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Child Safeguarding Policy

Version: One
Ratified by: Ben Hutchinson and Deborah J Hopkins
Date ratified: 30-03-26
Author: Penny Lewis
Date issued: 30-03-26
Review date: 30-03-28

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Designated Safeguarding Lead

The Designated Safeguarding Lead for Involve is Penny Lewis.

 

Email: penny@involveleeds.org.uk

Telpehone: 07565 103649.

 

Trustee Lead for Safeguarding and Deputy is Ben Hutchinson

Email: Ben.hutchinson@hotmail.co.uk

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1. INTRODUCTION

 

Involve is a Community Centre in Hunslet. We aim to provide a welcoming, safe space which will encourage people to attend groups and activities, encourage providers to work in the centre and support local groups in setting up their own activities.


Children and Young people attend the centre in the company of their responsible adult, or by attending groups and activities run by other organisations within the centre on a room hire basis. Involve does not currently offer any activities where children or young people remain without their responsible adult and have no plans to do so.


Involve will not tolerate the abuse of children or young people in any of its forms, including children for whom we are not directly responsible.
Involve is committed to:

  • Managing its services is a way which minimises the risk of abuse occurring

  • Working with relevant agencies to end any abuse that is taking place

 

In achieving these aims the organisation will:

  • Ensure that all trustees, managers, employees and volunteers have access to and are familiar with this safeguarding adult policy and procedure and their responsibilities within it

  • Ensure concerns or allegations of abuse are always taken seriously

  • Ensure all staff/volunteers receive training in relation to safeguarding children and Young People at a level commensurate with their role.

  • Ensure that service users, their relatives or informal carers have access to information about how to report concerns or allegations of abuse.

  • Ensure there is a named lead person to promote safeguarding awareness and practice within the organisation.

 

2. NAMED PERSON(S) FOR SAFEGUARDING

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Name of Safeguarding Lead: Penny Lewis


Name of Deputy Safeguarding lead / Trustee Safeguarding Lead : Ben Hutchinson
 

Telephone number: 07565 103649
Mobile Number:
Emergency Contact No: 999
 

Telephone number of Children’s Social Work Service (including out of hours number):
During Office hours - 0113 222 4403
Social Care- Emergency Duty team - 0113 240 9536 (out of hours)

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3. RECOGNISING THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ABUSE

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PHYSICAL ABUSE

May involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent/carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces illness in a child.
 

EMOTIONAL ABUSE

Is the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to children that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only in so far as they meet the needs of another person. It may include not giving the child opportunities to express their views, deliberately silencing them or “making fun” of what they say or how they communicate. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions that are beyond the child’s developmental capability, as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the child participating in normal social interaction. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another. It may involve serious bullying, (including cyber- bullying) causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, though it may occur alone.

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SEXUAL ABUSE

Involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example, rape or oral sex) or non- penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside of clothing They may include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual online images, watching sexual activities, or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse (including via the internet). Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children.
 

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. Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.
Possible signs of abuse include:

  • Unexplained or suspicious injuries such as bruising cuts or burns, particularly if situated on a part of the body not normally prone to such injuries or the explanation of the cause of the injury does not seem right.

  • The child discloses abuse, or describes what appears to be an abusive act.

  • Someone else (child or adult) expresses concern about the welfare of another child.

  • Unexplained change in behaviour such as withdrawal or sudden outbursts of temper.

  • Inappropriate sexual awareness or sexually explicit behaviour.

  • Distrust of adults, particularly those with whom a close relationship would normally be expected.

  • Difficulty in making friends.

  • Eating disorders, depression, self harm or suicide attempts.

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4. BECOMING AWARE OF A SAFEGUARDING ISSUE

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You may become aware that someone is at risk of abuse by some of the following ways:
Receiving an anonymous or third party allegation

  • A Child may appear neglected, have changes in appearance, display changes in behaviour, become uncharacteristically withdrawn or anxious create drawings or make statements or otherwise show signs causing suspicion of abuse or neglect.

  • A child or young person reports an incident of alleged abuse which occurred some time ago.

  • A written or verbal report is made regarding the serious misconduct of a worker towards a child or young person

  • A child or young person discloses recent or ongoing abusive behaviour. ● A child or young person may have unexplained injuries (bruises, burns, fractures). ● A child may display inappropriate sexual knowledge or behaviour, self-harming, or extreme fear of specific individuals.

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5. WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT A CHILD

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Stage 1

  • Initially talk to a child/young person about what you are observing. It is okay to ask questions, for example: “I’ve noticed that you don’t appear yourself today, is everything okay? But never use leading questions

  • Listen carefully to what the young person has to say and take it seriously. Act at all times towards the child as if you believe what they are saying.

