Safeguarding Children and Young People and Referring Safeguarding Concerns

The Home works to ensure that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe;

The registered person will ensure:

• That staff:
  • Assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;
  • Help each child to understand how to keep safe;
  • Have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;
  • Manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;
  • Understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;
  • Take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; and
  • Are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the Home’s child protection policies;
• That the Home's day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;
• That the premises used for the purposes of the Home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded;
• That the premises used for the purposes of the Home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child's health; and
• That the effectiveness of the Home's child protection policies is monitored regularly.

See also related procedures on protecting children from specific types of harm and abuse:

• Recognising Abuse and Neglect;
• Allegations Against Staff;
• Missing Children;
• Self-Harming and Suicidal Behaviour;
• Safe Use of the Internet, Social Media and Photographs;
• Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation;
• Child Criminal Exploitation and County Lines;
• Safeguarding Children from Radicalisation and Extremism;
• Female Genital Mutilation.

Safeguarding is a term that is broader than 'child protection' and relates to the action taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.

Working Together to Safeguard Children defines Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children as:

• Providing help and support to meet the needs of children as soon as problems emerge;
• Protecting children from maltreatment, whether that is within or outside the home, including online;
• Preventing impairment of children's mental and physical health or development;
• Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care;
• Promoting the upbringing of children with their birth parents, or otherwise their family network through a kinship care arrangement, whenever possible and where this is in the best interest or children;
• Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes in line with the outcomes set out in the Children’s Social Care National Framework.

Categories of child abuse include:

Physical Abuse: A form of abuse which may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a child.

Signs and symptoms of physical abuse may include, but are not limited to:

• Unexplained recurrent injuries, burns, bruises, bite marks;
• Broken bones, recurring fractures to the ribs;
• Withdrawn and withdrawal from activities;
• Obsessive behaviour;
• Improbable excuses or refusal to explain injuries;
• Wearing clothes to cover injuries, even in hot weather;
• Refusal to undress for gym;
• Bald patches;
• Chronic running away;
• Fear of medical help or examination;
• Self-destructive tendencies;
• Aggression towards others;
• Fear of physical contact – shrinking back if touched;
• Admitting they are punished, but the punishment is excessive;
• Fear of suspected abuser being contacted;
• Self-harm and suicidal ideation.

Emotional Abuse: The persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severs and persistent adverse effects on emotional development. It may involve conveying to a child that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may include not giving a child opportunity to express their views, deliberately silencing a child, making fun of what they say or how they communicate. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed. These may include interactions that are beyond a child’s developmental capacity as well as over protection and limitation of exploration and learning or preventing a child participating in normal social interactions. It may involve seeing or hearing the mistreatment of another. It may involve serious bullying (including cyberbullying), causing a child to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of a child. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment though it may occur alone.

Signs and symptoms of emotional abuse may include, but are not limited to:

• Use of language, act in a manner, or know about things that you would not expect a child to know for their age and understanding;
• Struggle to control strong emotions or have extreme outbursts;
• Seem isolated from their parents;
• Lack social skills or have few, if any, friends;
• Physical, emotional and cognitive development difficulties;
• Sudden speech disorders;
• Continual self-depreciation;
• Overreaction to mistakes;
• Extreme fear of a new situation;
• Inappropriate response to pain;
• Neurotic behaviour;
• Extremes of passivity or aggression.

Neglect: Is the most common form of child abuse and constitutes the persistent failure to meet a basic physical, and/or psychological need, likely to result in the serious impairment of health or development. Neglect may occur during pregnancy because of maternal substance abuse. Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent/carer failing to:

• Provide adequate food, clothing and shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment);
• Protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger;
• Ensure adequate supervision (including the use of adequate caregivers);
• Ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment;
• It may include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.

Signs and symptoms of neglect may include, but are not limited to:

• Constant hunger;
• Poor personal hygiene;
• Constant tiredness;
• Unseasonal/dirty clothing;
• Emaciation;
• Untreated medical problems;
• No social relationships;
• Compulsive scavenging;
• Destructive tendencies;
• Self-harm and suicidal ideation.

Sexual Abuse: Involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether the person is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing, and touching outside of clothing. They may also include non-contact activities, such as involving a child to behave in sexually inappropriate ways or grooming in preparation for abuse. Sexual abuse can take place online, and technology can be used to facilitate offline abuse. Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children. Child sexual abuse is committed by men, women, teenagers and other children. Offenders come from all parts of society and all backgrounds.

