Crouch End Chavurah Child Protection Policy

Introduction
CEC is a small, but growing community. We offer services to adults and children from toddlers through to teenagers. We recognise that safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults is the duty and responsibility of all within CEC whatever their role, and information and policy procedures will be disseminated throughout the community.

This policy applies to all staff, including the Committee, paid staff, volunteers and sessional workers, agency staff, students or anyone working on behalf of Crouch End Chavurah.

The purpose of this policy
The purpose of this policy is to:

·      To protect children and young people who receive Crouch End Chavurah’s services. This includes the children of adults who use our services;

·      To provide staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection;

Crouch End Chavurah believes that a child or young person should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people and to keep them safe. We are committed to practice in a way that protects them.

We all have a duty to report any abuse or neglect of which we become aware to the Designated Safeguarding Officer/Chair, external authorities responsible for child protection, adult social work safeguarding teams, and/or to police, regardless of whether that abuse is being perpetrated by those within CEC or by those outside of it including those from vulnerable adults or the child’s family/carers, extended family, their family’s extended network or strangers. 


The aim of this paper is to lay out guidelines and a procedure for dealing with situations where we come into contact with alleged or suspected cases of child or vulnerable adult abuse. It also deals with good practice in our work to protect the children, young people, and vulnerable adults that we are responsible for while in our care and protect ourselves as professionals and volunteers. 


Anyone with a concern about the possible abuse of a child or vulnerable adult should contact the Safeguarding Officer or Chair. The Designated Safeguarding Lead Officer for CEC is Rabbi Sandra Kviat. The Deputy Safeguarding Lead is Leanne Hoffman. The Chair is Miriam Levin­­.

Why are procedures necessary?
Children, young people, and vulnerable adults can be abused in any section of our society. Abuse occurs in all ethnic, religious and regional groups and in all classes. Children and vulnerable adults may be abused by family members, (adults, young people and children), family friends, peers, professionals and carers and by strangers.

Abuse comes in many forms and the forms and signs of abuse are outlined in Appendix A for children and young people and for vulnerable adults in Appendix B. This is a guide and abuse may manifest itself in many ways.

In all cases the welfare, well-being and protection of children and vulnerable adults must be paramount.

Professionals and volunteers need to be sensitive to the child or vulnerable adult’s needs, the distress which investigations may arouse in the family and that the needs of the child or vulnerable adult and their family may conflict.

Responding to and managing suspicions and allegations of abuse of children or vulnerable adults demands much of professionals and volunteers, who should be appropriately supported in this role.

The effective management of protecting children and vulnerable adults requires a multidisciplinary approach supported by sharing information in a timely manner with appropriate professionals.

Sharing information with other professionals is a fundamental aspect of enabling a child or vulnerable adult’s safety and protection. No professional should ever intervene alone. All concerns must be shared with others.



Roles and responsibilities 

Safeguarding is the responsibility of everyone within CEC. 
 All Trustees, Employees and Volunteers are responsible for: 


·      Promoting working practices that ensure the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults

·      Completing training in safeguarding and protection and vulnerable adults, as relevant to their role

·      Ensuring they understand what abuse is and are aware of how to obtain help and 
 advice in relation to protection of children and vulnerable adults

·      Ensuring they understand their role and responsibility in relation to Safeguarding 
 and protection of children and vulnerable adults, as laid out in this document

·      Understanding that they may need to disclose confidential information in the 
 interests of safeguarding children, young people, and vulnerable adults

·      Ensuring they report any disclosure, allegation, or concern regarding child protection or abuse of a vulnerable adult to the Designated Safeguarding Officer or Chair.

Disclosure procedure
If a child, young person, or vulnerable adult asks if they can tell you something or you feel that they are about to disclose:

·      Never promise you can keep anything secret.

·      If the child, young person, or vulnerable adult then decides not to tell you, don’t pressure them - just go and tell the Safeguarding Officer/Chair what happened.

