Safeguarding and Child Protection

 Policy Statement: Lamb Setts is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We will work closely with children, parents, professionals and the community in order to achieve this. We expect all our staff, students and volunteers to share our commitment to safeguarding the rights and safety of children. All concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing will be taken seriously, followed up and dealt with in a professional, prompt and sensitive way.

Creating a Culture of Safety:

We have a named Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) with a defined role.

Appropriate staffing ratios are adhered to.

We have a structured recruitment policy

Applicants are informed of a need to carry out enhanced disclosures and reference checks prior to a permanent position being offered. Staff will also need to complete an update sheet re Qualifications and vetting each year. New staff work a three month trial period.

Staff on trial, students and volunteers do not work unsupervised.

We record visitors to the setting. Identification is checked where appropriate. Visitors are supervised at all times.

External doors are locked.

No unauthorised person is allowed entry to the setting. We have a secure entry system which is only operated by senior staff.

Staff are expected to attend training on safeguarding and child protection

Only persons nominated by parents will be allowed to collect children.

Parents must provide photographs and details of each nominated person.

Concerns about children will be an agenda item at all staff meetings.

The Prevent Duty:

The prevent duty is the duty in the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 on specific authorities to have "due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism."

Lamb Setts is comitted to this duty.

We aim to protect children from the risk of radicalisation.

We aim to build up children's resilience to radicalisation by promoting Fundamental British Values and enabling them to challenge extremist views.

All staff will be aware of what Fundamental British Vaules are, how they are embedded within the EYFS curriculum, and what they can do to promote them.

Responding to Concerns:

 Abuse can take different forms; physical, emotional, sexual and neglect. Concerns may develop through changes in children’s appearance, behaviour or play, or through the things they say.

If a member of staff has a concern they must talk to their supervisor.

If a child makes a disclosure, the member of staff should listen to the child and give assurance that they will help. The concerns should be immediately brought to the attention of the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or their deputy.

Concerns, disclosures and action taken will be recorded on the Sheffield Safeguarding Children’s Board recording Sheets.

Once concerns have been raised the DSL will discuss them further with the staff concerned. Further discussions may take place with other professionals and if appropriate, the child’s parents. If the DSL feels the concerns are significant they will contact the Safeguarding Advisory Board and/or Social Care Services. They will share concerns verbally over the phone and, if a formal referral is advised, follow this up in writing within 48 hours. The DSL will follow the advice and suggestions from the Social Care Services and co-ordinate any further communications/reports and assessments as advised.

In Sheffield, we also have access to a Safeguarding Advisory Service and the DSL will contact the advisory service at this stage for advice on how to proceed.

Recording Concerns:

A dated record of the details of the concern must be made and put in the child protection file (within 24hours). The written record should include the date and time of the observation or disclosure, the exact words spoken by the child, the name of the person to whom the concern was reported with date and time, and the names of any other people present at the time. These records must be signed and dated and stored in the locked child protection file (which is separate to the child’s personal records) on the Sheffield Safeguarding Children’s Board recording Sheets.

Making a Referral

It is the responsibility of the DSL to make a referral to the Local Authority Social Care team.

This will be done with the advice and support of the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board.

The referral will usually be made by telephone but must be followed up in writing within 48 hours of the referral.

Informing Parents

Parents are essential partners in caring for the welfare of children. Advice on sharing information with parents will be sought from the LSCB. Wherever possible parents should be fully informed of concerns and practitioners should seek their agreement to make a referral to children’s social care UNLESS the guidance of the LSCB does not allow this (i.e. in a case where the parent is the likely abuser) In this case the investigating officers will inform the parents.

 Allegations Against Staff, Carers and Volunteers within the organisation

Allegations against someone within the organisation may come from a number of sources:

Parents are aware how to make a complaint about the childcare service we provide. These complaints may be about the behaviour or actions of staff or volunteers within the setting and may include allegations of abuse.

Children may also make disclosures about a member of staff or volunteer within the setting.

Staff, carers or volunteers may raise concerns about the behaviour or conduct of colleagues.

