NOAH’S ARK CHILDREN’S VENTURE CHILD PROTECTION
It is important that everyone working with and responsible for groups of children, young people and adults using the Centre should read this booklet on each occasion that they visit the Centre as it is constantly being updated.
Contents
1. Child Protection Policy Statement
3. Role and Responsibilities of the Designated Child Protection Person (DCPP)
4. Procedure for Reporting Concerns
5. Recruitment and Selection Procedures
6. Responding Appropriately to a Child Making an Allegation of Abuse
1. Child Protection Policy Statement
The Noah’s Ark Children’s Venture (NACV) is a registered charity (no.
1061676) and a company limited by guarantee (reg. no. 03325597).
Its core activity is the provision of facilities for recreation and other
leisure time occupation for children and others resident in the London
Borough of Lewisham and elsewhere.
The Board of Trustees acknowledge is has a responsibility for the safety of
children visiting the centre or otherwise under its temporary care. It also
acknowledges that good child protection policies and procedures are of
benefit to everyone involved with the Board’s work, including staff, as they
can help protect them from erroneous or malicious allegations.
The Board is committed to practices which protect children from harm. All
staff have unsupervised access to or contact with children are required to
- recognise and accept their responsibilities
- develop awareness of the issues which can cause children harm
- report concerns following the procedure below
The Board will endeavour to safeguard children by
a) adopting child protection procedures and a code of
practice for all who work on behalf of the organisation;
b) reporting concerns to the authorities;
c) following carefully procedures for recruitment and
selection of staff and volunteers;
and
d) providing effective management for staff and volunteers
through support and training.
The Board is also committed to reviewing its Child Protection Policy and Code of Practice at regular intervals.
It is the Board’s policy that:
1.1 All paid staff, volunteers and members of the board accept
responsibility for the welfare of children who come into contact with the
Board in connection with its tasks and functions, and that they will report
any concerns about a child or somebody else’s behaviour, using the
procedures laid down.
1.2 There are designated child protection person(s) within the
Board who will take action following any expression of concern and the lines
of responsibility in respect of child protection are clear.
1.3 Designated child protection person(s) know how to make
appropriate referrals to child protection agencies.
1.4 All those who are involved with children on behalf of the
Board should adhere to the Code of Practice in relation to children.
1.5 nformation relating to any allegation or disclosure will be
clearly recorded as soon as possible, and there is a procedure setting out
who should record information and the time-scales for passing it on.
1.6 The Children Act 1987 states that the ‘welfare of the child
is paramount”. This means that consideration of confidentiality which might
apply to other situations should not be allowed to over-ride the right of
children to be protected from harm. However, every effort should be made to
ensure that confidentiality is maintained for all concerned when an
allegation has been made and is being investigated.
1.7 The Board’s policy on duty of care to children will be
referred to or included in recruitment, training and policy materials where
appropriate, and the policies are openly and widely available to staff and
actively promoted within the organisation.
1.8 A culture of mutual respect between children and those who
represent the Board in all its activities will be encouraged, with adults
modelling good practise in this context.
1.9 All staff and volunteers and anyone in paid or unpaid work
on behalf of the Board with unsupervised access to children will be checked
appropriately.
1.10 It is part of the Board’s acceptance of its responsibility
of duty of care towards children that anybody who encounters child
protection concerns in the context of their work on behalf of the Board will
be supported when they report their concerns in good faith.
2. Code of Practice
NACV expects that all staff, which for these purposes includes anybody in
paid or unpaid work on its behalf, will be aware of this Code of Practice
and adhere to its principles in their approach to all children.
2.1 Do not make suggestions or inappropriate remarks to or
about a child, even in fun, as this could be misinterpreted.
2.2 It is important not to deter children from making a
‘disclosure’ of abuse through fear of note being believed, and to listen to
what they have to say. If this gives rise to a child protection concern it
is important to follow the Board’s procedure for reporting such concerns,
and not to attempt to investigate the concern yourself.
2.3 Remember that those who abuse children can be of any age
(even other children), gender, ethnic background or class, and it is
important not to allow personal preconceptions and people to prevent
appropriate action taking place.
2.4 Good practice includes valuing and respecting children as
individuals, and the adult modelling of appropriate conduct – which will
always exclude bullying, shouting, racism, sectarianism or sexism.
3. Role and Responsibilities of the
Designated Child Protection Person (DCPP)
NACV has appointed a designated child protection person who is responsible
for dealing with any concerns about the protection of children. This person
is Peter West, a member of the Board of Trustees of Noah’s Ark Children’s
Venture and he can be contacted on 07714 755797 or via the centre on 01367
850356.
