Introduction to Safeguarding: Understanding Child Protection
Introduction to
SAFEGUARDING
Topics to be Cover in this module
What is Safeguarding
Who is a Child
What is Child Protection
Who Commits Maltreatment
Why is Safeguarding Training Important
Myths and Truths about Safeguarding Children
Roles and Responsibilities
What is Safeguarding?
Safeguarding is an encompassing term describing all aspects of what it takes to
ensure that the welfare of children and vulnerable adults are protected from harm
and abuse acts such as :
●
Neglect
●
Physical, emotional, and sexual abuse
●
Fraud and financial abuse
Most people would consider this issue to be something more common amongst
vulnerable and elderly adults although it can influence children as well. Think about
children who work, e.g. as models or in the entertainment industry or children who
have inherited money that either parents or guardians do not have.
What is Safeguarding ?
The term ‘Safeguarding’ describes the steps and considerations that authorities and
many public services must take to either promote the welfare of the children /
vulnerable adults to protect them from harm or abuse.
It essentially educates and guides people from all walks of life into paying attention to
the signs of neglect and abuse. What to look out for and how to report concerns, even if
you are worried they may be wrong. It is better to be safe than sorry.
There are many Laws, Guidelines, Policies and Frameworks in place. They help
everybody involved in Safeguarding Children understand what they are expected to do,
and how they should go about meeting these expectations.
We will learn more about these in this module.
Who is a Child
You are a child up until your 18th
Birthday.
This means that when we refer to
‘Children’ or ‘A Child’ we also mean
children and young people.
Most people understand who a child
is, but in legal terms and for
Safeguarding reasons there are
specific definitions, usually by age.
What is a child
It may feel cold, but Child Protection is a process.
It’s a process in place to ensure that children who are suffering from harm and abuse and neglect
are protected.
There are a lot of grey areas and uncertain terrain when it comes to assessing a child who needs
protection and then protecting them. Sometimes it’s difficult to see the signs and many abusers can
seem to be incredibly kind and sincere.
For people who have never experienced the kind of troubles that children in this situation do, it can
be very difficult to determine whether they are hurting a child further by reporting their concerns as
they may have not met the people who have been reported to harm the child.
What is Child protection
The issues highlighted on the earlier slides is why we need processes like child protection in place.
●
Support both the child and provide a process for reporting concerns.
●
Ensure that authorities take the correct action which meets with the child’s needs.
●
Ensure that no stone is left unturned.
The consequences of overlooking abuse and neglect are tragic, as you will come to see, as we cannot
afford to take a risk on a child’s life, which is why Child protection is necessary.
Who commits Maltreatment
You may be surprised who may commit Maltreatment
●
A parent
●
A step parent
●
A friends parent
●
A neighbour
●
A relative
●
A colleague
●
A friendly person down the road who may seem kind and charismatic
●
A teacher
●
A careworker
●
A friend
●
A doctor
●
A shopkeeper
It can be anybody.
Why is Safeguarding Training Important ?
Safeguarding Training raises awareness, understanding and increases our
knowledge about Safeguarding. It is a form of Child Protection which in many
cases, is the first line of defence against Child Protect.
Safeguarding Training ensures :
●
Services surrounding children, promote more effective and integrated services that ensures
they can approach Safeguarding issues appropriately, without overlooking a child in need.
●
It will provide confidence and clarity for your own role concerning your Safeguarding duties
.
●
To provide overall, a better understanding of your role who works within Safeguarding.
Myths and Truths
There are many Myths and Truths about Safeguarding, some of which we will cover here, others you will discover further
along the course and more wil show up in your career.
A list of Myths and Truths about Safeguarding will be shown, but please remember to keep an open mind around children
and when you are performing your Safeguarding duties.
Her are a few common Myths about Safeguarding.
Myth 1.
Women do not harm, neglect or sexually abuse children.
The Reality
Women are more likely to neglect, harm or emotionally abuse their children than sexually abuse them,. However, they are
frequently an accomplice for sexual abuse, and around 5-10% of women, are sexual abusers.
Myths and Truths about Safeguarding Children
Myth 2.
It is usually strangers who abuse children.
The Reality
The majority of abusers or neglected children are abused or neglected by people they know and
trust.
Myth 3.
There is usually only one abuser.
The Reality
There are actually many cases where children are abused at the hand of multiple people.
Myths and Truths about Safeguarding Children
Myth 4.
A kind well spoken person could not be an abuser.
The Reality
Many abusers, maybe not all, know exactly what to say and do, to get themselves out of trouble. It
may be very hard for even a trained professional, to determine an abuser is speaking the truth or
lying.
Myth 5.
Parents and families do not abuse children.
The Reality
Parents and families do harm their children.
Myths and Truths about Safeguarding Children
Myths 6.
Abuse doesn’t happen in Care Homes or Hospitals.
The Reality
Abuse can happen anywhere, paedophiles especially often play the long game and will work in an establishment for an extended period
before making their move on a child.
Myth 7.
It doesn’t happen very often
The Reality
Child abuse, neglect and sex abuse is everywhere, and more prolific than you would imagine. Many cases go
unreported, there are probably quite a few people in your circle or friends and family who have experienced abuse
of some kind.
Myths and Truths about Safeguarding Children
Myth 8.
It doesn’t happen here in our community/culture/family/country.
The Reality
Abuse happens in all classes, ethnic groups, cultures, communities.
Myth 9.
Children often lie.
The Reality
Children very rarely lie about abuse, they simply are scared more abuse will happen if the tell, and they often think no one will believe them.
Myth 10
If a parent has an abused child they will lose custody of that child/children.
The Reality
Child protection services understand that the best place for the child is with the family and in some cases it is possible to keep the family together. In saome cases the
child is not abused by the parents but if this is not the case they will be removed to keep them safe.
5 Facts About Safeguarding
Children
●
Most abusers are never convicted as children
have such a hard time standing up against them
in court.
●
Some parents do not realise their child is being
abused as it is their friend or relative who is the
abuser.
5 Facts About Safeguarding
Children
●
Neglect is one of the hardest forms of abuse
as the child development becomes severely
impared.
●
Peodaphiles spend years grooming a child.
●
If you discover a child who is being abused,
you will find it hard to file a report as you will
question your judgement.
Roles and
Responsibilities
Everybody who works with children or
who comes into contact with children
has Safeguarding duties they must
practice
Agencies who must also
adhere to Safeguarding
requirements are:-
Educational Services
Housing authorities
Local Authorities
Social Services
Psychologists
Health Authorities
Child protection Services
Roles and Responsibilities
All of these services work with children and must know how to
report their concerns.
The reality is that Safeguarding Responsibilities belong
to everyone. If you are not working with children but are
concerned, you should report your concern to Child
protection services who will have a duty to report it and
follow it up.
Safeguarding Responsibilities
Everybody has a responsibility to report their concerns about the
wellbeing and safety of a child or young person.
People who come into contact with a child has a responsibility to:-
●
Be vigilant and look for signs of abuse and neglect.
●
Report any concerns according to their organisations
Safeguarding policies.
General public may notice these signs at work and must report a concern.
Report any concerns to the NSPCC or the Police if you feel the child is in
danger.
SUMMERY
●
Safeguarding children is a practice for protection.
●
Child Protection is a process in place to make sure children at risk of harm,
abuse and neglect are sufficiently protected.
●
Anybody can commit maltreatment.
●
Safeguarding training is crucial because it provides the confidence and clarity
for the role concerning all safeguarding duties along with a better
understanding of the role everybody plays in safeguarding children and it helps
to promote effective and integrated services to ensure the safety of children.
Law and Guidance
Topics to be covered in this module
1.
History of Child protection in the UK
2.
The victoria Climbie Enquiry
3.
Peter Connolly and Working Together
4.
Child Protection System in England
5. The Child Act
6. Policy and Guidance
7. Other Legislation
8. Summery
History of Child Protection in the UK
Surprisingly enough Child Protection as we know it now, was not always
something we had access to.
Back in the mid / late nineteenth century, there was no child protection in place.
The only form of Child Protection came from the church or one or two kind people
who happened to be there at the time.
History of Child
protection in the
UK
●
Schooling was inadequate
●
Child labour was common
●
Child labour and neglect was
accepted
●
Child mortality was high
●
Society never considered that children
were abused
●
It was not socially acceptable to inter
To make matter worse
The beginning of Child Protection
Legislation
Surprisingly , the first changes concerning Child Protection was not
concerning abuse it was simply focused instead on, Philanthropists
focusing on reducing working hours for children in mines,factories and
chimneys.
1.
Social perception started to change as they realised it was not good for
children to work in such bad conditions.
2.
The first law was implemented to protect children from working in such
harsh conditions.
The late Nineteenth Century to the Mid Twentieth
Century
There were two significant changes seen.
1.
The formation of Child Protection Societies.
2.
Societies perspective on Child Protection begune to change for the better.
The case of Mary Ellen
One case was of a girl of 10 years old from the USA, born 1864 who, after her fathers
death, her mother was forced to adopt her, and she tragically neglected and abused by
her carers.
The late Nineteenth Century To The Mid Twentieth
Century
Luckily, Mary Ellen’s neighbours became aware of this and spoke out on her behalf,
they made contact with a mission worker named Etta Wheeler and eventually made
contact with a gentleman named Henry Bergh.
Henry was the founder of the ‘Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ and began to help
fight for Mary Ellen and he succeeded. A legislation was put in place and this
became ‘The Child Protection Society 1875.
Thomas Agnew set up a Child Protection Society in the UK in 1883.
In 1889 the Liverpool Society along with the London Society be
came the NSPCC.
From The Mid to the Late Nineteenth Century to
Today
In 1889, the UK Parliament saw the first Act which was to protect children. This
condition of this legislation meant that by law, interventions were made between
parents and their children and that anybody who mistreated a child could be
arrested.
There has now since been a steady progression of laws and legislations which
have all been designed to protect the safety and well being of all children.
As Child Protection and Child Abuse is such a complex matter, there are many
legislations in place today.
From The Mid to Late Nineteenth Century to Today
Most of the changes made in Child Protection today follow in the footsteps of the
Mary Ellen case.
These case which helped change legislations and policies,serve as examples of
what can happen if something is not reported and nothing is done. This all goes to
help authorities to amend their legislations to prevent similar cases in the future.
To this day there will be cases that change the way we view and manage Child
protection.
The Victoria Climbie Enquiry
Victoria was an 8 years old girl and
suffered hugely at the hands of her
carers. During her 10 months in the UK
she was :-
●
Tied up in a black back in a bath in her
own excrement.
●
Burnt with cigarettes.
●
Hit with bike chains, hammers and
wire.
●
Forced to eat cold food like a dog.
●
Scalded
There were 12 opportunities
missed by the authorities.
Some of Victorias case is
described in the Laming
Report 2003.
What went wrong ?