There are 2 types of child sexual abuse. These are called contact and non-contact abuse.

Contact abuse involves touching activities where an abuser makes physical contact with a child, including penetration. It includes:

• Sexual touching of any part of the body, whether they are wearing clothes or not;
• Rape or penetration by putting an object or body part inside the mouth, vagina or anus;
• Forcing or encouraging a child to take part in sexual activity;
• Making a child remove their clothing touch someone else’s genitals or masturbate.

Non-contact abuse involves non-touching activities, such as grooming, exploitation, persuading a child to perform sexual acts over the internet and exposure. It includes:

• Encouraging a child to watch or hear sexual acts;
• Not taking proper measures to prevent a child being exposed to sexual activities by others;
• Meeting a child following sexual grooming with the intent of abusing them;
• Online abuse including making, viewing, or distributing child abuse images;
• Allowing someone else to make, view or distributing child abuse images;
• Showing pornography to a child;
• Sexually exploiting a child for money, power, or status.

Signs and symptoms of sexual abuse may include, but not be limited to:

• Displaying sexualised behaviour or having sexual knowledge that’s inappropriate for their age and understanding;
• Being overly affectionate or knowledgeable in a sexual way inappropriate for their age and understanding;
• Medical problems such as chronic itching, pain in the genitals, sexually transmitted infections;
• Depression, withdrawal, self-harm, suicidal ideation, running away, eating disorders;
• Changes to personality;
• Regressing to younger behaviour patterns such as thumb sucking or bringing out discarded cuddly toys;
• Lack of fear or trust of someone they know well;
• Bedwetting;
• Using sexually explicit language;
• Substance misuse.

See also: Recognising Abuse and Neglect Procedure.

The Home is proactive in working with children to reduce the risk of harm to them, and sets high expectations to ensure that children feel safe and are safe, understand how to protect themselves and are protected from significant harm, including (but not limited to) neglect, abuse, sexual and criminal exploitation, accidents, bullying, self-harm, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, homophobic behaviour, racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination, and radicalisation. Any discriminatory behaviours are challenged and help and support are given to children about how to treat others with respect. Staff are prepared and supported to respond to children who may face these risks, and receive suitable training.

Any historical and current risks to children will be known prior to placement in the home at the point of referral. The Home manager will assess if the home and can keep each child living in the home safe, and the impact a child’s risks may have on other children and Home’s staff.

Each child living in the home will have a Care Plan, Risk Assessment and additional Safety Plans (if needed) to manage specific risks. Home’s staff will refer to and respond to any risks to a child contained in their individual plans. Children will be supported to understand and protect themselves from risk by being involved in their plans and any review of them.

As part of their induction Home’s staff will undergo training to help recognise and respond to specific risks to children and themselves. Where specialist training is needed to manage risk the Home’s manager will identify and work with providers to deliver any training required. Home’s staff are required to attend training as and when scheduled, and any refresher training to ensure they are working in accordance with recognised practices.

Homes staff will be aware of who to contact should they have any concerns about a child and what actions to take to safeguard children from risk of harm.

Homes staff will ensure the Home’s environment is safe for children by undertaking health and safety checks, and reporting to the Home’s manager any hazards that may pose a risk to children living in the home.

The Home’s manager will ensure the home is suitable furnished and free from hazards that may cause harm to children. Procedures for the storage of medication, sharps and hazardous substances (COSHH) will be in place, along with audits to ensure stock is accurate. Any concerns must be reported to the Home’s Manager who will then advise Home’s staff what steps to take.

Home’s staff will undertake Equality and Diversity training as part of their induction and will respond to any incidences of discrimination and/or bullying in line with Home’s (Bullying Policy and Procedures). Children will be supported to understand the impact of bullying and discrimination on themselves and others. and be encouraged to develop their understanding of others they perceive as different to them.

Children will be given the Home’s Children’s Guide prior to or on admission. This sets out the values and expectations around behaviour towards others that children living in the home will be expected to follow. The guide also identifies professionals and organisations independent of the home children can contact for advice or support.

Children must feel safe and be safe. Staff should support children to be aware of and manage their own safety both inside and outside the Home to the extent that any good parent would. Staff should help children to understand how to protect themselves, feel protected and be protected from significant harm.

