Child Protection

This document is meant for the edification and guidance (only) of the members of The Druid Network and any other visitors to the website, and for the guidance, procedure and action of any authorised representative of The Druid Network.

Background
The Druid Network Policy
The Druid Network Procedures
Contacts

 

Background

To begin with it may be prudent to take a look firstly at THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD, and namely its CHILDRENS AND YOUNG PEOPLES CHARTER, which states that children and young people have:

  1. The right to respect
  2. The right to information about themselves
  3. The right to be protected from harm
  4. The right to have a say in their life
  5. The right to a good start in life
  6. The right to be and feel secure

All children – whether living with their direct families, extended families, adopted or foster families or living in care - are all entitled to the same rights.

Other legislation that is taken into account is:

  1. The Children’s Act 1989
  2. The Protection of Children Act 1999
  3. The Assessment Framework 2000, the latter being the criteria that is utilized in the analysis of every suspected case of abuse.

So why should we refer our suspicions?

  1. All children have a right to be safe
  2. Adults have a responsibility to protect children
  3. Abuse and neglect damages and harms
  4. Failure to do so contributes to secrecy and silence
  5. We only may see one piece of the jigsaw
  6. Children rarely lie about abuse
  7. The abusers may abuse others too

 

THE DRUID NETWORK CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

STATEMENT

“This organisation aims to create an atmosphere where children and young people feel valued and safe and a place where their welfare is promoted.

Any concerns will be taken seriously and acted upon appropriately and we will pay attention to what children and young people say and feel.

We will be rigorous and vigilant in protecting the children and young people using The Druid Network from abuse, bullying and intimidation. We will do this through a careful recruitment and selection process, a whistle-blowing policy, ongoing supervision and monitoring arrangements and guidance on appropriate behaviour.

Everyone involved in The Druid Network is obliged to make sure that children and young people using or coming into contact with The Druid Network or any of its affiliations or projects are safe.

They must report concerns without delay.

All those involved in The Druid Network will be made aware of this policy and of what to do if they have any concerns. There is guidance for those responsible for responding to concerns so that they are properly dealt with.”

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

We are a small Community Group whose aim is not focused on work with children, other than through the Under 18s group, known as the Lightning Tree. However, where families and children are involved in our work, our aim is simply to offer the Druidic services outlined in our constitution.

One aim is to involve parents in providing opportunities for family learning and leisure for their children. All activities of The Druid Network are provided by volunteers, there are no paid employees or volunteers involved in providing the planned programme of activities.

This policy has been written to reflect the values of The Druid Network.

1. Principles

The policy of The Druid Network is to provide a safe context for children and young people through the activities it provides.

The Druid Network will minimise situations in which the abuse of children might occur.

The Druid Network will be aware and vigilant to the possibility of child abuse happening.

In the event of a child protection concern the Druid Network will undertake action as specified by this Child Protection Policy.

The Druid Network will be aware of the need to protect children in planning and providing its activities.

2. Behaviour of Trusttes

Trustees involved in organising activities with parents will:

Treat all children with respect
Not make or allow racist or sexist remarks
Bring to the immediate attention of a parent any issues relating to the safety or well being of their child during an organised activity

3. Designated Officer

The designated officer for the Druid Network for child protection is Helen Griffiths Haynes. This post is called Child Protection Officer (TDN). The deputy-designated officers are Julia Minnear, Co-ordinator of the Lightning Tree, and Emma Restall Orr, Head of The Druid Network.

This policy addresses two main situations:

4. Minimising Opportunities for abuse

No activity with children and young people shall be undertaken within the auspices of The Druid Network unless a parent or designated officer (or deputy designated officer) is present. Where necessary, this will be explained to all parents in advance. Parents will at all times have responsibility for the supervision of their child or children, or the delegation of that supervision, during any activity or event.

5. Responding to a concern of child abuse

a) A child protection issue may arise in several ways:

  1. A child may make a direct allegation or
  2. A child may make a comment which seems to suggest abuse, or
  3. A child may have bruises or marks, or
  4. Something about a child’s behaviour may suggest the possibility of abuse, or
  5. An incident is witnessed.

b) All child protection concerns will be reported to the designated officer, who will inform the Trustees of The Druid Network, who will then inform Social Services Department without delay.

c) The Trustees will make a detailed factual record of the concern. A note will be made of any potential witnesses. This record will be completed as soon as possible after the concern has arisen.

d) The Trustees understand that it is not their responsibility to make there own investigation and will not act in a way which might compromise a Section 47 enquiry.

e) The Trustees will co-operate with any Child Protection enquiries undertaken by the Social Services Department and the Police.