●
Organisational failures
●
Understaffed, undermanaged and
dysfunctional social care
department
●
Lack of communication between
departments and authorities
●
Under resourced
●
Constance absence of good
practices
●
Unclear responsibility at multiple
levels
What went wrong
Every Child Matter 2003
and
The Children’s Act
2004
follow the
Laming Report
to ensure all actions
are taken to ensure all issues highlight in the
Laming
Report
were corrected to ensure that the case of
Victoria Climbie never happens again.
Peter Connelly and Working Together
Another case followed soon after Victorias, in 2007. Another unfortunate child
named Peter Connelly of 17 months died.
Injuries he sustained were :-
●
Broken Ribs.
●
Broken back.
●
Over 50 other injuries at the time of his sad death.
Peter Connelly and Working Together
Peter’s mother and her boyfriend and her boyfriends brother, were later convicted for
their crimes in harming Peter.
Some similarities to Victorias case were noticed such as :-
●
Peter lived in the London borough of Haringey, the same borough as Victoria which
meant, the same authorities had again failed the child and he slipped through the
system.
●
Peter was known to many other agencies and authorities and was even subject to
a Child Protection Plan for physical abuse and neglect and also seen by community
paediatrics for assessment but physical abuse and extensive injuries went
undetected.
Peter Connelly and Working Together
Following Peters death Lord Laming wrote a new report.
This was called
The Protection of Children in England: A Progress Report 2009
Previous
previous recommendations were re-emphasised. This included :
●
Multi agency working
●
Collaboration up to government level
●
Accountability and responsibility
●
The importance of leadership
●
The establishment of the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit
2009
Since Peters death a new guidance has been published :
Working together to Safeguard Children 2010
and 2013
.
The Child Protection System
England
In the UK , we have an organisation system for child protection, however
each nation / county has its own responsibility. These can be checked
on the NSPCC website.
All principles are similar, laws are passed to prevent hard to children
and guidelines are created to show agencies and organisations what is
needed to maintain the safety of the child.
Laws are passed to ward off abusers of harm by providing the actions
that are required. The guidance sets out what agencies and
organisations need to do in their part to keep children safe.
The Child Act
The Child Act, allocates duties and obligations to
agencies,courts,authorities and parents
concerning the Safeguarding and welfare of the
child.
The Child Act states that the child is better off
with their parents and families.
As long as parents cooperate with the legislation
and compromise the care and wellbeing of the
child.
●
The welfare of the child is paramount
●
Delay is likely to prejudice the welfare of
the child
●
The court shall not make an order,
unless to do so, would be better for the
child than making no order ( the ‘no
order ‘ principle)
The Child Act 2004
After the death of little Victoria Climbie, The Child Act 1989 was revised. The new versions show in
The Child Act 2004 and additions were added again in 2014.
Such as:
●
It made the change to appoint local authorities with their own Director of Children's’ Services.
●
It created the post of Children’s Commissioner for England.
●
It has also placed a duty on the Local Authorities and their partners to co-operate in the well
being of the child and making arrangements to safeguard and promote the children at all time.
Children and Social Work act 2017
The Children and Social Work Act 2017, follows a programme of suggested
reforms of a policy paper which was called:
Putting Children First, our vision for
Children’s Services.
This policy focuses on the Safeguarding of all children who are already in the care
system. It also covers new legislations relating to provisions of relationship and sex
education.
Children and Social Work Act 2017
●
Relationships education will be provided to primary schools
●
Child death review partners are required to review each death of
a child in their area and identify matter which are relevant to
children locally.
●
The Child Safeguarding Practice Panel was established to review
reports on serious child protection cases which may be complex
or of national importance
●
All local authorities must appoint personal advisers for children
and young adults leaving care up to the age of 25yrs
Policy and Guidance
Policies and Guidance set out how organisations and individuals
should work together and include how partners should conduct the
child’s assessment.
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2017
Under this guidance, The Department of Education highlight key
statutory guidance for anyone working with children in England.
Policy and Guidance
The main features are:
●
Child death review partners are required to make provisions to review
child deaths
●
The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel is responsible for
overseeing lessons learnt from serious child incidents and they also lie
with the Safeguarding Partners at a local level
●
Early years providers are required to have policies and procedures with
Safeguarding Children in place
●
Chief of Police, Local Authorities and clinical commissioning groups,
replace Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards and they must work
together with relevant agencies to protect the welfare of children in
their area
Keeping Children Safe in Education 2019
The Guidance sets out the legal duties of all staff in education must follow to
Safeguard and promote the welfare of all children across the United Kingdom.
The 5 parts are:
1.
Ensure sufficient management of Safeguarding is in place
2.
Provide all staff with Safeguarding information
3.
Safer recruitment
4.
What do if allegations of abuse occur against a member of staff
5.
What they would do to manage child on child Sexual Violence and Sexual
Harrassment
Keeping Children Safe in Education
What To Do If You Are Worried a Child Being Abused :
Advice for Practitioners
These three steps should be followed:-
●
Act immediately
●
Follow your Child Protection Policy
●
Speak to your manager or Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL or Deputy ) as
soon as possible
Keeping Children Safe in Education
A DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead) is the person appointed to take lead
responsibilities and accountabilities for Child Protection issues in Schools and
Colleges. The person holding this position must be a senior member of the
School or Colleges leadership team and the role must be set out in the post
holders job description.
There must be a Deputy if the DSL is unavailable and should:
●
Manage any support for the child internally using the schools pastoral
support process
●
Do an early help assessment
●
Make a referral for statutory services
Keeping Children Safe in Education
Things To Do if The DSL, Deputy is Not Available,
if staff are not in a situation
where they cannot reach the people they need to report to (DSL or Deputy)
●
They should continue to take immediate action
●
Speak to a member of the Senior Leadership Team (Senior Management)
●
Contact the local Children’s Social Care directly and follow their advice
●
Report your actions to the DSL, via email , phone if not face to face, or deputy
manager about any actions as soon as possible
Keeping Children Safe in Education
If a child is in immediate danger or risk of harm, there are additional steps which should be
followed.
Staff should:
●
Make a referral to Children’s Social Care and the Police if appropriate, immediately
●
Keep a log of all the concerns, discussions, decisions made, and the reasons for the
decisions
●
Discuss all of the actions made with the DSL or deputy as soon as possible
●
Staff should also raise awareness immediately to the manager or DSL if there are concerns
about a member of staff potentially abusing a child or young person
There should be a whistleblowing hotline if you cannot get
through to the DSL or deputy if this issue involves a member of staff.
Other Legislation
●
The right to education
●
The right to relax and play
●
The right to be safe from
violence
●
The right to freedom of
expression
The United Nations Convention
on The Rights of the Child 1989
This was created by Unicef and
includes over 50 articles
focusing on many aspects of a
child life such as economic,
social,civil,political, and cultural
rights which a child is entitled to.
Every Child Matter 2003
This is a green paper outlining all of the proposal made by the Government of the
reform and improvements of childcare. This followed Lord Laming’s investigation
following Victoria Climbie’s death. The 5 principles which every child had the right
to are :
●
Be healthy
●
Stay safe
●
Enjoy and achieve
●
Achieve economic well being
●
Make a positive contribution
Each principle has a detailed framework which every agency must follow.
Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005
MCA protect and empowers people who lack mental capacity.
There are 5 fundamental principles that all agency workers must consider they are :-
●
People must be support as much as possible to be able to make their own
decisions before anyone else concludes that they cannot do so
●
Every adult has the right to make their own decisions and the people around them
must assume they have the capability to make some of their own decisions unless
it is proven otherwise
●
People have the right to make what they may think as unwise or eccentric
decisions
●
Anything for on behalf of people without capacity should be the least restrictive of
their basic rights
●
Any actions made for that person who lacks mental capacity must be in their best
interests
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
This act is in place to protect children and vulnerable adults from harm and abuse
or risk of harm by preventing unsuitable people from working with them.
There are many guidelines in place which is to ensure that the Safeguarding
Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 is successful for.
Children First: National Guidelines for the Protection
and Welfare of Children
These guidelines ensure that all children are kept safe from harm while using public
services and other relevant organisations.
One of the main objectives of this act, is to ensure children and young people are
kept safe from harm and abuse while using the services of relevant organisations.
Children First -: National Guidelines for the Protection
and Welfare of Children
All agencies are accountable for :-
●
Keeping children safe
●
Making sure they carry out risk assessments to identify that all children are
kept safe from harm while using their services
●
Developing their own Safeguarding Statement outlining the organisations
policies and procedures to manage any risks identified
●
Making sure there is a contact for any Child Safeguarding issues
Children First Guidance Addendum 2019
This act specialises on the Internet and the role it all plays in our lives.
It encourages that we teach and encourage safe responsible online behaviour.
There should be clear and accurate policies put in place to make sure children stay
safe online and what to do if they could be exposed to potential harm
The Children First E-Learning Program
There is now an agency called Tusla, which works closely with Children First, and
has developed a suite of resources to support the full implementation of the
Children First Act.
Tusla have developed a comprehensive e-learning programme, which lays out the
necessary information needed to recognise and report child welfare and protection
concerns.
This programme is accessed free of charge.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
The DBS assists all employees to make sure they don’t hire unsuitable people who could
harm vulnerable groups, such as children or vulnerable adults.
The DBS determines if a person is safe to work with children and added to or removed
from the ‘Barred List’ If the DBS receives information that the person poses a risk of
harm to vulnerable groups, they may decide to add this person to the barred list.
The Barred List prevents people , by law, from working with children or vulnerable
people.
All people who work with vulnerable people or children will need a DBS check.
Child Abuse
Topics to be covered in the module
●
Definition of child abuse
●
Types of child abuse
●
Who is at risk and why
●
Domestic abuse
●
Neglect
●
Physical abuse
●
Emotional abuse
●
Sexual abuse
●
Child trafficking
●
Cyber bullying
●
Grooming
Definition of Child Abuse
Child abuse is the cruel or violent treatment of a child, which causes ‘harm’ to the
child.
Definition o
f
Harm
Harm is a damage caused by a cruel or violent act. When we discuss harm in the
context of child abuse, we mean Physical, Emotional, Mental, Spiritual and
Development harm, which, as you will come to see are tragic effects of any form of
Child Abuse and Neglect.
Harm and Significant Harm
ANY
form of child neglect or abuse can cause significant harm to a child, even
when a child does not display any symptoms.
It’s all too easy to pass off a small act of neglect as nothing to worry about, in the
small scheme of things, like a small cut as insignificante by comparison to a more
substantial injury such as a broken bone.
The severity of the injury is not the measure we should use to judge child abuse,
but she should, of cause, be vigilant about spotting these types of symptoms but in
many cases we may to look deeper into to more subtle signs which may be more
prevalent than an injury as we will learn more about abuse.
Who is at risk and why
Children are more vulnerable to abuse as they depend wholly on
adults to survive and thrive which means they cannot easily walk
away, this means they are more susceptible to abuse and neglect
than non vulnerable adults.