  • It is not the responsibility of groups to investigate incidences of suspected child abuse but to gather information and refer only.

  • Always explain to children and young people that any information they have given will have to be shared with others, if this indicates they and or other children are at risk of harm;

  • Notify the organisation’s Named Person for safeguarding (above)

  • Record what was said as soon as possible after any disclosure; The person who receives the allegation or has the concern should complete a pro-forma and ensure it is signed and dated.

  • Respect confidentiality and file documents securely;


Stage 2

  • The Named person(s) should take immediate action if there is a suspicion that a child has been abused or likely to be abused. In this situation the Named Person should contact the police and/or the Duty and Advice Team. If a referral is made direct to the Duty and Advice team this should be followed up in writing within 24 hrs.

 

NB Parents / carers will need to be informed about any referral to Children & Young people’s Social Care unless to do so would place the child at an increased risk of harm.

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6. SAFE RECRUITMENT

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Involve will operate a safer recruitment policy:

  • Use application forms to assess the candidate’s suitability for the role.

  • Make it clear that we have a commitment to safeguarding adults at risk

  • Have a face-to-face interview with pre-planned and clear questions.

  • Include a question about whether they have any criminal convictions, cautions, other legal restrictions or pending cases that might affect their suitability to work in a Community Centre where children may be on the premises.

  • Check the candidate’s identity by asking them to bring photographic ID.

  • Check the candidate actually holds any relevant qualifications they say they have.

  • Apply for a DBS check if appropriate.

  • Ask for and check any references they provide.

  • Provide them with a copy of your safeguarding procedures.

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7. MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISION OF STAFF/VOLUNTEERS

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We will establish routes for volunteers, trustees and staff to discuss with Safeguarding Lead, Trustee Lead or Project Manager any safeguarding matter giving them concern, by ensuring regular opportunities for support and Supervision.

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8. ALLEGATIONS AGAINST STAFF

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Involve will establish have procedures in place to ensure that any allegation made against a member of staff working with children is dealt with appropriately.


An allegation made against the Project Manager will be reported to the Trustee Lead for Safeguarding.


An allegation made against the Trustee Lead Safeguarding Lead will be reported to the Project Manager. (DSL)
Allegations against any other member of staff, volunteer or centre user will be made to the Project Manager.


Any allegations made against a member of staff working with children will be discussed with the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).The Local Authority Designated Officers in Leeds can be contacted Monday to Friday on: 0113 3789687


Contact Children’s Social work Services can be contacted on 0113 2224403
If the allegation is about a lead person at Involve then the matter will be discussed with the LADO.
The worker must ensure that the child is safe and away from the person against whom the allegation is made.


Regardless of whether a police and/or Children Social Work Service investigation follows, an internal investigation will take place and consideration is given to the operation of disciplinary procedures. This may involve an immediate suspension and/or ultimate dismissal dependant on the nature of the incident.

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9. RECORDING AND MANAGING CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

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Concerns or allegations will be recorded on the Cause for Concern Form. This form will be completed by the person who receives the allegation or concern.

  • Hard copy confidential information will be stored on the computer in a password protected file accessible by the Designated Safeguarding Lead and/or Lead Trustee for Safeguarding.

  • The online folders pertaining to Safeguarding will have controls restricting sharing.

  • The computer is in a locked office and needs a password to log on.

  • Children and young people have a right to confidentiality unless Involve believes the child is at risk of abuse or harm by not sharing details.

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10. DISTRIBUTING/ REVIEWING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

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  • This Safeguarding Policy will be reviewed annually by the Project Manager (DSL) and the trustees.

  • This policy and Safeguarding procedures will be shared with all trustees, members of staff and volunteers.

  • This policy and procedures will be accessible via the website.

  • This policy, procedures and information about the Safeguarding Lead will be displayed in the community Centre on the main notice board and in the office. Contact details shall be displayed in every room.

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11. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES

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All their policies and procedures are approved by their Trustees. The Trustees are ultimately accountable for all that happens within their establishment and that includes the implementation of effective safeguarding procedures.

  • Written guidance will be provided to all staff, volunteers and trustees as part of induction procedure

  • The DSL will ensure everyone understands their legal duties and responsibilities
     

The Trustee will work with the Project Manager to:

  • Develop a clear framework for behaviour management towards any children or young people

  • Provide information about procedures to follow if an allegation is made

  • Ensure all workers have training to recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse

  • Ensure that all staff have enhanced DBS checks, if appropriate. .

  • Have correct policies in place covering your activities eg: health and safety, lone working, etc.

  • Understand what is good safeguarding practice and take responsibility for ensuring this is undertaken by all staff within your organisation

  • Ensure all workers understand that physical punishment or threat of physical punishment must never be used

  • Ensure that workers understand that verbal humiliation of children is unacceptable.

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