Effective Safeguarding Policies & Practices
The Greenwich Children’s Safeguarding Board have developed a Generic SO Toolkit to help organisations develop effective Safeguarding polices. The toolkit is intended to help organisations meet high standards of safe and effective practice regarding the well-being of children and young people. The toolkit will help staff and volunteers to have the necessary information and procedures to help them carry out their safeguarding duties more effectively.
The London Safeguarding Children Board has developed a set of Child Protection procedures, and also has news updates and resources relating to safeguarding across London.
The Safe Network is jointly managed by the NSPCC and Children England, and was created to provide safeguarding advice and support to Voluntary Sector organisations. Their website has lots of excellent information and organisations can also sign up for a free pack full of resources.
The Charity Commission provides guidance for charities on a full range of safeguarding issues.
The Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS) also provides professional advice and support in all areas of safeguarding children throughout the UK. Their services are used not only by churches and groups across the denominational spectrum, but increasingly by other faiths as well.
The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) is an Executive Agency of the Home Office which was set up to help organisations make safer recruitment decisions. Their website provides information regarding the CRB application process and is regularly updated with relevant news.
Key Safeguarding information for organisations who work with children and young people.
Child Protection Policies – The Greenwich Safeguarding Children Board (GSCB) are offering to review any Child Protection/Safeguarding policies developed by voluntary sector organisations in Greenwich. Draft policies can also be reviewed but must be a stage close to completion. The Board will be able to feedback on matters of practice and theory to ensure policies comply with all relevant legislation and guidance. If you are interested in accessing this support please contact Chris at GAVS.
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Safeguarding Training
The Greenwich Children’s Safeguarding Board provides training for professionals working in Greenwich – members of voluntary sector groups working in the borough can attend these courses for free. Their Basic Induction is recommended as a first step for general staff, and Safer Recruitment is a good idea for managers of services. There are also other specialised courses available, please contact the Safeguarding Team directly safeguardingtraining@greenwich.gov.uk, or Chris at GAVS, for further information.
Educare, in partnership with the NSPCC, offer online/distance learning training programmes on a range of Safeguarding and Child Protection issues.
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Special Safeguarding Issues
See below for a list of organisations that provide specific advice and support on a range of issues relating to Safeguarding:
Forced Marriage:
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Karma Nirvana
Sexual Abuse:
Rape Crisis
The Havens
Mosac
Female Genital Mutilation:
Forward
Domestic Violence:
Victim Support
Her Centre
Greenwich Women’s Aid
Online/Esafety:
CEOP
Private Fostering:
Greenwich Council
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What to do if you are Concerned about a Child
If your organisation has concerns that a child is in need of protection they have a responsibility to make a referral to the Greenwich Contact and Referral Team on 02089213172.
The contact and referral team are responsible for:
• Responding to information or referrals about children who are or maybe children in need.
• Carrying out assessments of children and their families who may require services or our intervention to prevent impairment to health or development.
• Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in need, including taking action to protect children from harm.
• Intervening early in a child’s life or as soon as potentially serious or complex needs are identified, in order to prevent them from causing problems that affect a child’s welfare and life chances.
• Supporting disabled children and their families.
• Responding to concerns about the welfare of children outside our of normal office hours.
If you make a telephone referral you will need to follow this up in writing within 48hrs using the inter-agency referral form which is available from the contact and referral team.
For further information regarding this service please see their website.
NSPCC have a free and confidential helpline 0808 800 5000, as well as other useful resources.
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National Policy, Guidance and Legislation
Working Together to Safeguard Children is statutory guidance which sets out how organisations and individuals should work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people in accordance with the Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004.
Safeguarding and Looked after children: national third sector organisation survey 2010 was published by Ofsted in July 2010. It is Ofsted’s first annual survey of third sector organisations representing the interests of, or providing services for, children and young people in every local authority in England. It raises interesting questions about how voluntary organisations access training and make child protection referrals.
National guidance was developed by the DCSF providing best practice guidance for those who work with children in order to safeguard their welfare. It also contains an appendix to help practitioners with the legal issues affecting the sharing of information.
Staff and volunteers who work with children in statutory, community, voluntary and other organisations should be recruited in accordance with the guidance issued to education settings: Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education, DCSF (2006).
Specific guidance has also been developed regarding Safeguarding Children and:
Information Sharing
Safer Working Practice for Adults Who Work with Children and Young People
Managing allegations against staff
For a full list of National policies and documents regarding Safeguarding check the Every Child Matters website.