6. Review of the Policy

The policy will be reviewed on a regular basis and updated if there is a change in the activity of The Druid Network with children and young people.


The Druid Network Procedures

SAFE RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION

Determined abusers have often managed to gain access to children and young people. Our policy and procedures are important safeguards to stop this happening. They will be understood by good applicants and will put ill-intentioned people off.

All volunteers that are actively involved in the Network, including temporary personnel and helpers, who will come into contact with children and young people should be subject to a careful and rigorous selection and vetting process with the following elements:

  1. Completion of an application form and checking the person’s identity by their birth certificate or passport
  2. Taking up references, which are seen before the interview and verified by a follow up phone call
  3. An interview preferably by two people (ESSENTIAL)
  4. Identifying reasons for gaps in employment or inconsistencies (ESSENTIAL)
  5. Carrying out police checks and checks with the Criminal Records Bureau (where deemed necessary) (see below for details)
  6. Allowing no unsupervised access to children and young people until this has been completed, e.g. no appointment subject to references
  7. Advice is sought about recruiting someone with a criminal record (ESSENTIAL)
  8. A supervised probationary period for new people to The Druid Network.

The person designated as Child Protection Officer for The Druid Network has undergone the necessary police checks.

SAFE ARRANGEMENTS IN THE DRUID NETWORK

There is no 100% guaranteed way of making sure people with the potential to abuse children or young people do not get involved in our projects. There are ways of running our Network that will help to prevent abuse occurring or to identify inappropriate behaviour as early as possible.

The following elements will contribute to a safe, open and alert environment:

A nominated child protection representative in the Network responsible for making sure the child protection policy is working. All people involved in the project should know about this person. She/he will need to be trained to know how to respond when child protection concerns are raised to him/her. (ESSENTIAL). At this time this person is Helen Griffiths Haynes.

An open, well-publicised whistle blowing policy so children and adults are encouraged to voice concerns about abusive or unethical behaviour without fear of recrimination.

Training for people actively involved in The Druid Network. They will need to be aware of signs of abuse. Forms of abuse are physical, sexual, neglect and emotional. They can include bullying, or putting people down because of their race, religion, culture, gender, sexuality, disability, etc. They will also need to know about the behaviour or abusers, what their duty is someone tells them about abuse. They will need to know about the whistle blowing policy. This document will be circulated to those immediately concerned with children and will be available to all on the website, or sent to members who request a paper copy.

Access to a person in authority in the Druid Network for all children and young people and their parents/carers. They need to know who to speak to if they are concerned about what is happening to themselves or others. In discussions they should be encouraged to raise concerns and/or use the Network’s complaints procedures and whistle blowing policy.

A Code of Behaviour for everyone involved in The Druid Network. This should make clear what is appropriate and what is not; for example, all adults working in pairs, advice about physical contact and restraint, how to manage intimate care tasks, etc.

Clear supervision and monitoring arrangements, which are explained to everyone. Some examples are questionnaires, discussions and meetings with those actively involved, remaining vigilant and alert to people experiencing a problem.

Having outside contact for advice and guidance when child protection issues come up and you are not sure how to respond. We may include in any grant application the cost of:

  1. Volunteer Training
  2. Police Checks
  3. Other costs relating to Child Protection

If we are successful, this money will be released so that this work can be carried out before the main grant is released.

POLICE CHECKS AND VETTING

Where necessary, checks are carried out on all people applying to work with children, including volunteers, within the Druid Network.

To check someone’s suitability for working with children and young people, from September 2001, the Criminal Records Bureau will be operational to provide checks of:

Police criminal records via the Police National Computer
PoCA list (The Protection of Children Act List) and List 99 – lists of people who are disqualified from working with children and young people.

It is necessary to check if project workers or volunteers meet the criteria to be checked.

The criteria is set out in the Guidance document on the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act available on http://www.crb.gov.uk or telephone 0870 9090 811. To access the CRB for checks, you will need to register. This can be done on line at: http://194.200341.9/pocals/

There may be a charge for these checks, but we may include this cost in any of our grant applications, where applicable.