If the child or vulnerable adult accepts that you may have to pass on any information they give you, suggest that both of you go to the Safeguarding Officer or Chair. Explain that you would have to tell them anyway and that they would probably want to talk to the child, young person, or vulnerable adult themselves. If what the child, young person, or vulnerable adult has to tell is very distressing it is advisable to try to minimise the amount of times that they have to repeat it. If they prefer to talk to you alone, explain you will have to pass it on to the Safeguarding Officer/Chair.

When a child, young person, or vulnerable adult discloses to you, stay calm and be reassuring. In the most appropriate way possible try to convey that:

·      You are glad the child, young person, or vulnerable adult told you.

·      That you believe what you are being told

·      That you know it is not their fault.

·      That CEC will do its best to protect and support them.

Child and Vulnerable Adults Protection Procedure: Receive – Reassure – Refer 
Receive: 


·      Listen to what is being said, trying not to display shock or disbelief. • Accept what is being said but do not comment upon it.

·      Do not ask 'leading' questions

Reassure: 


·       Reassure the child, young person, or vulnerable adult but only so far as is honest and reliable, for example, don’t make promises you may not be able to keep, such as, "I'll stay with you", or, "Everything will be all right now”.

·       Don’t promise to keep what they tell you a secret; you have a duty to refer.

·       Do reassure and alleviate guilt, if the child, young person, or vulnerable adult refers to it. For example, you could say: "You are not to blame." "You are not alone, you're not the only one this sort of thing has happened to."

·       Do not criticise the perpetrator; the child, young person, or vulnerable adult may love them and reconciliation may be possible.

·       Do not share your personal experiences or opinions.

Record and Refer: 


·       As soon as possible all information should be recorded. Record as much detail as possible, in- cluding names, address, and contact information.

·       Write down the disclosure as it was told to you. Do not include your own language, judgement or assumptions. Stick to what was actually said by the person.

·       Note any observations on behaviour/emotional state or injuries and bruising.

·       Note time, location and date of disclosure and sign and date the notes.

·       Do not investigate the matter yourself, merely receive information and be ready to refer.

·       Pass this information and a verbal account to the Safeguarding Officer as soon as possible. It is your duty to refer this information – you cannot keep it a secret.

·       If the Chair or the Safeguarding Officer is not available, refer the information to a Committee member

Procedure in relation to suspicion of the abuse of a child or vulnerable adult This section addresses what to do if you notice signs and symptoms of abuse, or which you are concerned about, but no disclosure has been made. Do not approach the child, young person, vulnerable adult, family, carer, or anyone else involved.

Record and Refer: 


·       As soon as possible all information should be recorded. Record as much detail as possible in a clear and objective way.

·       Write down the nature of your concerns in an objective way; try to avoid making judgements or assumptions.

·       Note any observations on behaviour/emotional state or injuries and bruising.

·       Note time, location and date of any incidents or observations and sign and date the notes.

·       Do not investigate the matter yourself.

·       Pass this information and a verbal account to the Chair or Safeguarding Officer as soon as possible. It is your duty to refer this information – you cannot keep it a secret.

·       If the Safeguarding Officer or the Chair is not available refer the information to a Council member. 


Keeping Records, Confidentiality and Data Protection
Confidential information is ‘information not normally in the public domain or readily available from another source. It should have a degree of sensitivity and value and should be subject to a duty of confidence’.

All Trustees, employees and volunteers have a duty to disclose information where failure to do so could result in a child suffering or vulnerable adult abuse.

Detailed contemporaneous records must be kept by all involved. These should separate fact, reported information and opinion. All records must be submitted within 24 hours, and ideally on the same day, and should be signed and dated.

All records will be submitted to the Safeguarding Officer, and the records will be kept in a safe, designated place specified by the Chair.

