Safeguarding Policy
Safeguarding Policy
Home Link Family Support offers early intervention to families by providing home visiting support, Systemic Family Counselling, Art Therapy and group opportunities in homes, schools and in the community, in order to give childrena positive start.
We will provide services which demonstrate positive and respectful relationships with families and young people. We will ensure staff are professional in their approach and that the safety and welfare of children is paramount.
The purpose of this policy statement is:
- To protect children and young people, who receive support from Home Link Family Support, from harm.
- To provide staff and volunteers, as well as children and young people, and their families, with the overarching principles and procedures that guide our approach to child protection.
- To ensure that staff and volunteers are aware of expected practice when providing a direct service to Children and Young People.
This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of Home Link Family Support, including Managers and the Board of Trustees, paid staff, volunteers, sessional workers, agency staff, and students. Child Protection is an organisation-wide responsibility.
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation that seeks to protect children provide Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 “National Guidance for Child Protection In Scotland 2021 which incorporates the UNCRC United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 2014”, Human Rights Act 1998 and the Edinburgh and Lothian’s Inter-Agency Child Protection Procedures.
All staff should have a clear understanding of terminology used in relation to child protection and safeguarding. This is defined in the National Guidance for Child Protection In Scotland (2021) which gives guidance on how to identify when chid protection measures are required
https://www.gov.scot/policies/child-protection/national-child-protection-guidance
1. Home Link Family Support will:
- Ensure that all Staff, Volunteers and Board members understand their legal and moral obligations to protect children and young people from harm, abuse and exploitation. This is achieved by offering regular training and CPD opportunities.
- Ensure that measures are in place to protect children and young people from self-harm, assault or verbal abuse.
- Ensure that safeguarding and child protection are highlighted during all interview processes. PVG procedures will be followed as detailed in the PVG policy. Relevant training will be provided equivalent to Child Protection Level 1 and 2 for all our Staff, Volunteers and Board members through our partners at Edinburgh and Midlothian Councils, or the equivalent.
- Maintain best practice in relation to the recruitment of all Staff, Volunteers and Board members.
- Ensure staff, volunteers and board members maintain a high level of non-judgemental and professional practice which models respect and a child centred approach.
- Staff are aware of the 9 protected characteristics as detailed in the 2010 Equality Act and this informs their practice
- Ensure that all Staff, Volunteers and Board members understand their responsibility to achieve the standards detailed in this Child Protection Policy.
- Ensure that all Staff, Volunteers and Board members understand their obligations to report care or protection concerns about children and young people, or a worker conduct towards children and young people, to the organisation’s lead for child protection.
- Ensure that the designated Lead for Child Protection (Home Link Family Support Manager) understands his/her responsibility to refer any child protection concerns to the statutory child protection agencies (i.e. police and/or social work).
- Ensure that the organisation meets all its responsibilities in adhering to the requirements of the National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021, Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 Human Rights Act 1998 and the Edinburgh and Lothian’s Inter-Agency Child Protection Procedures.
- Provide opportunities for all Staff, Volunteers and Board members to develop their skills and knowledge particularly in relation to the care and protection of children and young people. This is regularly monitored in support and supervision and appraisals.
- Ensure that children and young people are able to express their ideas and views on a wide range of issues and will have access to the organisation’s complaints and child protection procedures.
- Have a procedure in place to gather the views and opinions of children and young people at the beginning, during and at the end of service provision.
- Ensure Children are aware of the process if they wish to discuss any concerns or report any incidents.
- Keep up to date with national developments relating to the care and protection of children and young people.
- All Staff and Volunteers will have a designated supervisor who will provide regular support and supervision where any concerns about a family or child should be discussed. This will be recorded, and copies made available to the member of Staff/Volunteer.
Home Link Family Support offer a range of services to Children and Young people staff will ensure that sessions promote safety and are in the best interest of the child. If a child or young person is in the care of a staff member they will ensure that all basic needs are met. For example food, drink and comfort breaks. If staff have any concerns about a child’s welfare or presentation then they should be recorded and discussed with their Line Manager.
2. Role of the Lead for Child Protection
2.1. All suspicions, concerns and disclosures of harm or incidents reported must be reported immediately to the Lead for Child Protection.
