Safeguarding Children Policy

CARIS Families is committed to building a culture of safety in which the children in our care are protected from abuse, harm and radicalisation.

Our staff and volunteers will respond promptly and appropriately to all incidents or concerns regarding the safety of a child that may occur. CARIS Families’ child protection procedures comply with all relevant legislation and with guidance issued by the City of London & Local Authority’s Safeguarding Children Partnership and the Camden Safeguarding Children Partnership.

CARIS Families’ Services Manager is the Child Protection Officer (CPO). The CPO coordinates child protection issues and liaises with external agencies, including the Local Authority’s family support teams, the City of London & Local Authority’s Safeguarding Children Partnership and the Camden Safeguarding Children Partnership.  All volunteers and parents participating in our services will be made aware of the name and contact details of the CPO, and they will be contactable when sessions are running, or an alternative lead person will be available.

This policy applies to CARIS Families staff members, volunteers, and parents/carers who attend any of our services.  A copy of this policy will be available for reference by staff, volunteers and parents/carers at any time.

Safeguarding Principles

CARIS Families recognises that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and is committed to a child-centred approach which:

• prioritises the welfare and best interests of the child
• ensures children are listened to and their views are taken seriously
• promotes early help and intervention
• works in partnership with families and multi-agency safeguarding partners
• recognises that safeguarding applies to all children without discrimination

CARIS Families recognises that some children may be more vulnerable to abuse or exploitation, including children with disabilities, children experiencing homelessness or temporary accommodation, children with additional needs, and those experiencing domestic abuse.

Legal framework

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, statutory guidance and best practice that seeks to protect children in England, where CARIS Families’ services operate:

  • HM Government: Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023)
  • LSCP: London Safeguarding Children Procedures and Practice Guidance (2023).
  • The Children Act 1989, The Children Act 2004.
  • The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
  • The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (Prevent Duty)
  • The Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR
  • The Children and Social Work Act 2017

Child abuse and neglect

Child abuse is any form of physical, emotional or sexual mistreatment or lack of care that leads to injury or harm. An individual may abuse or neglect a child directly, or by failing to protect them from harm. Some forms of child abuse and neglect are listed below.

  • Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child so as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve making the child feel that they are worthless, unloved, or inadequate. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, though it may occur alone.
  • Physical abuse can involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may be also caused when a parent or carer feigns the symptoms of, or deliberately causes, ill health to a child.
  • Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. This can involve physical contact, or non-contact activities such as showing children sexual activities or encouraging them to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.
  • Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and emotional needs. It can involve a failure to provide adequate food, clothing and shelter, to protect a child from physical and emotional harm, to ensure adequate supervision or to allow access to medical treatment.
  • Child-on-child abuse: CARIS Families recognises that children can abuse other children. This is referred to as child-on-child abuse and can include:
    • bullying (including cyberbullying)
    • physical abuse
    • sexual violence or sexual harassment
    • coercive or controlling behaviour
    • exploitation or harmful initiation practices

All concerns about child-on-child abuse will be taken seriously and responded to in line with this safeguarding policy.

Signs of child abuse and neglect

Signs of possible abuse and neglect may include:

  • significant changes in a child's behaviour or mood
  • deterioration in a child’s general well-being
  • unexplained bruising or marks
  • comments made by a child which give cause for concern
  • inappropriate behaviour displayed by a member of staff, volunteer, parent/carer or peer.  For example, inappropriate sexual comments, excessive one-to-one attention beyond the requirements of their role, or the inappropriate sharing of images.

‍

Ways that abuse might be brought to a volunteer, parent-volunteer or staff member’s attention

  • A child might make a direct disclosure about him or herself
  • A child might make a direct disclosure about another child
  • A child might offer information that is worrying but not a direct disclosure
  • A volunteer, parent/carer or member of staff might be concerned about a child’s appearance or behavior, or about the behavior of a parent or carer towards a child
  • A parent or carer might make a disclosure about abuse that a child is suffering or at risk of suffering
  • A parent/carer might offer information about a child that is worrying but not a direct disclosure.
  • Talking to a child who has told you that he/she or another child is being abused

‍

What staff, volunteers and parents must do

If abuse is disclosed by a child

When a child makes a disclosure to a volunteer, parent or staff member, that volunteer, parent or staff member must:

  • reassure the child that they were not to blame and were right to speak out
  • listen to the child but not interrogate, quiz them or put words in their mouth.  They should ask a minimum of questions, and only when necessary for clarification
  • tell the child that they now have to do what you can to keep him or her (or the child who is the subject of the allegation) safe
  • ask the child what he or she would like to happen next as a result of the disclosure, but should not make or infer promises they can’t keep
  • let the child know what they are going to do next
  • report the incident to the CPO as soon as possible and immediately if the child is at risk of harm

If abuse is witnessed or suspected

If a volunteer, parent or staff member witnesses or suspects abuse, they must report this to the CPO straight away.  If a third party expresses concern that a child is being abused, the CPO will encourage them to contact their Local Authority Safeguarding Referral Pathway.  If the third party will not do so, we will explain that our service is obliged to and the incident will be logged accordingly. The reporting will also be followed through by the CPO to ensure the concerns have been raised to the appropriate Local Authority Safeguarding Referral Pathway.

