SAFEGUARDING POLICY

 

Our commitment to Safeguarding Children and Promoting Children’s Welfare

 

At Alphabet Nursery we describe Child abuse as ill-treatment or physical harm inflicted on a child or young person, either deliberately or through neglect, which impairs or damages the child or young person’s health, emotional welfare and development.

Alphabet Nursery Staff team will aim to promote the health and development, safety and general wellbeing of all children in the setting. We recognise that the community of children and families to whom we provide service for in Southwark, is diverse in culture, racial background, religion, social class, financial resources and ability. Whilst family ‘cultural’ differences will be respected, they will not be viewed as a valid explanation for clear harm to a child. We consider children’s welfare as paramount and where specific concerns of child protection nature exists (however minor they might be viewed) it is better to take action and be reassured a child is safe from harm, than to have not reacted and be part of an enquiry into a young person’s injury or death.

It is vital that all staff do not use any form of physical punishment, abusive or threatening words while working with children. Staff should at all times endeavour to be good role models and report any issues of concern including marks on children, significant changes in children’s behaviour, deterioration in their general well-being, neglect and any comments made by children which give cause for concern.

Named Person for Safeguarding:

The designated officer for Safeguarding is Abe and She takes lead responsibility for safeguarding children within the setting, attending child protection training courses and liaising with local statutory children’s services and social care duty desk when necessary.

Safeguarding Responsibility:

Safeguarding children is a key responsibility of all staff at Alphabet Nursey. All staff are responsible for promoting children’s safety and well-being at all times.

Information about ‘What to do if you are worried a child is being abused’ is shared with all staff during induction and copies of the safeguarding policy provided for all staff is also shared with parents as part of our admission procedure.

Staff and parents should report any concern to the named person for safeguarding. All incidents must be recorded, dated and signed. Information must be factual, and non-judgemental. The name and date of birth of the child involved will also be recorded.

Records are securely filed where they cannot be accessed by any other than the Safeguarding Lead Person and clearly marked confidential. (EYFS Statutory Framework 2007, page 22).

The named person will consider the concern and forward it to the appropriate authorities such as the Police or Social Services. However, if the staff who reported the issues feels the Lead Person has not taken the concern seriously, he/she may need to report the matter directly to Southwark Safeguarding Children’s Board (SSCB).

The Southwark Safeguarding Children’s Board (SSCB) can be contacted for advice on Telephone: 02075251921, Out of hours: 0207525500: Email: sscb@southwark.gov.uk

 To call Police, please dial: 999

IN ALL SITUATIONS FILL IN AN ACCIDENT REPORT FORM IMMEDIATELY

  1. We write any accidents  closely and concisely.
  2. If any incident is reported to you by another adult, you must have a written statement from that adult which is signed and dated.
  3. If any incident is disclosed to you by a child, you must write exactly what the child has said and what you have asked.
  4. Do not paraphrase or write in your own words.
  5. Do not substitute adult words for a child’s words, it is of the utmost importance that what is said by the child is recorded exactly.
  6. All reports must be written, signed and dated as soon as possible after the incident.
  7. Reports must be kept on the child’s file.
  8. If any marks are recorded a written description and a simple drawing is required.

These report forms are for recording any incident, disclosure or concern however small. The Lead person will need to decide the importance of the information and will therefore implement the action part of the form.

We will review the process of procedure, along with our policy annually, as a reflection of our Commitment to Safeguarding Children. Staff and Parents will be working as a team; supporting each other through giving information, identifying signs of abuse, sharing skills and knowledge.

STAFF RECRUITMENT:

We at Alphabet Nursey make a pre-appointment check as recommended by the DoE. The following checks are made on all people working in an education service:

  • UK residence or permission to work in the UK.
  • DBS enhanced disclosure (unless the person has continuity of employment).
  • List 99 check.
  • Overseas criminal record check (when necessary).
  • Medical fitness.
  • Professional status (for qualified teachers, confirmation of registration with the General Teaching Council for England).
  • Complete induction and/or probationary period as required for the position.

