Protection Policy
Statement
Child / Vulnerable Adult
Protection Policy
How to deal with the disclosure or discovery
of child / vulnerable adults abuse
How to React & Listen
What happens after a report is made?
What does ‘substantial
access to children and vulnerable adults’ and vetting mean?
Protection
Policy Statement
Protecting Children and Vulnerable Adults in our Care
It is our policy to plan our work so as to reduce to a minimum the
situations and possibilities for children / vulnerable adults to be
abused and to promote child / vulnerable adults protection.
We believe that every child / vulnerable adult regardless of age has
at all times and in all situations a right to feel safe and protected
from any situation or practice that results in a child / vulnerable
adult being physically or psychologically damaged. Within our organisation,
if we have suspicions about a child's / vulnerable adult’s physical,
sexual or emotional well being, we will take action.
All staff and volunteers are encouraged to share concerns with the
Education Co-ordinator who will monitor protection issues. If the
situation is clearly an urgent case, if the child / vulnerable adult
is too frightened to go home or we have very serious doubts about
the child's / vulnerable adults safety, we will contact Social Services
or the Police immediately. If our concerns are more general about
a child's / vulnerable adult’s welfare, then we will discuss
these with the Education Co-ordinator, who would then make a referral
to Social Services who will make the necessary arrangements.
It is important that all staff and volunteers communicate concerns
accurately. To this end, staff and volunteers will follow the procedures
below:
1. Upon the receipt of any information from a child / vulnerable adult
or the arousing of any suspicions about a child’s / vulnerable
adult’s welfare, it is necessary to record what has been seen
and heard, or whatever is known accurately at the time the event occurs;
2. Staff and volunteers should share any concerns with the Education
Co-ordinator and agree action to take;
3. We will always REFER, never INVESTIGATE any suspicions or allegations
about abuse. If there are concerns it is important to take action
- it may be the final piece of the jigsaw that is needed to protect
that child / vulnerable adult - or we may prevent further children
/ vulnerable adults from being hurt.
Both the local Area Social Work Office and Police Office telephone
numbers are to be found in the telephone directory. For ease of reference
please find them below:
Approved Social Work Team: Mary Seacole House, 91 Clapham High St,
SW4 7TF.
Phone 0207 926 4569
Area child Protection Committee: Family Finders Building, 392 Brixton
Rd, SW9.
Phone 0207 926 4760
Police Station: Union Grove, Clapham.
Phone 0208 649 2525
Lambeth Out of Hours Social Work team:
Phone 0207 926 1000
Emergency Service:
Phone 999
Child line 0800 1111
NSPPC confidential advice from a social worker - for people who know
or suspect a child is being abused.
Phone 0808 800 5000
Zoom In will:
-
hold a register of every child / vulnerable adult
involved with the group including relevant medical details and
have a contact name and number close to hand in case of emergencies
-
remember that some issues are confidential
-
provide an example we would wish others to follow
-
where possible, consider activities which involve
more than one adult being present or at least within sight and
hearing of others
-
be aware that someone else might misinterpret our
actions even if they are well intentioned
-
respect a child's / vulnerable adult’s right
to personal privacy
-
provide time for children / vulnerable adults to
talk to us
-
encourage children / vulnerable adults to respect
and care for others
-
take action to stop any inappropriate verbal or
physical behaviour
-
have a group policy for the collection of children
/ vulnerable adults after meetings/classes/sessions have finished
-
remember to REFER not INVESTIGATE any suspicions
or allegations about abuse
-
only share concerns and seek support from those
identified in the group's child / vulnerable adult protection
policy
-
complete the vetting checklist for all staff and
volunteers who have substantial access to children / vulnerable
adults
Child
/ Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy
What is child / vulnerable adult Protection?
We believe all children and vulnerable adults have the right to protection
from all forms of abuse, neglect or exploitation. We believe that
children and vulnerable adults should have the right to express their
views on any issues or decisions affecting them.
We recognise that child / vulnerable adult’s protection should
not be treated in isolation. We will address recruitment and selection
of volunteers and paid employees by doing the following:
1. Accept that it is our responsibility as an organisation to check
that all adults with substantial access to children and vulnerable
adults have been appropriately vetted
2. Explore all prospective volunteers’ and staff members’
experience of working with children and vulnerable adults
3. Note all previous experience of volunteers and staff in working
with children and vulnerable adults through an appropriately conducted
interview prior to appointment
4. Ensure that every new volunteer or member of staff coming into
contact with children and vulnerable adults will complete a Personal
Profile Form.
5. Make a request for previous addresses on relevant volunteer/job
application forms
6. Ask for the names of two referees who will be prepared to provide
a written reference
7. Where appropriate we will find out from the CRB (Criminal Records
Bureau) if there is a problem with any candidate working with children
and vulnerable adults
8. Where appropriate and permitted find out whether any candidate
has a relevant criminal conviction
9. Give all paid staff and volunteers clear roles
10. Use supervision as a means of protecting children and vulnerable
adults
11. Carry out a probationary period for all volunteers and staff of
at least six months.
12. Train paid staff, the management committee and volunteers in the
promotion of child / vulnerable adults protection.
Alcohol and Drugs
It is our policy that all staff and volunteers must not bring alcohol
or illegal drugs onto the premises or consume them in any circumstances
whilst they have any access to children and vulnerable adults. A breach
is likely to lead to dismissal.
How to deal with the disclosure
or discovery of child / vulnerable adults abuse
It is rare to come across people who actively seek to harm or abuse
children / vulnerable adults. But there are people with no record
as abusers who offend against children / vulnerable adults when tempted
by finding themselves alone them in an isolated setting. It is important
that all volunteers and members of staff are alert to, and recognise,
signs of child / vulnerable adult abuse. Identifying abuse is difficult.
