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Local: Bedfordshire Safeguarding Children Resource Pack
A Safeguarding Children Resource Pack is now available to download from this site that includes:
- How to Compile a Safeguarding Resource Pack
- A Model Safeguarding Policy
- A Model Logging Concerns Sheet
- A Model Safeguarding Children Procedure
- A Model Designated Safeguarding Children Champion Specification
- Guidance for a Code of Conduct for Staff and Volunteers
- Guidance for Staff and Volunteer Selection and Training
- Guidance on the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Procedure
1: What is Safeguarding?
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:
- Protecting children from maltreatment
- Preventing impairment of children’s health and development
- Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
and undertaking that role so as to enable those children to have optimum life chances and to enter adulthood successfully.
(Source: Paragraph 1.18, Working Together to Safeguard Children, 2006)
2: Why do we need a Safeguarding Children Policy?
It shows the group's commitment to protecting children, giving clear signals that the group takes safeguarding children seriously in all aspects of its activities. It also shows shared responsibility for safeguarding children. The development and implementation of clear and concise Safeguarding Children Policies and Procedures are a key requirement for any organisation working with children.
3: Organisational ‘health check’
When formulating a Safeguarding Children Resource Pack use this as an opportunity to carry out an ‘Organisational Health Check’ in respect of safeguarding children. This should ensure that your organisation has:
- a safeguarding children policy and a procedure for what to do if there are concerns about a child’s welfare
- a named person for dealing with concerns or allegations of abuse and step by step guidance on what action to take
- a rigorous recruitment and selection process for staff and volunteers who work with children
- a written code of behaviour which outlines good practice when working with children
- a training plan and regular opportunities for all those in contact with children to learn about safeguarding children and about health and safety
- information for children and for parents or carers about the safeguarding children policy and where to go for help
- a protective culture that puts children’s interests first – children must feel confident that if they have concerns someone will listen and take them seriously
- guidance on specific areas relevant to your group and these may for example include: taking children away on trips, internet use, guidance on use of photographs, video, digital equipment and websites
- policies on bullying and on health and safety. You will need processes for dealing with complaints by children as well as adults and for taking disciplinary action where necessary. You may also wish to consider a whistle blowing policy.
4: Contents of a policy
A policy usually contains:
- Introduction
- Policy issues: definition of abuse, how to respond to abuse and selection of staff and volunteers
- Lists of good practices expected of staff and volunteers
- Contact details of designated safeguarding children champion
A) Introduction
This section can include the following:
- Contents page
- Definition of terms (glossary)
- Why you need a policy and who it covers
- Policy principles i.e. definition of a child, principles of treatment and value of children
- Acknowledgements of any help you have received in putting the policy together
B) Policy issues
This section can include the following:
- Your mission statement on safeguarding children
- Definitions of child abuse, how you define child abuse and the symptoms it can cause
- Common forms and causes of abuse and a description of the typical type of abuse faced
- References to any applicable laws relating to protection for children
- Behavioural expectations for those that work with children to ensure children are safe and to ensure false accusations are avoided
- Guidelines on recruiting and screening workers and volunteers
- Ways of helping children report suspicions or allegations of abuse without fear of reprisal
- Guidelines of how to report abuse, and how to respond if allegations are made
- Guidance on how to keep all information regarding abuse confidential
C) Good practices
This section can include the following:
- How to recognise child abuse
- What to do when a child talks about abuse
- Child discipline
- Bullying
- Storage of data, information and visual images of children
- Safe use of internet and email
Download
Online resource
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