Unfortunately child abuse does not dicriminate, it
occures in all social classes, cultures and ethnic groups.
Who is at Risk and
Why ?
●
Parental mental
health/emotional problems
●
Parental drug and alcohol
abuse
●
Social isolation
●
Single parenting
●
Domestic violence
●
Large family
●
Poor interaction with parent
and child
Some common factors increase the
vulnerability of a child :-
●
Serious illness
●
Premature birth
●
Disability
●
Age
●
Behaviour problems (AAD)
●
Difficult temperament
●
family
Who is at Risk
●
Homelessness
●
Poor unsuitable home
●
Parental unemployment
●
High crime rates in the are
●
Insufficient Social Support
●
Low socioeconomic Status
Types of Abuse
There are four main
types of abuse:-
1.
Neglect
2.
Emotional Abuse
3.
Physical Abuse
4.
Sexual Abuse
Types of Abuse
The factors described here can cause any one of the 4 types of abuse i.e
●
Domestic violence may subject a child to emotional abuse but it could include
all 4 types of abuse.
●
Cyberbullying relates mostly to emotional abuse.
●
Bullying can involve both physical and emotional abuse, but in some cases
also include sexual abuse.
●
Grooming can include, emotional physical and sexual abuse.
●
Trafficking usually involves all 4 types of abuse.
●
Sexual abuse will cause emotioanl abuse and physical abuse.
●
Neglect will cause emotional and physical abuse.
●
Physical abuse will cause emotional abuse.
Neglect
Neglect is one of the most hardest forms of abuse for a child to recover from, because
the vital emotional and physical attention a child needs as they grow is absent, this then
causes endless problems on a child’s psyche which includes emotional , mental, and
physical development.
Neglect is the most common form of abuse, which is also the hardest to recognise, as
there is no defined line in place, to help to determine when the level of care a child
receives is neglectful.
One in seven secondary age children in the UK has experienced neglect.
It is the responsibility of the agencies and services a child comes into contact with.
If suspicion arises they should report it.
Types of Neglect
There are different categories of neglect which makes it a little easier to determine what
to look out for.
●
Emotional Neglect : This involves long term lack of emotional support or comfort,
lack of / provide no support, show no emotions.
●
Physical Neglect: dirty living, smelly ,dirty clothes, poor hygiene, unchanged
nappies, it may include smelling of urine as child may not know how to wash or
keep clean appropriate to their age.
●
Nutritional Neglect: Over feeding or starvation.
●
Supervision: The parent does not take care of the child, absent, child my go
missing, may have accidents.
●
Medical Neglect : lack of medication, medical attention.
●
Educational Neglect: Parent does not enrol the child to school and does not attend
to the child's educational needs.
Signs of Neglect
●
I
ncontinence
●
Bags unders the eyes
●
Withdrawn
●
Self soothing
●
Overly independent
●
Hyper vigilant
●
Hyperactive / Attention Seeking
●
Distracted
●
Insecure low self esteem
●
Clumsy
●
No sense of danger
●
Anger
●
Harm themselves
●
Does not maintain healthy
hygiene
●
Lacks spatial awareness
The Child’s Appearance
●
Dirty
●
Bedraggled
●
Unkempt
●
Dirty unbrushed hair
●
Constantly wears
inappropriate dirty
clothes for the weather.
●
Shoes too big or small
●
Smell of urine
●
Signs of tiredness bags
under eyes
●
Continually sick
●
Bad teeth
Additional signs
●
I
nadequate supplies for school
●
Frequent accidental urination
●
Untreated health problems
●
Persistent infections,head
lice,scabies,eye infections, throat
infections
●
Does Not meet development
milestones
●
The child has regular responsibilities
that interfere with school
The long Term Impact of Neglect
The higher risk of long term health
problems are:
●
Lung disease
●
Diabetes
●
malnutrition
●
Arthritis
●
Vision problems
●
Limited in activities
●
Brain damage
●
High blood pressure
●
Diminished executive
functioning /cognitive skills
●
Poor mental and emotional
issues
●
Attachment and emotional
issues
●
Post traumatic stress (PTSD)
●
Low self esteem
●
Eating disorders
Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse refers to violence, aggressive
and unpredictable behaviour of one parent.
●
The child will never feel safe
●
They will not know what they may walk into
when returning home
●
They will never know what may happen to
their parent
●
The child may get neglected as the abused
parent cannot cope
Physical Abuse
This is any form of physical harm projected onto a
child.
●
Hitting or punching
●
Shaking
●
Kicking
●
Stamping on
●
Biting
●
Throwing the child or objects at the child
●
Burning
●
Scalding
●
freezing
●
Poisoning
●
Being forced to do something
●
Confinement
●
Typing or chaining up
●
Cutting
●
Choking
●
Torturing
●
Twisting limbs
●
Breaking bones
●
Any physical harm to the body
Signs of physical Abuse
The abuser knows not to leave
visible marks so if you notice
marks on the child’s torso,
back,under arms,legs,under
hairline, or any marks which
should not be there.
Other sign may be :
●
Pale and drawn
●
Bags unders the eyes
●
Fearful eyes
●
Anxiety
●
Restrain marks
●
Limited abilities in activities
●
Floppiness in babies
Signs of Physical
Abuse
●
I
njuries at different stages of healing
●
Withdrawn behaviour
●
Running away
●
Violence or aggression with other children adults or
animals
●
Signs of brain damage or personality disorder
●
Suicidal tendencies
●
Self harm
●
Chaotic behaviour
●
Fractured / sprained fingers and toes
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse is a psychological manipulation
of a child which causes fear or harm to a child’s
psyche and wellbeing. It is very common and
occurs on its own, or alongside almost all other
forms of abuse.
Some people can emotionally abuse a child
deliberately but some may not realise they are
doing it.
This makes it very difficult to step in at the right
time and also the abuser may be very
manipulating.
Socially and morally it can be very confusing for
the onlooker, which means you should be
mindful of , so you can help and support the child
to speak out for them.
So if you think that, everything should be done to
keep the child safe from ALL harm, whether it is
intentional or not. It means that if you have any
doubt, you should report it.
What Causes Unintentional Emotional Abuse
Some forms of emotional
abuse occurs when an
influential person in a child’s
life causes harm to the child’s
psyche and emotional well
being without realising they
are doing it.
This can occur due to:
●
Low intelligence
●
Personality disorders of mental
illness like, Narcissism or
Munchausen Syndrome
●
Experiencing the same thing
growing up, not realising it is
wrong
●
Making poor choices in life i.e
addiction or volatile relationships
Examples of Emotional Abuse
●
Threats
●
Invoking fear
●
Control
●
Emotional unavailability
●
Exploitation
●
Humiliation
●
Denying love
●
Isolation demeaning behaviour
●
Inappropriate punishment
●
Lack of affection
●
Continual criticism
●
Setting the child up to fail
●
Shouting
●
Chastising
●
Threatening
●
Chaotic behaviour
●
Supporting deviant behaviour
●
Verbal abuse
Signs of Emotional Abuse
A child may express their issues through
their appearance demeanour and
behaviour in these ways:
●
Aggression
●
Self harm
●
Appeasing behaviour
●
Submissive behaviour
●
Flirty behaviour
●
Distrusting behaviour
●
Stealing
●
Lack of social activities
●
Developmental delay
●
Anxiety
●
Inappropriate or accidental
urination
●
Self soothing behaviors
●
Lack of social awareness
●
Lying or telling stories
●
stress
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse means any form of sexual or
deviant behaviour towards a child who is, of
course, too young to be exposed to in such a
way.
This includes enticing or forcing a child to
take part in any kind of sexual activity. This
does not need to incude sexual intercourse or
other sexual acts to the body. It can also
include being forces to watch pornography or
acts of sex, or being made to dress or dance
or perform sexually, wheather or not the child
agrees, appears to instigate it or seems to be
enjoying it.
Think of sexual abuse as being
anything sexual to involve a
child
Bullying
Bullying can occur in the home,
which is a form of emotional abuse.
The most significant form of abuse
is peer on peer, which usually
happens in schools or social clubs
but also outside of these
establishments among other
children who attend these clubs
and are in the bullied child’s circle.
Two main types of bullying are:
●
Physical Bullying : where other children or
child physically hurt or harm a child by
punching and kicking their victim.
●
Emotional Bullying : this may be name
calling, gaslighting, locking victim up in a
cupboard, stealing from the victim, leaving
intimidating messages, stalking, talking
about the victim to steal friends away.
Cyberbullying
This is a form of Emotional abuse
online and lots of children are
falling prey to it.
It involves leaving hurtful, harmful,
abusive and misleading
messages about another person
through txt or social media, email,
or other messaging services.
This can also involve posting nude
pictures, spreading untruths about
a person on social media.
Cyberbullying can be very stressful
for the victim, as they cannot take
down the post about themselves,
and can leave the victim’s
reputation damaged, their self
worth and sense of safety is also
damaged and can be devastating
for the victim.
Child Trafficking
Trafficking is where a child or young person is either kidnapped,
trafficked, tricked,forced or persuaded to leave their home.
They are then sold to unscrupulous people who will use the child
usually to exploit them sexually or to gain money.
The trafficker is the middleman, finding children to hand over to
their customers who will then use the children in some of the
following ways.
Why do People Traffic Children
Sexual Exploitation: Children or Young
People are sold or rented out to sexual
preditors and may be used to create
child pornography or to perform in
sexual rituals.
Slavery : Some children ar used for
domestic slavery such as cooking,
childcare, gardening, cleaning or made
to work in factories or on farms.
Organ Donors : Some are used for
organ donors how horrible this may
sound but it does happen.
Commit Crimes : Children are sold to
work selling drugs, moving them
about and also working in the
manufacturing of drugs, they may
also be forced to steal and pickpocket
or beg for money.
Why do People Traffic Children
Forced Marriage : Young Brides
Claiming Child Benefit : They will send
children into new homes so people
can claim benefits.
Other reasons :
Some children are even trafficked
Other reasons :
Some children are even trafficked for
rituals, experiments and many other
dark purposes that would be too
extreme to list in a course.
Types of child trafficking
There are different ways a trafficker may
operate depending on the ‘order’ they are
taking or who they are working for such as:
●
Individuals working alone, needing 1
or 2 children to work in their area.
●
Medium sized, small scale groups of
traffickers who move and exploit
children on a small or medium scale.
●
Large, national or international
networks with high level corruption
and a large number of victims.
Signs of trafficking are :
●
The child is not registered at local
schools or doctors.
●
They do not go to school
●
They rarely leave the house and do
not have friends or play outdoors
●
They claim to be orphans
●
They do not know where they are
from
●
Their accommodation is poor
●
They are afraid to share information
about themselves
●
They have unsavoury friends
●
They are in inappropriate places
●
They tell scripted stories
Effect of Child trafficking
Any child who has been removed from their families will
experience considerable anxiety and trauma. They are usually
subject to a lifetime of :
●
Exploitation
●
No love, caring,nurturing, education and protection
●
Not knowing what is is like to be safe
●
Violated
Who is at Risk of Child Trafficking
Most people think that this could
never happen to them, or that it just
doesn't happen to children in this
country but unfortunately your child
only has to be mixing with one person
involved, for them to be on their radar.
