Safeguarding Policy

Last updated: October 26th, 2020

Section 1: Safeguarding Children Policy

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY AND PROCEDURE

Introduction

This document has been produced to assist people who provide services to children at Dar Al-Arqam supplementary school.  The main aim is to keep children safe and support others in doing so.

Dar Al-Arqam supplementary school is on the front line when it comes to helping children and families both within their congregation and the local community and have an important role to play in making sure those children are safe.

It is important to understand that everybody has a responsibility for the safety of children. To protect children from harm is a legal obligation for all those who deal with children in any capacity.  

Dar Al-Arqam supplementary school will be responsible for dealing with allegations or suspicion of abuse against a child. 

There can be an anxiety around child protection and safeguarding children.  This document is designed to support Dar Al-Arqam supplementary school regarding issues of child protection and safeguarding children.  This document therefore includes:-

  • Child protection policy

  • Signs and definitions of abuse

  • Child protection procedures – what to do if you have a concern or witness child abuse

  • Achieving positive behaviour

Child Protection Policy

Child Protection Policy Statement

The policy applies to all board of trustees, paid staff, volunteers, and anyone working on behalf of the organisation.

This policy shows a commitment to protecting and safeguarding children against potential harm or actual harm.

It fully accepts and promotes the principle enshrined in the Children Act 1989 that the welfare of the child is paramount.

The policy demonstrates a commitment to working with statutory bodies, voluntary agencies and other faith communities to promote the safety and welfare of children.

The policy demonstrates a commitment to acting promptly whenever a concern is raised about a child or about the behaviour of an adult, and will work with the appropriate statutory bodies when an investigation into child abuse is necessary.

We will endeavour to safeguard children and young people by;

  • Valuing them, listening to respecting them

  • Adopting child protection guidelines through procedures

  • 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 information about concerns with agencies who need  to know ,and involving parents and children appropriately

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

The organisation will endeavour to safeguard the children who come to Dar Al-Arqam supplementary school by following the procedure as a concern is raised about a children’s welfare.  Dar Al-Arqam supplementary school will not tolerate any form of child abuse

The definition of a child for the purpose of this document is anyone under the age of 18 years

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

Definitions and Signs of Abuse

Definition of safeguarding

Safeguarding is a “term used to denote measures to protect the health, well-being and human rights of individuals, which allow people (especially children, young people and vulnerable adults) to live free from abuse, harm and neglect”. 

The government has defined safeguarding in Working together to safeguard children 2013 as:

  • protecting children from maltreatment

  • preventing impairment of children’s health and development

  • ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care and

  • taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes

Definition of Abuse

An abused child is any boy or girl under 18 years of age who has suffered from or is believed likely to be at risk of or significant risk of physical injury, neglect and emotional or sexual abuse

Sexual abuse

Definition

Actual or likely sexual abuse/exploitation of a child or young person.  Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities whether or not the child is aware of what is happening.  The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative (e.g. Rape or buggery) and non-penetrative acts.  They may include non-contact activities such as involving children in looking at or in the production of pornographic material or watching sexual activities or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.

Signs

Although these signs do not necessarily indicate that a child been abused they may help adults recognise that something is wrong.  The possibility of abuse should be investigated if a child shows a number of these symptoms or any of them to a marked degree:

  • Being overly affectionate or knowledgeable in a sexual way inappropriate to the child’s age

  • Medical problems such as chronic itching, pain in the genitals, venereal diseases

  • Other extreme reactions, such as depression, self mutilation, suicide attempts, running away, overdose, anorexia

  • Personality changes such as becoming insecure or clinging

  • Regressing to younger behaviour patterns such as thumb suckling or bringing out discarded cuddly toys

  • Sudden loss of appetite or compulsive eating

  • Being isolated or withdrawn

  • Inability to concentrate

  • Lack of trust or fear of someone they know well, such as not wanting to be alone with a babysitter or child minder

  • Starting to wet again, day or night/nightmares

  • Become worried about clothing being removed

  • Suddenly drawing sexually explicit pictures

  • Trying to be ultra-good or perfect; overreacting to criticism

Physical Abuse

Definition

Actual or physical injury to a child, or failure to prevent physical injury (or suffering), to a child.  Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Factitious illness may also constitute physical abuse.

Signs

Although these signs do not necessarily indicate that a child has been abused, they may help adults recognise that something is wrong.  The possibility of abuse should be investigated if a child shows a number of these symptoms, or any of them to a marked degree:

  • Unexplained recurrent injuries or burns

  • Improbable excuses or refusals 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 that they are punished, but the punishment is excessive (such as a child being beaten every night to make him study)

  • Fear of suspected abuser being contacted

Emotional Abuse

Definition

The persistent emotional ill-treatment 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 involve causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children.  Some level of emotional damage is involved in all types of ill-treatment of a child, though emotional abuse may occur alone.

