Unit 3: Understand how to Safeguard the Wellbeing of Children and Young People
1.1 Outline current legislation, guidelines, policies and procedures within own UK Home Nation affecting the safeguarding of children and young people. The Child Act 1989 was introduced to protect to children and young people from sufficient harm, neglect and abuse. I am aware of the laws that look after children and young people as it is necessary within my job description. The education Act work together as well it makes sure every child and young person receives the education they need and require. The Working Together to Safeguard Children 2010 this guideline is applicable to the home as we look after young people so as a support worker I am to make sure they are safe from sufficient harm within the home and out of the home, we also work together with the local safeguarding team and we have our own officer who we can conduct or the young person can call to report any abuse and harm.
1.2 Explain child protection within the wider concept of safeguarding children and young people. Child protection is an action taken to protect specific children who are suffering, or who are at risk of suffering from significant harm and it is part of safeguarding and promoting welfare of children and young people. Within the home we aim proactively to safeguard and promote the welfare of young people to reduce any significant harm to young people. All staff has been trained to safe guard young people and be aware of signs of a child or young person at risk of suffering significant harm. Therefore I am aware of the procedures to take if I suspect which is show below: a) Ensure the physical and emotional safety and welfare of the child b) Ensure medical assessment and treatment where necessary
c) Refer the child to Children`s Social Care in accordance with the Referrals Procedure d) Complete the Multi Agency Referral Form
1.3 Analyse how national and local guidelines, policies and procedures for safeguarding affect day –to-day work with children and young people. All staff received the safeguarding training which means that we are aware that we are not to let visitors in the home without checking badges and IDs and all visitors are to sign in, in the visitors` book so if they do not have id they will not enter the premises. If young people are to go out they are to let staff know where they will be and the person they will be with and it is within my duty to check if the person mentioned allowed to be in contact with them with the social worker. All young people who are under my care have curfew and if they are not back home by 2300hrs I am have to report them to the police as a missing person. To make sure children and young people are safe all staff had a CRB check before we started working to check if we are suitable to safeguard young people. 1.4 Explain when and why inquiries and serious case reviews are required and how the sharing of the findings informs practice.
1.5 Explain how the processes used by own work setting or service comply with legislation that covers data protection, information handling and sharing. Data protection act covers makes sure that everyone`s confidential is respected and I am aware of information sharing that I am to share only on a need to know basis. At Lorraine house we only use initials when recording information about young people and when sending information to the social worker. Young people file and all information is kept in the office under locked cupboards, the computer is under password protected and the office is locked at all-time not in use.
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2.1 Explain the importance of safeguarding children and young people. It is important that children and young people grow up in a safe and healthy environment. Every child deserve to be happy, free from harm, health life – live in a clean home and have good food and access to education. Children have to be protected from maltreatment, preventing impairment of children`s health or development, ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care. Every child and young person has the right to live good childhood and have a successful adulthood. As we look after young people we have to make sure we meet the five outcomes which are Stay safe, Be healthy, Enjoy and achieve, Make a positive contribution and Achieve economic wellbeing these are outlined for us to make sure we meet their needs and requirement and keep the safe in and out of the unit. If children and young people grow up in a safe environment, it will help with their growth and development.
2.2 Explain the importance of a child or young person centred approach. When working with young people it is always important to be able to work with other agencies from different professionals so that we can meet the young people`s needs. The wishes and feelings of children must be identified, taken account of and respected, I always make sure young people are included in decision making and their opinion in things that relates to them for instance during the young people`s meeting one young person prefers to do the writing and I give her the chance to do so and when attending her first scan she only wanted her boyfriend her and his family to be there and we had to respect that and allow her to come and tell us about it on her return.
2.3 Explain what is meant by partnership working in the context of safeguarding.
2.4 Describe the roles and responsibilities of the different organisations that may be involved when a child or young person has been abused or harmed. In case of abuse or harm a report will be filled to the police who will carry out some investigation and make a rest, then police will inform the social services since it is a child or young person who will take the child into their care find them a safe place where they believe will meet their needs some young people will require to be seen by the doctor at the emergency department to examine the child or young person who has been abuse or harmed and if they need medical assistant they will be offered straight away. Some young people or children after going through abuse or harm they will require a psychological services the social services will then refer them to one that sort their needs. 3
3.1 Refer to Question1.3
3.2 Refer to question 1.1
3.3 Evaluate ways I which concerns about poor practice can be reported whilst ensuring that whistle-blowers and those whose practice or behaviour is being are protected. I am aware that if I suspect poor practice I will have to report the incident for instance maltreatment and neglect. I will inform the line manager – call Ofsted-social services. To avoid discrimination and
victimisation as the person who reported the incident I will receive protection from repercussions and the one who are being investigated will be protected as well.