A public interest test can be used to make judgements regarding managing confidential information. The public interest in safeguarding children and vulnerable adults overrides the need to keep information confidential. It is in the public interest:

·      to protect children and other people from harm;

·      to promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults;

·      to prevent crime and disorder;

Alternatively, non-disclosure may also be, in some circumstances, in the public 
interest. 


In sharing information, consideration should be given to the following:

·      Is there a legitimate reason to share information?
Is there a necessity to identify the individual?

·      If the information is confidential, has consent been obtained?

·      If consent to share information is refused, do the circumstances meet a public 
 interest test?

·      Ensure the right information is disclosed appropriately (See London Child Protection 
Procedures, 2011)

Reporting Concerns
If you have information about a safeguarding situation where a child or adult is in immediate danger or requires immediate medical attention call the emergency services on 999. Do not delay.

Legal framework
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of law and guidance that seeks to protect children, namely:

·      Children Act 1989

·      United Convention of the Rights of the Child 1991

·      Data Protection Act 1998

·      Sexual Offences Act 2003

·      Children Act 2004

·      Protection of Freedoms Act 2012

·      Relevant government guidance on safeguarding children

We recognise that:

·      The welfare of the child is paramount, as enshrined in the Children Act 1989

·      All children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse

·      Some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues

·      Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.

·      We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:

·      Valuing them, listening to and respecting them

·      Adopting child protection practices through procedures and a code of conduct for staff and volunteers

·      Developing and implementing an effective e-safety policy and related procedures

·      Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support and training

·      Recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made

·      Sharing information about child protection and good practice with children, parents, staff and volunteers

·      Sharing concerns with agencies who need to know, and involving parents and children appropriately.

We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.

This policy was last reviewed on:

9th March 2023

Appendix A- Recognising Signs of Children and Young People Abuse and Neglect

What is Abuse and Neglect?

Abuse and neglect are forms of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm. Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting, by those known to them or by a stranger. Abuse can occur in person or via the internet. They may be abused by an adult or adults, or another child or children.

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 fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a child.
 Symptoms that indicate physical abuse include: bruising, scars of different ages and lengths from untreated wounds, fractures, and marks that repeat.

Emotional abuse

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

Symptoms may include, but are not limited to: excessive clingy or attention seeking behaviour; low self-esteem; fearfulness; despondency; constantly seeking to please; lack of appropriate boundaries; anxiety; depression, eating disorders, self-harming or other mental health problems.

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the child 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 children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse (including via the internet). Sexual abuse also includes child sexual exploitation (CSE), where children are sexually exploited for money, power or status. Children or young people may be tricked into believing they're in a loving, consensual relationship. Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children.


Symptoms of sexual abuse may include, but are not limited to: genital soreness or discomfort; STD’s; sexualised play or behaviour; a child who is sexually provocative; a child talking inappropriately (for their age) about sexual issues; nightmares; going missing from school and home; drug and or alcohol abuse; depression, eating disorders, self-harm or other mental health problems.

Neglect

Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development. Neglect may occur during pregnancy, for example, as a result of maternal substance abuse. Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or 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 inadequate care-givers);

·      ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment.


It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs Symptoms may include inadequate supervision, being left alone for long periods; lack of stimulation, social contact or education; inadequate nutrition; a child who is constantly hungry, stealing or gorging food; failure to provide adequate standards of hygiene, clothing, and comfort in the home; failure to seek or follow medical advice so that a child’s life or development is endangered.

Appendix B- Vulnerable Adults

A vulnerable adult can be defined as: “A person aged 18 years or over who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself against significant harm or exploitation. A vulnerable adult may also be someone who is experiencing a temporary vulnerability due to a particular phase or life event e.g. bereavement, divorce, poor health, employment stress, or any other transitional phase or life event.”

An adult with care and support needs may therefore be:

·       an older person

·       a person with a physical disability, or a sensory impairment

·       a person with a learning difficulty

·       someone with mental health needs, including dementia or a personality disorder

·       a person with a long-term health condition

·       someone who misuses substances or alcohol to the extent that it affects their ability to manage day-to-day living.

