This organisation is aware of its obligations under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) 2010 to protect and safeguard children who, whilst not patients, sometimes accompany patients, their representatives or families, and are be present during delivery of the service.
Note: at no time do staff act in loco parentis as defined under the Children Act 1989.
In England a child is defined as anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday (Children Act 1989). Child protection guidance points out that even if a child has reached 16 years of age and is:

They are still legally children and should be given the same protection and entitlements as any other child. ( https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/child-protection-system/children-the-law )

This policy sets out the responsibilities of staff in relation to any allegation of abuse involving children that may be witnessed by staff whilst in the employ of this organisation. We are committed to working in partnership with other multi-agency partners in order that the protection and safeguarding of children is consistent with current policy and guidance.

Child abuse is a term used to describe ways in which either children or young people are harmed, usually by adults but increasingly by their peers. Often these are people they know and trust. It refers to damage done to a child’s or young person’s physical, mental or emotional health. Children or young people can be abused within or outside of their family, at school, at play and within any environment such as extra-curricular activities, participation with youth organisations and the like. Abusive situations arise when adults or peers misuse their power over children or young people.

Physical: Where children’s bodies are hurt or injured.
Emotional: This is where children do not receive love and affection. They may be frightened by threats or taunts, or be given responsibilities beyond their capabilities.
Sexual: This is where adults (and sometimes other children) use children to satisfy sexual desires.
Neglect: This is where adults fail to care for children and protect them from danger, seriously impairing their health and development.
Modern Slavery: Modern slavery is the severe exploitation of other people for personal or commercial gain. Modern sklavery is all around us, but often just ourt of sight. Adults and children can become entrapped making clothes, serving our food, nailbars, picking crops or working in factories.
Trafficking: In the UK an increasingly high profile fiorm of child trafficking is County Lines. This involves predominantly British children being groomed by heir exploiters who then coerce them minto buying and selling drugs, often across the country. The exploiters purposefully prey on the vulnerable children and teenagers, grooming them and gaining their trust over time, often by giving them expensive items such as designer clothes and mobile phones, before forcing them to deal drugs to pay back the ‘debt’ that they have incurred. Children do not realise what is happening to them is wrong. They may be too fearful to speak out as they have become reliant on their traffickers to feed and clothe them. They may also have been subjected to physical sexual and emotional abuse or do not know where to turn for help. Children who have been trafficked from outside of the UK often speak little or no English, making them even more isolated and dependent on those exploiting them.
Child Sexual Exploitation: Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a type of sexual abuse. When a child or young person is exploited, they may be given things, like gifts, drugs, money, status, and affection, in exchange for performing sexual activities. Children and young people are often tricked into believing they are in a loving and consensual relationship. This is called grooming. They may trust their abuser and not understand that they are being abused. CSE can happen in person or online. An abuser will gain a child’s trust or control them through violence or blackmail before moving onto sexually abusing them. This can happen in a short period of time.

The following signs MAY indicate abuse; however, it is important not to jump to conclusions, as there could be other explanations:
Physical: Unexplained or hidden injuries that lack evidence of medical attention, children may also exhibit a ‘frozen stare’ when they are in the vicinity of the abuser (this also applies to all groups of abused children).
Emotional: Often children revert to younger behaviour, nervousness, sudden underachievement, attention-seeking, running away from home, stealing and lying.
Sexual: Often children are pre-occupied with sexual matters, as evidenced by words, play, drawings, display sexually provocative behaviour with adults, disturbed sleep, nightmares, bed wetting, secretive relationships with adults and children, stomach pains with no apparent cause.
Neglect: Appearing ill-cared for and unhappy, being withdrawn or aggressive, or having lingering injuries or health problems.
Self-harm: Deliberate or systematic abuse of the person, usually covert but signs of a physical nature such as scarring are usually noticed. Alopecia may be present.
Trafficking: The child looks dishevelled, or dressed in clothes they could not afford, the clothes look inappropriate for the weather and the wrong size, signs of physical abuse bruising or red marks, there may be visible tattoos suggesting part of a gang, the child avoids eye contact appear fearful of adults and children, they can be aggressive towards people in authority, the adult with them may appear very controlling by speaking for them or interpreting for them. If known to you they may exhibit a change in behaviour and reluctant to talk, recently moved to a new house and changed school.
Radicalisation: Becoming increasingly argumentative, refusing to listen to other points of view, unwilling to engage with children who are different, embracing conspiracy theories, feeling persecuted, distancing themselves from old friends, converting to a new religion, being secretive, changing online identity, having more than one online identity, spending a lot of time on the phone, accessing extremist online content, joining extremisy organisations.
Child sexual exploitation: Sexual exploitation can be difficult to spot and sometimes mistaken for “normal” teenage behaviour. Knowing the signs can help protect children and help them when they’ve no one else to turn to.
These are some of the common signs (not exhaustive):

