Introduction to Safeguarding and Child

Protection

Helen Elliott and Barry Rawlings

Welcome !

Introduction Housekeeping Learning Contract Looking after ourselves

Aims of the session To provide an overview of the legal and

policy framework of safeguarding and child protection

To consider roles and responsibilities of staff and volunteers in safeguarding

To raise awareness of types of abuse, signs and symptoms

To provide information about what to do if you have concerns

Introductory Exercise Safeguarding Quiz

The National Picture Tragedy of child deaths Laming Enquiry Failures at every level and in every

organisation Problems in sharing information Soham/Safer Recruitment We all have a part to play -

Safeguarding children is everybody’s responsibility

What Do We Mean By Safeguarding?

Duty to protect children from impairment

Duty to prevent impairment

Promoting wellbeing

By Working Together

Safeguarding is everybody’s business!

Children Act 1989 - Education Act 2002 -Children Act 2004

UN Convention of the Rights of the Child

42 Articles which state that all rights guaranteed by it must be available to all children without discrimination.

Article 19 “Children have the right to be protected from all forms of violence. They must be kept safe from harm. They must be given proper care by those looking after them.”

Article 34 “Children have a right to protection from sexual exploitation and abuse.”

Article 37 “Children have the right not to be punished cruelly or in a way that would belittle them.”

Safeguarding Children In Diverse Communities: Working Together 2010

Awareness of impact of racism. Awareness of cultural

misunderstanding or misinterpretation.

Consider how religious beliefs and cultural traditions influence values, attitudes and behaviour, and the way in which family and community life is structured and organized.

Cultural and religious factors should not be regarded as acceptable explanations for abuse or neglect and are not acceptable grounds for inaction if a child is at risk

Guard against myths and stereotypes.

Fear of being accused of racism should not stop safeguarding a child.

Child Protection

The process of protecting individual children identified as either

suffering or at risk of suffering significant harm as a result of abuse

or neglect

Prevention and Early Intervention (Common Assessment Framework :CAF )

For children where there are concerns about welfare but NOT at risk of significant harm

Practitioners from any agency can carry out a CAF Common forms and shared language to assess

children when parents consent

Stages of intervention- the CAF in context

Statutory services(high need)

Targeted support services(med high need)

Targeted support services(med low need)

Universalservices (low or no need))

SPECIALIST ASSESSMENTS & STATUTORY INTERVENTION

(children in care), Children with Child Protection Plans, Young offenders, Special Educational Needs (SEN), complex health & disability

e.g. Schools and health visiting, Children’s Centres, youth work

CAF

CAF, with Lead ProfessionalSeveral agencies involved

The Children Act 1989

The legal duty to protect children is governed by this act which introduced:

The welfare of the child as paramount Wishes and feelings of child must be ascertained Working in partnership with families Parental responsibility is always retained by

parents. Duty to provide services to families with ‘children

in need’. L.A. promote the upbringing of children by families

Child in Need (Children Act 1989 s17)

Unlikely to achieve or maintain, or have opportunity of achieving a reasonable standard of health or development without provision of services

Health or development likely to be significantly impaired or further impaired without provision of such services

Disabled

Significant Harm

Concept of significant harm justifies compulsory intervention in family life (S47 Children Act)

Duty to make enquiries where reasonable cause to suspect child suffering from significant harm

Definition of Significant Harm ( Children Act 1989) Ill–treatment (including sexual abuse

and physical abuse) Impairment of health(physical or

mental) or development compared to a similar child

Now includes impairment as a result of witnessing ill-treatment of another person(domestic violence) Adoption & Children Act 2002

Threshold for Significant Harm

There is no absolute criteria but London Procedures give guidance

“Significant harm can be caused by one traumatic event or a compilation of events that interrupt, change or damage the child’s physical or psychological development.”

It is necessary to consider

• The severity of ill treatment,

• the degree and extent of physical harm,

• the duration and frequency of abuse and neglect,

• the extent of pre-meditation

• the degree of threat and coercion, sadism and bizarre or unusual elements in child sexual abuse.