All members of staff must be checked and cleared of his/her DBS including two letters of reference before starting work and the DBS is subject to review after every three years. The Safeguarding policy and the procedures will be introduced and explained to all new staff during the induction process. A copy of the policy will be given to them, (EYFS 2007 Welfare requirement document 3:8) including a copy of ‘what to do if you’re worried a child is being abused’ -summary which staff will sign upon receiving it. Staff will be attending trainings regularly to be familiar with their responsibility and updates in Safeguarding Policy. Any staff that has not been criminally checked and cleared should not be left alone with children.

WORKING TOGETHER TO SAFEGUARD CHILDREN:

Alphabet Nursery Staff team will inform Parents of their Safeguarding Obligations from the time parents registered their Children. Safeguarding policy will be explained and a copy can be given to Parents on demand in addition to the copy displayed on the Policy information Board. All parents will be given a copy of ‘what to do if you’re worried a child is being abused’.

It is our plan to organise meetings to support parents to gain skills and knowledge in safeguarding and identifying signals of abuse on children regardless of whom the child may be or the type of setting the concern was noticed in.

We also encourage parents to talk about any concerns they might have for either their own child or other children. Parents will be involved in reviewing the Safeguarding Policy and day-to-day practices within the setting.

When we have concerns for a child’s protection, welfare or safety we also aim to provide ongoing support and advice to parents. Where it is possible, parents will be contacted before a referral is made to discuss the nature of the concerns. However, if there is an immediate concern about the child’s welfare or safety, or if there is a possibility that the police may need to be involved in an investigation, then we may need to contact Children’s Social Care first to decide who is the best person to talk with parents.

Where the nature of the concern is about Child Protection, the issue may not be disclosed within the setting. However, we may need to share information with other professional services that are appropriate in Safeguarding Children.

SOME COMMON FACTOR THAT MAY RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT A CHILD:

Alphabet Nursery recognises that concerns for a child’s protection -welfare or safety- can arise at any time during the day and can come to Staff member’s notice through:

  • Lack of self esteem
  • Deterioration in general well-being (EYFS 2007, page 22)
  • Loneliness and isolation
  • Over-anxiousness
  • Inappropriate behaviours
  • Overly aggressive or passive
  • Lack of concentration
  • Neglect
  • Un-explained bruising, marks or signs of bruising
  • What a Child or Parent might say that gives concern
  • Information received from other parties
  • Consistent observations and records that call for concern etc.

Having identified a concern for the child, it will be necessary to assess the level of seriousness and consider the most appropriate course of action. Such decisions should be made in consultation with the Named Person for Safeguarding.

ALLEGATIONS MADE AGAINST A MEMBER OF STAFF OR VOLUNTEER:

Alphabet Nursery will always consider an allegation made against a Staff member or Volunteer as a Child Protection matter in the first instance. Ofsted will be informed or all allegations including Agency Staff, Students or Voluntary Staff. (EYFS Statutory Framework 2007). A referral will be made within 48 hours following up in writing to the Local Children’s Social Care (Southward Safeguarding Children’s Board) as necessary and the setting will co-operate fully in an investigation process. The setting’s Staff Disciplinary procedure will only be initiated in agreement with the Children’s Social Care.

Allegations made against Staff should not be made public within the setting. It is recognised that Staff members may be suspended from work when an allegation is made, until the matter is cleared, and a decision is made. Suspension has to be made if appropriate. The nature of the suspension should be kept confidential until a decision is taken. The protection of Children’s Act list will be informed should any paid Staff Member, Student or Volunteer should be dismissed on the grounds of misconduct.

If a member of Staff is accused of abusing a Child with Alphabet Nursery, the following procedure should be followed IMMEDIATELY:

  1. The Staff member should immediately be suspended from his/her post.
  2. If the Children’s Social Care (SSCB) has not been informed, contact them and gain advice.
  3. Inform OFSTED.
  4. Confidentiality is of utmost importance and must be applied.
  5. Inform insurance company if necessary.
  6. Be tactful to all parties involved.
  7. Inform Chair/Vice of management Board/Director
  8. If any doubt, always get advice from Social Services

Named Person’s Role

It is the responsibility of the Named Person or manager to decide the importance of any information given to them regarding suspected child abuse.