CODE OF BEHAVIOUR

Covered in our Policy

Rules and arrangements for:

  1. Relationships with children and young people
  2. Relationships between personnel
  3. Appropriate conduct with children and young people
  4. Physical restraint
  5. Intimate care

Specific behaviour not allowed between minors and staff:

  1. Sexual conduct
  2. Lending or borrowing of money or property
  3. Giving or receiving gifts
  4. Exclusive or secretive relationships
  5. Taking minor aged Network users to your home unaccompanied

GUIDELINES FOR THE NOMINATED CHILD PROTECTION OFFICER

This is the person with responsibility for making sure any child protection issues are responded to properly.
He or she should:

  • Know about signs and symptoms of abuse
  • Know about how abusers (perpetrators) behave
  • Ask about training if you don’t know these things
  • Know about your Local Area Child Protection Committee (ACPC) guidelines on dealing with concerns about abuse
  • Ask your local council’s principal officer for child protection for a copy of the guidelines and about any training available from the ACPC
  • Know who to contact in Social Services so that you can either
  • Ask for advice when you are not sure what to do
  • Refer a case without delay where there are child protection concerns (see attached list)

Make sure the children and young people using the Network know:

  • About the child protection policy and procedures
  • You are the person to speak to if they have any concerns
  • Who to speak to if you are not there
  • Make sure staff and volunteers know how to respond if a child or young person talks to them about abuse
  • Make sure they have a copy of the project’s code of behaviour and guidelines and have understood them
  • Provide information about help lines and other sources of help for children and young people.

PROCEDURE GUIDELINES FOR PROJECT WORKERS/VOLUNTEERS:
RESPONDING TO A REPORT OF ABUSE FROM A CHILD OR YOUNG PERSON

DO

  • Do treat any allegations extremely seriously and act at all times towards the child as if you believe what they are saying
  • Do tell the child they are right to tell you.
  • Do reassure them that they are not to blame
  • Do be honest about your own position, who you have to tell and why
  • Do tell the child what you are doing and when, and keep them up to date with what is happening
  • Do take further action – you may be the only person in a position to prevent future abuse – tell your nominated person immediately
  • Do write down everything said and what was done (see notes on recording)

DON’T

  • Don’t make promises you can’t keep
  • Don’t interrogate the child – it is not your job to carry out an investigation – this will be up to the police and social services, who have experience in this
  • Don’t cast doubt on what the child has told you, don’t interrupt or change the subject
  • Don’t say anything that makes the child feel responsible for the abuse
  • Don’t do nothing – make sure you tell your nominated child protection person immediately – they will know how to follow this up and where to go for further advise

Fear puts a lot of people off telling about wrongdoing.

Remember, you always have a duty to make sure concerns are reported. Then appropriate action can be taken. Tell the nominated person(s) in The Druid Network. S/he will be able to get further advice and/or refer the situation to social services or the police.

If for any reason you cannot tell the nominated person (Helen Griffiths Haynes), then you should tell the project leader (Lightning Tree – Julia Minnear) or Head (Emma Restall Orr).

KEEPING A RECORD OF CONCERNS

When a child protection concern arises, it is essential you record what is said or seen and what action was taken. This record or any other written record should be kept in a locked cabinet or drawer. Access should be limited to only:

The person who has completed the form.
The nominated child protection representative.
The project leader or Head.

It may be shown to the police or social services and could possibly be used in court, although this is rare. The young person concerned can be shown this document but discretion should be used. Their permission should be obtained before showing to the parent/carer.

CONTACTS WITHIN THE DRUID NETWORK

Helen Griffiths Haynes (Red)
The Druid Network Child Protection Officer
Email

Julia Minnear (Wildfyre)
Co-ordinator for the Lightning Tree (Young Members)
Support to the CPO
Email
lightning [at] druidnetwork [dot] org( )

Emma Restall Orr (Bobcat)
Head of The Druid Network
Support to the CPO
Email

The Druid Network would like to thank Geoff Boswell for initiating this policy within The Druid Network, and for the above text which as been edited and adapted since his first writing.

EXTERNAL CONTACTS

In the first event all reports of suspected child abuse must be made to the local Social Services department relevant to the location (local authority) of the child(ren). If you are unable to find this out easily, contact your own local Social Services, explain the situation and they will either pass the complaint/report on for you or more likely give you contact details of the relevant local authorities Social Services.

An alternative is to report the concerns to the Child Protection Officer or Division of the Police authority relevant to the location (local authority) of the child(ren). If you are unable to find this out easily, contact your own local Police station, explain the situation and they will either pass the complaint/report on for you or more likely give you contact details of the relevant Police contact.

Finally, the other acceptable alternative is to contact the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). Telephone 020 782 52500, or any branch local to the incident.

OTHER CONTACTS

WITH LESSER DEGREES OF HELP, ADVICE OR ASSISTANCE

Childline : 0800 1111.
Women’s Aid : 08457 023468.
The Domestic Violence Unit of your local authority.
The Emergency line for your Social Services Department.
Your local Victim Support Group.
Samaritans.

®June 2003 / Geoff Boswell
And subsequently adapted by Emma Restall Orr (most recently, November 2004)
The Druid Network