It would seem that every time I open a newspaper or switch on the news there is another case of a child or children being failed by the agencies set up to protect them. Tragic cases such as Baby P and Victoria Climbie share a common theme that the systems in place to safeguard children didn’t work for them.

When we think of these cases many of us imagine it’s the responsibility of social workers to safeguard these vulnerable children, but there are other agencies that also have a duty of care. Many of these agencies will be the first to suspect that a child’s welfare may be at stake, and they are therefore responsible for relaying their concerns to the local authority children’s social care department. These agencies include nurseries like ourselves.

Our Role In Safeguarding Your Child

As nursery providers we follow strict safeguarding policies and procedures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of your child while in our care. Our staff have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS), formerly Criminal Record Bureau check, and are fully trained in safeguarding issues. This is not only reflected in the way care for your child when at nursery but also in their duty to report any concerns they have to their manager.

Raising Concerns About Potential Abuse

“the action we take to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm – is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and families has a role to play.” (HM Government 2013)

Safeguarding means:

• Protecting children from maltreatment.
• Preventing impairment of children’s health or development.
• Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care.
• Taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcome.

Child abuse falls into the following categories: physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and neglect. Our staff are trained to look for signs that a child may be suffering from abuse or neglect such as:

• Significant changes in their behaviour;
• Deterioration in their general well-being;
• Their comments which may give cause for concern, or the things they say (direct or indirect disclosure);
• Changes in their appearance, their behaviour, or their play;
• Unexplained bruising, marks or signs of possible abuse or neglect; and
• Any reason to suspect neglect or abuse outside the setting.

We also take into account other factors that might affect parental capability or a child’s vulnerability; more details of these are available in our Safeguarding Children and Child Protection document.

Helping Parents And Carers

Before I explain the procedures in place for referring a child to the local authority, I would like to stress that a referral, in most cases, does not result in the removal of a child.

Where possible social services want to work with the family and put in place support to enable parents and carers to give their children the care they need, and protect them from harm. Parenting is not easy and anyone who works in childcare accepts that. We also understand that sometimes there is a fine line between what is deemed to be acceptable parenting, and what is termed as abuse.

To this end local authorities are keen to determine whether a child can be left in their home environment and what support their parent or carer needs to keep them safe. A Child Protection Plan will be created and this will involve other agencies like ourselves. We are here to support the child and family too, and follow this plan as set out by the child’s social worker.

Referring A Child To A Local Authority Social Care Team

For more details of our procedures for referring a child to a local authority social care team, please see our Safeguarding Children and Child Protection document. In summary this is what we are legally bound to do:

• Record observations or disclosure that gives cause for concern.
• Inform our designated child protection person of any incidences or concerns.
• Discuss concerns with parents / carers unless we feel this may put the child in greater danger.
• Internally discuss concerns and whether we feel that the child and their carers would benefit from an external agency’s help. In which case a referral is made. This includes referrals to children’s social care.
• Inform parents of this referral. However, in some cases guidance from the Local Safeguarding Children Board does not allow this, for example, where it is believed that the child may be placed in greater danger.
• Notify the registration authority (Ofsted) of any incident or accident.

What Happens Next

Following a referral, the agency contacted will review the case within a working day and decide whether further action is needed. Further action may include an initial assessment, referral to other agencies, provision of advice or information, or no further action.

If no further action is decided upon, the referrer is informed of this decision and reasons for making it. At this point we will also inform the parents of this decision and if possible have a meeting to discuss the child and our role going forwards.

As stated above, should a Child Protection Plan be put in place we, as part of the team involved in caring for the child, will follow guidance set out in this. We also continue to have an obligation to contribute relevant information about the child and family members to the agencies involved.

I hope this information gives you an overview of the procedures in place and our responsibility to the children in our care. If you would like to discuss any of the points contained above please do not hesitate to contact me, either call 01252 757110 or email info@naturallycuriouschildcare.co.uk.

Photo credit: Serge Bertasius Photography at FreeDigitalPhotos.net