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| Policies
& procedures | General
1. AIMS NI-ADD has a primary responsibility for the care, welfare and safety of our younger clients and the individual welfare of our child / young people client group is our paramount consideration. The purpose of the following procedures on Child Protection is to protect a most vulnerable group within society, by ensuring that everyone who works within NI-ADD has a clear understanding and the guidance which will inform them of the necessary action required, where there is a case of suspected abuse of a child or young person. 2. INTRODUCTION The principles and philosophy which underpins our work with children and young people, are those as set out in the ‘U.N. Convention of the Rights of the Child’ and is enshrined within the ‘Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995’ legislation (- effective from November 1996). In particular the principle which NI-ADD supports is that every child has the fundamental right to be safe from all form of harm. That they be afforded the proper care, and attention - to their physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual needs and overall well being by those looking after them. To ensure that every child and young person develop and they achieve and fulfil their true potential free from all forms of abuse. A proper balance must be struck between protecting children / young people and respecting the rights and needs of parents and families. However; where a conflict of interest may arise the child / young person’s interests must always come first. * Children have the right to live free from any form of abuse (NI-ADD policy doc – issue date 02.02) 3. DEFINITIONS of CHILD ABUSE Neglect- the persistent or significant neglect of a child, or failure to protect a child from exposure to any kind of danger, including cold or starvation, or persistent failure to carry out important aspects of care, resulting in significant impairment of the child / young person’s health or development. Physical - physical injury to a child / young person, whether deliberately inflicted or knowingly not prevented. Sexual - the sexual exploitation of a child / young person for an adult’s or another young person’s own sexual gratification; the involvement of children or young people in sexual activities of any kind (including exposure to pornography) which they do not understand, to which they are unable to give informed consent or that violate normal family roles. Emotional – persistent or significant emotional ill treatment or rejection, resulting in severe adverse effects on the emotional, physical and / or behavioural development of a child. Bullying – Bullying is a highly distressing and damaging form of abuse and is not tolerated by NI-ADD. All staff must be vigilant at all times to the possibility of bullying occurring, and must take immediate steps to recognise and prevent it from happening. Should such an event occur, immediate steps must be taken to protect and reassure the victim and to deal appropriately with any person perpetrating such actions. 4. NI-ADD ‘IN HOUSE’ PROCEDURES NI-ADD recognises our six main responsibilities in the important areas of Child Protection. These are: in the prevention, recognition, response, referral process, confidentiality and communication / recording system. All are of equal importance in Child Protection. NI-ADD has from its inception placed emphasis and developed a ‘Child Protection Ethos’ and a preventative perspective. NI-ADD attempts to offer protection at two different levels:
· Long term protection - enhancing self-esteem, encouraging ‘self –protection’ awareness and appropriate social skills through different forms of intervention
All staff / volunteers have a responsibility to operate with a high personal and an ‘active awareness’ regarding Child Protection issues, at all times. All staff have a responsibility to initially inform (report immediately / verbally) to the Designated CP Officer, any concerns they may have regarding Child Protection issues as defined above. Every member of staff should be aware of, and implement, the positive practice contained within the pages of ‘NI-ADD’s General Principles and Code of Conduct’ document. (Issued as part of your induction programme and contract of employment pack).