This is all it takes for them to be
taken.
Traffickers can be:
●
Other parents
●
A boyfriend
●
A friend of the child’s parents
●
A friend of the child
Who is at Risk of Child trafficking
●
The local
shopkeeper
●
A random person
●
A neighbour
●
A club owner
●
A teacher
●
Someone in the park
●
Any nationality
●
Rich or poor
●
High or low society
stratus
●
Male or female
Grooming
Grooming is very difficult to spot as
the groomer is very talented in how
they work in building trust in their
victims.
They prey on the vulnerable, children
and or parents
Definition of grooming :
Grooming is a persuasive act or
strategy used to build trust with
people so that the groomer can
exploit them.
Grooming
Children are groomed for more than two main
reason :
1.
Trafficking
2.
Sexual exploitation
Who grooms children ?
●
A friendly shopkeeper
●
A teacher
●
A caretaker
●
A neighbour
●
A care worker
●
A friend
●
A hospital nurse, doctor,
assistant
●
A boyfriend
●
A relative
●
A parent of the child’s friend
Groomers may not always start by grooming the child. They will begin to groom
the parents, get friendly to gain access to the child. Some paedophiles will
notice a pregnant woman and get friendly so they can gain access to the child
later, they take their time and enjoy the thrill of it.
They may get friendly with a teacher or carer of a child to attempt employment
in the company to gain access to the child, this is why it is crucial to stay vigilant
around your colleagues. Anyone is at risk, even those who are absent physically
or emotionally or mentally, even children who are unsupervised online.
Summery
1.
The are 4 primary forms of abuse, Physical,
Emotional, Sexual and neglect.
2.
All 4 forms have devastating effects on a child’s
development, psyche and wellbeing.
3.
Abuse can happen to any child of any walk of life.
4.
The abusers can be anyone.
5.
Cyberbullying and Bullying is also abuse.
6.
Children sadly are groomed and trafficked for
many reasons, so it is essential we are all aware
and understand the signs so we can help the
child.
Child Sexual
Exploitation
Topics to be covered in the is module
●
Harmful sexual Behaviour
●
Types of Sexual Abuse
●
Who are the Abusers
●
Online Sexual
●
Signs of Sexual Abuse in Children
●
Impact of Sexual Abuse in Children
●
What to Do When a Chils Reveals Sexual Abuse to You
●
How to Provide Support to the Abused Child
●
How to keep Children Safe from Potential Sexual Abuse
●
Legislation on Child Sexual Abuse
●
What is Consent
Types of Sexual Abuse
There are two forms of Sexual Abuse.
●
Contact Abuse
●
Non Contact Abuse
Please understand that Sexual
abuse can occur on line as well as
in person.
Contact Abuse
Contact abuse is any form of abuse which is physical contact with the child from
the abuser.
Which is :-
●
Removing a child’s clothes
●
Forcing a child to participate in sexual acts
●
Making the child sexual touch their abuser, themselves or someone else.
●
Raping or penetrating a child anywhere, using any body parts or objects.
Non Contact Abuse
This means abuse occurs even though the child is not being touched. Which is :
●
Exposing or flashing their genitals or commiting any sexual acts in front of the
child.
●
Showing the child pornography, or nude pictures of adults.
●
Making the child mastibate
●
Taking or making or viewing or distributing any form of child abuse media
such as videos or images.
●
Forcing the child to take part in sexual activities online or through other media
services.
●
Making the child have sexual conversations in real life, online.
Harmful Sexual Behaviour
Anyone involved in Safeguarding children should understand exactly what harmful
sexual behaviour is so they can recognise it and known exatlry how to deal with it
approptetly.
We also need to understand that Sexually abused children, often express inappropriate
sexual behaviour towards other children as some abused children abuse their peers in
the same way they are experiencing abuse. This is why, if you are working in a school or
hospital, this unfortunate side effect of sexual abuse is something you will also need to
watch out for.
Be mindful still that, for the child abusing their peers, they are also
a victim and still need protecting.Even if they are displaying socially unacceptable
behaviors, we need to show compassion and care for the children involved, no matter
how ugly their behaviour.
Harmful Sexual Behaviour
Here are some of the forms of Sexual behaviour :-
●
Rape,
The intention to penetrate the vigina, anus or mouth of another person
with a penis where the victim does not give concent and the perpetrator does
not beleive or care that the victim consents.
●
Sexual Assult by Penetration
, This is similar but the object used is another
part of the perpetrators body or object.
●
Sexual Assult,
The perpetrator touches the victim sexually and the victim does
not give concent and the perpertrator does not reasonably believe that victim
concents.
Harmful Sexual Behaviour
Sexual Harrassment:
This can occur online or offline and includes unwanted
sexual behaviour.
This can
:
●
Violate a child’s dignity
●
Intiminate
●
Humiliate
●
Degrade
●
Create an inappropriate sexual environment
Harmful Sexual Behaviour
Here are some examples of what Sexual Harrassment is considered to be although this is n the full
list :-
●
Sexual innuendos
●
Sexual comments, jokes or stories
●
Lewd comments and sexual remarks regarding cloths or appearance
●
Calling someone sexual names
●
Sexual behaviour i.e rubbing against someone
●
Displaying sexual images
●
Taking sly pictures underneath a person’s clothes without them realising
●
Taking pictures of a persons body parts and focusing in on them for sexual gratification witout
concent
●
Messing about with a person’s clothes to reveal intimate parts of a person’s body parts,
undoing bra, pulling down trousers or lifting skirt.
Female Genital Mutilation
Female Genital Mutilation is where the genitals of a female are removed or altered
for no reasonable medical reason. This is usually practiced for cultural or religious
reasons.
Some families and communities who practice Female Genital Mutilation, believe
that this act is beneficial for the girl, to prepare them for marriage or childbirth.
This is carried out on a child from the age of 15 to approximately 49 and it can
occur in the UK or a female can be sent abroad for the operation. This could also
be know by different names so be aware, and be aware of any alarm bells. This is
an illegal offence in Britain. It is a criminal act to carry out on a child under the
age of 18 and is considered as Child Abuse.
The effects of Female Genital Mutilation
We should know that there is no benefits for any female to have their genitals mutilated
but it leaves many side effects such as:-
●
Infections such as HIV, Tetanus, Hepatitis B and C
●
Infertility
●
Severe or constant pain
●
Pain during sex
●
Incontinence
●
Difficulty urinating
●
Organ damage
●
Life threatening problems during childbirth
●
Emotional and mental health issue
●
Death
Who is at risk of Female Genital Mutilation
As FMG is a cultural issue, we narrow down our perspective and look at specific communities and cultures
to help us identify and support any children who may be about to experience mutilation or who have already
experienced it.
The home office identify the following communities as being ‘more at risk’ although it is also important not
to rule someone out if they are not from the list below.
●
Somali
●
Egyption
●
Nigerian
●
Eritrain
●
Yemeni
●
Kenyan
●
Ethiopian
●
Sierra Leonean
●
Sudanese
Signs of Female Genital Mutilation
These are signs of someone about to undergo mutilation:
●
A mother, aunt,sister or any other female has already experience FGM
●
There is an unexpected extended absence to school or collage
●
A relative visits from abroad and you hear the word ‘Cutter’ is mentioned
●
The child is about to attend a special occasion or ceremony related to
celebrating ‘becoming a woman’ or preparing for marriage
●
A girl is anxious, upset or her school work is suffering for no apparent reason
●
The girl absconds
Signs of Female Genital Mutilation
Here are signs of somebody who has experienced mutilation:
●
Visible signs of pain but reluctant to seek help
●
Difficulty standing or sitting or even walking
●
Visiting the toilet often and taking a long time out
●
Being upset, withdrawn anxious or unsettled
●
Acting out of character, long absent from school
●
The fail in having medical examinations
●
Trying to ask for help but not explaining why
These are very similar to other forms of abuse so be mindful not to miss
something vital.
Who Are the Abusers ?
These could be anyone such as:
●
A parent
●
A friend
●
Somebody who knows the child socially
●
A stranger
●
Traffickers
●
People who hire traffickers
It is not easy to know who is likely to sexually abuse a child due to that fact
that if they gain gratification from the child, they will know that it is not socially
acceptable to talk about it so will go underground with their tendencies, sadly
CSA is more prolific than anybody could imagine.
Signs of Female Genital Mutilation
The levels some abusers may go to just to satisfy their fantasies and desires can be diverse so
some may :
●
Think about sexual actions for a child but may never do anything about it
●
Fall in love with a child or young person, even though they have never considered it before
●
Watch child pore only, without considering that the child has been trafficked or experienced
child abuse for their entertainment
●
Interactive online with a child misleading a child of their age and intentions
●
Interacted once or twice with a child’s family
●
Engaged in full sexual abuse long term with one child on or off line
●
Prolifically target children online but never intending to meet
●
Targeting children online to meet then eventually abuse them
●
Targeting children physically intening to abuse them sexually
Online Sexual Offenders
As we have already mentioned on line sex offenders, we need to remeber that it is
very easy for them to access children, as there is not always one size fits all type of
offender when it comes to online offenders i.e:
●
The demographics and risk profiles of online sexual offenders are diverse
●
Some use the internet to intend to abuse children sexually either online or
meeting up
●
Some online sexual offenders have already commited acts of contacting
sexual abuse with children
●
Others do not take their online behaviour offline
●
Traffickers also use the internet to exploit children
Signes of Sexual Abuse in Children
Here are some signs to look out for:
●
Withdrawn
●
Anxiety, depression and other mental health issues
●
Inconsistent and disorientated behaviour
●
Excessive appeasing, especially to adults
●
Fearful behaviour
●
Changes in older children’s circle and friends habits
●
Restricted movement trouble walking standing or sitting
●
Secretive sexualised touching of other children
●
Apparent flirtatious behaviour towards an adult
Signs of Sexual Abuse in Children
●
Any sexual behaviour
●
Suicidal attempts
●
Following other children to the toilet
●
Difficulty urinating
●
Inappropriate sexual behviour towards adults, inc angry and jealous behaviour
●
Stains on the child’s clothing which may look like blood, discharge, urine or
faeces around the genitals or buttocks area
●
Sexual related infections
●
Parent may notice their child is withdrawing from them
Signs of Sexual Abuse in Children
Some other strange behaviours from an abused child such as:
●
After being comforted or reassured over a matter, they give you inappropriate
of seemingly strange invitations such as ‘you can cuddle me now’ or any other
invite to get close to them
●
The child may urinate or smear faeces which is a sign of protection
●
Allegation made by the child about an adult or disclosing information about
abuse, which you find out is made up, as the child is testing to see if its safe to
disclose their abuse and what your reactions are
The impact of Sexual Abuse on Children
The impact of sexual abuse is profound and can include:
●
Anxiety
●
Anger
●
Loss of childhood
●
Depression
●
Personality disorders
●
Post traumatic stress (PTSD)
●
Overwhelmed
●
Self harm
●
Suicidal thoughts
●
Eating disorders
What to do When a
Child Reveals Sexual
Abuse to You
You must handle the situation
●
Professionally
●
Compassionately
●
Promptly
Many children who have disclosed
still experience abuse, because the
person failed them or had been shut
down in the past as not enough was
done to support them.
