Staffordshire Moorlands Community & Voluntary Services

POLICY ON CHILD AND VULNERABLE ADULT PROTECTION AND SAFEGUARDING OF STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS

POLICY STATEMENT

The trustees and management of Staffordshire Moorlands Community and Voluntary Services (SMCVS) recognise that, when involved in making provision for children and vulnerable adults, they have a responsibility to ensure that the welfare of children and vulnerable adults is always paramount. All children and vulnerable adults have the right of protection from abuse.

A child is defined as, under 18 years of age, by the Children Act 1989.

A vulnerable adult is defined (by the Law Commission) as a person over 18 years, who is or maybe in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is unable to take care of him or herself against significant harm or exploitation.

All SMCVS staff and volunteers have a responsibility to report any concerns to their line manager. Such concerns will be responded to swiftly and appropriately.

Policy aims

The aim of this SMCVS policy is to promote good practice to:

a) Provide children and vulnerable adults with appropriate safety and protection whilst in the care of SMCVS staff and volunteers; and

b) Enable all staff and volunteers to make informed and confident responses to specific child or vulnerable adult protection issues.

Appendix A provides a code of guidance for staff and volunteers.

RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION OF STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS

SMCVS recognises that anyone may have the potential to abuse children and vulnerable adults in some way and that all reasonable steps are taken to ensure unsuitable people are prevented from working with them. The SMCVS recruitment process will therefore include the following:

a) All volunteers and staff will complete an application form. The form will seek information about the applicant’s work experience and ask for self-disclosure about any criminal record, where appropriate.

b) Consent should be obtained from an applicant to seek information from the Criminal Records Bureau and the appropriate check will be carried out – usually enhanced disclosure.

RESPONDING TO SUSPICIONS OR ALLEGATIONS

If a member of staff or volunteer has any concerns about possible abuse or inappropriate behaviour, they have a responsibility to report them. They do not have to decide whether or not abuse or inappropriate behaviour has actually taken place.

The steps to be taken are:

1. Concerns reported to line manager;
2. Record made of what has been said or seen. Include the location, time and date. (See Appendix B)
3. Line manager reports to Chief Officer;
4. Chief Officer will refer the allegation to the social services department, with a copy of record (a copy to be kept by the individual reporting the concerns,) who may involve the police, or go directly to the police if out-of-hours.
5. The Chief Officer will report the matter to the Chair of Trustees.
6. The parents or carers of the client will be contacted as soon as possible, following advice from the social services department.

Where the line manager or Chief Officer are not available, contact should be made with the Chair of Trustees. In the unlikely event that none of them are available, contact should be made direct to social services. If you do not know whom to turn to for advice or are worried about sharing your concerns with a senior colleague, you should contact the social services direct (or the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, or Childline on 0800 1111)

Remember an individual may be at risk of further harm.

Concerns about conduct of member of staff or volunteer

Where the concern relates to a member of staff or volunteer it should be reported to the Chief Officer, who will take such steps as considered necessary to ensure the safety of the client in question, and any other client who may be at risk. If the Chief Officer is the subject of the concern, the report must be made direct to the Chair of Trustees who will refer the allegation to social services.

There may be three types of investigation:

a) A criminal investigation;

b) A child protection investigation;

c) A disciplinary or misconduct investigation.

The results of the police and child protection investigation may well influence the disciplinary investigation, but not necessarily.

If, following consideration, the concerns have arisen as a result of poor practice, the Chief Officer may deal with it as a misconduct issue.

SMCVS will fully support and protect any member of staff or volunteer who, in good faith, reports their concern that a colleague is, or may be, abusing a child or vulnerable adult.

Allegations of Previous Abuse

Allegations of abuse may be made some time after the event (e.g. by an adult who was abused as a child or by a member of staff who is still currently working with children or vulnerable adults). Where such an allegation is made, staff and volunteers should follow the procedures as detailed above and report the matter to the social services or the police.

Confidentiality

Every effort will be made to ensure that confidentiality is maintained for all concerned. Information should be handled and disseminated on a need to know basis only. This includes the following people:

• The Chief Officer and Chair;
• The parents or carer of the person who is alleged to have been abused;
• The person making the allegation;
• Social services/ police;
• The alleged abuser (and parents if the alleged abuser is a child).

The CVS record of the concerns will be retained in safe storage in the Chief Officer’s room in accordance with data protection policy and “need to know” requirements.

Guidelines for use of photographic or other imaging equipment.

The taking of photographs, film or other images of children or vulnerable adults is not appropriate without consent from parents or nominated guardians or carers. Staff must ensure that such consent is in place before making any such image of a client. A standard form is included in Appendix C.

When such images are properly obtained then they must be used only for the purpose consented to. Special care must be taken, when using any image in general publicity or in publications such as annual reports or press promotions. If there is doubt about the appropriate use of an image then staff must not be tempted to use it.