Home’ staff will be aware of the whereabouts of children both when they are in the home and outside of it, and the relationships with significant others in their lives. Staffing levels for each child will be agreed as part of the planning process, and will be agreed by the child’s placing authority,

Children should be encouraged to develop positive relationships with others both in and outside the Home as set out in the positive relationships standard. However, staff should be alert to the possibility that children may be at risk from such relationships including with other children in the Home, staff, family members, friends and others outside the Home, and they therefore should take appropriate steps to protect a child where there are concerns for a child’s safety.

Arrangements for time with family and friends will be set out in each child’’s Care Plan, along with any limitations or restrictions. Any changes to arrangements will be agreed by the child’s placing authority Social Worker and recorded on the child’s Care Plan.

Home’s staff will support children in situations where they may need to be supervised around others that will be set out in children’s plans.

Proactive and creative safeguarding practice means that all children, including the most vulnerable, have a strong sense of safety and well-being and so are unlikely to be missing from care on a regular basis. See: Missing Children Procedure.

Staff will be prepared and supported to manage situations and behaviour, and use clear and consistent boundaries to contribute to a feeling of well-being and security for children. Children will be involved in creating ways to de-escalate situations and finding creative alternative strategies that are effective. See: Positive Relationships and Behaviour Support Procedure.

Care and placement planning should ensure that any risks associated with children offending, misusing drugs or alcohol, self-harming, going missing, being affiliated with gangs, being subject to sexual or criminal exploitation, extremism or radicalism are known and understood by the staff who look after them. This includes regular contact and planning with the child's allocated social worker and their family, if this is appropriate and in accordance with plans for their future.

Based on information received from children’s placing authorities, an impact assessment will be completed by the homes Manager at the referral stage, that will assess suitability based on group dynamics, risk to other children and homes staff, and the capacity of the home to meet each child’s needs and manage any risks.

Each child living in the home will have individual care, behaviour management and risk management plans. Initial information in these plans will be informed by that received from the placing authority prior to the child being placed in the home.

Leaders and managers will regularly review and act on any known risks to children, taking advice and guidance from local partners and agencies as appropriate.

The homes Manager will develop plans for each child that will be reviewed in partnership with children and relevant agencies at statutory reviews or, after any incidents to identify if any additional strategies are required to care for children and safeguard them and others from risk of harm. Homes staff will refer to each child’s plans to ensure they are providing care and protection in line with agreed protocols and procedures set out in children’s plans.

The Home's manager is responsible for coordinating safeguarding children referrals with relevant professionals including.

• The Responsible Individual for the Home;
• Children's Social Care in the area where the Home is located;
• The Placing Authority/child's allocated Social Worker;
• Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO);
• Police;
• Designated Safeguarding Lead;
• Health;
• Education;
• The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) where the home is located (if allegations relate to staff working in the home.

However, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and protecting them from abuse and harm is a shared responsibility and depends on effective joint working between all staff working in the Home and other agencies. All staff have a responsibility to report any suspicions that a child has been mistreated or harmed (see Section 9, Reporting Concerns).

Local authorities have a duty to promote and safeguard the welfare of children and to investigate and take necessary action to protect children and young people from abuse and harm.

Where concerns have been reported to a child’s placing authority the Homes Manager will ensure they respond in a timely manner. The Homes manager will coordinate professionals and work with them to determine what actions need to be taken to safeguard the child. (Working Together to Safeguard Children, 2018)

The Home will maintain effective links with local authorities, designated officers and other safeguarding agencies and ensure that there is good communication about safeguarding issues, such as any injuries sustained during restraints or allegations against staff. The Home also has good relationships with relevant local voluntary sector organisations that may be able to offer specialist support to children in keeping themselves safe.

Any injuries sustained to a child will be recorded on an incident report that will include a body map identifying where on the body the injury has been sustained and how. This will be shared with the placing authority Social Worker within 24 hours and any advice received acted upon.

Where necessary children will speak to a person independent of the home and any concerns raised will be followed up in a timely manner, and appropriate action taken by the Homes manager.

Where needed, children will have access to support from specialist agencies independent of the home and will be encouraged to engage with professionals, whose roles and purpose will be explained to children.

Where an allegation has been made against staff in the home, Allegations Against Staff Procedure will be followed by the Homes manager and staff child has reported to.

The Homes manager will also make all notifications as required by Regulation 40 to notify placing authorities, Ofsted and other relevant persons about serious events (see Notification of Serious Events Procedure).

Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the Home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the Home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day to day basis.

Children will be supported to take age-appropriate risks, as part of their development of independent living skills. The Home implements a proportionate approach to risk assessments to ensure that these work in practice, are fit for purpose, and provide enough information to all relevant people so that they can care for the children safely and appropriately. Individual up-to-date risk assessments must effectively address any known vulnerabilities for each child and set out what action should be taken to address and minimise the risks and reduce harm or the risk of harm.