A child will not find it easy to tell
you that they have been abused,
so they will need to trust that
you will believe them, so you
must not break their trust.
What to do When a
Child Reveals
Sexual Abuse to
You
What to do When a Child Reveals Sexual Abuse to You
Most of all reassure the child and protect them while you are reacting in the initial
stages of the disclosure, then follow the seven steps :
1.
Listen carefully, remain calm do not put words in the child’s mouth do not
express your views, stay compassionate and reassure, any kind of shock or
disbelief will shut a child down and if you try to predict what they are saying
they may hang onto what you have said and use that instead of telling you the
truth.
What to Do When a Child Reveals Sexual Abuse to
You
2.
Reassure the child
, let them know that they have done the right thing and you
will do what you need to do to help them.
3.
Tell the child it’s not their fault.
Make sure you make it clear that is is not their fault, make sure they heard this
clearly as they may think they are to blame as for most abuse cases, children can
easily think they are to blame as the abuse will pass the blame onto them. When
the child understands that they are not to blame it will help them to open up with
you.
What to Do When a Child Reveals Sexual Abuse to
You
4.
Reassure the child that you are here to help and support them.
It is so hard for a child to disclose abuse, they need a lot of reassurance that you
are here to support and help them. In some cases the abuser is their carer and they
had trusted them, and now may feel they can’t trust anyone, a lot of reassurance is
key.
5.
Do not confront or alleged abuser.
Doing so may make the child’s situation a lot worse and could expose the child to
more abuse.
What to do When a Child Reveals Sexual Abuse to you
6.
Explain what you will do for them.
Explain to them what will happen next, in an age appropriate way. Make sure the
child understand what you will do next and what will happen to the child, and how
you will both deal with the next steps. Let them know that you will ask for a ‘Safe
Adult’ to help and that this person is here to help and support both of you to what to
do next.
7.
Write down clearly what the child has told you.
Write as much as possible in the child’s words, what happened.
How to Keep Children Safe from Potential Sexual
Abuse
It is very hard to protect a child from sexual abuse, especially when they are
experiancing it at home.
Her are some basic tips:
●
Remember what you need to do when a child discloses abuse to you.
●
Build trust with the child
●
Remind the child that you are a safe adult and support them
●
Educate children and adults on Grooming,Trafficking and Sexual abuse
●
Report any hinches you may have
●
Remain vigilant to any signs of abuse
●
Listen to the children around you and see how they reach with others
How to Keep Children Safe from Potential Sexual
Abuse
●
Monitor if a child is going to the toilet the same time as others. In schools, a
child who intend sexual abuse on another child may target them, they will
follow them and do it in a very calculated way, so if you notice this behaviour it
could be a sign.
●
Do not leave children unattended, in a secluded place or room or bathroom
●
Observe from a distance how the child reacts with other adults and their
parents/guardians or collegues
Legislation on child Sexual Abuse
The legislation is as followes:
●
For England and Wales:
The Sexual
Offences act 2003
●
Scotland:
Sexual Offences Order
2008. & The Protection of Children
and Prevention of Sexual Offences
Act 2005
●
Northern Ireland:
Sexual Offences
Order 2008.
What is Consent
The age of consent is the age when a person can have legal sex, which in
England is 16 yrs.
Even though the legal age is 16 yrs. The law determines that nobody under
the age of 13 yrs can ever give legal consent.
This creates a grey area for children who have been abused, but it also can
protect genuine people from a child pretending to be older than they really
are.
Responding to Disclosure and
Reporting
Topics to be
covered in this
section
●
What is a disclosure
●
Understand why children
don’t disclose
●
What to do if a child
discloses
●
Taking action
●
Your responsibility
●
Fulfilling ‘Duty of Care’
●
What, When and How to Report
●
Myths of Reporting
●
The structure of reporting
●
Organisations who provide
support
●
Talking to the parents
●
Referrals to Social Services
●
How referrals are made
What is Disclosure
Disclosure is when a child reports they
have been Abused or Neglected. Some
children may just make comments or
jokes instead of disclosing such as :
●
A drawing,story or joke
●
Social media posts
●
Questions about topics a child
should not be concerned about
●
Aggressive behaviour
●
Clingy or not want to go home
●
Ask hypothetical questions
●
Play role
●
Inappropriate interaction with other
children
●
Testing a safe adult to determine if
it is safe to talk to them or not
Understand Why Children Don’t Disclose
●
An adult shut them down didn’t listen to them
or notice
●
They are scared and afraid
●
They have been threatened
●
They love their parent so can’t tell anyone
●
They don’t know who to tell
●
They cannot find the words
●
They are embarrassed
●
They feel protective to their abuser
●
They do not realise they are being abused
●
They do not think anyone will believe them
●
Any combination of the above
What to Do If a Child Discloses
If a child comes to you and discloses or is trying to tell you, there are some important
steps you must follow:
●
Stay calm and reassuring
●
Listen carefully
●
Do not interrupt them
●
Do not stop them from disclosing information
●
Do not make jokes or dismissive comments such as :
‘You do have an amazing imagination’
‘Im sure its not that bad’
‘Are you sure’
What to Do If a Child Discloses
Be as reassuring as you can and use words such as:
●
‘Its ok your safe here’
●
‘You can tell me what you need and i will help you now’
●
‘Well done, you are doing a great job,
●
‘Thank you for trusting me’
Do not say:
●
‘Oh my gosh, how awful’ or ‘no X wouldn’t do that’
●
‘Your parents love you, they wouldn’t do that’
●
‘They did what’ or ‘oh no’ or ‘are you sure that really happened’
●
‘I won’t tell anyone else’ or ‘ I will have to call the Police’
Taking Action
When the child has told you everything, it is important that you le the child know the
following:~
●
They have don’t the right thing
●
You are listening to them and want to help them
●
Keep the child up to date on what happens next, so they understand for their
age.
●
Explain that you need to make notes and will talk with other safe parents who
can help you both
●
Report the matter to the Safeguarding Officer or Line Manager
Taking Action
Do not :~
●
Stop the child talking
●
Express your opinions
●
Make promises
●
Rush the child
●
Contact the alleged abuser
●
Judge them
●
Disclose the information to anyone else apart from your Line Manager or
Safeguarding Officer
Your Responsibilities
If you work with children, in any capacity, you may be in a position to observe any
signs of Neglect or Abuse, or changes in Health or Behaviour, or which may
indicate the child is experiencing Abuse or Neglect. If you notice such signs, you
are obliged to the basic Safeguarding responsibilities such as:~
●
Understand the work within the Local Multi-agency Safeguarding team
●
Ensure you are aware of signs of Abuse and Neglect
●
Avoid allowing other factors to get in the way such as self doubt, or
relationships
●
Understand you ‘Duty of Care’
Fulfilling ‘Duty of Care’
A duty of care is a legal obligation to :~
●
Always act in the best interests of the child
●
Not causing harm
●
Report any concerns you have about the safety of the children you work with
If you work with children you cannot opt out of your responsibilities, everybody is
subject to a duty of care.
A ‘duty of care’ is to ensure the wellbeing of everybody around you.
What to Report
●
The date and time
●
Name of child/children
●
The details in full
●
If you have any concerns about the child’s immediate safety
●
Report disclosures or concerts immediately
How to report
●
Write detailed information about the disclosure or concerns
●
Report to your Safeguarding lead or Line Manager
●
If this is not a child in the workplace, report to NSPCC helpline
●
If the child is immediate danger call 999
10 Myths about reporting
It is not as easy as we think to report Child abuse, people think they are over
reacting, or its not their responsibility. Here are a few Myths and and facts to help
explain and understand more:~
Myths 1. Social Services will remove the child from their parents.
Fact.
The Child Safety legislation states that it is better for the child to remain with
their parents unless in immediate danger. In most cases, social services will work
with the parents to make sure the child’s needs are met.
10 Myths about Reporting
Myth 2. Neglect is sad but it doesn’t put the child at risk of harm,so they are
better off as they are.
Fact.
Neglect is actually the hardest forms of abuse to recover from, as it has a life-
lasting impact on the child and in many cases, just extra support is all that is
required for the family. By not reporting neglect, can prevent a child and the family
from thriving together.
Myth 3. People will know who has reported them.
Fact.
You can choose to remain anonymous
Myth 4. Only professionals need to report concerns.
Fact.
Everyone has a duty to report a concern.
10 Myths about Reporting
Myth 5. Reporting a concern may make things harder for the child.
Fact.
Nothing is harder for a child than experiencing Abuse or Neglect. By reporting
it will give the child and the family the support they need.
Myth 6. Child Abuse is rare, or it doesnt happen in good neighbourhoods.
Fact.
Child Abuse happens in all walks of life.
Myth 7. Not many children experience Abuse or Neglect.
Fact.
Many children experience this, the reported statistics is only a small amount
we know about.
10 Myths about Reporting
Myth 8. You have to be absolutely certain that your suspicions are correct.
Fact.
You do not have to prove your concerns, Social Services will do that and take
control and support the family, so it is always better to be safe than sorry.
Myth 9. If a child does not disclose abuse it cannot be serious.
Fact.
Children find it hard to disclose abuse and in many case can’t or won’t.
Myth 10. Children are ‘naughty’ or ‘attention seeking’ so why report ?.
Fact.
Crying, shouting, bullying others,angry outbursts, distractions are all signs of
abuse
The Structure of Reporting in the UK
There are three main factors to consider when reporting a concern.
1.
If you think a child is in immediate danger call 999
1.
If you work with children, you need to report the concern to the Safeguarding
Team in the organisation and follow their procedures.
1.
If you have a concern about a child outside of work, you need to contact the
NSPCC Helpline 0800 1111.
Organisations That May Provide Support
It is better not to over think as this will worry you more, here are a few
organisations who can help you to understand more.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)
GUIDELINES:
Child Maltreatment: When to Suspect Child Maltreatment Guidelines 2009.
Organisations that May Provide Support
Statutory Guidelines
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015
Keeping Children Safe in Education 2015
Information Sharing - Advice for Practitioners Providing Safeguarding Services to
vulnerable Children, Young People, Parents and Carers 2015
Multi Agency Practice Guidelines on Female Genital Mutilation 2014
Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage 2014
Talking to parents
It may be your first thought to contact the child’s parents to talk to them about the
report but this must not happen, if you are unsure you can contact the NSPCC for
advice.