·       This is not an exhaustive list.

Recognising signs of vulnerable adult abuse

Even for those experienced in working with vulnerable adult abuse, it is not always easy to recognise a situation where abuse may occur or has already taken place. Most people are not experts in such recognition, but indications that a person is being abused may include one or more of the following:

Physical indicators:

·       Injuries: lacerations, bruises, fractures, burn marks, finger marks, scalds.

·       Any injury that has not been properly cared for at various stages of healing.

·       Unexplained, or inappropriately explained, fractures at various stage of healing to any part of the body.

·       Signs of hair pulling – absence of hair or bleeding under the scalp.

·       Poor skin condition; poor skin hygiene, pressure sores.

·       Unattended medical problems.

·       Fear; person appears frightened or subdued in the presence of particular people, or flinches at physical contact.

·       Reluctance to undress or uncover body parts.

·       Excessive drowsiness.

·       Change in appetite.

·       Psychological or emotional indicators.

·       Untypical ambivalence, deference, resignation, becoming passive.

·       Person appears anxious or withdrawn, especially in the presence of the alleged perpetrator.

·       Person exhibits low self-esteem.

·       Person rejects their cultural background and /or racial origin.

·       Untypical changes in behaviour, e.g. continence problems, sleep disturbance, depression or fear.

·       Person is not allowed visitors or calls.

·       Persons locking themselves in their room/home.

·       Person is denied access to aids or equipment e.g. glasses, hearing aid, crutches.

·       Person’s access to personal hygiene and toilet is restricted.

·       Person feels isolated.

·       Person is exposed to inappropriate stimuli.

Financial or material indicators:

It is believed that financial abuse is one of the most common forms of abuse experienced by vulnerable adults. The following indicators should always be reported:

·       unexplained inability to pay bills

·       unexplained or sudden withdrawal of money from bank accounts

·       disparity between assets and satisfactory living conditions

·       extraordinary interest by family members and other people in the person’s assets

·       family or friends obstructing solicitors, social services, or other service providers and employees and staff visiting from voluntary organisations to discuss financial matters when the person has asked for an appointment.

Indications of neglect or omission:

·       Poor hygiene e.g. strong body odour

·       Malnutrition and dehydration – changes in appetite

·       Soiled clothing and bed linen

·       Person has inadequate heating/lighting

·       Person cannot access medication or medical care

·       Person is not offered appropriate privacy or dignity

·       Person and/or their carer has consistent or reluctant contact with health and social services Callers/visitors are not allowed access to the person

·       Fear

·       Person is left without access to aids e.g. glasses, hearing aid, crutches.

Discriminatory indicators:

·       physical abuse/ assault

·       sexual abuse / assault

·       financial abuse/ theft

·       neglect

·       psychological abuse / harassment.

Indicators of institutional abuse

·       Inappropriate or poor care

·       Misuse of Restraint

·       Sensory deprivation e.g. denial of glasses, hearing aids etc

·       Lack of respect shown for personal dignity

·       Lack of flexibility with meal times and bedtimes, choice of food
Lack of personal clothing or possessions

·       Lack of privacy
Lack of adequate procedures e.g. for medication, financial management

·      Controlling relationships between employees and service users

·      Poor professional practice.

Sexual indicators

·       Unexplained difficulty in walking or sitting, urinating or defecating

·       ‘Love bites’

·       Frequent complaints of abdominal pain without obvious cause

·       Torn, stained or bloody underclothes

·       Self mutilation

·       Acting out/ aggressive behaviour

·       Increased agitation – or, conversely, becoming physically withdrawn

·       Recurrent nightmares and sensitivity to touch

·       Negative changes in sexual feelings and expression by people who have previously maintained a sexual activity, or increased sexual acting out (e.g. public masturbation)