2.3 Voluntary, Charity, Social Enterprise, Faith-based organisations, the private sector, Sports clubs/organisations

SCOPE AND GUIDANCE

This protocol details the expectations that the Norfolk Safeguarding Children Partnership (NSCP) has of all agencies and organisations working within Norfolk which provide any activity outside of a statutory requirement. This includes any educational, cultural, sporting, spiritual, leisure or recreational opportunity for children and young people on a full time, part time, commercial or voluntary basis.

Working Together 2023 Chapter 4 (paragraphs 311-315) highlights the expectations for the organisations mentioned above. It is highly recommended that at least one person in your organisation has read, understood and is able to refer to the Working Together 2023 guidance.

Organisations should have in place the arrangements (highlighted in Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023): that reflect the importance of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, including:

  • a clear line of accountability
  • a senior board level lead
  • a culture of listening to children and taking account of their wishes and feelings
  • clear whistleblowing procedures
  • A clear safeguarding culture
  • clear escalation policies for staff to follow
  • arrangements for sharing information, with other practitioners and with safeguarding partners.
  • a designated safeguarding person/lead
  • safe recruitment practices
  • appropriate supervision and support for staff/volunteers, including undertaking safeguarding training.

In addition:

  • the organisation is responsible for ensuring that their staff/volunteers are competent to carry out their responsibilities for safeguarding
  • staff/volunteers should be given a mandatory induction including safeguarding.
  • all staff/volunteers should have regular reviews of their own practice

This protocol below details the above requirements of Chapter 4 of Working Together in line with the expectations of multi-agency working within Norfolk.

1. Principles

1.1 Working Together 2023

This protocol is to be used by the above organisations to understand how to apply the requirements of Working Together 2023(WT23) based around two key principles:

  • Safeguarding is a shared responsibility. Successful outcomes for children depend on strong partnership working with parents/carers and the practitioners working with them.
  • A child-centred approach within a whole family focus: for services to be effective they should be based on a clear understanding of the needs and views of children.

1.2 Principles Underpinning all Work to Safeguard and Promote the Welfare of Children

The NSCP has developed the following principles, which should underpin practice when working with children and their families in Norfolk:  

  • Child-centred
  • Rooted in child development
  • Focused on outcomes for children
  • Holistic in approach
  • Ensuring equality of opportunity
  • Involving children and families
  • Building on strengths as well as identifying difficulties
  • Integrated in approach
  • A continuing process not an event
  • Providing and reviewing services
  • Informed by evidence

2. Staff and Volunteers

2.1 Recruitment

It is your responsibility to have done everything you can to ensure that adults are safe to be working with children. Having robust procedures and policies in place, will help prevent unsuitable people from working or volunteering in your organisation.

It is expected that all groups and organisations in Norfolk follow the Safer Recruitment Guidance, published by the NSCP, which sets out best practice standards.

A safer recruitment process deters unsuitable applicants from working with children.

The Safer Programme offers a Safer Recruitment Course, which can be booked here: Safer Training Booking page | NSCP

2.2 Training

Everyone working with children should be trained in safeguarding at the appropriate level for their role.

It is your responsibility to ensure that all staff and volunteers have access to high quality training which enables them to understand their own responsibilities relevant to their role.

The NSCP recommends that both staff and volunteers should as a minimum complete an Introduction to Safeguarding Children Course, which is refreshed as least every 3 years. The Safer Programme offers this training, which can be accessed here: Safer Training Booking page | NSCP

It is the role of the NSCP to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of training for all professionals in the area and in doing so has highlighted the following areas:

  • If you are commissioning training, it is highly recommended that you either use the NSCP Safer Programme or ensure that the training has been validated by the NSCP. This ensures all safeguarding training is of the highest possible standard.
  • If you are delivering in-house training, it is expected that you will get it validated by the NSCP, this will ensure your training meets the NSCP expectations for content and quality.

2.3 Safer Staffing

It is important to recognise that ensuring adults are safe to work with children does not stop at the end of the recruitment process. You should have processes in place that monitor and provide support to staff including a full induction process, adequate supervision levels and regularly reviewed risk assessments.

It is also essential to have a Code of Conduct for staff and volunteers which sets out clear expectations e.g. behaviour, physical contact and one to one situations. More information can be found here: Guidance for safer working practice for those working with children

2.4 Whistle blowing and Managing Allegations against Staff and Volunteers

Your organisation should have a whistle blowing policy in place and a culture that enables staff and volunteers to discuss concerns with the appropriate person if they have witnessed behaviour, they consider inappropriate or harmful to children.