Any potential risks to children in the home and out of it will be assessed and a risk assessment put in place that will identify risks and strategies to manage them that Homes staff must refer to and follow. Any risks will be discussed with children to support their understanding and learning of how they can be harmed and what steps they can take to keep themselves safe.

Risk assessments will be reviewed and updated accordingly to ensure they are relevant to each child’s current needs.

(see Risk Assessment and Planning Procedure).

There is a strong safeguarding culture in the Home where children are listened to, respected, and involved in both the development of the Home and decisions about the Home. All staff will strive to build positive relationships with children in the Home and develop a culture of openness and trust that encourages children to be able to tell someone if they have concerns or worries about their safety.

Staff should make available in the Home, information in an appropriate form which enables children to contact their placing authority to call for a review of their care plan if they have concerns about their safety or welfare. Staff should encourage children to understand they can speak to an independent advocate, Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO), Ofsted inspector or other relevant person if they have concerns about their safety.

Children will be made aware of their Social Worker and Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) prior to being placed in the home. Homes staff will also have a copy of the placing authority Social Worker and child’s IRO contact details on record for reference if needed.

The homes Children’s Guide sets out a list of organisations independent of the home that children can contact. Children will be given a copy of the children’s guide prior to or on admission that will be explained to them. Children will also be offered access to an independent Advocate and will have their welfare assessed by independent bodies after they have been missing from care.

See also: Advocacy, Independent Visitors and Independent Reviewing Officers Procedure.

Children will be supported by staff to understand what abuse is. They will be given information about how to report abuse or any concerns about possible abuse. They will be able to access in private, relevant websites or helplines such as Childline to seek advice and help.

Children will be supported to understand and recognise the signs of abuse by homes staff who as part of their induction will undertake training in:

• Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE);
• Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE);
• Bullying;
• Prevent;
• Child Protection;
• Safeguarding.

Information about independent bodies is available to children in the Children’s Guide, and children will be made aware how to make an internal or external complaint prior to or on admission to the home that will be explained to them.

Children will be able to identify a trusted adult who they can talk to about any concerns. When children raise concerns, it is essential that the adults in whom they confide listen to them, take their concerns seriously and respond appropriately. 

Children living in the home will be appointed a dedicated keyworker who will “champion” their rights, and ensure, along with the Homes manager that their views, wishes and feelings are listened and responded to.

Children will be able to identify a trusted adult who they can talk to about any concerns. When children raise concerns, it is essential that the adults in whom they confide listen to them, take their concerns seriously and respond appropriately.

All staff will undergo Safeguarding training. Staff need the knowledge and skills to recognise and be alert for any signs that might indicate a child is in any way at risk of harm. The registered person will ensure that skills in safeguarding are gained, refreshed and recorded in the Home’s workforce plan and training matrix.

Home staff will undergo safeguarding and child protection training as part of their induction and must attend for any refreshers of training undertaken to ensure their knowledge is current and they are working to prescribed procedures. The home will have a training matrix that will be maintained by the Homes manager that will identify any training undertaken by staff and any additional training that may be required.

See also: Staffing and Safe Recruitment Procedure.

Staff skills for safeguarding should include being able to identify signs that children may be at risk, and support children in strategies to manage and reduce any risks. Staff should encourage children to express their views about whether they feel safe both within and outside the Home. Staff should support children to understand how to ask for help to stay safe and that the Home is an environment which supports this.

Children will contribute to and be supported to understand any plans in place to safeguard them from risk of harm. Plans will be developed, reviewed and updated in partnership with the child and their placing authority Social Worker, IRO and other relevant professionals.

Children will be encouraged to speak openly about any issues that may be affecting them through the development of warm, nurturing, caring relationships with Homes staff who will be active listeners and respond to any concerns about their welfare in accordance with policy and procedure. 

All staff will be made aware of and have access to the Whistleblowing or Raising Concerns at Work Procedure.

Homes staff will read Whistleblowing and Raising Concerns at Work Policies and Procedures during their induction that they will sign to say they have read and understood.Supervision of staff practice should ensure that individual adults in the Home are engaged in the safeguarding culture of the Home so they understand what they would need to do if they found other staff misusing or abusing their position to the detriment of the safety of a child.

