Guide To Safeguarding Child Abuse

There are many procedures, policies, legislations and statutory guidance to support the safety and welfare of children and young people. They have been developed over many years to recognise the rights of children and young people, protect vulnerable children and young people and after independent inquiries of fatal abuse cases, to recognise the failures of multi agencies and support services.

In order to not only promote the welfare of children within a setting but also to protect them from harm and abuse there are a number of pieces of legislation and statutory guidance that must be adhered to. Both laws and statutory guidance are mandatory and so legally enforceable and must act as a foundation of which policies and procedures within any setting can be based upon.

Practitioners have a legal duty of confidence with regards to person information that they hold about children young people and their families. Any information you receive about young people and their families. In my work setting information should only be shared with professionals, all information child protection records should be kept securely. These are kept behind the manager’s desk on a tall shelf so that children can’t access them. Personal information should only be disclosed to third parties such as social services after obtaining the consent to who the information relates to in some child protection matters but it may not be possible to obtain consent. The data protection act 1998 allow allegation without consent in some circumstances for example to detect and prevent crime, to apprehend prosecute and offender.

There are many policies and procedures within the UK that outline the current legislation and guidelines to help with safeguarding children and young people.

The children act 1989 has influenced some settings by bringing together several sets of guidance and provided the foundation for many of the standards practitioners sustain and maintain when working with children. The act requires that settings work together in the best interests of the child and form partnerships with parents or carers. It requires settings to have appropriate adult to child ratios and policies and procedures on child protection. This act has had an influence in all areas of practice from planning a curriculum and record keeping. The every child matters framework has

The Children Act 1989, section 47 states that the Local Authority must investigate if it has ‘reasonable cause‘ to suspect that a child is suffering significant harm. This is also known as a section 47 enquiry. Ralph says he has been the victim of physical abuse and that this was a reoccurring act. As a social worker I would have to investigate this further. The questions I would want to find answers to would include; Are Ralph’s siblings at risk from experiencing similar physical abuse? Is Ralph at risk of suffering from physical abuse if he returns home to his mother? I would also want to look further into the causes behind Ralph’s truancy and why he has started to engage in anti-social behaviour. Could this be a result of a breakdown in his relationship with his mother? Or are there problems with the home environment? When Ralph disclosed that his mother hit him with a stick, he said that he did not want anyone else to know. With this we encounter a conflict of what Ralph wishes and the professional duty of the worker. When working with young people it is important to make sure that they are aware of and understand the agency’s confidentiality policy. As a social worker I would explain to Ralph, within his level of understanding, that I will have to record some of the information he shares with me. However if he shares information that suggests that himself

Each setting has their own policies and procedures, all practitioners will refer back to their settings policies and procedures in their day to day role. Every setting will have a procedure in place which guides practitioners on what to do if they believe a child is being abused.

Assess strategies and methods used to minimise the harm to children, young people and their families where abuse is confirmed (M3). Justify responses where child maltreatment or abuse id suspected or confirmed, referring to current legislation and policies (D2)

Must be able to identify and record possible signs of abuse or neglect as soon as possible

The main current legislation guidelines policies and procedures within own UK home nation for safeguarding children and young people.

As can be seen there are many different organisations involved when there is any suspicion that a child may have been abused or actually harmed.

In a case of suspected abuse your priority should be making sure that if you have any suspicions you should report them and follow them through, you should do this because even if you are unsure whether they are ex piercing a use, you should not just let it slide as you may be covering up abuse if you do. if you look on the accidental and non accidental bruising chart and you think you see bruises where it states on the non accidental chart but the parents have not mentioned it, you should report it, don't just brush it off because you are embarrassed that you may be wrong, you should do this because even if you are wrong, you have done your job in the well being of the child within you're care. If you are suspicious of a child's behaviour, if they are awkward when it comes to a certain sex, show sexual advances I.e. Pull their underwear down continuously even after being told it's wrong

Our nursery has a Confidentially policy in place that members of staff, volunteers and students have read and understood, all child information to be securely locked away.

It is important to reassure children, young people and adults that any information kept about them is confidential and will only be used when necessary i.e. if a children is deemed to be at risk and that it is their right to privacy to keep it confidential, it should be made clear the reasons the information is collected and for what is will be used for. By reassuring parents and children it can make the situation a positive one in that they will understand the reasons are to ensure their safety at all times.

This briefing paper aims to introduce a proposal that a nationwide district health board reporting system for suspected Child Abuse be undertaken, with a pilot programme at Capital and Coast District Health Board (CCDHB). This programme would help identify abused children and protect them from further harm. By having a system and reporting template in place, clinicians would be able to quickly identify abused children, provide appropriate care and able to refer these children to community-based agencies if need be. The benefit of a national reporting system would alert clinicians to children who have previously presented with suspected abuse at a hospital outside their DHB catchment area. Clinicians would be able to get a better picture of the circumstances surrounding these children. The goal is that a nationwide district health board reporting system will prevent children from being subject to further harm and that they can receive appropriate care from both health providers and government agencies.