Calling the child’s parents could :
●
Put the child at risk of more harm
●
Put you or your colleagues at risk
●
Interfere with the investigation
●
Dealy referrals to Social Services
Referrals to Social Services
All referrals Must be reported to your Safeguarding Lead or Line Manager within 24hrs of the
concern, then the following steps will be followed:-
●
The local authority will deal with the referral and decide what next steps
●
Some authorities will deal with this but for some, you may need to call to keep up to date of
what happened
●
The Safeguarding Lead will need to follow up to make sure nothing has been overlooked
●
If for any reason you cannot contact the Safeguarding Lead or Line Manager, you should
contact Social Services or the Police directly.
All concerns MUST be followed through and all contact numbers are found on the UKCB
Safeguarding Policy.
How is a Referral Made
The Designated Safeguarding Lead will make contact with Social Care to make the
referral, Social Services will confirm that:
●
How and why a concern has been made
●
What involvement has the referer have with the family
●
What the needs of the child and family appear to be
●
The urgency of the referral
The referral will be followed up in writing and all the facts can be checked and
you will also have a written record of your referral.
Risk & Risk
Assessment
●
Factors which may Increase
Risk
●
Where Risk Came from
●
Single Assessment Process
●
How to Assess if a Child is at
Risk of Harm or Abuse
●
How to Recognise a Risky
situation
●
Parental Risk Factors
●
Summery
Topics to be
Covered
Factors that may Increase the risk or Abuse and Neglect
●
Inadequate parenting skills
●
Parents with mental health
issues
●
Parents with low IQ
●
Parents with disabilities
●
The area the child lives in
●
Parents with addictions
●
Single parent families/ financial
issues
●
Predatory adults
●
Inadequate supervisions
●
Parents who place their needs
onto the child
●
Parents with no support
network
●
Families who do not interact
with Social Educational and
Health Services
Where Risks Came From
●
The parents background,
skills,attitude and
circumstances
●
The parents family and friends
●
Inadequate supervision from
parents, carers and Service
Providers
●
Predators working in Child
Related Services
●
Parents, carers, Service
providers not understanding
the risks of online abuse are
and how to deal with it
●
Unaware of predator
approaching the child
●
Not educating the child on
abuse and harm
●
Trafficking or Radicalism
Single Assessment Process
The Single Assessment is a detailed assessment
covering the critical aspects of a child’s needs
after identifying the potential risk of abuse. This
determines, whether the child is ‘in need ‘ then
sets out a framework to protect the child.
The SAF ensures that everyone involved in the
child’s needs are prevents any failings in the
child’s care.
The people involved in the SEF will be :
●
The parents
●
The child’s wider family
●
All professional Services surrounding the
child
A SAF takes place after a referral which Social
Services arrange, this includes:
●
A protection Plan
●
It determines if a child needs immediate or
urgent protection
Single Assessment Process
The Assessment recognises :
●
The nature of the concern and the impact on the child
●
The level of risk on the child
●
Why and how the concerns have been raised
●
If there is a concern of risk or abuse
●
An overview of the needs of the child and the family
●
The impact of the family and community
●
The urgency of the action
●
If there is sexual exploiytation or trafficking issues
●
Any indications of such and or slavery
●
Any exposure of Radicalisation or Extremism
All single Assessments should be completed under legislation within 48hrs.
How to Access if a Child is at Risk or Harm or Not
If you have a concern about a child you must report it and let the experts determine
the risk.
There may be some situations, where you will need to inform Social Services that a
child is in immediate risk of Harm or Abuse, which may be difficult to determine
and you may need to think carefully about the following:
●
If the child has disclosed that someone in the household is the abuser
●
If the child is involved in trafficking, sexual exploitation and may harm the child
or family
●
A vulnerable parent, the child requires medication.
●
Will the child be safe if they return home, the parents state of mind
How to Recognise a Risky Situation
Here are some things to consider:
●
Does the child stay later at school and afraid to return home for no reason
●
Observe the interactions between the child and their parents
●
Any limited movement and injury, frequent or more than once
●
Do you notice strangers hanging about, shops, parks or schools and children
going to meet them
Parental Risk Factors
There are two main issues that imposes risk to child abuse or neglact, which are mental
Health or Substance Misuse.
If a parent has Mental Health issues, they can either not be able to tend to their child’s
needs or enhance the risk of abuse from predators. This could be made worse if the
parent is a single parent.
●
If one parent has poorly the healthy parent may neglect the child under pressure of
tending to the other parent and the child may have some household responsibilities
passed on to them.
●
If there are weaknesses in the family it may expose the child to predators
●
Parent with mental health issues may harm the child
●
In all of the cases there must be a Plan in place to support the parent and the child.
Parent Substance Misuse
The risks posed by the parent who misuses, substances can range from:
●
Exposes the child to drug and alcohol
●
Inadequate supervision
●
Enhances the risk of predators
●
A parent may abuse the child when they otherwise wouldn’t
Things to do after Referral
Topics to be covered
●
Social Care Decision
●
What to do if you Disagree
with a Decision
●
Early Help Assessment
●
The statutory Assessment
●
The strattory discussions
●
Child protection plan
●
Child protection
conferences
●
Child protection plans
●
Learning improvement on
framework
●
Child death reviews
●
The review conference
●
Online child protection
learning resources
Social Care’s Decision
Once Social Services has logged a refurrel, they have 45 days to make their
assessment and organise a plan of action, if they decide they decide an
assessment need to be raised.
If the child needs immediate protection, action must be taken to protect the child.
Social Services will:
1.
Determine how they will communicate and how they will respond within 24hrs
2.
They must notify you if they will be intervening or not
What to Do if You Disagree with the Decision
Sometime Social Services may not decide to respond to your concerns and you
may not agree with the outcome, if you do not agree, it is your duty to say so and
say why.
In this situation, you can discuss this with your Designated Safeguarding Lead and
or Line Manager
What to do if you Disagree with the Decision
Once you have raised your concerns further, The Safeguarding Lead will :
1.
Contact the manager of Social Services Team to review the decision
2.
Ask if they have other professionals with he same concern about the child and
inform Social Services of any additional concerns
3.
Monitor the case with your Safeguarding Lead Team and raise any other
concerns
4.
Review Social Care website to follow all actions that can be taken
5.
Check the website and make sure all professional involved are responding
appropriately
Early Help Assessment
If Social care are responding appropriately, the first steps will be to carry out an
Early Help Assessment.
An Early Help Assessments are statutory assessments covered under the child Act
1989.
An Early Help Assessment is to determine what the child or families needs are to
resolve the issue which will potentially remove or reduce intervention from Social
Care.
Early Help Assessment
An Early Help Assessment is normally carried out by a professional who is already
known to the child, for example:
●
Health Visitor
●
Teacher
●
GP
●
Support Worker
●
The organisations Designated Safeguarding Lead
Early Help Assessment
The first thing that need to be ascertained is an agreement from:
●
The child
●
The parents/carers
●
The child’s wider family
●
All other professional working with the child
The Purpose of Early Help Assessment
Within the Early Help Assessment, information is gathered about the child and the
family, from this, Social Care can then determine next steps to be taken.
The Assessment will:
1.
Analyse the needs of the child
2.
Assess the nature and level of risk or harm to the child
3.
Determine if the child is ‘in need’ of protection
4.
Determine what support is required to address the child’s needs
5.
Provide support
6.
Support the child’s wellbeing and ensure safety
The Purpose of the
Early Help
Assessment
All decisions made during the Assessment, are made
in the best interest of the child. This includes
interactions with their wider family, the community
and their needs.
All plans are then implemented. If there is any further
Safeguarding issues, the next steps would be a
Statutory Assessment.
Statutory Assessment
Local Authorities are required to provide services to
promote all Safeguarding and Welfare of children in
need.
The Child Act 1989 :
●
Part of this service is the implementation of
statutory assessments such as the Early Care
Assessment.
●
All statutory assessments concerning children in
need are regularly reviewed so the child continues
to receive all support and services they require
The Strategy Discussions
Strategy Discussions are the next steps in addressing
the child’s needs.
They are set out and implemented if the result of the
Early Help Assessment determines the child may be:
1.
Suffering
2.
Likely to suffer significant harm
Strategy discussions involve representatives
from:
●
The police
●
Social Care
●
GP’s
●
Teachers
●
The referees
Strategy discussions aim to:
●
Share information
●
Decide what further enquiries are
needed
●
Agree on any criminal
investigations
●
Determine what is necessary to
protect and SAFEGUARD the child
Child Protection Conferences
A Child Protection Conference
involves professionals and services
which can include:
●
Family members
●
Social workers
●
Any Governing body
During the conference, the group may:
●
Talk to the child and gather their
wishes and feelings
●
Gather information about the child’s
family history
●
Analyse earlier assessments take
relevant medical tests or
examinations
●
Check to see if the child’s health
development may be impaired
●
Decide what outcomes are necessary
for the child’s wellbeing
Child Protection Plans
Following on from the Child Protection Conference, a
‘Child Protection Plan’ is created.
The CHILD PROTECTION PLAN highlights what steps will
be implemented to:
●
Keep the child safe
●
Support the child and their family
The following should be included in the Child Protection
Plan:
●
The needs of the child to keep them safe and well
●
The changes to protect the child
●
Actions and strategies to be taken for the child’s
protection and wellbeing
●
Times scales
The plan should:
●
Arrange the roles and the responsibilities
of the family
●
Highlight all roles for all professionals
involved in the child’s care
●
Create a contingency plan if issues may
arise.
Learning and Improving the Framework
The framework supports all services to involved in the child’s care to improve their
services where needed.
The framework focuses on :
●
Lay out clear responsibilities of everyone involved
●
Reviewing and learning from cases met the statutory requirements and those
which did not
●
Serious case reviews and death reviews
●
To determining what happens in serious case reviews
●
Identifying strengths and weaknesses in Local safeguarding practices
●
Implementing actions
●
Promoting transparency about issues raised
Child Death Reviews
A child death review is a process which investigates the death of a child under the
age of 18yrs. It is a requirement that all deaths are investigated.
Child death reviews establish a structure for all child services and child death
review partners to:
●
Determine the cause and circumstances of the death
●
Provide support to the bereaved family
The Review Conference
After three months a follow up conference is held following the implementation of
the child protection plan, to determine if any other additions are required for the
safety of the child and their wellbeing.
This conference is called a ‘Review Conference’ After the first review, the following
reviews will be arranged every six months, until they are no longer need a
Protection Plan.
