Safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults’ policy

Alongside associated procedures in 06.1-06.10 Safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults, this policy was adopted by Hempsted Playgroup and Toddlers on 31st August 2023

Designated lead for safeguarding is: Sharon Johnson

Designated officer is: Jane Knight

Aim

We are committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and will do this by putting young people and vulnerable adult’s right to be ‘strong, resilient, and listened to ‘at the heart of all our activities.

We support the Early Years Alliance ‘three key commitments’ broad statements against which policies and procedures across the organisation will be drawn to provide a consistent and coherent strategy for safeguarding children young people and vulnerable adults in all services provided. The three key commitments are:

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1. Hempsted Playgroup is committed to building ‘a culture of safety’ in which children, young people and vulnerable adults are protected from abuse and harm in all areas of its service delivery.

2. Hempsted Playgroup is committed to responding promptly and appropriately to all incidents or concerns of abuse that may occur and to work with statutory agencies in accordance with the procedures that are set down in ‘What to do if you are worried a child is being abused’ (HMG 2015) and ‘No Secrets (updated by the Care Act 2014) and Working Together 2018.

3. Hempsted Playgroup is committed to promoting awareness of child abuse issues throughout its training and learning programme for adults. It is also committed to empowering children, young people, and vulnerable adults, through its curriculum, promoting their right to be ‘strong, resilient and listened to’.

NB: A ‘young person’ is defined as 16–19-year-old. In an early years setting, they may be a student, worker, or parent.

A ‘vulnerable adult’ (see guidance to the Care Act 2014) as: 'a person aged 18 years or over, who is in receipt of or may need community care services by reason of 'mental or other disability, age or illness and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation'. In early years, this person may be a service user, parent of a service user, or a volunteer.

Key Commitment 1

• We have DSLs, sometimes known as the designated lead for safeguarding, who are responsible for carrying out child, young person, or adult protection procedures.

• The DSLs are responsible for overseeing all child, young person or adult protection matters

• The DSL and the designated officer, ensure they have links with statutory and voluntary organisations regarding safeguarding children.

• The DSL and the designated officer ensure they have received appropriate training on child protection matters and that all staff are adequately informed and/or trained to recognise possible child abuse in the categories of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse and neglect.

• The DSL and the designated officer ensure all staff are aware of the additional vulnerabilities that affect children that arise from inequalities of race, gender, disability, language, religion, sexual orientation or culture and that these receive full consideration in child, young person or adult protection related matters.

• The DSL and the designated officer ensure that staff are aware and receive training in social factors affecting children’s vulnerability including:

• social exclusion

• domestic violence and controlling or coercive behaviour

• mental Illness

• drug and alcohol abuse (substance misuse)

• parental learning disability

• radicalisation

• The DSL and the designated officer ensure that staff are aware and receive training in other ways that children may suffer significant harm and stay up to date with relevant contextual safeguarding matters:

• abuse of disabled children

• fabricated or induced illness

• child abuse linked to spirit possession.

• sexually exploited children

• children who are trafficked and/or exploited.

• female genital mutilation

• extra-familial abuse and threats

• children involved in violent offending, with gangs and county lines.

• The DSL and the designated officer ensure they are adequately informed in vulnerable adult protection matters.

Key Commitment 2

• There are procedures in place to prevent known abusers from coming into the organisation as employees or volunteers at any level.

• Safeguarding is the responsibility of every person undertaking the work of the organisation in any capacity.

• There are procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse against a member of staff, or any other person undertaking work whether paid or unpaid for the organisation, where there is an allegation of abuse or harm of a child. Procedures differentiate clearly between an allegation, a concern about quality of care or practice and complaints.

• There are procedures in place for reporting possible abuse of children or a young person in the setting.

• There are procedures in place for reporting safeguarding concerns where a child may meet the s17 definition of a child in need (Children Act 1989) and/or where a child may be at risk of significant harm, and to enable staff to make decisions about appropriate referrals using local published threshold documents.

• There are procedures in place to ensure staff recognise children and families who may benefit from early help and can respond appropriately using local early help processes and Designated persons should ensure all staff understand how to identify and respond to families who may need early help.

• There are procedures in place for reporting possible abuse of a vulnerable adult in the setting.

• There are procedures in place in relation to escalating concerns and professional challenge.

• There are procedures in place for working in partnership with agencies involving a child, or young person or vulnerable adult, for whom there is a protection plan in place. These procedures also take account of working with families with a ‘child in need’ and with families in need of early help, who are affected by issues of vulnerability such as social exclusion, radicalisation, domestic violence, mental illness, substance misuse and parental learning disability.

• These procedures take account of diversity and inclusion issues to promote equal treatment of children and their families and that take account of factors that affect children that arise from inequalities of race, gender, disability, language, religion, sexual orientation, or culture.

• There are procedures in place for record keeping, confidentiality and information sharing, which are in line with data protection requirements.

• We follow government and Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) guidance in relation to extremism.

• The procedures of the Local Safeguarding Partners must be followed.

Key Commitment 3

• All staff receive adequate training in child protection matters and have access to the setting’s policy and procedures for reporting concerns of possible abuse and the safeguarding procedures of the Local Safeguarding Partners.

• All staff have adequate information on issues affecting vulnerability in families such as social exclusion, domestic violence, mental illness, substance misuse and parental learning disability, together with training that takes account of factors that affect children that arise from inequalities of race, gender, disability, language, religion, sexual orientation, or culture.

• We use available curriculum materials for young children, taking account of information in the Early Years Foundation Stage, that enable children to be strong, resilient, and listened to.

• All services seek to build the emotional and social skills of children and young people who are service users in an age-appropriate way, including increasing their understanding of how to stay safe.

• We adhere to the EYFS Safeguarding and Welfare requirements.

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