Safeguarding & Promoting Children's Welfare Policy

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is April Alderton (DSL) , Deputies are Emma Colliety & Julie Perôt (DDSL) We believe the welfare, safety and protection of children are paramount. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Safeguarding is the process protecting all children from abuse, both physical and emotional or neglect, preventing impairment of their health, wellbeing or development. Child protection is part of safeguarding and promoting welfare. Child protection refers to the process of protecting individual children identified as either suffering, or at risk of suffering, significant harm. Safeguarding ensures that children are provided with safe and effective care, so that they are able to have optimum life chances and enter childhood successfully. Our aim through this policy is to promote prevention through professional knowledge of our children and families, be aware of, identify and report cases, or suspected cases, of abuse, whilst supporting children who have been abused. At Whytebeams our day-to-day contact with children and families provides the opportunity for Nursery Staff to be well placed to observe the outward signs of abuse, or neglect. Our policy and procedure apply to all Staff, volunteers and visitors working in the setting. Any of the adults may be the first point of disclosure for a child. Concerned parents may also contact staff. Managing Safeguarding the DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead) and DDSL (Deputy) Will be the lead person/s for managing safeguarding and managing any concerns that are noticed or reported. They will follow the procedure below and Local Authorities procedures which may include referral via Croydon’s Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) Will be trained or awaiting training in Safeguarding Children levels 1 and 2. Either DSL or 1 deputy will be trained to level 3. This will be renewed every 2 years. Will be always available in person or by telephone whilst the nursery is in operation for staff to discuss any safeguarding concerns. Will regularly discuss all children's progress, development, welfare and wellbeing as part of every staff supervision, appraisals, meetings and as necessary. Will specifically staff ask if they have any safeguarding concerns at regular planned opportunities such as during 1-1 supervision and appraisals and know they can raise concerns outside these times. Will follow our procedure and the local authorities safeguarding guidelines when concerns are raised which may include referral via the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) or to the LADO. Will inform OFSTED of any allegations of serious harm or abuse by any persons working with or looking after children at our setting, within 14 days. This includes any suspicions we have of maltreatment by persons outside of the setting. All Whytebeams Staff: 28 WHYTEBEAMS NURSERY Will have a digital copy of, read, sign and abide by this policy, being aware of their responsibilities to it. This will form part of their induction and ongoing training. Annual refreshers will be provided along with updates as they happen. Will have regard for the government’s statutory guidance ‘Working together to Safeguard Children, The Prevent Duty, Keeping Children Safe In Education, Early Years Qualifications and Requirements, Disqualification Under The Childcare Act, Special Educational Needs and Disability Code Of Practice 0-25.’ Will have regard for the EYFS Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements and advice document ‘What to do if you are worried a child is being abused.’ A copy is kept in the safeguarding file. Will be kept up to date with information and resources and uphold confidentiality as appropriate, unless to do so would put a child at risk. Will be trained or awaiting training for Safeguarding Children Level 1, FGM awareness and Prevent Duty, (not including volunteers or visitors) This will be renewed regularly as required. Will have suitable references, probationary period, a clear enhanced DBS check and regular supervision to include a declaration of suitattendaability. Evidence of this will be available in staff records. DBS will be reapplied for by Whytebeams every 3 years. Will promote children's understanding of keeping themselves safe at an age-appropriate level. Will have the opportunity to discuss concerns and issues about the well-being of individual children (e.g. relating to their health, development, behaviour or protection) at staff meetings, supervision, appraisals or as necessary at any time. Will have a good awareness of the possible signs of abuse and concerns. Will follow our procedure and the local authorities safeguarding guidelines where there are safeguarding concerns or disclosures and follow the Local Authorities procedure for ‘what to do if you’re concerned about a child.’ Will report safeguarding and welfare concerns to the DSL or DDSL as soon as possible and Will record and respond appropriately to disclosures, comments or observations of concern, including injuries outside the setting. Will report any inappropriate behaviour by a fellow staff member under the Whistle Blowing Policy. Will seek emergency medical help or police support immediately if necessary. It is everyone’s responsibility to have regard for and respond appropriately to the signs or possible signs of abuse, not limited to: significant or unusual changes in children’s behaviour, welfare, development or attendance. unexplained bruising, marks, injuries or signs of possible neglect or abuse. the comments children make which give cause for concern. deterioration in a child’s general well being. play that is inappropriate for the child’s age or is mature. signs of the exposure to extremist ideas, radicalisation or terrorism including FGM (female genital mutilation). the additional barriers that exist in recognising abuse for children with special needs and or disabilities. Concern should be shown about a child’s welfare if: 29 WHYTEBEAMS NURSERY standards of health, cleanliness or physical care are not maintained they are exceptionally thin and regularly tired and/or lethargic. they are regularly hungry and desperate for food especially after a weekend. a child’s lunch is regularly insufficient or unhealthy. they are repeatedly dressed inappropriately e.g. in thin clothes during the winter or their clothes are regularly dirty and/or smelly. the person delivering and collecting the child is never the same. the child has an untreated medical condition, which would improve with basic care. the child has significant developmental delay and the parent continually declines additional support services such as speech and language or a paediatric referral. the child has regular unexplained absences or long periods of absence. PROCEDURE FOR DEALING WITH SAFEGUARDING CONCERNS Staff are trained to spot the possible signs of abuse. Their day