2.2. The Lead for Child Protection is responsible for:
- Ensuring that all staff have up to date training in child protection.
- Ensuring that Report forms and copies of the policy and procedures are available to all staff.
- Receive information from Staff and Volunteers and children who have concerns, and record them, using appropriate forms and procedures identified.
- Represent Home Link Family Support in formal investigations into allegations of harm.
2.3. In the absence of the Child Protection Lead, all Child Protection concerns should be discussed with the Team Leader. If the Team Leader is not available, they should be discussed with the Chair of the Board or the Nominated Officer on the Board responsible for Child Protection issues.
2.4. Where a matter is urgent and the Child Protection Lead is unavailable delay should be avoided, and contact should be made with Social Work Department and the Child Protection Lead is notified in retrospect.
3. Responding to Disclosure
At the initial engagement with children and families all staff will explain the process for making any complaints or reporting any concerns or incidents.
3.1. Children and young people who have experienced harm are more likely to disclose details of this to someone they trust and with whom they feel safe. By listening and taking seriously what the child or young person is saying you are already offering support. The following points are a guide to help you respond in a helpful way.
3.2. Actions to be taken by the person being disclosed to:
- React calmly so as not to cause fright or distress.
- Take what the child or young person says seriously, recognising the difficulties inherent in interpreting what is being said by a person who has a speech impairment or differences in language.
- Avoid asking direct questions other than those seeking to clarify your understanding of what the child / young person has said. They may be subsequently formally interviewed by the police or social care services, and they should not have to repeat their account on several occasions.
- Inappropriate and excessive questioning at an early stage may also impede the conduct of a subsequent criminal investigation.
- Reassure the child or young person but do not make promises of confidentiality which will not be feasible in the light of any subsequent actions.
- Explain to them that you will have to share your concerns with the Child Protection Lead.
- Thank them for sharing.
- Record in writing on the Notification of Children and Vulnerable Adults Incident Reporting Form all the details that you are aware of and what was said using the child or young person’s own words, immediately.
3.3. The person receiving the disclosure should not:
- Dismiss the concern.
- Panic.
- Allow their shock or discomfort to show.
- Probe for more information than is comfortably offered.
- Speculate or make assumptions.
- Make negative comments about the alleged perpetrator.
- Make promises or agree to keep secrets.
- Should not suggest any action/s or consequences that may be undertaken in response to the disclosure.
3.4. It is important to listen carefully to the information a child or young person tells you. When listening to the information, the following good practice is required:
- Allow the child or young person time to speak and really listen to them.
- Be honest, tell the child or young person that you cannot keep it a secret; you have to talk to someone else who can help.
- Do not pre-suppose that the experience was bad or painful; it may have been neutral or even pleasant. Always avoid projecting your own reactions onto the child or young person.
- If you need to clarify, keep questions to the absolute minimum to ensure a clear and accurate understanding of what has been said; use open-ended and non-leading questions.
- Do not introduce personal information from either your own experiences or those of other children or young people.
- As soon as practical write down everything the child or young person has told you using their own words. You must not discuss the information with anyone other than the Child Protection Lead within your organisation or the statutory organisations i.e., police or social work services. If volunteers are requested to speak with statutory services, they will be supported to do so by a member of the Home Link Family Support team.
4. Recording the Information
4.1. As previously highlighted, it is your responsibility to report concerns immediately to the Child Protection Lead. A full written record of information must be made as soon as possible using the child or young person’s own words. Details should include:
- Name of the child or young person.
- Age, date of birth of the child or young person.
- Home address and telephone number of the child or young person.
- The nature of the allegation in the child or young person’s own words.
- Any times, dates or other relevant information.
- Whether the child / young person making the report is expressing their own concern or the concerns of another person.
- The child or young person’s account, if it can be given, of what has happened and how harm occurred.
- The nature of the allegation (include all of the information obtained during the initial account e.g., time, date, location of alleged incident).
- A description of any visible (when normally dressed) injuries or bruising, behavioural signs, indirect signs (do not examine the child or young person).
- Details of any witnesses to the incident.
- Whether the child or young person’s, guardians or carers have been contacted.
- Details of anyone else who has been consulted and the information obtained from them.
- If it is not the child or young person making the report, whether the child or young person has been spoken to, if so, what was said.
Allegations against an internal employee e.g., Staff and Board members.
