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9.4.2 Safeguarding Procedures and Training

SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER

This chapter has been amended in relation to the Children's Homes (Amendment) Regulations 2011, Associated Guidance (Volume 5) and National Minimum Standards (NMS). Changes have been highlighted below.


Contents

  1. Context
  2. Scope
  3. Procedure


1. Context

Young people living in children’s homes need to be provided with as much safety as possible. Many will have experienced some form of abuse before coming into the Public Care system and will therefore, to varying degrees, be coping with the aftermath of that abuse.

It must also be remembered, that the Children Act 1989 responded directly to the knowledge that a substantial number of children and young people had been abused whilst in care (Children Act, 1989, Volume 4; Utting, 1991; Levy & Kahan, 1991; Kirkwood, 1992; Warner, 1993). The 1990’s continued to witness a series of inquiries that investigated historical abuse within residential childcare (Utting, 1997; Waterhouse, 2000). The Children Act 1989, The Protection of Children Act, 2000 and the Care Standards Act 2000 all respond to safeguarding issues wherever and however they present themselves.


2. Scope

The overriding principle guiding all legislation, policy and procedure is that the welfare of the child is paramount.

West Yorkshire Consortium Safeguarding Children Boards Procedures are the main reference point in response to any allegation of abuse. As such, it is imperative that all staff are familiar with both the principle and practice of these procedures.


3. Procedure

1.0 A copy of the West Yorkshire Consortium Safeguarding Children Boards Procedures should be readily available to all staff within each residential unit. All staff should, without exception, read these and the Children’s Homes Manager should ensure that these are understood by all staff and recorded on supervision files.
1.1 Staff should pay particular attention to Allegations Against Persons who Work with Children.
1.2

All staff, including ancillary staff, should receive training in Safeguarding and should as part of the training be aware of the Safeguarding procedures and know how to raise any concerns and who the Designated Child Protection Manager is in the Home. Staff must report concerns or allegations to the Designated Child Protection Manager for their home, UNLESS the Manager is implicated; in which case, the report should be made to a Manager who is not implicated or to the child's social worker, Children's Social Care Services in the area where the home is located, the Police or Ofsted.

Allegations against people that work with children must be reported to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) - including allegations that on the face of it may appear relatively insignificant or that have also been reported directly to the police or Children and Family Services.

Information relating to allegations against staff must be retained in a confidential file, even after the member of staff leaves the organisation, until the person reaches normal retirement age, or for ten years if this is longer. 

It is imperative that staff receiving the allegation follow these three golden rules:

  • Avoid asking the young person any leading questions
  • Never give assurances of confidentiality to anyone
  • Report the allegation immediately to the appropriate line manager
  • The manager should make a written record of the allegation and the action taken, followed by a written record of the outcome of any action/investigation. The written record should be kept on the young person's RAISE Documentation in the section ‘Safeguarding’
1.3 Each Home should have systems in place to ensure the safety and welfare of young people within the home. And these systems should be known and understood by all staff, including ancillary, junior, volunteer and agency staff.
1.4

Arrangements should be in place for regular meetings between the Children’s Homes Manager and the Safeguarding Co-ordinator. The purpose of these meetings is to enable a discussion about safeguarding and for advice to be given, particularly in relation to the following:                                                                 

  • Practice & Procedures within the home specifically aimed at keeping young people safe
  • Responding to allegations or suspicions of abuse
  • Control methods within the home
  • Risk taking
  • Responding to young people vulnerable to sexual exploitation
  • Countering Bullying
  • Substance Misuse
1.5 Residential units should not be addressing safeguarding issues in isolation. Links with other agencies concerned with safeguarding issues should therefore be established on a routine basis. These would include schools, GPs, hospitals, and relevant voluntary organisations.
1.6 All staff should be aware of the procedure for responding to allegations of abuse against staff. The West Yorkshire Consortium Safeguarding Children Boards Procedure explain these in detail. In the first instance, any allegation should be reported to the first line manager. If the allegation is against this line manager, it should be immediately reported to the next tier of management. So for instance, if an allegation is made against the Children’s Homes Manager, this must be reported to the Residential Services Manager, or in her/his absence it should be reported to the Placement Service Manager.
1.7 The relevant manager must ensure that any member of staff who has an allegation made against them receives appropriate support and information during the course of the investigation.
1.8 The Children’s Homes Manager should ensure that all staff receive training and support in relation to safeguarding issues. Furthermore the Children’s Homes Manager should facilitate discussion within the staff team about how to develop practice in this area. The supervision forum should also be used to address professional development of dealing with safeguarding issues. 
1.9 The Children’s Homes Manager should ensure that interagency protocol for responding to prevention and investigation of child sexual exploitation is followed by all staff. All staff should be familiar with the West Yorkshire Consortium Safeguarding Children Boards Procedure with respect to this issue. Additionally, staff need to be aware of an amendment within the West Yorkshire Consortium Safeguarding Children Boards Procedures, Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation Protocol.
1.10 The protocol outlines the procedures for staff to report any evidence of young people becoming involved in sexual exploitation to the police. This includes any unauthorised persons picking children up, contacting children in the home, or observed trying to make contact with children outside the home. Such concerns should also be recorded and monitored within the young person's Daily Living File.
1.11

All staff has a responsibility to minimise the risk of abuse occurring within the home. In order to help staff to be vigilant, each home should have guidance on the following:

  • Making a full assessment of young people’s histories, including any experience they have of Abuse Observation, of young people interactions with one another (this aspect should formulate an essential part of the supervision, development and training for residential staff)
  • Supervision of young people (as above)
  • Supervision and support of staff (as above)
  • Recognition of possible involvement of young people in sexual exploitation
  • Confidentiality
  • Physical contact between staff and young people
  • One to one time alone by staff with young people
  • Intimate care and invasive procedures administering medication      

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