Children’ on your local authority website.

  • share information on a need-to-know basis only – do not discuss the issue with colleagues, friends or family

  • write down any information in case you forget it later on

  • seek support for yourself if you are distressed.

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Whistleblowing Procedure

 

Reporting Concerns

It is essential to report any concerns about the safety and well-being of individuals promptly and directly to the designated safeguarding officer. This includes any suspicions or allegations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of any form.

 

We acknowledge that there may be instances where individuals are unable to report concerns through the standard safeguarding channels. In such cases, our whistleblowing procedure offers an alternative and confidential means of reporting concerns without fear of reprisal.

 

Confidential Reporting

Employees and volunteers are encouraged to report concerns confidentially to the designated whistleblowing officer to ensure their privacy and protection.

 

Protection from Reprisal

Individuals who come forward with concerns in good faith can be assured that they will be safeguarded from any form of retaliation or victimization as a result of their disclosure.

 

Investigation

All whistleblowing reports will be thoroughly investigated, and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation to address the reported concerns effectively.

 

Support

Individuals who raise concerns will be provided with support and necessary resources, including access to counselling services if needed to ensure their well-being.

 

Training and Awareness

To ensure that all employees and volunteers are fully aware of their responsibilities and understand the process of reporting concerns, they will receive regular training on safeguarding and the whistleblowing procedure. This will enable them to recognise, respond to, and report any potential concerns effectively.

 

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Safer Recruitment Policy

The Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. This policy outlines our comprehensive approach to safer recruitment to ensure that all staff and volunteers are suitable for their roles. The safety and well-being of those we serve is our top priority.

 

This policy applies to all recruitment processes for staff and volunteers who will work with children and vulnerable adults.

 

Recruitment Procedures

 

1. Job Advertisements

All job advertisements will include a clear and prominent statement about our unwavering commitment to safeguarding and the requirement for a thorough vetting process. This statement will also encourage potential candidates who share our commitment to apply.

 

2. Application Process

Applicants must complete a detailed application form that includes their full employment history and references. All periods of unemployment or gaps in employment history must be explained adequately to ensure transparency.

 

3. Pre-Employment Checks

  • All candidates will undergo a comprehensive DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check to determine their eligibility to work with vulnerable individuals.

  • References from previous employers will be obtained and meticulously verified to gain insight into the candidate’s past performance and conduct.

  • Identity and right to work in the UK will be confirmed in compliance with legal requirements.

 

4. Interview Process

  • Structured interviews will be conducted to assess the candidate’s qualifications, experience, and suitability for working with vulnerable groups. These interviews will also provide the candidate with an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to safeguarding.

  • Specific questions directly related to safeguarding and the protection of children and vulnerable adults will be included to ascertain the candidate's understanding of these critical issues.

 

5. Post-Employment

  • New employees and volunteers will undergo mandatory safeguarding training as a fundamental component of their induction process. This training will equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills to ensure the safety and protection of the individuals we serve.

  • Ongoing training and support will be provided to all staff and volunteers to ensure that they remain updated on best practices and compliant with safeguarding standards.

 

6. Monitoring and Review

  • This policy will undergo careful and systematic review annually to ensure that it remains effective and compliant with current legislation and best practices. Any necessary updates or improvements will be implemented as part of this review process.

 

7. Contact Information

For any questions or concerns regarding this policy, please do not hesitate to contact our Designated Safeguarding Lead via The Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma. We are committed to addressing any queries or issues promptly and effectively.

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