Online Child Protection Learning Resources
Here are a few learning Resources you can use to further your understanding of
Child protection;
●
Working together to Safeguard Children
●
Every Child Matter 2004
●
The Child Act 1989
●
NSPCC
●
Victoria Climbie Report
Keeping Records
Topics to be
covered in this
topic
●
What to record
●
When to record
●
How to record
●
Why is a concern
●
Why do we keep records
●
What happens with ineffective records
●
Who needs to understand records
●
Storage information
●
Sharing information
●
Data protection
●
How to transfer safeguarding
records
●
How long to keep records
What to record
●
Concern sheets
●
The child’s basic details
●
Key contacts
●
Case notes
●
Body maps
●
Meeting notes and minutes
●
Consultations
●
Reports
●
Plans
●
Index and chronology
●
Any other correspondence
relating to the child’s
safeguarding needs
When to record
To determine when to make records is
reasonably straightforward and can be
broken down in steps:
1.
All records of concerns,
alligations and suspicions
should be recorded as soon as
possible after the event so no
information is forgotten
2.
Any safeguarding
correspondence, actions and
decisions should also be
recorded
How to Record
Records need to be organised, legible and
complete. Some general rules should be followed
when recordings are made.
●
All handwriting should be clear, readable
and in ink
●
All events and observations should be
described clearly
●
All entries to be dated and signed by the
person entering the report
●
Simple language used
●
Opinions should be explained clearly
●
All disclosures should be in the child’s
words and inc any questions asked
●
All injuries and marks must be marked on a
body map
●
Actions should be clearly recorded
●
All cross agency decisions or endorsed
decisions made by a manager marked on
the record
What is a concern
A concern could be several situations such as:
●
a n abuse or neglect concern
●
Evidence of any abuse or neglect
●
Any identified risk factors
●
Serious risk indicators
●
Disclosures
●
Allegations
●
Any additional concerning information
about the child, their family or their lifestyle
or any third party
Most organisations use a
standard concern form which
keeps records consistent
Why should we
keep records
It is most important to keep clear Child Protection Records and
have been highlighted in most serious case reviews.
Records helps organise and identify concerns early and they
can begin to build a big picture of possible abuse or neglect
from a collection of seemingly smaller or minor events.
Good record keeping helps organise and monitor and manage a
good Safeguarding practice which also provides evidence of
effective safeguarding policy and practice.
What Happens if We do Not Keep Effective Records
If records are not maintained and effective we compromise the safeguarding and
protection of the child’s needs, by:
●
It may demonstrate and suggest non compliance with the statutory
requirements
●
Lead to failures to act on a concern in time
●
Prevent services from understanding a child’s life from a broader perspective
●
Missed opportunities and follow ups
Who needs to understand record keeping
All staff in the organisation must understand record keeping
This is because any one of the staff may need to raise a concern or deal with a
disclosure
The designated safeguarding person will need to have an in depth understanding of
what exactly is necessary for record keeping and will need to ensure that all
records are kept and maintained in good order
Storage of information
The storage of records is as effective and important as maintaining the records
There are several requirements that must be considered concerning the storage of the
information i.e:
●
All records must be stored in a locked cupboard or filing cabinet
●
There must be reasonable access to records through the Designated Safeguarding
Lead, their Deputy or Managers
●
The child’s regular records must indicate that there are additional Safeguarding
records held about the child
●
Records must also show clear links to siblings, especially those with different
surnames
Sharing Information
All information held by all organisations involved in the child’s case,
are shared with other services such as:
●
Police
●
Health Professionals
●
Children’s Services
Information only needs to be shared if there is an issue with the
wellbeing of the child.
The Children’s Act 1989
authorises sharing
between such agencies.
Data Protection
Data Protection is normally used to protect individuals, but in a
Child Protection Case this is a little different.
●
Safeguarding Records are exempt from the disclosure
provisions of the Data Protection Act
●
Parents do not have an automatic right of access to the child’s
file.
●
Sharing information amongst other organisations is fine but
only required if there is a Safeguarding Concern
How to Transfer the Safeguarding Files
I
f a child moves schools or GP’s or other related services, their Safeguarding
information needs to be transferred also. These are some requirements needed:
1.
The organisation transferring the information does not need to keep a copy but
does need to make sure it has been transferred correctly BEFORE deletion.
2.
A secure and reliable method of transfer is absolutely necessary
3.
All files must be sent directly
4.
Transferring must be checked on receipt
5.
Files must be sealed, marked confidential and marked for the attention of the
Safeguarding Lead
6.
A file must be kept to show where the files have been sent, for what reason
and dated
How to Transfer the Safeguarding Files
All files should be passed on except for :
1.
Minutes from Child Protection conferences if a case has ended
2.
Records of any un-established concerns
How Long Are Records Kept For
Safeguarding Records should be kept until the child’s
25th Birthday.
When the records are shredded, there should be a record kept of the event
The file should then include :
1.
The unique identifier number
2.
Titles / description of files
3.
Number of files
4.
Name of the officer incharge
5.
Content details
6.
Date of destruction
7.
Manner of destruction
The last organisation refers to the child’s last school attended and the last GP surgery.
\\ e
Safeguarding encompasses protecting children and vulnerable adults from harm and abuse. It involves recognizing signs of neglect and abuse, reporting concerns, and following laws and guidelines. Learn about what safeguarding entails, who is considered a child, child protection processes, and the importance of safeguarding training. Discover common myths and truths about safeguarding children and understand roles and responsibilities in safeguarding practices.
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Presentation Transcript
Introduction to SAFEGUARDING
Topics to be Cover in this module What is Safeguarding Who is a Child What is Child Protection Who Commits Maltreatment Why is Safeguarding Training Important Myths and Truths about Safeguarding Children Roles and Responsibilities
What is Safeguarding? Safeguarding is an encompassing term describing all aspects of what it takes to ensure that the welfare of children and vulnerable adults are protected from harm and abuse acts such as : Neglect Physical, emotional, and sexual abuse Fraud and financial abuse Most people would consider this issue to be something more common amongst vulnerable and elderly adults although it can influence children as well. Think about children who work, e.g. as models or in the entertainment industry or children who have inherited money that either parents or guardians do not have.
What is Safeguarding ? The term Safeguarding describes the steps and considerations that authorities and many public services must take to either promote the welfare of the children / vulnerable adults to protect them from harm or abuse. It essentially educates and guides people from all walks of life into paying attention to the signs of neglect and abuse. What to look out for and how to report concerns, even if you are worried they may be wrong. It is better to be safe than sorry. There are many Laws, Guidelines, Policies and Frameworks in place. They help everybody involved in Safeguarding Children understand what they are expected to do, and how they should go about meeting these expectations. We will learn more about these in this module.
You are a child up until your 18th Birthday. Who is a Child This means that when we refer to Children or A Child we also mean children and young people. Most people understand who a child is, but in legal terms and for Safeguarding reasons there are specific definitions, usually by age.
What is a child It may feel cold, but Child Protection is a process. It s a process in place to ensure that children who are suffering from harm and abuse and neglect are protected. There are a lot of grey areas and uncertain terrain when it comes to assessing a child who needs protection and then protecting them. Sometimes it s difficult to see the signs and many abusers can seem to be incredibly kind and sincere. For people who have never experienced the kind of troubles that children in this situation do, it can be very difficult to determine whether they are hurting a child further by reporting their concerns as they may have not met the people who have been reported to harm the child.
What is Child protection The issues highlighted on the earlier slides is why we need processes like child protection in place. Support both the child and provide a process for reporting concerns. Ensure that authorities take the correct action which meets with the child s needs. Ensure that no stone is left unturned. The consequences of overlooking abuse and neglect are tragic, as you will come to see, as we cannot afford to take a risk on a child s life, which is why Child protection is necessary.
Who commits Maltreatment You may be surprised who may commit Maltreatment A parent A step parent A friends parent A neighbour A relative A colleague A friendly person down the road who may seem kind and charismatic A teacher A careworker A friend A doctor A shopkeeper It can be anybody.
Why is Safeguarding Training Important ? Safeguarding Training raises awareness, understanding and increases our knowledge about Safeguarding. It is a form of Child Protection which in many cases, is the first line of defence against Child Protect. Safeguarding Training ensures : Services surrounding children, promote more effective and integrated services that ensures they can approach Safeguarding issues appropriately, without overlooking a child in need. It will provide confidence and clarity for your own role concerning your Safeguarding duties. To provide overall, a better understanding of your role who works within Safeguarding.
Myths and Truths There are many Myths and Truths about Safeguarding, some of which we will cover here, others you will discover further along the course and more wil show up in your career. A list of Myths and Truths about Safeguarding will be shown, but please remember to keep an open mind around children and when you are performing your Safeguarding duties. Her are a few common Myths about Safeguarding. Myth 1. Women do not harm, neglect or sexually abuse children. The Reality Women are more likely to neglect, harm or emotionally abuse their children than sexually abuse them,. However, they are frequently an accomplice for sexual abuse, and around 5-10% of women, are sexual abusers.
Myths and Truths about Safeguarding Children Myth 2. It is usually strangers who abuse children. The Reality The majority of abusers or neglected children are abused or neglected by people they know and trust. Myth 3. There is usually only one abuser. The Reality There are actually many cases where children are abused at the hand of multiple people.
Myths and Truths about Safeguarding Children Myth 4. A kind well spoken person could not be an abuser. The Reality Many abusers, maybe not all, know exactly what to say and do, to get themselves out of trouble. It may be very hard for even a trained professional, to determine an abuser is speaking the truth or lying. Myth 5. Parents and families do not abuse children. The Reality Parents and families do harm their children.
Myths and Truths about Safeguarding Children Myths 6. Abuse doesn t happen in Care Homes or Hospitals. The Reality Abuse can happen anywhere, paedophiles especially often play the long game and will work in an establishment for an extended period before making their move on a child. Myth 7. It doesn t happen very often The Reality Child abuse, neglect and sex abuse is everywhere, and more prolific than you would imagine. Many cases go unreported, there are probably quite a few people in your circle or friends and family who have experienced abuse of some kind.
Myths and Truths about Safeguarding Children Myth 8. It doesn t happen here in our community/culture/family/country. The Reality Abuse happens in all classes, ethnic groups, cultures, communities. Myth 9. Children often lie. The Reality Children very rarely lie about abuse, they simply are scared more abuse will happen if the tell, and they often think no one will believe them. Myth 10 If a parent has an abused child they will lose custody of that child/children. The Reality Child protection services understand that the best place for the child is with the family and in some cases it is possible to keep the family together. In saome cases the child is not abused by the parents but if this is not the case they will be removed to keep them safe.
5 Facts About Safeguarding Children Most abusers are never convicted as children have such a hard time standing up against them in court. Some parents do not realise their child is being abused as it is their friend or relative who is the abuser.
5 Facts About Safeguarding Children Neglect is one of the hardest forms of abuse as the child development becomes severely impared. Peodaphiles spend years grooming a child. If you discover a child who is being abused, you will find it hard to file a report as you will question your judgement.
Agencies who must also adhere to Safeguarding requirements are:- Roles and Responsibilities Educational Services Housing authorities Local Authorities Social Services Everybody who works with children or who comes into contact with children has Safeguarding duties they must practice Psychologists Health Authorities Child protection Services
Roles and Responsibilities All of these services work with children and must know how to report their concerns. The reality is that Safeguarding Responsibilities belong to everyone. If you are not working with children but are concerned, you should report your concern to Child protection services who will have a duty to report it and follow it up.