Homes staff have a duty to attend and contribute to any formal supervisions and appraisals to monitor performance. Where it is identified that Homes staff need additional support this will be provided through further supervision, training and/or a review of their role that may result in dismissal if they are found to have breached any policies and procedures that has resulted in risk of or actual harm being caused to a child.

See also: Allegations Against Staff Procedure.

The general principle is that all safeguarding concerns and any allegations must be reported.

Children must be listened to and enabled to report any abuse or neglect at the earliest opportunity.

The following actions should be taken when there is any concern or, disclosure about the welfare of a child or young person. This includes non recent or historical abuse that may have occurred at some time in the past and may not have been previously reported or investigated.

Harm can be perpetrated by any person, including:

• Another child or young person (including serious or persistent bullying) - see Section 12, Allegations made Against Children or Young People;
• A member of staff, or manager, see additional procedures in Allegations Against Staff Procedure;
• A visitor or person in the community;
• A teacher, social worker or other professional;
• A parent or other family member.

Staff should firstly make their report to the Home's manager, unless the manager is implicated. In which case staff must notify one of the following:

• Another manager who is not implicated;
• The local authority Children's Social Care Services in whose area the Home is located;
• The child's allocated social worker / the placing authority;
• Police;
• The Regulatory Authority (Ofsted);
• Responsible Individual;
• Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO).

In an emergency, where there is an immediate risk to the child, staff must take necessary action. This may involve asking for police assistance or seeking emergency medical assistance e.g. taking the child to hospital or contacting the emergency services via 999. If the child is taken to hospital or the police are called, staff must inform them that there is a suspicion of abuse or harm. Thereafter staff must notify the manager (or other agency) as described above.

Once notified, the designated senior manager will be responsible for following the Cheshire East Safeguarding Children's Partnership Procedures and making a referral to the local authority Children's Social Care Services (see Section 11, Action by the Designated Senior Manager).

When sharing information about a child with Children’s Social Care, it is good practice for practitioners to be transparent about their concerns and to seek to work cooperatively with the child and their parents/carers.  The manager in the Home should therefore usually inform parents/carers (and the child depending on their age and level of understanding) that they are going to make a referral.

However, referrals can be made without first informing the child and/or their parents/carers where to do so would place a child at risk. Any decision not to inform a child or their parents/carers must be recorded with reasons.

The Home must keep a record of all safeguarding concerns and the actions taken by staff/managers.

This record must include:

• Date;
• Time;
• Place where the alleged abuse or harm occurred;
• Name of person reporting/recording incident and any other person present;
• Mane of the child;
• The nature of the alleged abuse or harm;
• Description of any injuries observed;
• Account which has been given of the allegation that must be in the child’s own words.
• Name of person’s contacted to report, date and time contacted;
• Actions and instructions taken or given by professionals to safeguard the child.

If a Child Protection / Section 47 Enquiry is initiated, the Home's manager must inform the Regulatory Authority and Responsible Individual (see Notification of Serious Events Procedure).

When a staff member sees, hears or is told anything that causes them to become concerned that a child or young person is suffering or likely to suffer Significant Harm, they must report it immediately - as described above in Section 9, Reporting Concerns.

Children will sometimes disclose abuse to an adult who they have come to feel they can trust. If a child discloses abuse it is important that staff respond appropriately by remaining calm and receptive; listening without interrupting; only asking questions for clarification and acknowledging the child's courage in telling.

Do:

• Give the child your full attention and demonstrate that you are both listening and hearing them e.g., do not take telephone calls;
• Take some notes, but do not allow tis to interfere with the listening process;
• Maintain eye contact;
• Allow the child to talk but do not press fro information;
• Tell the child throughout that they are not to blame for anything that has happened;
• Reassure that child that they were right to tell;
• Let the child know that other people will have to be informed;
• Try to explain in a way that the child understands.

Do Not:

• Promise to keep secrets;
• Make any promises you can’t keep;
• Interrogate the child or ask leading questions;
• Cast doubt about what is being said;
• Make the child feel responsible for what has happened;
• Show anger;
• Panic and act hastily;
• Gossip about what you have been told;
• Talk to the alleged abuser.

It is not the staff member's responsibility to investigate or in any way make judgements about what is reported to them. Investigations, if necessary, must be undertaken by the police and Children's Social Care.

If a disclosure or allegation of abuse or harm has been made, staff should discuss with the child or other person who has made the complaint what steps they would like taken to protect them and their wishes should be shared and, if not in conflict with procedures, followed.