If an allegation is made against an adult present online or in person at our services

If anyone makes an allegation of child abuse against a volunteer or parent/carer:

  • The allegation will be recorded by the services manager or deputy on a Logging a Concern form. Any witnesses to the incident should sign and date the entry to confirm it.
  • The allegation must be reported to the appropriate Local Authority using their referral pathway, and to the Temporary Accommodation staff in line with the local authority’s safeguarding procedure within their hostels.  The Local Authority will advise if other agencies (e.g. police) should be informed, and our services will act upon their advice.  Any telephone Safeguarding referrals will be followed up in writing within 48 hours.
  • Following advice from the Local Authority, it may be necessary to suspend the volunteer or parent/carer’s access to our services, pending full investigation of the allegation.
  • CARIS Families has a legal duty to refer individuals to the Disclosure and Barring Service where they have been removed from working with children, or would have been removed, due to safeguarding concerns.

‍

Where appropriate, CARIS Families will support families to access Early Help services to prevent concerns escalating.

If anyone makes an allegation of child abuse against a staff member:

  • If an allegation is made against a staff member, it must be directed to the CPO
  • Should an allegation be made against the CPO, the allegation must be made to CARIS Families’ Director (Designated Safeguarding Lead), whose contact details are available at the end of this document.
  • Should an allegation be made against CARIS Families Designated Safeguarding Lead, the allegation must be made to CARIS Families’ Chair and the named Trustee for Safeguarding, whose contact details are available at the end of this document
  • Allegations against adults working with children will be reported to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) in line with statutory safeguarding procedures.

Whistleblowing

CARIS Families encourages staff, volunteers, parents and children to raise concerns about poor or unsafe safeguarding practice within the organisation.

Concerns about safeguarding practice should be reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead or, where appropriate, directly to the DSL, Chair of Trustees, or relevant external agencies.

Staff and volunteers will be supported to raise concerns without fear of reprisal in line with CARIS Families’ Whistleblowing Policy.

Extremism and radicalisation

All childcare settings have a legal duty to protect children from the risk of radicalisation and being drawn into extremism. There are many reasons why a child might be vulnerable to radicalisation, including:

  • feeling alienated or alone
  • seeking a sense of identity or individuality
  • suffering from mental health issues such as depression
  • a desire for adventure or wanting to be part of a larger cause
  • associating with others who hold extremist beliefs

Signs of radicalisation

Signs that a child might be at risk of radicalisation include:

  • changes in behaviour, for example becoming withdrawn or aggressive
  • claiming that terrorist attacks and violence are justified
  • viewing violent extremist material online
  • possessing or sharing violent extremist material

If a volunteer or parent/carer suspects that a child is at risk of becoming radicalised, they must report this to the CPO, who will record any relevant information or observations on a Logging a Concern form for further consideration.

Information Sharing and Confidentiality

CARIS Families recognises that timely information sharing is essential to safeguarding children.

Information will be shared with appropriate agencies where there are concerns about a child’s safety or welfare, in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR.

Safeguarding concerns will be shared without consent where necessary to protect a child from harm.

Logging a Concern

All information about the suspected abuse or disclosure, or concern about radicalisation, will be recorded by the staff member/ volunteer who raised the concern on the Logging a Concern form as soon as possible after the event, the CPO will assist and support the recording of the concern.  The record should include:

  • date of the disclosure, or the incident, or the observation causing concern
  • date and time at which the record was made
  • name and date of birth of the child involved
  • a factual report of what happened. If recording a disclosure, you must use the child’s own words
  • name, signature and job title of the person making the record.

The CPO will then decide on the appropriate course of action, in consultation with CARIS Families’ Director Safeguarding Lead, if necessary.

For concerns about child abuse, the CPO will contact the appropriate Local Authority Safeguarding Referral Pathway. The CPO will follow up all referrals in writing within 48 hours.

For concerns regarding radicalisation, the CPO will contact the appropriate Local Authority Safeguarding Referral Pathway.  For more serious concerns the CPO will contact the Police on the non-emergency number (101), or the anti-terrorist hotline on 0800 789 321. For urgent concerns the CPO will contact the Police using 999.

