Nicolas Copernicus Polish Saturday School in Peterborough
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
INTRODUCTION:
This document is the Child Protection Policy for Polish Saturday School in Peterborough which will be followed by all members of the organisation and followed and promoted by those in the position of leadership within our organisation.
The purpose of our organisation is to provide complementary education in Polish language, literature, Polish history and geography to children from Peterborough and surrounding area. We also believe that our school is a part of the wider Peterborough society therefore we strive to work with and support the community of Peterborough as a whole.
Our organisation undertakes activities with children in the absence of their parents/carers and has the opportunity to observe the young persons/children’s welfare within their family setting. Teachers and the management of the school are responsible for the children’s welfare throughout all the work undertaken by the organisation.
We know that being a young person makes them more vulnerable to abuse by those adults who seek to abuse. The purpose of this policy is to make sure that the actions of any adult in the context of the work carried out by the organisation are transparent and safeguard and promote the welfare of all young people.
If any parent or young person/child has any concerns about the conduct of any member of the organisation, this should be raised in the first instance with Kasia Chiva, Deputy Head by telephoning 07731655667 or emailing kchiva@yahoo.co.uk (designated child protection contact).
Principles upon which the Child Protection Policy is based.
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The welfare of a child or young person will always be paramount. The welfare of families will be promoted.
The rights, wishes and feelings of children, young people and their families will be respected and listened to.
Those people in positions of responsibility within the organisation will work in accordance with the interests of children and young people and follow the policy outlined below.
Those people in positions of responsibility within the organisation will ensure that the same opportunities are available to everyone and that all differences between individuals will be treated with respect.
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CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
Immediate action may be necessary at any stage in involvement with children and families.
IN ALL CASES IT IS VITAL TO TAKE WHATEVER ACTION IS NEEDED TO SAFEGUARD THE CHILD/REN ie:
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 Police Protection Order.
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 more rarely by a stranger.
Physical Abuse
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. This situation is commonly described using terms such as, Fabricated and Induced Illness or Munchausen Syndrome by proxy.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional maltreatment 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 insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may include not giving the child opportunities to express their views, deliberately silencing them or ‘making fun’ of what they say or how they communicate. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions that are beyond the child’s developmental capability, as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the child participating in normal social interaction. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill treatment of another. It may involve serious bullying (including cyberbullying), causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, though it may occur alone.
Sexual Abuse
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 (eg rape or buggery) or non-penetrative acts. This may include non-penetrative acts. They may include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, pornographic material, or watching sexual activities, or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.
Neglect
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. It may involve a parent or carer failing to provide adequate food, shelter and clothing, failing to protect a child from physical harm or danger, or the failure to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.
Individuals within the organisation need to be alert to the potential abuse of children both within their families and also from other sources including abuse by members of that organisation.
The organisation should know how to recognise and act upon indicators of abuse or potential abuse involving children. There is an expected responsibility for all members of the organisation to respond to any suspected or actual abuse of a child in accordance with these procedures.
It is good practice to be as open and honest as possible with parents/carers about any concerns.
However, you must not discuss your concerns with parents/carers in the following circumstances:
What to do if children talk to you about abuse or neglect
It is recognised that a child may seek you out to share information about abuse or neglect, or talk spontaneously individually or in groups when you are present. In these situations you must:
you are glad they have told you;
they have not done anything wrong;
what you are going to do next.
The purpose of consultation is to discuss your concerns in relation to a child and decide what action is necessary.
You may become concerned about a child who has not spoken to you, because of your observations of, or information about that child.
It is good practice to ask a child why they are upset or how a cut or bruise was caused, or respond to a child wanting to talk to you. This practice can help clarify vague concerns and result in appropriate action.
If you are concerned about a child you must share your concerns. Initially you should talk to one of the people designated as responsible for child protection within your organisation. In this organisation this person is Kasia Chiva
tel: 07731655667
If one of those people is implicated in the concerns you should discuss your concerns directly with Children's Services, Social Care Department.
You should consult externally with your local Children's Services, Social Care Department in the following circumstances:
Consultation is not the same as making a referral but should enable a decision to be made as to whether a referral to Social Services or the Police should progress.
A referral involves giving Children's Services, Social Care Department or the Police information about concerns relating to an individual or family in order that enquiries can be undertaken by the appropriate agency followed by any necessary action.
In certain cases the level of concern will lead straight to a referral without external consultation being necessary.
Consult with parents and encourage them to make a telephone referral or with their consent refer on their behalf. Parents/carers should be informed if a referral is being made except in the circumstances outlined on p 4.
However, inability to inform parents for any reason should not prevent a referral being made. It would then become a joint decision with Children's Services, Social Care Department about how and when the parents should be approached and by whom.
IF YOUR CONCERN IS ABOUT ABUSE OR RISK OF ABUSE FROM SOMEONE NOT KNOWN TO THE CHILD OR CHILD’S FAMILY, YOU SHOULD MAKE A TELEPHONE REFERRAL DIRECTLY TO THE POLICE AND CONSULT WITH THE PARENTS.
If your concern is about abuse or risk of abuse from a family member or someone known to the children, you should make a telephone referral to your local Children's Services, Social Care Department Office.
Information required
Be prepared to give as much of the following information as possible (in emergency situations all of this information may not be available). Unavailability of some information should not stop you making a referral.
Action to be taken following the referral
The organisation should ensure that any records made in relation to a referral should be kept confidentially and in a secure place.
Information in relation to child protection concerns should be shared on a “need to know” basis. However, the sharing of information is vital to child protection and, therefore, the issue of confidentiality is secondary to a child’s need for protection.
If in doubt, consult.