Other useful telephone numbers are:
Gloucestershire Social Services Children & Families Helpline - 01452 426 565
Gloucestershire Police Child Protection Team – in the first instance to
report on 08450 901234 and subsequent calls on 01242 261112
The role of the designated person(s) is to:
3.1 Know which outside child protection agency to contact in
the event of a child protection concern coming to the notice of the
Associated Board.
3.2 Provide information and advice on child protection within
the Board.
3.3 Ensure that appropriate information is available at the
time of referral and that the referral is confirmed in writing under
confidential cover.
3.4 Liaise with local social services and other agencies as
appropriate.
3.5 Keep relevant people within the Board informed about any
action taken and any further action required; for example, disciplinary
action against a member of staff.
3.6 Ensure that a proper record is kept of any referral and
action taken, and that this is kept safely and in confidence.
3.7 Advise the Board of child protection training needs.
4. Procedure for Reporting Concerns
Staff could have their suspicion or concern raised in a number of ways, the
most likely of which are:
4.1 The conduct of a member of the Board’s staff.
4.2 A child ‘disclosing’ abuse.
4.3 Bruising or evidence of physical hurt; which may or may not
be accompanied by;
4.4 Unusual behaviour by a child.
If a member of staff has such concerns they should be reported to the
Designated Child Protection Person (DCPP).
Concerns about a specific child should be reported immediately by telephone
to the DCPP and confirmed in writing within 24 hours using the form
available from the DCPP. Delay could prejudice the welfare of a child. If
the concerns relate to the conduct of a member of staff these should be
reported by phone to the DCPP at the earliest opportunity.
The DCPP will the consider the report and either refer this immediately to
the authorities, or, after taking appropriate advice (which may include
discussing the circumstances on a confidential basis with the NSPCC), decide
not to refer the concerns to the authorities but keep a full record of the
concerns.
5. Recruitment and Selection
Procedures
Appropriate recruitment and selection procedures for staff in the context of
child protection have been adopted by the Board and include the following.
5.1 A clear definition of any role so that the most suitable
appointee can be identified.
5.2 Identification of key selection procedure.
5.3 A wide circulation of vacancies to ensure equal
opportunities.
5.4 Confirmation of the identity of the applicant including
personal details obtained either through using an application form where
appropriate, or through other means.
5.5 Requirement of a declaration of previous convictions and
submission to formal check, together with the issue of the Child Protection
Policy for those candidates whose work will bring them into contact with
children or who will have a management responsibility in relation to those
whose work does bring them into such contact.
5.6 A clear guarantee that disclosed information will be
treated in confidence and not used against applicants unfairly, including
adherence to the Criminal Records Bureau code of practice.
5.7 Documentary evidence of qualifications.
5.8 Use of several selection techniques to maximise the chance
of safe recruitment, e.g. interview, references, checks.
5.9 At least one representative from the Board meeting
personally with every applicant, and an exploration of their attitudes
towards working with children.
5.10 Written references.
6. Responding Appropriately to a Child Making an Allegation of Abuse
6.1 Stay calm.
6.2 Listen carefully to what is said.
6.3 Find an appropriate early opportunity to explain that it is
likely that the information will need to be shared with others – do not
promise to keep secrets.
6.4 Tell the child that the matter will only be disclosed to
those who need to know about it.
6.5 Allow the child to continue at her/his own pace.
6.6 Ask questions for clarification only, and at all times
avoid asking questions that suggest a particular answer.
6.7 Reassure the child that they have done the right thing in
telling you.
6.8 Tell them what you will do next, and with whom the
information will be shared.
6.9 Record in writing what was said, using the child’s own
words as soon as possible – note the date, time, any names mentioned, to
whom the information was given and ensure that the record is signed and
dated.
6.10 It is important to remember that the person who first
encounters a case of alleged abuse is not responsible for deciding whether
abuse has occurred. That is a task for the professional child protection
agencies, following a referral from the designated child protection person
in the organisation.
7. Definitions of Abuse
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or
scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a
child. It may be the result of a deliberate act, but could also be caused
through the omission or failure to act to protect.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional ill-treatment of a child such as
to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional
development. It may involve making a child feel or believe that they are
worthless or unloved, inadequate or valued only insofar as they meet the
needs of another person. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all
types of ill-treatment of a child, though it may occur alone.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take
part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of, or consents
to, what is happening. It may involve physical contact, including rape or
oral sex, or non-penetrative acts such as fondling. Boys and girls can be
sexually abused by males and/or females, and by other young people. It also
includes non-contact activities such as involving children in watching or
taking part in the making of pornographic material, or encouraging children
to behave in inappropriate ways.
Neglect
Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or
psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the
child’s health or development. It may involve failing to provide adequate
food, shelter and clothing, or failing to ensure that a child gets
appropriate medical care or treatment.
