We intend to create in our school club an environment in
which children are safe from abuse and in which any suspicion of abuse is
promptly and appropriately responded to. In order to achieve this we will:
Exclude known abusers
It will be made clear to applicants for posts within the out
of school club that the position is exempt from the provisions of the
rehabilitation of offenders’ act 1974.
All applicants for work within the out of school club,
whether voluntary or paid will be interviewed before an appointment is made and
will be asked to provide at least one reference. All such references will be
followed up. In the case of applicants with unexplained gaps in their
employment history, or have moved rapidly from one jo to another, explanations
will be sought.
All appointments both paid and voluntary will be subject to
a probationary period and will not be confirmed unless the out of school club
is confident that the applicant can be safely entrusted with children
Seek and supply training
We will seek out training opportunities for all adults
involved in the group to ensure that they recognise the symptoms of physical
abuse, neglect, emotional abuse and sexual abuse.
Prevent abuse by means of good practice
Adults will not be left alone for long periods with
individual children or with small groups. An adult who needs to take a child
aside – for example for time-out after behaviour which needs improvement – will
leave the door ajar
Adults who have not been registered as “fit” persons will
not take children unaccompanied to the toilet
Children will be encouraged to develop a sense of autonomy
and independence through adult support in making choices and in finding names
for their own feelings and acceptable ways to express them. This will enable
children to have the self confidence and the vocabulary to resist inappropriate
approaches.
The layout of the playroom(s) will permit constant
supervision of all children
Respond appropriately to suspicions of abuse
Changes in children’s behaviour/appearance will be
investigated.
Parents will normally be the first point of reference,
though suspicions will also be referred to the appropriate social services
dept. in line with the area child protection committee (ACPC)
All such suspicions and investigations will be kept
confidential, shared only with those who need to know. The people most commonly
involved will be the member of staff/key worker, the leader and the management
committee chair.
Keep records
Whenever worrying changes are observed in a child’s
behaviour, physical condition or appearance a specific and confidential record
will be set up, quite separate from the usual on-going records of children’s
progress and development. The record will include, in addition to the name,
address and age of the child:
Timed
and dated observations describing objectively the child’s
behaviour/appearance without comment or interpretation
Where
possible, the exact words spoken by the child
The
dated name and signature of the recorder.
Such records will be kept in a separate file and will not be
accessible to people in the out of school club other than the leader, chair and
key worker or other member of staff as appropriate.
Liaise with other bodies
The Pre-school operates in accordance with guidelines.
Confidential records kept on children about whom the out of school club is
anxious will be shared with the Area Child Protection Committee if the out of
school club feels that adequate explanations for changes in the child’s
condition have not been provided.
If a report on a child is to be made to the authorities, the
child’s parents will be informed at the same time as the report is made.
The group will maintain ongoing contact with the registering
authority, together with names, addresses and telephone numbers of individual
social workers to ensure that it would be easy, in any emergency, for the out
of school club and the (ACPC) to work well together.
Records will also be kept of the local NSPCC contact, or
other contact(s) as appropriate.
Support families
The out of school club will take every step in its power to
build up trusting and supportive relationships between families and staff and
volunteers in the group.
Where abuse at home is suspected, the out of school club
will continue to welcome the child and family while the investigations proceed.
Confidential records kept on a child will be shared with the
child’s parents.
With the proviso that the care and safety of the child must
always be paramount, the out of school club will do all in its power to support
and work with the child’s family.
Where to go for help:
Children’s
assessment team (01454) 868501/2
The
Emergency Duty Team (out of hours, weekends and public holidays) (01454)
615165