Bullying is not always easy to define, as it can take many forms and take place over a period of time. The main types are physical (hitting, kicking, theft), verbal (threats, name calling) and emotional (isolating and individual from activities and games); all types can be characterised by:

Bullying behaviour may also include:

Emotional and verbal bullying is more common than physical violence, it can also be difficult to cope with or to prove.

The following action should be taken by someone who has concerns about the welfare of a child or young person.

Child abuse can and does occur outside the family setting, and abuse that takes place within a public setting is rarely an isolated event. It is crucial that people are aware of this possibility and that all allegations are treated seriously and appropriate actions taken.
When staff are providing a service to adults, they should ask whether there are children in the family and consider whether the children need help or protection from harm. Children may be at greater risk of harm or in need of additional help in families where the adults have mental health problems, misuse substances or alcohol, are in a violent relationship, have complex needs or learning disabilities

If a child or young person should engage any member of staff in a disclosure information exchange, they should do the following:

The manager will then take advice from the Children’s Safeguarding Service. They will make the initial referral to the appropriate agency. All managers will be aware of their roles and responsibilities using the guidance issued by the local authority. Confidentiality should be maintained on a strictly need-to- basis, and relevant documents stored in a secure location. Advice will be given to the manager in regards to any actions which are deemed necessary.
It can be more difficult for some children to disclose abuse than for others, e.g. disabled children and vulnerable adults will have to overcome additional barriers.
Those working with these groups need to be especially vigilant and give extra thought to how to respond.

Report to your Line Manager or duty officer outside of normal office hours who will
call 999 if the child is at immediate risk.

If a member of staff has concerns, or receives a complaint or allegation about another member of staff who has

then you must immediately report to your line manager who will telephone the Children’s Safeguarding Service. The safeguarding and allegations officer will advise you on the action to take next.
If a concern is raised outside of office hours and you think a referral to social services is required, you should contact the Emergency Duty Team and inform either the Children’s Safeguarding Service or local authority designated officer (LADO) at the first available opportunity during working hours.
The LADO is a specific dedicated role within the local authority where the allegation concerns an employee. They should be used in respect of all cases in which is alleged that an employee has:

A staff member is a person whose work brings them into contact with children in their setting. It therefore applies to all adults whether paid or working in a voluntary capacity including supply/ agency workers on or off premises or sites. All concerns are reported to Emergency Duty Team. Onecall. County Hall, Morpeth Tel: 01670 436 400 onecall@northumberland.gov.uk

Information passed to the Social Services Department or to the police must be as informative as possible, as it may be used in any subsequent legal action; hence there is the necessity for making a factual, detailed record of the following:

Whenever possible, referrals to Social Services Department should be confirmed in writing within 24 hours and the appropriate statutory notification completed and sent to the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Keep a record of the name and designation of the social services member of staff or police officer to whom concerns were passed, and record the time and date of the call in case any follow-up is needed.

Adult Safeguarding
Duty of Candour
Female Genital Mutilation
Notifications
Position of Trust
Supervision

CQC News: CQC Updates Information ‘Safeguarding’ Children and Adults in England
https://www.cqc.org.uk/news/stories/cqc-updates-information-safeguarding-children-adults-england

CQC Inspectors handbook Safeguarding https://www.cqc.org.uk/sites/default/files/20190621_CQC%20Inspector_Handbook_Safeguarding_update.pdf

Gov.UK Report Child Abuse:
https://www.gov.uk/report-child-abuse

Local Multi-Agency Safeguarding Protocol
Available at Northumberland County Council Website
onecall@northumberland.gov.uk

All staff, during induction, are made aware of the organisation’s policies and procedures, all of which are used for training updates. All policies and procedures are reviewed and amended where necessary, and staff are made aware of any changes. Observations are undertaken to check skills and competencies. Various methods of training are used, including one to one, online, workbook, group meetings, and individual supervisions. External courses are sourced as required.

Date Reviewed: May 2021
Person responsible for updating this policy: Carly Fortune
Next Review Date: May 2022