Where the allegation or disclosure is of a non-recent or historical nature, e.g. relating to abuse or harm that may have been perpetrated in another placement or by family members, allegations must be taken seriously and must be reported in the same way as any other allegation.

Staff must not give absolute guarantees of confidentiality to those who report possible abuse or harm, but they should guarantee that they will take steps to ensure that appropriate action is taken and the child or young person protected.

If an allegation or any suspicion is about the behaviour, past or present of another member of staff, including managers, which may in any way put children at risk, staff must follow the Allegations Against Staff Procedure.

Staff must make a written record as soon as possible of what they have been told, any questions they asked and the replies given and the actions taken and by whom. They must then give the report to the Homes manager.

This information should be placed on the child's record except where a colleague is implicated or there is any risk to the child as a result, in which case notes/records should be given to the manager dealing with the matter.

Staff should not discuss the matter with others, including other staff, parents etc. unless asked to do so by those responsible for dealing with any subsequent investigation or enquiry.

After receiving a report of a concern, suspicion or allegation of abuse or harm, the Home's manager must first take any steps needed to protect any child or young person from risk of immediate harm.

This may include:

• Removing a child to a place of safety using police powers under Section (46) of the Children Act (1989);
• Removing staff members from the home if allegations against homes staff;
• Increasing staffing levels upon agreement with the child’s placing authority;
• Convening a safety planning meeting.

The Homes manager should ensure the following people are notified, and retain a record of the referral:

• The Responsible Individual for the Home;
• Children's Social Care in the area where the Home is located;
• If the suspicion/allegation relates to a member of staff/professional*, the manager should ensure the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) where the home is located is notified;
• The Placing Authority/child's allocated social worker;
• Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO);
• If a Child Protection Enquiry is initiated, the Regulatory Authority, the Notification of Serious Events Procedure must be followed.

_{*Re Allegations Against Staff: See Allegations Against Staff Procedure.}

The procedures that will be followed will depend on the decisions made by Children's Social Care and the social worker. It is also likely that the Regulatory Authority will be involved in decision making.

The Home's manager will co-operate with the decisions/actions taken by them.

Following receipt of the referral, if Children's Social Care have concerns that a child has suffered or is likely to suffer significant harm a Strategy Discussion/Meeting will be convened, decide whether to initiate a Child Protection Enquiry and, if so, to agree the following with the manager:

1. Who should inform the child's parent(s);
2. Arrangements for any medical examination of the child;
3. Any immediate arrangements for protection of the child(ren), including whether the child should be moved to another Home;
4. Whether it is necessary to inform staff within the Home and if so who will do it;
5. Whether any implicated staff should be suspended or moved;
6. Who should inform/update the person making the initial allegation of the steps/actions taken?

The Homes manager should ensure that the child is supported during any enquiries/investigation, this may require an independent advocate or independent person to be involved. The manager should also ensure that all staff co-operate fully.

If the Homes manager is not satisfied with the response from either the local authority where the Home is situated or the placing authority, they should escalate their concerns appropriately under regulation 5 (engaging with the wider system to ensure each child’s needs are met), including by writing to the director of children’s services (DCS) in the local authority placing the child.

Abuse and harm can be perpetrated upon one child or young person by another in many different ways, including persistent or serious bullying, sexual exploitation, aggressive, exploitative or other threatening behaviour which places a child or young person at risk.

Where there is any suspicion or allegation of abuse or harm perpetrated by one child or young person upon another, the procedures in Section 9, Reporting Concerns should be followed.

Protecting the rights of both victim and alleged perpetrator is important. It may be necessary, dependent on an assessment of all the facts, to separate the alleged perpetrator and victim but it may not be possible to explain why this is necessary to the perpetrator.

Throughout the process thereafter it will be necessary to ensure that children or young people with allegations made against them are properly supported, by an independent person if appropriate or required, as well as their social worker and parent(s).

Once the investigation is complete, consideration will then need to be given to the needs and interests of both alleged victim and perpetrator, and whether counselling and/or other support should be given.

Children or young people who are known to have sexually abused other children should not be placed together unless a risk assessment has been undertaken by someone specially qualified to do so.

The Homes manager will be made aware of any known or potentially harmful sexual behaviour at the point of referral. The Homes manager will assess whether the home can meet the needs of the child and safeguard them and others from risk of actual or potential harm.

Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018)

Children Act (1989

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

Equality Act (2010)

Public Interest Disclosure Act (1998)

HM Government: What to do if you’re Worried a Child is Being Abused; Advice for Practitioners (2015)