Zoom In will introduce a system whereby children / vulnerable adults
may talk to an independent person. This independent person will be
introduced/identified to all children / vulnerable adults at the start
of all workshops. They will be told how and when they will be able
to contact them. All volunteers and members of staff need to follow
these principles:
1. At the beginning of any courses and workshops with children / vulnerable
adults the teacher will inform them that may confide in the tutor
but that disclosure of information about someone who is being harmed
cannot be kept confidential.
2. They have a duty to report to the Education Co-ordinator any suspected
child / vulnerable adult abuse.
3. If they suspect the Education Co-ordinator of child / vulnerable
adult abuse they must tell the Chairperson.
4. They must always discuss their concerns with the Education Co-ordinator
or another member of staff, rather than keeping worries to themselves.
5. They must pay attention not only to major incidents but also to
little incidents that make them suspicious or concerned. Any incident,
no matter how apparently trivial, should be discussed with the Education
Co-ordinator.
6. A record of any such discussion should be made as soon as possible
including the date, the two people involved in the discussion and
a brief note on the circumstances giving as much factual information
as possible. This record should be placed in the occurrence’s
file, which is kept securely locked from general access.
7. They must record their concerns in the occurrences file. They are
expected to make the entry themselves; if someone else makes the entry
they must check it and counter sign it.
8. A child / vulnerable adult who alleges a child / vulnerable adult
protection issue has occurred needs to be told that the allegation
will be reported to Education Co-ordinator / Chairperson.
If the Education Co-ordinator / Chairperson is unavailable, and the
matter appears to be serious (e.g. the child / vulnerable adult is
clearly injured) they must call the Police and, if necessary, the
ambulance service. They must not try to contact Social Services first.
Since there is real risk of contaminating a crime scene, it is important
that a scene of crime officer has a chance to start work as soon as
possible.
How
to React & Listen
There may be a time when a child / vulnerable adult approaches a person
in Zoom In as a trusted adult to discuss their life outside the organisation.
It is vital that individual adults know how to react to this in a
sensitive and appropriate manner.
Volunteers and staff must, at all times:
-
Acknowledge that they are in charge of potentially
vulnerable people.
-
Never trivialise or exaggerate child / vulnerable
adult abuse issues
-
Allow the child / vulnerable adult time to speak
and not interrupt nor make suggestions to them, which could imply
making an investigation
-
Reassure the child / vulnerable adult that they
are glad she or he has told what has happened and that it was
right to tell
-
Not interrogate or question other than to clarify
your understanding. If the matter is to be investigated further
it will be so done by trained professionals. No matter how well
you know the child / vulnerable adult, spare them having to repeat
themselves over and over. Apart from anything else, the child
/ vulnerable adult may begin to think that you don't believe them
-
Be honest, tell the child / vulnerable adult that
you cannot keep it a secret, you have to talk to someone else
that can help
-
Remain calm, no matter how difficult it is to listen
to the child / vulnerable adult - think of how hard it must be
to say it. Some things are very difficult to talk about, you've
been chosen because the child / vulnerable adult feels they can
talk to you. If you show anger, disgust, disbelief then the child
/ vulnerable adult may stop talking for fear of upsetting you
further or feel that your negative feelings are being directed
towards them
-
Listen to the child / vulnerable adult - REALLY
LISTEN - take what they say seriously. Tell them that they've
done the right thing by telling you
-
As soon as is practical write down everything the
child / vulnerable adult told you, but remember that this is a
confidential matter between you and the child / vulnerable adult.
The only person you should be discussing it with is the Education
Co-ordinator who has agreed to act as monitor for child / vulnerable
adult protection issues
What
happens after a report is made?
If there is reasonable grounds to believe that a criminal offence
has been committed, the Police must be involved immediately. If the
Police have not been involved, the first stage is to report the matter
to the Social Services Duty Officer, if it is felt appropriate. If
not, the person about whom a report has been made will be suspended
on pay whilst an internal investigation is carried out. At any time
during the internal investigation, the person carrying out the investigation
may contact the Social Services Duty Officer or the Police.
The person making the original report will have to make a statement
in writing at the earliest opportunity and must co-operate in any
investigation.
Following the internal investigation, any one of the following actions
could take place:
1. Involvement of the Police/Social Services
2. Internal disciplinary action
3. No further action
In the event of the Police/Social Services taking over the investigation,
the person making the report may be asked to attend and contribute
to a case conference.
What
does ‘substantial access to children and vulnerable adults’
and vetting mean?
When considering the question of substantial access consider the following
questions:
Will the person have one-to-one contact with children and vulnerable
adults?
If ‘yes' the access must be considered substantial.
Will the person be supervised?
If the person is under close supervision at all times, the access
may not be considered substantial, however it will allow close relationships
to be formed and this could be exploited.
Will the person be in an isolated situation with a child / vulnerable
adult?
The risks are greater where a child / vulnerable adult is with an
adult in an isolated situation away from peers and family.
Will there be regularity of contact?
The more regular the contact, the stronger the relationship that may
be formed which could be exploited. Is overnight care involved?
If ‘yes' then the adult must be fully vetted.
For all new volunteers and staff it is the Education Co-ordinator’s
responsibility to discuss with the management committee and decide
upon the checks required. These will include taking up two written
references and follow up telephone calls and may include a CRB (Criminal
Records Bureau) check.
You will need to discuss whether your volunteers and staff have substantial
access to children and vulnerable adults as defined above. If you
decide they do then your committee will require a CRB check in addition
to the references already requested.