- It is important that any concerns for the welfare of the child or young person arising from harm by a member of Staff or Volunteer should be reported immediately to the Child Protection Lead and a Notification of Children Incident Reporting Form completed.
- In the case of an allegation being made about Child Protection Lead this should be reported to the Chair of Board for further action.
- There may be circumstances where allegations are about poor practice rather than abuse, but this should always be communicated to the Child Protection Lead for guidance and appropriate action.
- Where an allegation is made against a Board Member this should be referred to the Child Protection Lead who will then engage the Chair of the Board who has responsibility to address Members code of conduct and related issues.
- If the allegation is against the Chair ofBoard, then the contact will be the Chair of the Human Resources Sub-Committee.
5. Confidentiality
5.1. Every effort should be made to ensure that confidentiality is maintained for all concerned in the safeguarding of children and young people. Information should be handled and disseminated on a need-to-know basis only. This includes the following people:
- The Child Protection Lead.
- Social Care Services / Police/Health.
- The parent or carers of the person who is alleged to have been harmed where this is appropriate given the nature of the allegation and subsequent investigation.
- The person making the allegation.
- Chair of the Home Link Family Support Board.
5.2. The Child Protection Lead will, where concerns are raised, ensure the parents or carers of the child or young person are dealt with in a sensitive way and in consultation with Social Work Services and the Police. It is important the timing of this does not prejudice the investigation.
5.5. Recorded information should be stored in a secure place with limited access e.g., only accessible to the Child Protection Lead, and in line with GDPR and data protection laws.
5.6. If enquiries arise from the public (including parents) or any branch of the media, it is vital that all Staff, Volunteers and Board members are briefed to ensure they do not make any comments regarding the situation.
5.7. Staff, Volunteers and Board members should be informed who the relevant designated spokesperson will be, and all enquiries directed through them. Other Staff, Volunteers and Board members should reply “no comment” to all questions/enquiries.
5.8. It is extremely important that allegations or concerns are not discussed, as any breach of confidentiality could be damaging to the child or young person, their family and any child protection investigations that may follow. Staff and Volunteers will be provided with the space to debrief and provided with support and supervision to ensure that no one is left “holding” the information themselves.
5.9. Where a Staff member or Volunteer is approached regarding an allegation, issues of confidentiality should be clarified early in the discussion, and the person informed that the member of Staff, Volunteer or Board member will at the very least, have to disclose the conversation to their line manager and depending on the severity of the information may be disclosed to Social Care services or the Police.
6. Sharing Concerns with Parents, Carers or Partners
Whilst delivering our services to children and young people there is a commitment to work in partnership with parents/carers and share concerns about their child or young person. Therefore, in most circumstances it would be important for staff members to talk to parents or carers to clarify any concerns (but not the alleged perpetrator). For example, if a child seems withdrawn, there may be a reasonable explanation, which a parent can provide. Any contact with parents or carers should take place after consultation with the Child Protection Lead.
When it is Inappropriate to Share Concerns with Parents, Carers or Partners
6.1. There are circumstances when children or young people can be placed at greater risk by sharing concerns with their parents/carers e.g., where the parent/carer is the one who may be responsible for the harm. In these circumstances, or where concerns still exist despite an explanation from parents/carers, any suspicion, allegation, or incident of harm must be reported to the Child Protection Lead immediately and recorded accordingly.
6.2. When there are ongoing concerns regarding a parent or carer in relation to the alleged harm of a child or young person the parent or carer should not be contacted about the allegation of harm. The Social Work Department and/or the Police will do this at an appropriate time.
Nominated Child Protection Lead Name: Paula Swanston
Phone/email: 0131 661 0890/ paula.s@homelinkfamilysupport.org
Nominated Child protection Deputy Name: Rachel Almeida
Phone/email 0131 661 0890 / rachel.a@homelinkfamilysupport.org
Trustee lead for safeguarding and child protection: Board Chair Lynne Spiteri
Phone/email 07713254917 / lynne.spiteri@icloud.com
Phone/email:
- NSPCC Helpline 0808 800 5000
- Childline 0800 1111
- Social Care Direct (out of Hours): 08007316969
Social Work Services:
- Midlothian: 0131 271 3414
- Edinburgh: 0131 200 2324