3.4 Explain how practitioners can take steps to protect themselves within their everyday practice in the work setting and on off site visits. It is every staff member on duty`s responsibility to make sure everyone is healthy and safe and within the home we do not tolerate bullying from young people and from staff. All staffs are aware that all logs are to be recorded accurately as they will help during allegation when they are used to cross reference. Off visitors are to make an arrangement to come visit the young person and they are to keep contact to their visitor and will not interfere on other young people who have no relation with them and some offsite visits are to be monitored by staff this depends on each individual`s case. 4
4.1 Describe the possible signs, symptoms, indicators and behaviours that may cause concern in the context of safeguarding They are different forms of abuse and neglect which emotional – if the child or young person is emotionally abuse they will become anti- social spent of the time on themself will loss self-confident and self-esteem and become emotionally vulnerable, physical – if child or young person is physically abused they will have bruises, swollen and become aggressive towards other peers, sexual – they will be bite marks, blood stains and torn of clothes with blood stains on the underwear they become quite, shy and display sexual behaviour and become cling to certain carer. 4.2 Describe the actions to take if a child or young person alleges harm or abuse in line with policies and procedures of own setting If a young person disclosure something to me I will listen attentively maintain appropriate eye contact and body structure, nod my head as they are talking, do not ask any leading question, should not loo shocked or laugh and as soon as they finish I will let them know that they have done the right thing by letting me know and it is not their fault they. I will not promise to keep it as a secret and explain I will not be telling everyone who do not need to know, but I will let them know I will be passing the information to and I will go in the office and write the information down the exact words. If the allege is regarding one of the
staff I will advise them not to come to work till further notice will being investigated.
4.3 Explain the rights that children, young people and their careers have in situations where harm or abuse is suspected or alleged Refer to question 1.2
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5.1 Explain different types of bullying and the potential effects on children and young people. They are different types of bullying such as cyber bullying where they will be harassed on internet or on mobile for instance of social networks where someone may be posting threating messages and receiving telephone calls with threats. It is physical abuse when someone is being beaten, pushed around, kicking, pinching and other violence threats. Verbal abuse is when someone is being insulted; receive name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours and persistent teasing. Emotional abuse is when someone is being tormented, excluded, ridiculed and humiliated. This type of abuse will affect their emotional development for instance their self-esteem and self-confidence will become low , some will mentally ill, it will affect their social development e.g. they will suffer isolation, they cognitive development will be affected as they will lose concentration in , affect the learning and achievement and their school attendance become very poor.
5.2 Outline the policies and procedures that should be followed in response to concerns or evidence of bullying and explain the reasons why they are in place At my working setting we have policy and procedure on bullying and all staff and young people are aware of them and are aware that bullying is not tolerated during the young people`s meeting bullying is discussed which happened every week where we have to go through the bullying procedure and we are all aware they will be consequence for bullying. Young people are aware that they can talk to anyone they feel comfortable to talk to about bullying and if they need to talk to someone professional they number Advocacy group is available all around the home even in their bedrooms and lounge notice board or they can call the childline all lines are 24/7 available. 5.3 Explain how to support a child or young person and/or their family when bullying is suspected or alleged I will support the young person throughout and reassure them. Refer to question 5.2 6
6.1 Explain how to support children and young people`s self-confidence and self-esteem To support young people`s self –confidence and self-esteem I encourage young people to do things they enjoy doing and they know they are good at such as hobbies and interests. And try to do activities they will be involved in groups or teams, we always praise each individual when done something successfully, we also try to make sure we recognise they achievement and give rewards. It is also importance to value children and young people as an individual. During the meetings we also encourage and advise them not trust stranger or if someone touches them in a confusing way or in a way that is not comfortable they should let someone know, should not keep such secrets and we advise them to always shout out and run away in a frightening situation.
6.2 Analyse the importance of supporting resilience in children and young people. It is important to support resilience in children and young people as it helps them to deal with certain situation on their own and it helps the recover faster and more completely from traumatic events or episodes. For instance they was a young person who went out with staff to town when she got their she did not want to sit next to staff she said it was embarrassing and she was approached by some young girls about her age who were drunk and she became sad so staff went to her and she was asked if she was okay but she said no I would want staff to be with me because if I wouldn’t know what to do if some drunk people came to me and say bad things about me but I advise her not to say anything to them just ignore them and put your eye phones in your eyes they will go away she was praise that what she did was good ignoring them it show she didn’t want trouble she want to be peaceful and if police come she would not be arrested. 6.3 Explain why it is important to work with the child or young person to ensure they have strategies to protect themselves and make decisions about safety When carrying out the safety checks in the home we make sure we include young people to make them aware of the risk and the importance of safety within the home. During discussion we include young people to make decision relating to them. They young people we in our care are preparing for independent living so we try to teach them to make sure they are safe at all
time for example in the kitchen when they are cooking we assist them to ensure they electrical appliance safely. 6.4 Explain ways empowering children and young people to make positive and informed choices that support their wellbeing and safety It is important to listen to young people`s views, encourage them to express their feelings and concerns on certain things. It is important to maintain observations recording child or young person`s behaviour. When planning weekly activity plan we encourage young people to do sports they enjoy and that will allow them to be in a team as it will help them to improve their confidence. When a young person I look after is going out we always encourage them to be safe when they go out and we make sure we charge their phone and advise them to keep in contact with staff. 7
7.1 Explain the risks and possible consequences for children and young people of being online and using a mobile phone We also advise young people to be careful when they are online not to talk to people they do not know or arrange to meet in private as they are paedophile who will pretend to be someone of their age. Internet is on the risk assessment of one young person so she is not allowed to access internet within the home or phone. We also advise them not to tell people where they live or their personal details, places they spend most of the time and they school name. They can also face cyber bullying on the internet or on the mobile or identity theft. 7.2 Describe ways of reducing risk to children and young people from a) Social networking – we can emphasise the importance of keeping personal details private not to share with stranger and make sure they make their setting privacy so not everyone can access their account they are not friends with. b) Internet use – we can encourage them to use the Child Safety Online Kitemark to protect identity c) Buying online- make sure the website is a secured website with data protection act. d) Using a mobile phone- make sure we encourage young not to give their numbers to people they do not know
