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Safeguarding Children Level 1

Safeguarding children is everyone's responsibility Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people A 'child' is anyone up to their eighteenth birthday. The Children Act 1989 defines a child in need; as children or young people who because of their vulnerability, will need the provision of services in order to reach or maintain a satisfactory level of health or development. . Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as protecting children from maltreatment, preventing impairment of children's health and development and ensuring children have optimum life chances All staff have a statutory duty to report concerns regarding a child's welfare to their Line Manager and/or the Safeguarding Children Team.

The Children Act Section 47 The Children Act 1989) introduced the concept of significant harm as a definition of abuse; harm means ill treatment or the impairment of health or development including impairment from seeing or hearing the ill treatment of another Significant relates to the child’s health and development and the comparison with that which could reasonably be expected of a similar child. Where a child or young person has been identified as at risk of significant harm the Local Authority (Social Care) has a legal duty to make enquiries and take appropriate action to ensure the safety of the child/young person. Consent for these enquiries is not obligatory, but agencies will always seek to work with parents where this does not place the child or young person at increased risk.

Abusers come from all walks of life Abuse can occur within the family, an institution or community setting.  Abuse can occur in all social groups regardless of age, gender, race, religion, culture, social class or financial position. Children may be abused by: Someone the child knows well or more rarely a stranger.  By an Adult(s) By a child/young person All staff who work with children or adults from any service have a responsibility in safeguarding children when they become aware of or identify a child at risk of harm. This includes considering the implications for children of parents’ or users’ behaviours and the impact these may have on their parenting capacity.

Child abuse can be divided into four categories Physical Abuse Involves a range of physical injuries including hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, scalding, drowning or suffocating and also includes fabricated and/or induced illness. Signs that could indicate physical abuse include: Bruising Bruising on a non-mobile baby or child (maybe non mobile because of age or disability) On any fleshy, non-bony part of the body, for example: face, neck, buttocks or back Bruises are more likely to be accidental when found on the bony prominences of the body for example: forehead, chin, knees, shin, back of head Fabricated or Induced Illness is classed as a physical abuse where a parent/carer fabricates or deliberately induces illness in a child Burns & Scalds Burns include scalds from hot liquids, contact burns from hot objects (such as an iron) burns caused by flames, chemical and electrical. Burns with a clear outline or uniform depth for example may be more indicative of non accidental injury. Any injury which the child, parent, carer tries to hide or give several different or unlikely explanations, should raise concerns. In these circumstances advice should always be sought.

Sexual Abuse Trust staff must report any known cases to their line manager and the Trust Safeguarding Team and a referral made to Children’s Social Care. It may also be appropriate to contact the Police if the situation is urgent, although social care will always liaise with them Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, including sexual exploitation whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. This may involve sexual physical contact or non-contact activities including coercing or grooming children by the use of pornographic material or watching sexual activities including those via the internet, webcams, cameras, mobile phones, or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways. It is important to recognise that children & young people can be sexually abused by adult males, females and other children & young people

Signs which could indicate sexual abuse include: If you are aware of a child that has contact with an adult with prior allegations or convictions of sexual abuse you must seek advice from the Safeguarding team and your line manager with a view to making a child protection referral. Any sexual act with a child under 13 years is illegal and classed as statutory rape, as a child is not capable of consenting to sexual activity. Signs which could indicate sexual abuse include: Children displaying inappropriate sexualised behaviour or language for their age and stage of development Changes in behaviour such as withdrawn, or aggressive, risk taking such as running away or substance misuse

Emotional Abuse A parent or carer may be: Emotionally unavailable to the child, due to factors including parental substance misuse, mental ill health or domestic abuse Use the child for the fulfilment of the adult’s needs (children being used in marital disputes) or convey to a child they are worthless or unloved. Conveying to a child they are worthless or unloved. A child or young person may present with changes in behaviour for example: being clingy, fearful, withdrawn, attention seeking, self harming, age inappropriate behaviour & poor self esteem Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child or young person, although it may also occur alone

Neglect is the persistent failure to meet the child’s basic physical and or psychological needs Signs that could indicate neglect include: Missing routine health appointments Missing significant amounts of school, including children and young people that are caring for others in the home and are unable to access education and social activity Not having appropriate food, clothing or shelter Not being protected from harm or danger including witnessing domestic abuse Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance misuse. Neglect has harmful physical, emotional and social consequences for children and young people and can ultimately be fatal These categories overlap and an abused child frequently suffers more than a single type of abuse.

Risk Indicators You should be aware of factors that may affect parenting capacity and impact on a child/young person’s safety and welfare Domestic abuse Prolonged and /or regular exposure to domestic abuse can have a serious impact on a child’s health, development and emotional wellbeing Children can be at risk of physical injury including harm to the unborn child.  UK evidence suggests domestic abuse is a known issue in 1 in 3 child protection cases. ‘Dad sometimes hits mum when he’s angry. I think it may be my fault because I can never get things right with my dad’ Natalie 14, Childline 2007 Physical Emotional Continue Neglect What type of abuse is this? Select the correct answer to continue Sexual

Parental drug and alcohol misuse Misuse of drugs (prescribed or illegal) and or alcohol is strongly associated with significant harm to the unborn child, children and young people, especially when combined with other features such as domestic abuse and mental illness. What type of abuse is this? Select the correct answer to continue “My dad broke my nose last year when he was drunk. My sister has left home. I feel empty and hurt” Milly 12yrs (quote from ChildLine 2007) Sexual Physical Emotional Continue Neglect

Parental Mental Ill Health The majority of parents who suffer mental illness are able to care for and safeguard their children, however nationally 25% of children who are subject to Child Protection Conferences have a parent with mental health problems. What type of abuse is this? Select the correct answer to continue “Mum’s always miserable. She never asks me how I am. She just sits in front of the telly all day. I could be dead for all she cares” Wayne 13 years (quote from ChildLine 2007) Sexual Physical Emotional Continue Neglect

Previous history of safeguarding concerns Where a previous child/young person has been subject to a child protection plan (formerly known as the child protection register) Where a previous child/young person has been removed from home Adults or young people known to be a Risk to a Child (formerly a Schedule 1 Offender) Child Factors Children under one year are more vulnerable to abuse and neglect as are: Children and young people with any kind of disability Looked after children/young people (LAC) those in private or local authority foster care or children’s homes

What to do if you are concerned for the welfare of a child All staff have a legal duty to report any concerns they may have for the safety and welfare of a child. If you are concerned about a child or young person you must seek advice from the Safeguarding team and your line manager with a view to making a child protection referral and DATIX. However, You may need to ensure the child or young person’s immediate safety and access emergency assistance if necessary. You must then inform your Line Manager or the Trust Safeguarding Team.  Outside normal working hours contact the Manager on call       

What to do if you are concerned for the welfare of a child Cont. If you are unable to contact your line manager or a member of the safeguarding team you should seek advice directly from children’s social care. Referrals to children’s social care must be made within one day of identifying the concern and telephone contact must be followed up with a written referral within 48 hours. A DAITX must also be raised. If the referrer has no contact from social care then they have a responsibility to follow up the outcome of the referral within 3 working days. You MUST record all information and actions clearly with your name, designation, signature and date.

Confidentiality and Consent Staff cannot give assurance of confidentiality where there are concerns about a child as information may need to be shared in order to protect the child. Consent to share information should always be sought where possible, except when; Permission has been refused but sufficient professional concern remains to justify disclosure When gaining consent would place a child, young person or an adult at risk of significant harm Seeking permission is likely to impede a criminal investigation If you are uncertain about when to share confidential information, always seek advice from the Trust Safeguarding Team or your line manager