Child Protection

Introduction

This policy is a declaration of aims; principles and schemes for dealing with child protection for initiatives directly run by Tiny Baller's Limited.

The key responsibility for all of Tiny Baller's Limited initiatives is to protect the child.

Aims

• To be coherent about the tasks and responsibilities of all members of staff with regard to child protection issues.

• To ensure that there is an awareness of the criteria required in identifying children who may be at risk.

• To be coherent about the steps and protocols that should be undertook should there be any concern for a child by a member of staff.

• To ensure that all child protection issues is documented and information is held in confidence in a safe, secure place.

• To ensure coherency with staff regarding the need to have this policy, and to provide training and information where necessary in order for staff to deal with child protection issues appropriately, affectively and efficiently.

Line of responsibility

• All staff have a duty to be aware of possible signs/symptoms of abuse and to report any concerns that they may have to Senior member of staff /manager. Details should be noted in the Child Conscious Record Book with the date and time recorded. The Child Conscious Record Book is the responsibility of the Coach / Assistant Coach / Senior Member of Staff / Manager.

• A decision regarding the best and most appropriate action to be undertaken will always be met with key concern for the protection of the child.

• Any concerns that it is considered of such a serious nature that they should be dealt with by a Social Services will be referred to the duty Social Services at the discretion of the child protection officer. The child protection officer will be notified as soon as possible.

• If the child or any other person is in IMMEDIATE DANGER seek immediate Police assistance by calling the emergency number 999. The child protection officer will be notified as soon as possible.

Recording and storing Information

• A Child Conscious Record Book will be kept and stored in a secure place.

• All entries into this book will be on referral forms, which should be completed in as much detail as possible and fulfilling all the requirements as requested on the form. All entries will also be dated and timed.

Staff/Volunteers

• All staff and volunteers (who must have completed a volunteer form) who have access to young people/children will undertake a Criminal Records Office check every 3 years.

• All members of staff and volunteers should be aware of this procedure and support it.

• All staff have a responsibility to be aware of possible signs/symptoms of abuse and to report any concerns that that may have to their Line Manager. Details should be noted in the Child Conscious Record Book with the date and time recorded.

Procedure

• Suspicions or incidents of abuse will be discussed in private with a manager.

• If we suspect abuse or a child discloses abuse to a member of staff all incidents MUST be recorded with date and time. In case of a disclosure the information in the child discloses will be noted word for word and not left open for interpretation. Such information will be recorded in the Child Conscious Record Book using a suspected child abuse form. The book is kept in a secure place and is strictly confidential.

• All incidents of a natures serious enough to cause the child to be afraid of returning home or if it thought that the child may come to harm would be reported to the Social Services for advice.