Safeguarding Responsibilities Everybody has a responsibility to report their concerns about the wellbeing and safety of a child or young person. People who come into contact with a child has a responsibility to:- Be vigilant and look for signs of abuse and neglect. Report any concerns according to their organisations Safeguarding policies. General public may notice these signs at work and must report a concern. Report any concerns to the NSPCC or the Police if you feel the child is in danger.
SUMMERY Safeguarding children is a practice for protection. Child Protection is a process in place to make sure children at risk of harm, abuse and neglect are sufficiently protected. Anybody can commit maltreatment. Safeguarding training is crucial because it provides the confidence and clarity for the role concerning all safeguarding duties along with a better understanding of the role everybody plays in safeguarding children and it helps to promote effective and integrated services to ensure the safety of children.
Topics to be covered in this module 1. History of Child protection in the UK 2. The victoria Climbie Enquiry 3. Peter Connolly and Working Together 4. Child Protection System in England 5. The Child Act 6. Policy and Guidance 7. Other Legislation 8. Summery
History of Child Protection in the UK Surprisingly enough Child Protection as we know it now, was not always something we had access to. Back in the mid / late nineteenth century, there was no child protection in place. The only form of Child Protection came from the church or one or two kind people who happened to be there at the time.
History of Child protection in the UK Schooling was inadequate Child labour was common Child labour and neglect was accepted Child mortality was high Society never considered that children were abused It was not socially acceptable to inter To make matter worse
The beginning of Child Protection Legislation Surprisingly , the first changes concerning Child Protection was not concerning abuse it was simply focused instead on, Philanthropists focusing on reducing working hours for children in mines,factories and chimneys. 1. Social perception started to change as they realised it was not good for children to work in such bad conditions. 2. The first law was implemented to protect children from working in such harsh conditions.
The late Nineteenth Century to the Mid Twentieth Century There were two significant changes seen. 1. The formation of Child Protection Societies. 2. Societies perspective on Child Protection begune to change for the better. The case of Mary Ellen One case was of a girl of 10 years old from the USA, born 1864 who, after her fathers death, her mother was forced to adopt her, and she tragically neglected and abused by her carers.
The late Nineteenth Century To The Mid Twentieth Century Luckily, Mary Ellen s neighbours became aware of this and spoke out on her behalf, they made contact with a mission worker named Etta Wheeler and eventually made contact with a gentleman named Henry Bergh. Henry was the founder of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and began to help fight for Mary Ellen and he succeeded. A legislation was put in place and this became The Child Protection Society 1875. Thomas Agnew set up a Child Protection Society in the UK in 1883. In 1889 the Liverpool Society along with the London Society became the NSPCC.
From The Mid to the Late Nineteenth Century to Today In 1889, the UK Parliament saw the first Act which was to protect children. This condition of this legislation meant that by law, interventions were made between parents and their children and that anybody who mistreated a child could be arrested. There has now since been a steady progression of laws and legislations which have all been designed to protect the safety and well being of all children. As Child Protection and Child Abuse is such a complex matter, there are many legislations in place today.
From The Mid to Late Nineteenth Century to Today Most of the changes made in Child Protection today follow in the footsteps of the Mary Ellen case. These case which helped change legislations and policies,serve as examples of what can happen if something is not reported and nothing is done. This all goes to help authorities to amend their legislations to prevent similar cases in the future. To this day there will be cases that change the way we view and manage Child protection.
The Victoria Climbie Enquiry Victoria was an 8 years old girl and suffered hugely at the hands of her carers. During her 10 months in the UK she was :- Tied up in a black back in a bath in her own excrement. Burnt with cigarettes. Hit with bike chains, hammers and wire. Forced to eat cold food like a dog. Scalded
What went wrong ? Organisational failures Understaffed, undermanaged and dysfunctional social care department Lack of communication between departments and authorities Under resourced Constance absence of good practices Unclear responsibility at multiple levels There were 12 opportunities missed by the authorities. Some of Victorias case is described in the Laming Report 2003.
What went wrong Every Child Matter 2003 and The Children s Act 2004 follow the Laming Report to ensure all actions are taken to ensure all issues highlight in the Laming Report were corrected to ensure that the case of Victoria Climbie never happens again.
Peter Connelly and Working Together Another case followed soon after Victorias, in 2007. Another unfortunate child named Peter Connelly of 17 months died. Injuries he sustained were :- Broken Ribs. Broken back. Over 50 other injuries at the time of his sad death.
Peter Connelly and Working Together Peter s mother and her boyfriend and her boyfriends brother, were later convicted for their crimes in harming Peter. Some similarities to Victorias case were noticed such as :- Peter lived in the London borough of Haringey, the same borough as Victoria which meant, the same authorities had again failed the child and he slipped through the system. Peter was known to many other agencies and authorities and was even subject to a Child Protection Plan for physical abuse and neglect and also seen by community paediatrics for assessment but physical abuse and extensive injuries went undetected.
Peter Connelly and Working Together Following Peters death Lord Laming wrote a new report. This was called The Protection of Children in England: A Progress Report 2009 Previous previous recommendations were re-emphasised. This included : Multi agency working Collaboration up to government level Accountability and responsibility The importance of leadership The establishment of the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit 2009 Since Peters death a new guidance has been published : Working together to Safeguard Children 2010 and 2013.
The Child Protection System England In the UK , we have an organisation system for child protection, however each nation / county has its own responsibility. These can be checked on the NSPCC website. All principles are similar, laws are passed to prevent hard to children and guidelines are created to show agencies and organisations what is needed to maintain the safety of the child. Laws are passed to ward off abusers of harm by providing the actions that are required. The guidance sets out what agencies and organisations need to do in their part to keep children safe.
The Child Act The welfare of the child is paramount The Child Act, allocates duties and obligations to agencies,courts,authorities and parents concerning the Safeguarding and welfare of the child. Delay is likely to prejudice the welfare of the child The Child Act states that the child is better off with their parents and families. As long as parents cooperate with the legislation and compromise the care and wellbeing of the child. The court shall not make an order, unless to do so, would be better for the child than making no order ( the no order principle)
The Child Act 2004 After the death of little Victoria Climbie, The Child Act 1989 was revised. The new versions show in The Child Act 2004 and additions were added again in 2014. Such as: It made the change to appoint local authorities with their own Director of Children's Services. It created the post of Children s Commissioner for England. It has also placed a duty on the Local Authorities and their partners to co-operate in the well being of the child and making arrangements to safeguard and promote the children at all time.
Children and Social Work act 2017 The Children and Social Work Act 2017, follows a programme of suggested reforms of a policy paper which was called: Putting Children First, our vision for Children s Services. This policy focuses on the Safeguarding of all children who are already in the care system. It also covers new legislations relating to provisions of relationship and sex education.
Children and Social Work Act 2017 Relationships education will be provided to primary schools Child death review partners are required to review each death of a child in their area and identify matter which are relevant to children locally. The Child Safeguarding Practice Panel was established to review reports on serious child protection cases which may be complex or of national importance All local authorities must appoint personal advisers for children and young adults leaving care up to the age of 25yrs
Policy and Guidance Policies and Guidance set out how organisations and individuals should work together and include how partners should conduct the child s assessment. Working Together to Safeguard Children 2017 Under this guidance, The Department of Education highlight key statutory guidance for anyone working with children in England.
Policy and Guidance The main features are: Child death review partners are required to make provisions to review child deaths The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel is responsible for overseeing lessons learnt from serious child incidents and they also lie with the Safeguarding Partners at a local level Early years providers are required to have policies and procedures with Safeguarding Children in place Chief of Police, Local Authorities and clinical commissioning groups, replace Local Safeguarding Children s Boards and they must work together with relevant agencies to protect the welfare of children in their area
Keeping Children Safe in Education 2019 The Guidance sets out the legal duties of all staff in education must follow to Safeguard and promote the welfare of all children across the United Kingdom. The 5 parts are: 1. Ensure sufficient management of Safeguarding is in place 2. Provide all staff with Safeguarding information 3. Safer recruitment 4. What do if allegations of abuse occur against a member of staff 5. What they would do to manage child on child Sexual Violence and Sexual Harrassment
Keeping Children Safe in Education What To Do If You Are Worried a Child Being Abused : Advice for Practitioners These three steps should be followed:- Act immediately Follow your Child Protection Policy Speak to your manager or Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL or Deputy ) as soon as possible
Keeping Children Safe in Education A DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead) is the person appointed to take lead responsibilities and accountabilities for Child Protection issues in Schools and Colleges. The person holding this position must be a senior member of the School or Colleges leadership team and the role must be set out in the post holders job description. There must be a Deputy if the DSL is unavailable and should: Manage any support for the child internally using the schools pastoral support process Do an early help assessment Make a referral for statutory services
Keeping Children Safe in Education Things To Do if The DSL, Deputy is Not Available, if staff are not in a situation where they cannot reach the people they need to report to (DSL or Deputy) They should continue to take immediate action Speak to a member of the Senior Leadership Team (Senior Management) Contact the local Children s Social Care directly and follow their advice Report your actions to the DSL, via email , phone if not face to face, or deputy manager about any actions as soon as possible
Keeping Children Safe in Education If a child is in immediate danger or risk of harm, there are additional steps which should be followed. Staff should: Make a referral to Children s Social Care and the Police if appropriate, immediately Keep a log of all the concerns, discussions, decisions made, and the reasons for the decisions Discuss all of the actions made with the DSL or deputy as soon as possible Staff should also raise awareness immediately to the manager or DSL if there are concerns about a member of staff potentially abusing a child or young person There should be a whistleblowing hotline if you cannot get through to the DSL or deputy if this issue involves a member of staff.
Other Legislation The right to education The right to relax and play The right to be safe from violence The right to freedom of expression The United Nations Convention on The Rights of the Child 1989 This was created by Unicef and includes over 50 articles focusing on many aspects of a child life such as economic, social,civil,political, and cultural rights which a child is entitled to.
Every Child Matter 2003 This is a green paper outlining all of the proposal made by the Government of the reform and improvements of childcare. This followed Lord Laming s investigation following Victoria Climbie s death. The 5 principles which every child had the right to are : Be healthy Stay safe Enjoy and achieve Achieve economic well being Make a positive contribution Each principle has a detailed framework which every agency must follow.
Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 MCA protect and empowers people who lack mental capacity. There are 5 fundamental principles that all agency workers must consider they are :- People must be support as much as possible to be able to make their own decisions before anyone else concludes that they cannot do so Every adult has the right to make their own decisions and the people around them must assume they have the capability to make some of their own decisions unless it is proven otherwise People have the right to make what they may think as unwise or eccentric decisions Anything for on behalf of people without capacity should be the least restrictive of their basic rights Any actions made for that person who lacks mental capacity must be in their best interests
