Safe Working with Children and Young People

Categories: Society

Policies are documents within a workplace that are composed with influence from the law and service management. Policies are individual and specific to an area of practice that needs verification as being in line with the law. It gives a list of procedures detailing how the task is to be completed/ carried out, the level of potential risks involved, and how to respond in a situation. Staff's practice should mimic the procedure within the policy. The safeguarding policy outlines the required procedures and practices for the safe working with children and young people.

As an area manager I ensure this is done by: Ensuring Care With Dignity Partnerships procedures when employing a new staff member is followed. This is that they must complete an enhanced DBS.

Provide identification. Provide two references from previous employment or 3-character references.  These must be cleared prior to lone working. Mandatory training is to be completed. This includes such areas as manual handling, safeguarding, medication, fire safety, health and safety and food hygiene.

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This is to ensure the staff are aware on how to protect themselves and others, therefore minimising the risk of harm. Shadow shifts are to be completed with a fully trained member of staff until the management's happy they are aware of safe practice prior to lone working. If the new member of staff has previous care experience then within my company, we do a minimum of 3 shadow shifts, however if they have no previous care experience then a minimum of 5 shadow shifts are completed.

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Policies and procedures for safeguarding and child protection in settings for children and young people in England and Wales are the result of legislation passed in parliament, including: In England and Wales, The Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004 Working Together to Safeguard Children 1999 Working Together to Safeguard Children 2006 Children Act 2004 The Vetting and Barring Scheme. I have enclosed the safeguarding policy for Care With Dignity Partnerships. Within my role I come across children through such ways as client's grandchildren or friends' children visiting, client's own children and young people who we support with such mental health issues as

  • Learning Disabilities,
  • Autism,
  • and Asperger Syndrome.

It is my responsibility to address any concerns that I have myself or my colleagues and support them to follow Policies and Procedures to ensure we are safeguarding from abuse. If I do need to address a safeguarding concern, then I would not only investigate but also report to my local safeguarding authority. Understand how to respond to evidence or concerns that a child or young person has been abused or harmed.

When caring for young people or children we have a duty of care to ensure their well being and safety whilst in our care. Statistics are done on a yearly basis to calculate how many children are on the protection register in England. Although we cannot decide for certain a child is being abused we have the responsibility to recognise possible signs that abuse may be occurring. There are many different signs and indications of possible abuse that I have listed below.

Signs of possible physical abuse

  • Any injuries that are not consistent with the explanation given for them Injuries which occur to the body in places which are not normally exposed to falls or rough games. For example, bruising around the genital area or breasts.
  • Injuries which have not received medical attention Reluctance to change for or participate in games or swimming.
  • Bruises, bites, burns and fractures, for example, which do not have an accidental explanation.
  • The child or young person gives inconsistent accounts for the cause of injuries.

Signs of possible sexual abuse

  • Any allegations made by a child concerning sexual abuse.
  • The child has an excessive preoccupation with sexual matters and inappropriate knowledge of adult sexual behaviour for their age, or regularly engages in sexual play inappropriate for their age
  • Sexual activity through words, play or drawing
  • Repeated urinary infections or unexplained stomach pains
  • The child is sexually provocative or seductive with adults
  • Inappropriate bed-sharing arrangements at home
  • Severe sleep disturbances with fears, phobias, vivid dreams or nightmares which sometimes have sexual connotations
  • Eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia.

Signs of possible emotional abuse

  • Depression,
  • aggression,
  • extreme anxiety,
  • changes or regression in mood or behaviour,
  • particularly where a child withdraws or becomes clingy
  • Obsessions or phobias
  • Sudden underachievement or lack of concentration
  • Seeking adult attention and not mixing well with other children
  • Sleep or speech disorders
  • Negative statements about self
  • Highly aggressive or cruel to others
  • Extreme shyness or passivity
  • Running away, stealing and lying

Signs of possible neglect

  • Dirty skin,
  • body smells,
  • unwashed,
  • uncombed hair and untreated lice
  • Clothing that is dirty, too big or small, damaged, or inappropriate for weather conditions
  • Frequently left unsupervised
  • Frequent diarrhoea
  • Frequent tiredness
  • Untreated illnesses, infected cuts or physical complaints which the carer does not respond to
  • Frequently hungry
  • Overeating junk food

The sustained physical, emotional, sexual abuse or neglect of children can have major long-term effects on all aspects of their health, development and wellbeing. Children can grow up to feel worthless, unlovable, betrayed, powerless, confused, frightened and mistrustful of others. They might feel, wrongly, that the abuse is their fault.

If a child or young person discloses that they are being abused there are a series of steps that must be followed. These steps are outlined in the safeguarding policies and are designed to ensure the reporting of abuse is done so correctly. Under no circumstances should a staff member do their own investigation or confront the alleged abuser, by doing this it may cause the child or young person at a higher risk. Listen carefully to the child. Avoid expressing your own views on the matter. A reaction of shock or disbelief could cause the child to 'shut down', retract or stop talking Let them know they've done the right thing. Reassurance can make a big impact to the child who may have been keeping the abuse secret Tell them it's not their fault. Abuse is never the child's fault and they need to know this Say you will take them seriously.

A child could keep abuse secret in fear they won't be believed. They've told you because they want help and trust you'll be the person who will listen to and support them. Don't talk to the alleged abuser. Confronting the alleged abuser about what the child's told you could make the situation a lot worse for the child Explain what you'll do next. If age appropriate, explain to the child you'll need to report the abuse to someone who will be able to help Don't delay reporting the abuse. The sooner the abuse is reported after the child discloses the better.

Report as soon as possible so details are fresh in your mind and action can be taken quicklyThere are many ways to report the alleged abuse. Call 999 if the child is at immediate risk or call the police on 111 if you think a crime has been committed. You can also contact NSPCC 0808 800 5000 or Childline 0800 1111 to discuss any concerns, or to ask for advice. If you have ongoing concerns then you can also complete a safeguarding report through your local council to express any concerns, these however can take up to 5 days to get a response.

In 1991 The UK ratified the 'Convention on the rights of the child". The four core principles of the Convention are non-discrimination, devotion to the best interests of the child, the right to life, survival and development and respect for the views of the child. The CRC is made up of 54 core articles and two optional protocols. This is a legally binding international agreement that 193 parties have ratified.In cases of alleged abuse and/or harm children and young people have the right to be protected. In 2003 Every child matters' came into force, this then leading to The Children's Act 2004 supplementing the 1989 Act.

They have the right to be involved in decisions that are being made about them and should be kept fully informed of processes involving them, while also being allowed to express their own views and opinions. For a child or young person who is suspected of being abused, then the primary concern will be to ensure that the child is protected from further abuse and the child's welfare will be priority. Wherever possible the child may be allowed to remain in their family home and protection will be achieved by working with the child's parents or carers without the need to remove the child. This is done so by social service visits, working alongside schools and medical professionals. However, if they are suffering from physical or sexual abuse then they will be removed from their home to protect them from any further harm. Parents or carers have a right to be informed what is being said and to contribute their own views and opinions, however if the child or young person is suffering significant harm then the parents or carers have no immediate rights.

Updated: Nov 01, 2022
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Safe Working with Children and Young People. (2019, Aug 20). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/safe-working-with-children-and-young-people-essay

Safe Working with Children and Young People essay
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