Informing the child’s family about a concern

If the child’s family does not already know about the concern, the CPO will discuss it with them unless:

  • a family member might be responsible for abusing the child
  • The child or another person may be put in danger by the family being informed
  • informing the family might interfere with a criminal investigation

If any of these circumstances apply, discussions with the family should only take place after this has been agreed with the appropriate Local Authority Safeguarding Referral Pathway Team

If there is still uncertainty about the concerns, the CPO can discuss it with the appropriate Local Authority Safeguarding Referral Pathway team/ with the NSPCC Helpline without disclosing the identity of the child / family.

Promoting awareness among staff and volunteers

Our services promote awareness of child abuse and the risk of radicalisation through our volunteer and staff training. CF ensures that:

  • the designated CPO and other staff have relevant experience and receive appropriate training in safeguarding and the Prevent Duty
  • All staff and volunteers are subject to safer recruitment procedures including:

• enhanced DBS checks with barred list checks where appropriate
• verification of identity
• obtaining references
• safeguarding-focused interview processes and completion of Safeguarding training prior to starting work
• ongoing suitability monitoring

  • all staff and volunteers have a copy of this Safeguarding Children policy, understand its contents and are vigilant to signs of abuse, neglect or radicalisation
  • CARIS Families fulfils its legal duty to refer individuals to the Disclosure and Barring Service where required.
  • all staff and volunteers are aware of their statutory duties with regard to the disclosure or discovery of child abuse, and concerns about radicalisation
  • all staff receive safeguarding training and regular refresher courses
  • all volunteers receive basic safeguarding training
  • all staff receive basic training in the Prevent Duty

Lone Working

In principle CARIS Families does not lone work with children.  However, we recognise that there may be occasions where staff or volunteers are momentarily alone with children or families, either during service delivery, outreach work, online delivery or while supervising activities. CARIS Families is committed to ensuring that lone working is carried out safely and in a way that protects both children and adults.

Definition of Lone Working

Lone working refers to any situation where a staff member or volunteer works alone with a child or group of children without other adults present or within immediate supervision.

Principles of Lone Working

CARIS Families will ensure that:

  • Lone working is avoided wherever possible
  • The safety and wellbeing of children is always prioritised
  • Staff and volunteers are protected from situations that may place them at risk of harm or allegations
  • Appropriate risk assessments are completed before lone working takes place

When Lone Working May Occur

Lone working may occur during:
• Outreach or support work with families
• Online or telephone support
• Situations where staffing levels change unexpectedly
• Transport arrangements where authorised

Lone working with children should only take place when it is necessary and in the best interests of the child.

Lone Working Expectations for Staff and Volunteers

Staff and volunteers must:

• Avoid being alone with a child in private or isolated environments wherever possible
• Ensure that activities take place in spaces that are visible and accessible to others
• Inform the Designated Safeguarding Lead or session lead if lone working becomes unavoidable
• Follow agreed risk assessments and lone working procedures
• Maintain professional boundaries at all times
• Keep communication with children appropriate and related to service delivery only
• Record and report any safeguarding concerns immediately

Home Visits and Outreach Work

Where staff visit families:

• Visits should be planned and authorised in advance
• Another staff member or volunteer should be aware of the visit location and expected return time
• Staff or volunteers should follow agreed check-in procedures
• Lone visits should be avoided where risk has been identified

Risk Assessment

CARIS Families will ensure that lone working with families is risk assessed by considering:

• The age and vulnerability of the child and/or parent/carer
• The environment where lone working takes place
• The duration and nature of the contact
• The experience and training of the staff member
• Any known safeguarding concerns

Risk assessments will be reviewed regularly and updated where necessary.

Personal Safety

Staff must:

• Carry a mobile phone when lone working
• Inform a colleague or supervisor of their location and expected return time
• Withdraw from situations where they feel unsafe and report concerns immediately

‍

Responding to Allegations or Concerns During Lone Working

If a safeguarding concern arises during lone working, staff and volunteers must:

• Follow the reporting procedures outlined in this safeguarding policy
• Record concerns as soon as possible
• Inform the Designated Safeguarding Lead immediately

Training and Support

CARIS Families will ensure staff and volunteers receive guidance on safe lone working as part of safeguarding training and supervision.

Use of mobile phones, cameras and online safety

Photographs will only be taken of children with their parents’ written permission.  Only staff work mobiles will be used to take photographs of children during face-to-face services, except with the express permission of the Services Manager.  No staff member, volunteer, parent/carer or child may use their personal mobile phones to take photographs at the Club. Photos taken will be uploaded to a secure site as soon as possible and then deleted from staff work mobiles.

CARIS Families recognises that safeguarding also includes online safety. Staff and volunteers must:

• not communicate with children through personal social media or messaging platforms
• report any online safeguarding concerns to the DSL
• ensure online services or communication platforms are appropriately risk assessed and supervised

This policy will be reviewed annually, or sooner if there are changes to legislation or safeguarding guidance.


The policy is approved and overseen by CARIS Families’ Director.