Appendix A: Code of guidance for staff and volunteers on protection of children and vulnerable adults

Appendix B: How to record concerns

Date approved by SMCVS Board of Trustees: 23^rd November 2005

APPENDIX A

CODE OF GUIDANCE FOR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS

ON PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS

Introduction.

Abuse, particularly sexual abuse, can arouse strong emotions in those facing such a situation. Abuse can occur within many situations including the home, school and the caring support environment.

It is a fact of life that some individuals will actively seek employment or voluntary work with young people in order to harm them.

A paid worker or volunteer may have regular contact with young people and be an important link in identifying cases where a young person needs protection.

All suspicious cases of poor practice should be reported to the SMCVS line manager and or relevant authorities following the guidelines in this document.

When an individual, who has been subjected to abuse outside the SMCVS environment, comes into contact with SMCVS staff, we must work with the appropriate agencies to ensure the individual receives the required support.

Good Practice Guidelines.

All personnel should be encouraged to demonstrate exemplary behaviour in order to protect themselves from false allegations.

The following are common sense examples of how to create a positive culture and climate within SMCVS activities.

Good practice means:

• Always working in an open environment (e.g. avoiding private or unobserved situations and encouraging an open environment i.e. no secrets).
• Treating all children and vulnerable adults equally, and with respect and dignity.
• Always putting the welfare of each person first, e.g. before partners or ourselves.
• Maintaining a safe and appropriate distance with clients (e.g. it is not appropriate to have an intimate relationship with a client or to share a room with them).
• Building balanced relationships based on mutual trust, which empowers individuals to share in the decision-making process;
• Involving parents/carers wherever possible (e.g. for the responsibility of their children when travelling in a volunteers car).
• Being an excellent role model – this includes not smoking, using inappropriate language or drinking alcohol in the company of clients.
• Giving enthusiastic and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism.
• Recognising the developmental needs and capacity of young people and disabled adults.
• Securing carer consent in writing to act in loco parentis, if the need arises to give permission for the administration of emergency first aid and/or other medical treatment.
• Keeping a written record of any injury that occurs, along with the details of any treatment given.
• Requesting written parental/carer consent if SMCVS staff or volunteers are required to transport children or vulnerable adults in their cars.
• This consent will be obtained at the time of taking the bookings for the voluntary transport or community transport schemes.

Practice to be avoided.

The following should be avoided except in emergencies. If cases arise where these situations are unavoidable they should only occur with the full knowledge and consent of the clients carers. For example, a child sustains an injury and needs to go to hospital, or a parent fails to arrive to pick a child up at the end of a session

• Avoid spending excessive amounts of time alone with children or vulnerable adults away from others

• Avoid taking children or vulnerable adults to your home where they will be alone with you.

Practices never to occur.

• Engage in rough, physical or sexually provocative games, including horseplay.
• Share a room with a child or vulnerable adult.
• Allow or engage in any form of inappropriate touching.
• Allow children to use inappropriate language unchallenged.
• Make sexually suggestive comments to an individual, even in fun.
• Reduce anyone to tears as a form of control.
• Allow allegations made by a child or vulnerable adult to go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted upon.
• Do things of a personal nature for children or disabled adults that they can do for themselves.
• Invite or allow clients to stay with you at your home unsupervised.

NB. It may sometimes be necessary for staff or volunteers to do things of a personal nature for an individual, e.g. if they are young or are disabled. These tasks should only be carried out with the full understanding and consent of parents or carers. If a person is fully dependent on you, talk with him/her about what you are doing and give choices where possible. This is particularly so if you are involved in any dressing or undressing of outer clothing, or where there is physical contact, lifting/assisting to carry out particular activities.

Avoid taking on the responsibility for tasks for which you are not appropriately trained.

If any of the following occur you should report this immediately to your line manger or other appropriate colleague, and record the incident. You should also ensure the parents or carers of the child or vulnerable adult are told.

• If you accidentally injure or cause discomfort to a client.
• If he/she seems distressed in any manner.
• If a client appears to be sexually aroused by your actions.
• If a client misunderstands or misinterprets something you have done.

APPENDIX B

HOW TO RECORD CONCERNS

Information passed to the social services or the police must be as helpful as possible, hence the necessity for making a detailed record at the time of the disclosure/concern. Information should include the following:

• The name of the child or vulnerable adult.
• Age of individual and date of birth
• Home address and telephone number
• Is the person making the report expressing their own concerns or those of someone else?
• What is the nature of the allegation? Include dates, times, any special factors and other relevant information. Make a clear distinction between what is fact, opinion or hearsay.
• A description of any visible bruising or other injuries. Are behavioural signs or indirect signs evident?
• Witnesses to the incidents.
• The child’s or vulnerable adults account, if it can be given, of what has happened and how any bruising or other injuries occurred.
• Have the parents/carer been contacted? If so what has been said?
• Has anyone else been consulted? If so record details.
• If it is not the child or vulnerable adult making the report has the individual concerned been spoken to? If so what was said?
• Has anyone been alleged to be the abuser? If yes, record details of the allegation made, including the identity of the alleged abuser, the person making the allegation and the time and date.