Child Protection and Vulnerable Adults Policy

 

 

 

 

Policy aimed at; Employers and Employees

 

 

Issued Feb 2006

 

Updated August 2018

 

 

Written in accordance with NSPCC guidelines

 

 

The Bath Junior Gateway Club policy is to create a protective culture that puts the children's interest first.  The children attending club will have someone to listen to their concerns and take them seriously.

 

Designated person

 

The Bath Junior Gateway Club leader will deal with all concerns or allegations of abuse and procedures to follow. The deputy leader will take on this responsibility if the leader is absent

 

Current designated personal details:

 

Tanya Dagger Weston Childrens Centre Weston Bath BA1 4BX

 

Recording an incident

 

The following information must be recorded

 

•      Child / Adults name

•      Parent's/carer's details

•      Child / Adults address

•      Contact phone numbers

•      What is said to have happened or what was seen

•      When it occurred

•      Who else was there?

•      What was said by those involved?

•      Is there any actual evidence ie bleeding, bruising, changed behaviour?

•      Who has been told about the incident?

•      Who was concerned?

•      Was the child / adult able to say what happened?

•      Have the parents/carers been informed?

 

Complaints Procedure

 

Any complaints of suspected or actual child / adult abuse or of children/adults being put at risk must be taken seriously and acted upon immediately. If somebody believes a child/adult may be suffering, or may be at risk of suffering significant harm, then the club leader must be informed. The club leader has a responsibility to report any concerns to Bath Social Services Department.

 

All workers and volunteers need to note

• abuse takes many forms

• any concerns must be passed to the club leader

• definitions of abuse

 

Definitions of abuse

 

Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child/adult.

 

Physical harm may also be caused when a parent/carer feigns the symptoms of or deliberately causes ill health to a child/adult in their care.

 

Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional ill treatment of a child/adult such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child/adult emotional development.

 

It may involve conveying to children/adults that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may involve causing children/adults to frequently feel forgotten or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children/adults.

 

Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child/adult to take part in sexual activity, whether or not the child/adult is aware of what is happening. The activity may involve physical contact, including penetrative (e.g. rape and buggery) or non penetrative acts. They may include non contact activities, such as involving children/ adults in looking at, or in the production or promoting material or watching sexual activity, or encouraging children/adults to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.

 

Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child/adults basic physical and/or psychological needs. It may involve a parent or carer failing to provide adequate food, shelter and clothing, failing to protect a child/adult from physical harm or danger, or the failure to ensure access to medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, a child/adults basic emotional needs.

 

Recruitment and selection

 

All paid staff and volunteers will be interviewed, references taken and police checks carried out (Criminal Records Bureau).

 

 

Code of Behaviour

 

All paid staff, volunteers and club members should be aware of the written code of behaviour.

 

Training

 

All paid staff and volunteers will be required to undergo training in child protection and health and safety.

 

Voicing concerns

 

During regular volunteer meetings, any concerns regarding abusive or unethical conduct can be voiced.

 

Information

 

All staff, volunteers and parents will be given a copy of the club's child/vulnerable adults protection policy.

 

Review

 

To ensure policies are working effectively, regular reviews will be held where each child, volunteer, and paid staff's needs are discussed. This will be in addition to day-to-day supervision of staff and volunteers and periodic monitoring.