SAILTRAIN
CHILD and VUNERABLE ADULT PROTECTION POLICY
INTRODUCTION:
This document is the Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy for Sailtrain Ltd which will be followed by all members of our organisation and followed and promoted by those in the position of leadership within the organisation.
The purpose of the organisation is
The organisation does not undertake activities with Children and Vulnerable adults in the absence of their parents/carers, but has the opportunity to observe the young person’s/children’s/vulnerable adult’s welfare within their family/care setting. Parents/carers remain responsible for their young person’s/children’s/vulnerable adult’s welfare throughout all the work undertaken by the organisation.
We know that being a young person/child/vulnerable adult makes them vulnerable to abuse by adults. The purpose of this policy is to make sure that the actions of any adult in the context of the work carried out by the organisation are transparent and safeguard and promote the welfare of all young/vulnerable people.
If any parent or young person/child/vulnerable adult has any concerns about the conduct of any member of the organisation, this should be raised in the first instance with Mr Peter Dance.
Principles upon which the Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy is based.
• The welfare of a young person/child/vulnerable person will always be paramount.
• The welfare of families will be promoted.
• The rights, wishes and feelings of children, young/vulnerable people and their families/carers will be respected and listened to.
• Those people in positions of responsibility within the organisation will work in accordance with the interests of Children and Vulnerable adults and young people and follow the policy outlined below.
• Those people in positions of responsibility within the organisation will ensure that the same opportunities are available to everyone and that all differences between individuals will be treated with respect.
CHILD AND VULNERABLE ADULT PROTECTION POLICY
1. Immediate Action to Ensure Safety
Immediate action may be necessary at any stage in involvement with Children and Vulnerable adults and families.
IN ALL CASES IT IS VITAL TO TAKE WHATEVER ACTION IS NEEDED TO SAFEGUARD THE CHILD/VULNERABLE ADULT ie:
• If emergency medical attention is required this can be secured by making a VHF Mayday call, a VHF Pan Pan Call to the nearest Coastguard or calling an ambulance (dial 999) or taking a child/vulnerable adult to the nearest Accident and Emergency Department.
• If a child/vulnerable adult is in immediate danger the police should be contacted (dial 999) as they alone have the power to remove a child/vulnerable adult immediately if protection is necessary, via Police Protection Order.
2. Recognition of Abuse or Neglect
Abuse or neglect of a child/vulnerable adult is caused by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm. Children and Vulnerable adults may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting: by those known to them or more rarely by a stranger.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer feigns the symptoms, of, or deliberately causes ill health to a child whom they are looking after. This situation is commonly described using terms such as, fabricated illness by proxy or Munchausen Syndrome by proxy.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional ill treatment of a child/vulnerable adult such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child/vulnerable adult’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to Children and Vulnerable adults that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only in so far as they meet the needs of another person. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children/vulnerable adult. It may involve causing Children and Vulnerable adults frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children/vulnerable adults. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of ill treatment of a child/vulnerable adult though it may occur alone.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child/vulnerable adult or young person to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child/vulnerable adult is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative (eg rape or buggery) or non-penetrative acts. This may include non-penetrative acts. They may include non-contact activities, such as involving Children and Vulnerable adults in looking at, or in the production of, pornographic material, or watching sexual activities, or encouraging Children and Vulnerable adults to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.
Neglect
Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child/vulnerable adult’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child/vulnerable adult’s health or development. It may involve a parent or carer failing to provide adequate food, shelter and clothing, failing to protect a child/vulnerable adult from physical harm or danger, or the failure to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child/vulnerable adult’s basic emotional needs.
Individuals within our organisation need to be alert to the potential abuse of Children and Vulnerable adults both within their families and also from other sources including abuse by members of that organisation.
The organisation should know how to recognise and act upon indicators of abuse or potential abuse involving children/vulnerable adult. There is an expected responsibility for all members of the organisation to respond to any suspected or actual abuse of a child/vulnerable adult in accordance with these procedures.
It is good practice to be as open and honest as possible with parents/carers about any concerns.
However, you must not discuss your concerns with parents/carers in the following circumstances:
• where sexual abuse is suspected
• where organised or multiple abuse is suspected
• where fictitious illness by proxy (also known as Munchausen Syndrome by proxy) is suspected
• where contacting parents/carers would place a child/vulnerable adult, yourself or others at immediate risk.