All Senior Line Managers must ensure that NI-ADD’s Child Protection Policy is adhered to. That it is brought to the attention of staff that they hold responsibility for and that all staff has a clear understanding of the definitions of Child Abuse and their responses as listed above. The Senior Line Manager must ensure that NI-ADD’s Child Protection Policy and Procedures are implemented either within the Centre or within a community setting or within any setting they hold responsibility for. The ‘Designated Child Protection Officer’ (who may be a member of the Senior Line Management Team) must receive adequate and appropriate training in Child Protection issues. He / She must ensure that the any referrals which are taken forward into the formal Child Protection Arena / Statutory Child Protection (Social Services) are conducted in an appropriate manner and that the NI-ADD Co-ordinator and the Chairperson from the Management Committee are informed immediately from the point of receipt of the information / nature of the concern. (NI-ADD policy doc issue date02/02)
Where any concerns are reported to the Designated CP Officer – the Co-ordinator should be informed immediately (verbally) and confirmation of any concerns should follow on the appropriate internal Notification Form ‘NI-ADD CP2 Initial Notification Form’. The exact concerns should then be discussed in person and recorded in detail with the relevant staff member /volunteer concerns as raised, as soon as possible. A summary of the concerns should then be passed to the Co-ordinator and Chairperson as soon as possible, via telephone, confirmed via fax transmission or electronic mail routes using internal Notification Form. Should a staff member / volunteer have cause to notify (of Child Protection concerns) - the Designated CP Officer ‘out of hours’ i.e. after 5.00 pm or at weekends, a telephone / fax number and electronic mail address should be made available to staff for this purpose. 8. PROCEDURES WHEN A MEMBER OF STAFF HAS A CONCERN ABOUT A CHILD / YOUNG PERSON Staff / volunteer staff are encouraged in the first instance, to discuss in confidence and in person any concern they may have regarding the well being of a child / young person, as soon as possible with the Designated CP Officer or in their absence the Co-ordinator. Staff / volunteer staff should then confirm after this, immediately and in writing, their concerns to the Designated CP Officer and / or the Co-ordinator in their absence. A written record should be compiled on the internal Notification Form provided ‘NI-ADD CPC 1 Initial Notification’. It is important that confidentiality is maintained. (NI-ADD policy doc issue date02.02)
The Designated CP Officer will liaise with the relevant Social Service office which receives CP referrals, initially by telephone, and confirmation of this referral and the nature of the concerns will then be forwarded as soon as possible by fax transmission and or electronic mail. With confirmation then forwarded on the next available working day, in ‘hard copy’ form via Royal Mail ‘Special Delivery Service’ with all proof of sending, (the proof of dispatch slip) attached to the documentation retained in the file of the client concerned. Where a referral to the CP Agency / Social Services must be made and take place ‘out of hours’ i.e. after 5.00 pm or at weekends etc the relevant ‘Trust Emergency Duty Social Work Team’ will be contacted and the same procedure followed through as detailed above for normal working day arrangements. 9. ATTENDANCE AT CHILD PROTECTION CONFERENCE MEETINGS AND REVIEW The Designated CP Officer and in their absence the Co-ordinator, may be required to attend (where invited) all necessary Initial CP Case Conference and Review Meetings held by Social Services or other agencies involved. They may participate at such meetings with a view to representing the views of NI-ADD. The member of staff who reported the initial concern may also attend such meetings (when invited by the Designated CP Officer and or the Co-ordinator). 10. CO-OPERATING TO PROTECT – INTERAGENCY LIASION Where a child or young person is already known to Social Services at point of referral, or, becomes ‘known to Social Services’ during the currency of their contact with NI-ADD in relation CP issues. It will be the reasonable expectation that NI-ADD will liaise with and provide all necessary information to assist Social Services or any other agency in the investigation of present potential CP concerns and /or any historical concerns as they may be disclosed. NI-ADD may with the permission of the client undertake multi-disciplinary liaison in relation to CP issues. (NI-ADD policy doc issue date02.02)
The person / staff member receiving any allegation should report it immediately to the Designated CP Officer following the similar procedure for a CP concern. In the event that it may refer to the Designated CP Officer, it should be reported to the Co-ordinator. Any person involved in this matter should handle the content of the allegation and practice the strictest levels of confidentiality, given the sensitivity and seriousness attached to same. (For detail on investigation of allegation – please refer to the relevant section of NI-ADD’s Policy and Procedure Manual). 12. MONITORING EVALUATION and REVIEW The policy documents will be compiled in conjunction and consultation with the relevant staff and management. It will be reviewed, evaluated and updated annually. Clients and other agencies will be consulted as necessary. 13. CONFIDENTIALITY and RECORD-KEEPING It is an expectation that staff will operate with openness and transparency in their interactions with clients. However, in relation to CP issues NI-ADD will treat all information and / or concerns they receive from clients regarding CP issues in strictest confidence. Sharing of information will only take place with the necessary personnel and agency staff involved both external to and internal to NI-ADD. It is good practice for staff to seek the permission (where possible)
from their client before passing on information. However at times,
it may be necessary to advise the client and make them aware of
the ‘boundaries of confidentiality’ which apply in relation
to CP issues, when these concerns take the form of a ‘self-
disclosure’. This is obviously dependent on the age and level
of understanding of the client concerned. (NI-ADD policy doc issue date02.02)
These records will be treated and marked as ‘strictly confidential’. They will only be accessed by the Designated CP Officer and or the Co-ordinator. It should be noted that information given to members of staff about CP concerns cannot be held in confidence. In the interest of the safety and well being of a child / young person, staff will need to share this information with other professionals. 14. SUPPORT for STAFF Dealing with CP concerns can be both very stressful and give rise to concern for the individual staff involved. It is therefore important for staff to share in confidence and to express any concern they may have and seek support within the supervision structure in relation to these matters. (NI-ADD policy doc issue date02.02)
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