Safeguarding

All staff and volunteers, without exception, will be made fully aware and trained regarding the ReBourne Recovery CIC Child Protection Policy. They will also be informed of any updates and reviews of this policy.

Although ReBourne Recovery does not treat children directly, we recognise that due to the nature of our services adults who engage with us are usually vulnerable themselves and may have children or be guardians for children. Consequently we ensure all staff are trained to be acutely aware of the possibility that any child from 0–17 years may be at some risk of abuse or neglect.

Abuse of a child is predominantly seen as the parent or guardian being unable to manage their emotions, choices, actions or behaviours resulting in a negative impact on any child in their care or vicinity. Neglect is seen as any basic needs that a child has that are unmet. This may be in the form of nutrition, warmth, shelter, clothing, emotional support, guidance, presence, supervision, awareness of the child’s safety, health and wellbeing, school attendance and healthy boundaries.

This policy applies to all users of ReBourne Recovery CIC premises, consultants, employees, volunteers, service users, people supporting service users, their families and carers. Some participants will have their own Child Protection Policy, however we recognise that other groups or individuals will not have a policy and we therefore expect those groups to read, agree and accept this policy. This policy is available at all of our premises and online.

The policy provides a framework which enables ReBourne Recovery employees and volunteers to make informed and confident responses to specific child protection issues. ReBourne Recovery CIC has a Health and Safety Policy and undertakes risk assessments to ensure the protection of children.

Abuse or neglect of a child is caused 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.

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 feigns the symptoms of, or deliberately causes ill health to a child whom they are looking after.

Emotional abuse is 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 in so far as they meet the needs of another person, and age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on them.

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 or non-penetrative acts, or non-contact activities.

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.

In all cases it is vital to take whatever action is needed to safeguard the children. If emergency medical attention is required this can be secured by calling an ambulance (dial 999) or taking a child to the nearest Accident and Emergency Department. If a child is in immediate danger the police should be contacted (dial 999) as they alone have the power to remove a child immediately if protection is necessary via a Police Protection Order.

It is not the responsibility of anyone working for ReBourne Recovery CIC, in a paid or unpaid capacity, to decide whether or not child abuse has taken place. However, there is a responsibility to act on any concerns by reporting these to the Child Protection Representative (Emma Disney) or the appropriate authorities.

Explain that for the clarity and safety of all concerned it is advisable to have a second person (witness) present and make written and voice recordings of all enquiries relating to child abuse and neglect. Please make it clear that these will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.

Any suspicion that a child has been abused by a staff member or volunteer should be reported to a company director, who will take such steps as considered necessary to ensure the safety of the child in question and any other child who may be at risk. The company director will refer the allegation to the social services department who may involve the police. The parents or carers of the child will be contacted as soon as possible following advice from the social services department if it is safe to do so. If the company director is the subject of the suspicion/allegation, the report must be made to another director.

Don’t make promises you can’t keep, don’t interrogate the person, don’t cast doubt on what they have told you, don’t say anything that makes them feel guilty about what they are telling you, it is important to keep communications flowing, and don’t do nothing: tell your nominated Child Protection Officer (Emma Disney) immediately.

Allegations of abuse may be made some time after the event (e.g. by an adult who was abused as a child or a volunteer who is still currently working with children). Where such an allegation is made, the procedures as detailed above should be followed and the matter should be reported to social services or the police. This is because other children may be at risk from this person.

To ensure that this information is as helpful as possible, a detailed record should always be made at the time of the disclosure/concern, which should include:

If you are worried about sharing concerns about abuse with a senior colleague, you can contact social services or the police direct, or the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000, or Childline on 0800 1111.

Procedures to deal with in-house allegations against staff/volunteers: please take all concerns to a Company Director or the Child Protection Representative (Emma Disney).

All ReBourne Recovery CIC staff and volunteers must be aware of the need to maintain professional boundaries in their relationships with children and their carers. Smacking children and other forms of physical punishment are not permitted and should be referred as possible child abuse.

It is important to make a distinction between a complaint and an allegation of abuse. When a complaint by, or on behalf of a child implies an allegation of ill treatment then this should be treated in the first instance as a child protection matter; the complaint procedure would then be applied following the conclusion of child protection enquiries, if the complaint remains outstanding.

Where allegations of abuse are made against a consultant or volunteer, the matter should always be referred to social services, in the same way as any other concern about possible abuse. It is the responsibility of social services in consultation with the police to decide whether the allegation necessitates a child protection enquiry, and/or a police investigation into a possible offence.

Every effort should be made to ensure that confidentiality is maintained for all concerned. Information should be handled and disseminated on a need to know basis only. This includes the following people:

Any written information regarding Safeguarding Children issues concerning individuals needs to be kept in a safe locked place to ensure confidentiality as per our Data Protection Policy, however the safety of the child is paramount.

DBS checks: all employees and volunteers of ReBourne Recovery CIC need to have undertaken an enhanced DBS check.

Concerns about poor practice: if, following consideration, the allegation is clearly about poor practice by an employee or volunteer, a Company Director will investigate and take appropriate measures to resolve the issue by drawing attention to this policy, administering further training or following our Letting Go of Employees and Volunteers Policy.

Implementation is immediate and this Policy shall stay in force until any alterations are formally agreed by Directors. This Policy will be reviewed annually by the Directors, sooner if legislation, best practice or other circumstances indicate this is necessary. All aspects of this Policy shall be open to review at any time. If you have any comments or suggestions on the content of this policy please contact Emma Disney (Safeguarding Children Representative and Director) on rebournerecovery@gmail.com.

Latest version updated 30 December 2020.