to day work with children generally allows them to see these signs or changes. Regular staff supervision enables staff to discuss children welfare or any concerns with the Manager and DSL. If we notice any of the above or have safeguarding concerns they will be recorded on a safeguarding log, welfare log or incident log as appropriate and the DSL or DDSL will be informed as soon as possible, the same working day. They will follow the local authority’s procedure to make a decision about any necessary course of action, which may include: starting a chronology (timeline) to monitor and review, speaking with parent’s and offering support through an Early Help referral, seeking advice from Children’s Social Care (CSC) or a child protection referral via MASH. The Police will be contacted where there is immediate risk of harm or the law has been broken. We will usually liaise with parents unless we believe doing so would endanger the child. The DSL or DDSL will check records termly and where there are patterns, repeat logs or concerns for an individual child, a chronology will be started to monitor the safeguarding of an individual child. An action plan may be made with a date for reviewing the information and any further action to be taken, when and by who. SAFEGUARDING TRAINING All staff will undertake the local authorities recommended Safeguarding Children training, usually online and sometimes in person. This is updated every 2 years as required. The DSL or deputy is trained to level 3 and attends Local Authority Safeguarding Forums each term and receives emails from the LSCB (Local Safeguarding Children’s Partnership.) Deputies are trained to level 2 as a minimum. Any relevant updates will be shared with staff and actions required are taken by the DSL and or Deputy. Additional training may take place in house. Staff are encouraged to put their knowledge into practice by, taking part in quizzes and practicing scenarios at inset day or during supervisions, appraisals and training sessions and by discussing serious case reviews. Staff may be asked on the spot ‘what if’ questions during the working day/week. Staff are taught to be alert and aware of all the different types of abuse and safeguarding concerns and are encouraged to report concerns to the DSL or deputy at any time, including outside of hours. Staff are encouraged to challenge any situation that causes a child to be unsafe. We may consider whether any staff need to annual refresher training during any 2 year period to help maintain basic skills and keep up to date with and changes to safeguarding concerns that occur in the setting. 30 WHYTEBEAMS NURSERY IMPORTANT CONTACT DETAILS CROYDON MULTI AGENCY SAFEGUARDING HUB (MASH) for referrals to Children’s Social Care (CSC), Early Help or Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health (EWMH). When considering a referral, the Croydon threshold guidance should be checked first. Situations meeting the threshold should be referred by completing a Multi-Agency Referral Form (MARF) via https://www.croydon.gov.uk/children-young-people-and-families/child-protection-and safeguarding/report-concern-about-child Monday to Friday 9am-5pm - for urgent child protection matters needing immediate response – Tel: 0208 255 2888 Out Of Hours Emergency Duty Team (for urgent child protection matters needing an immediate response) - Tel: 0208 726 6400 For children known to have an allocated social worker or keyworker Tel: 0208 726 6000 Option 1. Call the Police on 999 if a child is at immediate risk of harm WHEN INJURIES & INCIDENTS OCCUR OUTSIDE THE SETTING As part of this policy, we require parents and carers to make us aware of any significant changes in behaviour, incidents, accidents, hospitalisation, a child attending A&E and why, marks, cuts or bruises sustained by a child outside of nursery. We expect to be informed at the beginning of the child’s session following the incident/accident/behaviour for the child’s safety. We have a responsibility to ask the parents/carers how the injury or incident happened. This must be recorded on a notification of injury form, signed by the parent / carer, the member of staff who has been told and countersigned by the manager or the deputy manager. The manager or deputy should consider whether the child is well enough to remain at nursery with any significant injury or one that could be aggravated during the nursery day. If a member of staff discovers an injury which we have not been informed of, we will ask the child how it happened if appropriate and with support. We may call the parent for information on how the injury occurred or to discuss the matter. A notification of injury form must be completed upon discovery by the member of staff and reported to the manager or deputy. We will discuss the matter with the parent/carer upon collection or immediately if appropriate. Parents will be required to sign the notification of injury form. Any sensitive or confidential incidents/notifications must be written on a confidential incident form, or safeguarding log if appropriate, completed by all relevant parties then locked in the filing cabinet. This policy protects children within our care whilst safeguarding Whytebeams from accusations that the injury/ies were obtained whilst the child was at the group. It is the responsibility of the manager or deputy manager or DSL to act upon the information passed on to them appropriately and in accordance with local authority guidelines. WORKING TO CREATE A PROTECTIVE ETHOS Staff should create an ethos of maximum respect by: Actively building children's self esteem and their ability to be assertive. 31 WHYTEBEAMS NURSERY Offer choices and accept the child's right to say no. Actively listen to the child on a daily basis. Communicate with parents and build a 2-way, positive working relationship with them. Not be afraid to address any concerns with parents in an appropriate way. Be knowledgeable about child protection issues, procedures and who to refer to. Teach children about personal safety and help them to assess risk. Be aware of changes in children’s physical appearance, behaviour or emotional state. Log observations and concerns routinely and discuss with the appropriate person. Avoid having a special relationship with any one child. Model and teach appropriate space. Ensuring that you are clear on our policies for : Safeguarding and Child Protection & Whistle blowing. If in doubt about how your actions towards a child may appear - DON'T DO IT. DISCLOSURE BY A CHILD Any disclosure or comments made by the child should be logged immediately on a safeguarding log or within 24 hours and reported immediately to the safeguarding lead or deputy. They will take the appropriate action and follow the LA guidelines. Dated observations and detailed records should be kept in the safeguarding log and kept in a locked filing cabinet. The safeguarding file contains the local authority guidelines, procedures and contact details.