Signs

Although these signs do not necessarily indicate that a child has been abused, they may help adults recognise that something is wrong.  The possibility of abuse should be investigated if a child shows a number of these symptoms, or any of them to a marked degree:

  • Physical, mental and emotional development delay

  • Sudden speech disorders

  • Continual self-depreciation (I’m stupid, ugly, worthless, etc)

  • Overreaction to mistakes

  • Extreme fear of any situation

  • Inappropriate responses to pain (I deserve this)

  • Neurotic behaviour (rocking, hair twisting, self-mutilation)

  • Extremes of passivity or aggression

Neglect

Definition

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 as a result of parent carer failing to provide adequate food and clothing, shelter including exclusion from home or abandonment, failing to protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger, failure to ensure adequate supervision including the use of adequate care-takers or the failure to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment.  It may also include neglect or, or unresponsiveness to a child’s basic emotional needs.

Signs

Although these signs do not necessarily indicate that a child has been abused, they may help adults recognise that something is wrong.  The possibility of abuse should be investigated if a child shows a number of these symptoms, or any of them to a marked degree:

Constant hunger

  • Poor personal hygiene

  • Constant tiredness

  • Poor state of clothing

  • Emaciation

  • Untreated medical problems

  • No social relationships

  • Compulsive scavenging

  • Destructive tendencies

Note: A child may be subjected to a combination of different kinds of abuse.  It is also possible that a child may show no outwards signs and hide what is happening from everyone.

Child Protection Procedures

What to do if you suspect a child is being abused

Suspect abuse

If you suspect that a child is being abused, seek advice and report to the board of trustees.  Who will help you decide what further actions should be taken. 

If Dar Al-Arqam supplementary school do not appoint its own child protection person then it will seek advice from the police or a social workers. 

Knowing how damaging abuse is to children, it is up to the adults around them to take responsibility for stopping it.

Complete reporting allegations or suspicions form (see appendix A & B)

What to do if a child tells you about abuse

  • Stay calm and be reassuring

  • Find a quiet place to talk

  • Believe in what you are being told

  • Listen, but do not press for information

  • Inform the child that you are glad that they have told you, but you will have to share this information with other professionals who will help to keep the child safe and the information confidential.

  • Inform the designated child protection officer in the organisation

  • Contact the child protection social work team and or the police

  • Seek medical advice if required

  • Complete reporting allegations or suspicions form (see appendix A & B)

What to do if you witnessed a child being abused

  • Inform the board of trustees in the organisation who will follow due procedure

  • Contact the child protection social work team and or the police

  • Seek medical advice if required

Reporting Child Protection Concerns

You have concerns about a child’s welfare

Discuss with senior colleagues and the chair, board of trustees

Still —————-have

Still —————-have

Refer to children’s services and or police follow up in writing within 48 hours

No further child protection action, although may need to act to ensure services provided

Children’s services acknowledge receipt of referral and decide on course of action within one working day

Children’s services feedback to referrer on next course of action

No further children’s service involvement at this stage, although other action may be necessary e.g. onward referral

Initial assessment required

Concerns about child‘s immediate safety

Immediate strategy discussion between children’s services, police and other agencies as appropriate

Any concerns should be reported promptly to the children’s team in the council

Reporting Child Protection Concerns in relation to staff and volunteerrs

You have concerns about the behaviour of staff or a volunteer in relation to the welfare of a child/children

Discuss with supervisor/line manager and designated child protection person

Supervisor/line manager not concerned but you remain so

Manager considers all facts and information

Refer to local authority designated officer

Concerns ongoing and they are in the category of child protection79

Concerns ongoing but not in category of child protection

Refer to children’s services and or police.  Discuss suspension of worker/volunteer with investigating agencies while investigation ongoing

Refer to disciplinary procedure

Any concerns in relation to staff and volunteers should be reported prompted to the local authority designated officer (LADO)

Complete reporting allegations or suspicions form (see appendix A & B)

Remember:  It is important that everyone in the organisation is aware that the person who first encounters a case of alleged or suspect abuse is not responsible for deciding whether or not abuse has occurred.  That is task for the professional child protection agencies following a referral to them of concern about a child.

Achieving Positive Behaviour

Punishment: Discipline or Abuse?

One of the risk factors identified for abuse is the belief in and use of physical punishment as a form of discipline.

Forms of punishment occur in family, community and educational settings.  Learning from punishments and sanctions are an important part of development as it teaches us not to do the things that threaten our wellbeing or disrupt the balance of society, such as having a detention for not completing homework.  Systems of rewards and punishment are often used by many to effectively teach and strengthen acceptable behaviour.  However, in some cases the punishment can be taken a step further and may be become abusive.