Staff and volunteers should feel empowered to raise concerns through a clear process that prevents victimisation or reprisal. If a staff member or volunteer feels unable to raise the issue directly with the organisation, your policy should set out what alternative routes are available.

WT23:108 “Organisations working with children and families should have clear policies for dealing with allegations against people who work with children. Such policies should make a clear distinction between an allegation, a concern about the quality of care or practice, or a complaint”.

It is your responsibility to notify the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) Team in all cases in which it is alleged that a person who works with children has:

  • behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child and/or;
  • possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child and/or;
  • behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates he or she may pose a risk of harm to children; and/or
  • behaved or may have behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children.

2.5 Complaints

Users of your service (and others) should be made aware of how to make complaints and feel safe and supported in doing so. It is expected that your organisation will have a complaints procedure in place which should be on display. Also, a system that allows you to learn from any complaints made.  

3. Practice

3.1 Child Centred

WT23:11 highlights that a child-centred approach is fundamental to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every child. All those working with children should see and speak to the child, listen to what they say, observe their behaviour, take their views seriously, and work with them and their families and the people who know them well when deciding how to support their needs.

3.2 Early Help and Assessments

WT 23:118 defines early help as: “support for children of all ages that improves a family’s resilience and outcomes or reduces the chance of a problem getting worse.”

Individuals working with children should be alert to early warning signs of abuse and neglect, be prepared to share that information with other professionals, as appropriate, and provide active support for the child where required. This means that you should:

  • know who to talk to in your organisation should you have any concerns about a child;
  • know how to contact The Children’s Advice and Duty Service (CADS) to discuss concerns;
  • be familiar with the Norfolk Continuum of Need Guidance;
  • have a policy on Information Sharing
  • be involved in multi-agency assessments where requested to do so;
  • be prepared to provide further support where required;
  • be prepared to work alongside other agencies.

3.3 Seeking Advice and Guidance when there are safeguarding concerns

It is important to seek advice and guidance when you are unsure of what to do next.

The Children’s Advice and Duty Service (CADS) is made up of a team of Consultant Social Workers who provide advice, support and signposting, identifying the correct services and support for the child. This could be by going through to an Early Help Provision, Social Work Team or initially into the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) when there are safeguarding concerns and inter-agency checks are required.

3.4 Record Keeping

It is important that all records are kept in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act (2018) and that when disclosures are made this is recorded accurately. You are expected to ensure all confidential information is kept securely stored and access is restricted to relevant people. The NSCP have issued a good practice Guidance for Child Protection Record Keeping, which can be accessed here: 11-record-keeping-guidance_v2.docx (live.com).

3.5 Escalation

If you feel at any point, including after making a referral, that the response is not adequate then please refer to the NSCP Escalation Policy, which details the escalation options available. Part of your role is being prepared to challenge other agencies and professionals if you still have concerns.

4. Governance

Effective governance is important to ensure there is a clear process in place for safeguarding accountability. Depending on your structure and activities, you may need to register as a charity with The Charity Commission and comply with the Charities Act 2011.

4.1 Trustees and Board Members

Trustees of charities which work with children have a legal duty of care which will include taking the necessary steps to safeguard and take responsibility for their beneficiaries. In addition, all organisations have legal responsibilities regarding the staff and volunteers being safe to work with children.

Trustees, Board Members and Committee Members should be aware of their responsibilities and obligations in relation to safeguarding. This means:

  • A clear line of accountability
  • A named trustee/board member to take the responsibility for safeguarding​
  • A named designated safeguarding lead with clear roles & responsibilities​
  • Ensuring all policies and procedures are in place
  • Assessing, testing and monitoring the effectiveness of these policies and procedures

4.2 Policies and Procedures

Every organisation should have safeguarding policies and procedures in place. The safeguarding policy should include, as a minimum, the following:

  • Name and contact details for the Designated Safeguarding Person
  • Procedure for handling a disclosure from a child
  • Procedure for responding to suspicions of abuse
  • The procedure for contacting The Children’s Advice and Duty Service
  • The procedure for Managing Allegations against staff or volunteers (including contacting the LADO)

4.3 Section 11

It is the responsibility of the commissioning organisation to ensure “that any services that they contract out to others, are discharged having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children” (WT23:106). This is set out in Section 11 of the Children Act 2004. In practice this means having in place all the items set out in this protocol and participating in the annual audit conducted by the NSCP. Only organisations commissioned to provide services will be included in this audit.

5. Further Support

Sports Clubs and Organisations

2.2
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