To understand significant harm…

…. It is necessary to consider: The nature of harm, in terms of maltreatment or

failure to provide adequate care The impact on the child’s health or development The child’s development within the context of

their family and wider environment Any special needs, such as medical condition,

impairment or disability that may affect the child’s development and care in the family

The capacity of parents to meet the child’s needs The wider and environmental family context

Categories Of Abuse

Physical Abuse Sexual Abuse Neglect Emotional Abuse

Exercise: Recognising Abuse

Physical Abuse Includes Shaking Hitting Burning/scalding Female Genital

Mutilation Fabricated and

Induced illness Drowning Suffocating

Possible signs Bruises (soft tissue

areas ) Grasp marks Bites Burns/scalds Fractures Large number of

differering aged marks Failure to seek medical

help/opposite

Sexual Abuse Includes Forcing/enticing child

to take part in sexual activity

Contact,penetrative/non penetrative

Non contact eg watching sexual activity/pornography

Encouraging inappropriate sexual behaviour

Possible signs Pregnancy where

father’s identity concealed

Genital bruising STDs/ UTIs Inappropriate

sexualised behaviour Child hinting of

secrets Deliberate self-

harm /anorexia other disturbance

Neglect Includes Failure to meet

physical needs Failure to meet

psychological needs Failure to provide

food, shelter, clothing Failure to protect

from harm Failure to seek

medical care

Possible signs Malnutrition Dirty/cold

environment Leaving young child

unattended Failure to protect

from physical danger Lack of supervision Lack of stimulation,

social contact, education

Emotional Abuse Includes Overly critical

parenting Causing child to feel

unloved, worthless Inappropriate

expectations Causing children to

feel frightened Witnessing domestic

violence or other forms of abuse

Possible signs Very low self esteem High level of anxiety Overly

compliant/eager to please

Fearfulness/appearing withdrawn

Behavioural issues Self harm

What is your role?

Recognising indicators of abuse Recording and acting on concerns,

referring to designated colleague or Manager

Ensuring all communication with parents is managed professionally and sensitively

If in doubt use consultation line Making detailed accurate referral reports Providing information as needed to

Children’s Social Care Supporting child and family , being

sensitive to stress a referral can bring Maintain confidentiality of written records

What to do if you have concerns

Follow procedures Talk to your manager or designated

person Listen to the child but don’t ask leading

questions Record full information, who, what, when Refer any concerns to Police or

Children’s services via named staff

Managing a Disclosure

Listen carefully, do not interrupt the child or ask any questions

Reassure the child that they have done the right thing by telling someone

Do not promise confidentiality Record the conversation ASAP include

date time, persons present and sign it

Safer Working Practice Importance of safer recruitment Induction and training Clear expectations re code of conduct Awareness of role and maintaining

professional boundaries Minimising risk of allegations Clear systems to report concerns by

children, staff or parents Open and transparent culture

Dealing with allegations against staff or volunteers

All allegations must be reported immediately to your designated person/manager who will refer to the Local Authority Designated Officer for threshold discussion

No automatic assumption of guilt but all cases must be properly investigated

Exercise : Safeguarding Scenarios

Making a referral

This is what I am worried about This is what I have seen and/or heard: when,

who from and where This is what I have done What more do I need to do? If parents/carers/child are aware of this

referral? Confirm name of person and next steps Who should I speak to if I am not happy with

the outcome

You can expect children’s services to.. discuss your concerns with you decide what action is needed agree with you what the child and parents are told, by whom and

when

If there are concerns about a child’s safety: check whether the child has a child protection plan consult with other agencies take action to ensure the child is safe involve the police if a crime may have been committed tell you if they are taking no further action and why acknowledge your written referral within one working day of

receipt

What happens next?

recognition and referral

initial assessment

strategy discussion

s47 enquiries core assessment

child protection conference

When there is a likelihood of continuing significant harm

child protection plan

review

What parents worry about ?

Sexual activity Drugs Gangs Extremism Discrimination Dilution of culture and religion

Key Themes in perception of abuse

Honour Respect Cultural clashes in values Faith   Mistrust of agencies

Working in Partnership

Safeguarding agencies need to gain an understanding of how abuse, in any family, is understood in regard to Faith and culture. It has implications for likelihood of harm, risk analysis, input into what would be an effective protection plan

Faiths/cultural groups- singularly and inter faith need to grapple with arguments used to minimise, deny or justify abuse on the grounds of Faith.

Sources of Advice

Barnet Children’s Service Advice and Consultation Line 020 8359 4336

Local Contact details see handout CommUNITY Barnet Muslim Youth Helpline 0808 808

2008 NSPCC 0800 056 0566

Questions ?