  1. Respond to Staff concerns immediately.
  2. Listen carefully to their concerns or suspicions.
  3. Very important: GIVE SUPPORT.
  4. If the explanation from the parent/carer is consistent with all other information received, the Lead Person may decide to monitor a child for a period before referring on.
  5. Wherever possible, seek information from other Agencies involved with the child (Health Visitor, Social Worker, General Practitioner etc.).
  6. If you decide to monitor a Child, it must be recorded clearly and accurately and updated consistently.
  7. If in doubt, or you have a decision that a referral should be made then you will need to contact Duty Social Worker.

All details on the Child should be at hand when making the referral. For Southwark – see the above details.

Please remember that Parent/Carers have the right to be informed in their Child’s matter regarding a Child’s protection referral. Before contacting the Duty Social Worker, you must speak with the Parent/Carer about your concerns in a tactful manner and explain your Statutory Duty. If the child is in immediate danger or you are concerned that the child was subjugated to sexual abuse, contact the duty SSCB or the Policy immediately.

Do’s and Don’ts:

  1. Seek as much support as possible, as it can be distressing to receive information of this nature and you must not make any decisions alone.
  2. Do pass on relevant information immediately (it may be necessary to ask another member of staff to cover you while you leave the room).
  3. Do not keep information to yourself.
  4. Do ask if in doubt, advice is always available.
  5. Do resist the temptation to ignore a situation, hoping it may go away.
  6. Where possible, just allow the child to tell you what has happened. If you need to question, do so carefully. Ask open-ended questions e.g. “What happened to your leg?”
  7. Do not ask closed questions e.g. “Who did this to your leg?”
  8. Do not make promised you cannot keep. If the child or adult asks you to keep the situation quiet, you will be unable to do so. Explain this as tactfully as you can.

ALPHABET NURSERY

LOST CHILD POLICY

The primary aim of Alphabet Nursery is to keep the Children healthy, safe and secure whilst under our care. Most parents will consider placing their children in an environment where they will be safe and happy.

We acknowledge that safety and security are basic human rights and aim to ensure that all the children in our care are safe at all times.

Our procedures include:

  • Having daily register on site for arrivals and leaving times of the children.
  • Secured environment including secured entrances.
  • Visitors not having access to children play areas.
  • Recording number of children before and after outings.
  • Proper risk checks within the setting and outing places.
  • Keeping current contact numbers and addresses of Parents/Carers.
  • Head-counting the children regularly during play.

Keeping current contacts and addresses of agencies/organisations that can be contacted in emergency in relation to a lost child. For example, The Southwark Safeguarding Children’s Board (SSCB)

Telephone: 02075251921

Out of hours: 0207525500

Email: sscb@southwark.gov.uk

The lost child policy gives a clear guide to all members of staff, parents and other service users on what to do when a child is missing. If a child goes missing whilst under our care, the lost child policy should be followed.

Steps that may be followed once a child is declared missing:

Once a child is declared missing:

  • Inform the manager immediately on what time and where the child was last seen.
  • Carry out a thorough search of all areas of the setting where children can access.
  • If the child is not found within 15 minutes, contact the Police and the Parents/Carers.
  • Record the incident in the missing child’s form with the time, date, name of the person who discovered the incident and name of the reporting person if different.
  • Record the incident also in the settings incident record.
  • Be in regular contact with the child’s Parent/Carer to inform them on what is going on currently at any change of the situation and reassure of the situation.
  • Finally, investigation should be carried out within the setting to gain insight as to the reason a child became lost.

 

This policy is subject to review every six months and copies will be given to Parents/Carers on demand. A copy will be displayed on the policies notice board for quick reference. All members of the staff will be given one copy during induction training.