What to do if Children and Vulnerable adults talk to you about abuse or neglect
It is recognised that a child may seek you out to share information about abuse or neglect, or talk spontaneously individually or in groups when you are present. In these situations, you must:
• Listen carefully to the child/vulnerable adult. DO NOT directly question the child/vulnerable adult.
• Give the child/vulnerable adult time and attention.
• Allow the child/vulnerable adult to give a spontaneous account; do not stop a child/vulnerable adult who is freely recalling significant events.
• Make an accurate record of the information you have been given taking care to record the timing, setting and people present, the child/vulnerable adult’s presentation as well as what was said. Do not throw this away as it may later be needed as evidence.
• Use the child/vulnerable adult’s own words where possible.
• Explain that you cannot promise not to speak to others about the information they have shared.
• Reassure the child/vulnerable adult that:
you are glad they have told you;
they have not done anything wrong;
what you are going to do next.
• Explain that you will need to get help to keep the child/vulnerable adult safe.
• Do NOT ask the child/vulnerable adult to repeat his or her account of events to anyone.
3. Consulting about your concern
The purpose of consultation is to discuss your concerns in relation to a child/vulnerable adult and decide what action is necessary.
You may become concerned about a child/vulnerable adult who has not spoken to you, because of your observations of, or information about that child/vulnerable adult.
It is good practice to ask a child/vulnerable adult why they are upset or how a cut or bruise was caused, or respond to a child/vulnerable adult wanting to talk to you. This practice can help clarify vague concerns and result in appropriate action.
If you are concerned about a child/vulnerable adult you must share your concerns. Initially you should talk to one of the people designated as responsible for Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection within our organisation. In this organisation this person is Mr Peter Dance tel: 07976698184. If this person is implicated in the concerns you should discuss your concerns directly with Social Services.
You should consult externally with your local Social Services Department in the following circumstances:
• when you remain unsure after internal consultation as to whether Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection concerns exist
• when there is disagreement as to whether Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection concerns exist
• when you are unable to consult promptly or at all with your designated internal contact for child/vulnerable adult protection
• when the concerns relate to any member of the organising committee.
Consultation is not the same as making a referral but should enable a decision to be made as to whether a referral to Social Services or the Police should progress.
4. Making a referral
A referral involves giving Social Services or the Police information about concerns relating to an individual or family in order that enquiries can be undertaken by the appropriate agency followed by any necessary action.
In certain cases the level of concern will lead straight to a referral without external consultation being necessary.
Parents/carers should be informed if a referral is being made except in the circumstances outlined on p 4.
However, inability to inform parents for any reason should not prevent a referral being made. It would then become a joint decision with Social Services about how and when the parents should be approached and by whom.
IF YOUR CONCERN IS ABOUT ABUSE OR RISK OF ABUSE FROM SOMEONE NOT KNOWN TO THE CHILD/VULNERABLE ADULT OR CHILD’S FAMILY/CARER, YOU SHOULD MAKE A TELEPHONE REFERRAL DIRECTLY TO THE POLICE AND CONSULT WITH THE PARENTS/CARER.
If your concern is about abuse or risk of abuse from a family member or someone known to the children/Vulnerable adult, you should make a telephone referral to your local Social Services Office. (see list p. 9).
Information required
Be prepared to give as much of the following information as possible (in emergency situations all of this information may not be available). Unavailability of some information should not stop you making a referral.
• Your name, telephone number, position and request the same of the person to whom you are speaking.
• Full name and address, telephone number of family, date of birth of child/vulnerable adult and siblings.
• Gender, ethnicity, first language, any special needs.
• Names, dates of birth and relationship of household members and any significant others.
• The names of professionals’ known to be involved with the child/vulnerable adult/family eg: GP, Health Visitor, School.
• The nature of the concern; and foundation for them.
• An opinion on whether the child/vulnerable adult may need urgent action to make them safe.
• Your view of what appears to be the needs of the child/vulnerable adult and family.
• Whether the consent of a parent with parental responsibility has been given to the referral being made.
Action to be taken following the referral
• Ensure that you keep an accurate record of your concern(s) made at the time.
• Put your concerns in writing to Social Services following the referral (within 48 hours).
• Accurately record the action agreed or that no further action is to be taken and the reasons for this decision.
5. Confidentiality
You should ensure that any records made in relation to a referral should be kept confidentially and in a secure place.
Information in relation to Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection concerns should be shared on a “need to know” basis. However, the sharing of information is vital to Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection and, therefore, the issue of confidentiality is secondary to a child’s/vulnerable adult’s need for protection.
If in doubt, consult.