Example childminding safeguarding policy

The Children Act 2004 and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015 define safeguarding and promoting children and young people’s welfare as:

• Protecting children from maltreatment
• Preventing impairment of children’s health or development
• Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care, and
• Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

Child protection is the activity undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering, or are likely to suffer, significant harm.

Safeguarding action may be needed to protect children (and parents) from:

• Neglect

• Physical abuse

• Sexual abuse

• Emotional abuse

• Bullying, including online bullying and prejudice-based bullying

• Racist, disability and homophobic or transphobic abuse

• Gender-based violence/violence against women and girls

• Radicalisation and/or extremist behaviour

• Child sexual exploitation (CSE) and trafficking - CSE is illegal activity by people who have some form of power and control over children and use it to sexually abuse them. It involves forcing or enticing a child (under the age of 18) to take part in sexual activities whether or not the child is aware of what is happening, including exploitative situations, contexts and relationships where children (or a third person or persons) receive ‘something' (e.g. food, accommodation, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, affection, gifts, money) as a result of performing, and/or others performing on them, sexual activities. CSE can be a form of organised or complex abuse, involving a number of abusers and/or a number of children.

• CSE can occur through use of technology without the child's immediate recognition, for example the persuasion to post sexual images on the internet/mobile phones with no immediate payment or gain. In all cases those exploiting the child/young person have power over them by virtue of their age, gender, intellect, physical strength and/or economic or other resources.

• Honour Based Abuse (HBA), including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Forced Marriage (FM)

Honour Based Abuse (HBA) is violence and abuse in the name of honour, covering a variety of behaviours (including crimes), mainly but not exclusively against females, where the person is being punished by their family and/or community for a perceived transgression against the ‘honour’ of the family or community, or is required to undergo certain activities or procedures in ‘honour’ of the family.

• Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a collective term for illegal procedures which include the removal of part/all external female genitalia for cultural or other non-therapeutic reasons. The practice is not required by any religion. It is painful, medically unnecessary and has serious health consequences at the time it is carried out and in later life. The procedure is typically performed on girls of any age, but is also performed on new born girls and on young women before marriage/pregnancy. A number of girls die as a direct result of the procedure, from blood loss or infection. FGM may be practised illegally by doctors or traditional health workers in the UK, or girls may be taken abroad for the operation.

• A Forced Marriage (FM) “ is a marriage conducted without the valid consent of both parties, where duress is a factor ” (’A Choice by Right’ HM Government 2000).

• The impact of new technologies on sexual behaviour, for example, sexting

• Teenage relationship abuse

• Substance misuse

• Issues that may be specific to a local area or population, for example gang activity and youth violence

• Domestic violence

• Fabricated or induced illness

• Poor parenting, particularly in relation to babies and young children

• Other issues not listed here but that pose a risk to children, young people and vulnerable adults.

My first responsibility and priority is towards the children in my care. If I have any cause for concern I will report it following the All Wales Child Protection Procedures. The relevant local procedures that are held by me are available on request. I understand that child abuse can be in the form of any of the above bullet points or a mixture of these. I must notify CIW of any allegations of abuse, which are alleged to have taken place while the child is in my care. I will follow the steps contained in the ‘ Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015 ’ guidance.

I keep up to date with child protection issues and relevant legislation by taking regular training courses and by reading relevant publications. This helps me to be aware of the signs and symptoms of abuse or neglect and what to do if I have a concern.

I am aware that it is my responsibility to ensure due regard in preventing people being drawn into terrorism, remaining alert to any reason for concern in the child’s life at home or elsewhere, including awareness of the expression of extremist views. (Prevent Duty)

I have copies of, and am familiar with, the LSCB procedures.

If I am concerned about a child’s welfare, I will contact the local authority First Contact Team, the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY), or other relevant support services for advice. Confidentiality will be assured only when it is clear that there is no risk of harm to a child. I follow the procedures outlined in my Confidentiality Policy. I aim to share all information with parents but in some instances (where I am worried about a child’s wellbeing) I may have to refer concerns without discussing this with you.

Child protection concerns that could identify a particular child are kept confidential and only shared with people who need to know this information.

Parents must notify me of any concerns they have about their child and any accidents, incidents or injuries affecting the child, which will be recorded.

I work together with parents to make sure the care of their child is consistent.

• significant changes in children’s behaviour
• unexpected bruising or marks or signs of possible abuse or neglect
• any comments made which give me cause for concern
• deterioration in general wellbeing which causes concern
• signs of neglect, abuse or inappropriate behaviour displayed by other members of staff, or any person working with children. For example, inappropriate sexual comments, excessive one-to-one attention beyond the requirements of their usual role and responsibilities, or inappropriate sharing of images
• any reasons to suspect neglect or abuse outside the setting, for example in the child’s home

I will implement the LSCB procedures, without delay to minimise any risk to the child. I will keep a factual record of the concern and will ask the parents for an explanation, providing it would not put the child at risk. Iwill call the local social services duty desk immediately if it is known that a child is at risk of harm.

The standards for registered childminders in Wales require me to let CIW know of any concerns that I have reported without delay.

If a child tells me that they or another child is being abused, I will:

• show that I have heard what they are saying, and that I take their allegations seriously
• encourage the child to talk, but I will not prompt them or ask them leading questions. I will not interrupt when a child is recalling significant events and will not make a child repeat their account
• explain what actions I must take, in a way that is appropriate to the age and understanding of the child
• write down what I have been told using exact words where possible
• make a note of the date, time, place and people who were present at the discussion
• report my concerns immediately to the duty social worker who has the experience and responsibility to make an assessment of the situation.

The use of mobile phones, cameras and any other electronic device used for recording images

I understand that mobile phones are an everyday part of life for parents and childminders and, with that in mind, I have laid out my procedure for their use:

• I will ensure my mobile phone is fully charged and with me at all times in case of emergencies
• I have the facility to take photographs on both my mobile phone and camera and will seek your permission to take any photographs of your child to record activities and share their progress with you.
• Any photographs taken will be deleted after either emailing to you or uploaded for use in your child’s learning journey
• The photographs will be uploaded to the online system, used for daily diaries and observations, the photographs will then be removed from the devices.
• I will not publish any photographs of your child on any social networking sites or share with any other person without your permission
• If your child has an electrical device that they wish to bring into the setting please let me know, so that we can work together to ensure the safety of all children in attendance
• Visitors to my setting are not permitted to use their electronic devices whilst on my premises, except in exceptional circumstances, when the devices must be used away from the children
• I have registered with the Information Commissioners Office as a data controller in line with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)
• I will always be able to justify to CIW the reason for taking the photographs.
• I will always ensure children are appropriately dressed.

If an allegation is made against me, I will report it to CIW and social services, following the Safeguarding Children Board procedures. I will also contact PACEY’S Information Line on 0800 169 4486 for advice and support.

In all instances I will write a detailed record of all related incidents, including what was said and by whom, with times and dates. I will ask any witnesses (if there were any) to also write a statement detailing the incident they witnessed and giving their contact details in case it needs to be followed up by the authorities.

IT IS NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY TO ATTEMPT TO INVESTIGATE THE SITUATION MYSELF.

Local Social Services duty desk - 0800 328 4432

Bedwas Police Station - 01633 838 111

CIW - 01443 848450

PACEY Information Line - 0300 003 0005

PACEY Wales Office - 08458 801 299

NSPCC Child Protection helpline - 0808 800 5000

Workforce and Child Development Officer - 02920 760 769

Caerphilly Safeguarding Children board - 0808 1000 727

Out of hours Safeguarding board - 0800 3284 432

Caerphilly Early Years Team - 01443 863 426