Responding to Concerns:

Any allegation of abuse must be reported to the DSL who will immediately contact the LSCB. (unless the allegation is against the DSL, in which case the next most senior member of staff will contact the LSCB directly)

The allegation will be recorded in writing within 48 hours and stored in the Child Protection File.

The DSL, their deputy, (or most senior member of staff) will also inform Ofsted of the allegation and any action taken.

The DSL (or most senior member of staff) will NOT investigate the matter by interviewing the accused person, they will record the details of the allegation and refer it on to the LSCB.

The setting will take advice from LSCB on the arrangements to inform the child’s parents, and consider how to provide them with support and information during enquiries.

The setting will also liaise with the LSCB on suspension, or alternatives to suspension of the person who is the subject of the allegation.

In all cases the setting will follow the advice of the Local Safeguarding Children Board and co-operate fully in the Children’s Social Care/ Police/Ofsted investigation. We will expect to be fully involved and informed of the whole procedure, including timescales and outcomes.

Disciplinary Action

If a member of staff or volunteer has been dismissed due to engaging in activities that caused concern for the safeguarding of children, the DSL will notify the LSCB of all relevant information so that all individuals who pose a threat to children can be identified and barred from working with children.

Promoting Awareness of Abuse, Providing Training and Empowering Children

The setting has a named Designated Safeguarding Lead with a defined role.

Only experienced, qualified, CRB checked staff have sole care of children within the setting.

All other staff, students and volunteers never work unsupervised.

Training:

All staff are made aware of our Safeguarding Policy and their responsibilities to safeguard children.

 All staff are required to attend an introduction which covers Safeguarding.

Within their 3 month trial, staff will be expected to complete a Sheffield Safeguarding Board safeguarding course.

At 6 monthly intervals safeguarding awareness will be updated at our Staff Training Meeting and staff will have Safeguarding Supervision Meeting with the DSL or Deputy DSL.

The DSL and deputy DSL are expected to also attend advanced Safeguarding training.

The DSL must have current knowledge and have attended safeguarding training refresher courses every three years. The DSL role is clearly defined.

Curriculum

Keeping Safe forms an essential part of the EYFS curriculum. Children are encouraged to be strong, confident individuals. They are valued and respected and listened to. Children’s diversity is valued and celebrated.

Children are encouraged (in a developmentally appropriate way) to take an active part in understanding how to be safe.

Confidentiality

All suspicions and investigations in regard to safeguarding and child protection are shared only with those who need to know. The wishes of children and families are respected as far as possible unless they are over-ridden by the child’s welfare. Any information is shared under the guidance of the LSCB. All written records are stored securely in a locked Child Protection File.

Supporting Families

One of the best ways to safeguard children’s welfare is to build up close, trusting relationships with children and their families. At lamb Setts we strive to do this through regular face to face contact with parents and carers.

Parents are made aware of our role and responsibilities in regard to child protection and have access to this policy document.

It is important that while concerns must be explored and investigated, we must still maintain close links with families and a welcoming service that meets their individual needs during any investigation procedures.

We will follow Child Protection Plans as set by the child’s social care worker.

Confidential records kept on a child are shared with the child’s parents or those who have parental responsibility in accordance with the Confidentiality and Client Access to Records procedure and under the guidance of the LSCB.

Duty To Report/ Whistle Blowing

Safeguarding children in our care is a joint responsibility between all staff.

If a member of staff sees another member of staff behaving in an inappropriate way towards a child they must inform the DSL or their deputy in a timely manner which should be determined by their level of concern.

Ways to report:

Directly with the DSL or their deputy

By telephone to the DSL or deputy.

Indirectly: e.g.a sealed note posted under the office door/ in managers file in office (Chesterfield Branch), sealed note in staff suggestion box.

If at any point you feel your concerns have not been addressed or handled correctly, you must contact the Local Safeguarding Board (Shefield or Derbyshire), Ofsted and if it concerns a member of staff, the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO). The numbers are displayed in the staff room and are in the policy document.

It is important that all staff, at all levels work together to safeguard the children in our care.

Remember, your first responsibility is to safeguard children and you will not receive and reprisal for acting in the best interests of children.