The danger often arises when the punishment is physical.  Physical punishment includes:

  • Spanking, slapping, smacking with the hand
  • Striking with an object (e.g. belt, shoe, ruler, stick)
  • Forcing a child to kneel on hard objects (e.g. floor pencils)
  • Forcing a child to hold an uncomfortable position (e.g. standing motionless)

Research has found that physical punishment can lead to child aggression, delinquency and poor mental health. Physical punishment does not effectively deter the repetition of the undesirable behaviour; rather, it teaches children that violence pays, and may lead to aggressive, anti-social the key to better-behaved children, and by consequences, a better-behaved society.

Frequently, physical abuse has been identified as a consequence of action taken by parents/carers to discipline a child.  Thus, once adults give in to the use of physical punishment in their attempts to discipline a child, the likelihood of physical abuse occurring becomes very real.

Alongside the physical punishment is the use of emotional punishment to teach them a lesson.  Threatening language, belittling, ridiculing, insulting and humiliating a child for getting something wrong, verbal abuse and other such forms of emotional cruelty can be equally harmful for the development of the child, and equally developing emotional stability, by hindering mental, spiritual, moral and social-development.  Physical punishment has the same damaging, negative impacts as physical abuse.  The use of excessive physical/emotional punishment in educational setting in particular causes the child to become disaffected with the system, and anything related to it.  The child does not gain any positives from the experience and abandons any actions and behaviour associated with the experience, as soon as they possibility arises.  This disaffection can last into adulthood. 

Studies have also found that the consequences, of abusive punishment have wider ramifications.  Parents who have experienced physical/emotional methods of punishment are more likely to deal with their own children in the same way.  Using excessive punishment as disciplinary tool leads to the same psychological and behavioural maladjustment, and overt physical harm as abuse itself.

The only way to avoid the danger of physical/emotional punishment turning into abuse is to explore more constructive, alternative approaches to discipline.  Studies have found that punishment does not effectively deter undesirable behaviour; rather, alternative reinforcement methods are more effective.  In other words, it works better to reward good behaviour and thus encourage its repetition than to punish wrong behaviour.

How to achieve positive behaviour

  • Creating an environment which encourages and reinforces good behaviour
  • Showing respect and consideration to each child and promoting responsibility and honesty
  • Promoting self esteem, positive relationships and self discipline
  • Responding consistently to both positive and inappropriate behaviour
  • Reward good behaviour and praise as often as possible
  • Be consistent
  • Use positive language at all times

Designated child protection person

Dar Al-Arqam supplementary school will appoint a person for dealing with any concerns about the protection of children.  The appointment of a deputy will also be appointed to cover absences. 

Their names, roles and responsibilities will be added to the child protection policy.

The person designated will undertake any training about child protection considered necessary to keep themselves updated on new developments.

The role of the designated person is to:

  • Establish contact with the senior member of social work staff responsible for child protection in the organisation’s catchment area.  This should be first step before an incident occurs.
  • Provide information and advice on child protection policy and procedures are implemented and followed and particularly to inform social work/health board of relevant concerns about individual children.
  • Be aware of Bradford City Council Safeguarding Children Board and Child protection procedures.
  • Ensure that appropriate information is available at the time or referral and that the referral is confirmed in writing, under confidential cover as quickly as possible
  • Liaise with children’s service authorities and the other agencies, as appropriate.
  • Keep relevant people within the organisation, particularly the head or leader of the organisation, informed about any action taken and any further action required, for example, disciplinary action against a member of staff.
  • Ensure that an individual case record is maintained of the action taken by the organisation, the liaison with other agencies and the outcome.
  • Advise the organisation of child protection training needs and undertake training regarding child protection.
  • Deal with the aftermath of incident in the organisation

 

Appendix A

Reporting allegations or suspicions of abuse

1st port of contact:

Name: Samy Khattab

Job/Role/Title: Mr/ Head teacher

Address: 13-15 Claremont-Bd7 BG

Telephone number: 07393475781

2nd port of contact:

Name: Hisham Al-Mahayni

Job/Role/Title: Mr/ Safeguarding lead

Address: 13-15 Claremont-Bd7 BG

Telephone number: 07449126716

NSPCC Child Protection Helpline: 0808 800 5000

 

Appendix B

Checklist for reporting suspected abuse

Name of child:

Age and date of birth:

Ethnicity:

Religion:

First language:

Disability:

Any special factors:

Parents/carers name:

Home address:

Are you reporting your own concerns or passing on those of somebody else?

Give details

Brief description of what has prompted the concerns: include dates, times etc of any specific incidents

Any physical signs? Behavioural signs? Indirect signs?                            

Appendix C

Reporting Safeguarding Concerns

Tell your manager about your concerns immediately

If needed, seek medical attention for the vulnerable person

Discuss with vulnerable person. Get permission to make referral if safe and appropriate.

If needed, seek advice from Bradford City Council, Social services

Complete the Local Authority Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Incident Report Form if required and submit to the local authority within 24 hours of making a contact

Ensure that feedback from the Local Authority is received and their response recorded

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