Current legislation, guidelines , Policies and procedures. The following is an outline of current legislation, guidelines, policies and procedures within own UK Home Nation for safeguarding children The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989 was approved by the UK on the 16th December 1991. This includes: Children’s rights to protection from abuse The right to express their views and be listened to The right to care Services for disabled children Services for children living away from home This convention is used as guidance and is not a part of U. K law. There is no one set legislation that covers safeguarding children and young people in the UK. There are different laws and guidelines that cover different parts of the UK: England Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Safeguarding children in England.
The following is a list of current legislation, guidelines, policies and procedures for England: Working Together to Safeguard Children (2010) These guidelines are for those working within: Education Health Social services Police Probation. The guidelines are relevant to those working closely with children and their families in statutory, independent and voluntary sectors. The document covers the following areas: A summary of the nature and impact of child abuse and neglect. •How to operate best practice in child protection procedures. The roles and responsibilities of different agencies and practitioners. The role of Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs). The processes to be followed when there are concerns about a child. The action to be taken to safeguard and promote the welfare of children experiencing, or at risk of, significant harm.
The important principles to be followed when Working with children and families. Training requirements for effective child protection. Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families (2000) This framework helps professional assess and find the right course of action for children and their families that are in need. What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused (2003). This guideline explains both what is contained in Working Together to Safeguard Children and Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families. The Protection of Children Act 1999 With in this act organizations are to make sure any persons they employ are CRB checked and not to offer employment to any person listed as unsuitable to work with children on the Department of Health list and the Department for Education and Employment’s List 99.
This act changed the legislation on physical punishment and made it an offence to hit a child if it causes mental harm or leaves a lasting mark on the skin. The following is from the EYFS Statutory framework it lists the Specific legal requirements the provider’s must do to safeguard and promote the welfare of children: The following must be provided to parents on request: The type of activities provided for the children The daily routines of the setting The staffing of the setting What food and drinks are given to the children The provider’s policies and procedures, e. g: – Safeguarding children policy; – Admissions policies – Equality of opportunity policy The complaints procedure (available on request) Full details for contacting Ofsted and how parents can make a complaint to Ofsted should they want to. The procedure to be followed in the event of a parent failing to collect a child at the appointed time;
The procedure to be followed in the event of a child going missing. Child protection within the wider concept of safeguarding children and young people All practitioners have a duty to protect the children they care for, and safeguard them from harm. Safeguarding children is not just confined to one area, practitioners must take many steps with in their day to day roles to ensure children are safeguarded from: Risks in there environment Risks with activities Abuse Bullying. Developmental issues How national and local guidelines, policies and procedures for safeguarding affect day to day work with children and young people Making sure children and young people are safeguarded with in the setting is of major importance.
Here are some of the National, local guidelines and policies and procedures for safeguarding that affect day-to-day work with in our nursery. In the following ways: Legal requirements: Providers should ensure that all staff are aware of the need to maintain privacy and confidentiality. The premises, both indoors and outdoors, must be safe and secure. Arrival and departure procedures for staff, children, parents and visitors. Providers must take steps to prevent intruders entering the premises. How our nursery complies with these legal requirements: 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. Staff carry out daily opening and closing checks must be done to make sure the premises is safe a secure for all at the setting.
Registers and signing in and out books in place to insure everyone is counted for in the event of an incident. •Insuring that the front door is always child safety locked after every visitor parent carer or staff member leaves. Inquiries and serious case Reviews The following is an explanation of when and why inquiries and serious case reviews are required and how the sharing of the findings informs practice When inquiries and serious case reviews are required: Inquiries and serious case reviews are required when a child or young person dies from suspected neglect, abuse or by suspected suicide. Serious case reviews may also by carried out if a child is seriously harm in any of the following situations: A child or young person is caused a Life- threatening injury or serious and permanent impairment of physical and mental health and development through abuse or neglect.
A child or young person has been seriously harmed as a result of sexual Abuse. A parent or carer has been murdered and a domestic homicide review is being initiated under the Domestic Violence Act 2004. A child or young person has been seriously harmed after a violent assault by another child, young person or an adult. Why inquiries and serious case reviews are required: The purpose of inquiries and serious case reviews are so that professionals and organizations can learn from these cases and better safe guard children and improve the way they work individually and together.
How the sharing of the findings informs practice: By sharing the finding on serious case reviews it helps organisations and settings learn from mistakes and find solutions to problems and help better practice in the future. By sharing findings settings can look at there own practice and make changes within the setting if necessary to avoid a serious case review in the future and ensure they safeguard children to the best of there ability. Data protection, information handling and sharing How the processes used by own work setting or service comply with legislation that covers data protection, information handling and sharing: To best safe guard children the confidentiality policy must be followed, all information about children and family must be kept securely.
The safety and wellbeing of children and young people must always be considered first. You cannot guarantee full confidentiality if there are concerns about a child or young person being abused. As a practitioner you have a responsibility to share nformation about the protection of children and young people with other professionals and relevant agencies such as social services and the police. Personal information should only be disclosed to an agency such as social services only after obtaining the consent of the person to whom the information relates. In some child protection cases, it may not be possible or to obtain this information. The Data Protection Act 1998 allows information to be obtained without consent only in some circumstances, for instance to prevent a crime, to act against an offender.
