Safeguarding

This policy provides guidance to all adults working within the wedding childcare sector

Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility and, as such, this policy applies to all staff and volunteers working for NannyTap.

An allegation, disclosure or suspicion of abuse, or an expression of concern about abuse, could be made to any Nanny, Similarly, any member of staff may observe or suspect an incident of abuse.

Child Protection Statement

NannyTap is committed to safeguarding children and promoting children’s welfare and expects all wedding Nannies, to share this commitment and maintain a vigilant and safe environment. Everyone has a responsibility to act, without delay, to protect children by reporting anything that might suggest a child is being abused or neglected.

It is our willingness to work safely and children by reporting anything that might suggest a child is being abused or neglected. It is our willingness to work safely and challenge inappropriate behaviours that underpins this commitment.

Policy Aims

·  To ensure that NannyTap takes appropriate action, in a timely manner, to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children

·  To ensure responsibilities and procedures are fully understood and that nanny staff can recognise signs and indicators of abuse or neglect and respond to them appropriately.

·  To ensure that practice meets local and national guidance and all statutory requirements are in place.

·  To support children to keep themselves safe.

Working Together to Safeguard Children (DfE 2018) provides additional guidance which makes it clear that protecting children from harm and promoting their welfare depends upon a shared responsibility and effective joint working between different agencies:

Everyone who works with children has a responsibility for keeping them safe. No single practitioner can have a full picture of a child’s needs and circumstances and, if children and families are to receive the right help at the right time, everyone who comes into contact with them has a role to play in identifying concerns, sharing information and taking prompt action.

All Nannies should:

·  Contribute to ensuring a safe environment.

·  Maintain the belief that ‘it could happen here’. 

·  Report any concerns about a child’s welfare without delay to the appropriate services and alert NannyTap Owner  Head Nanny (Annette Nolan)

·  Ensure that Nannies record their concerns using the agreed reporting procedure using incident report sheets in a contemporaneous fashion. Records will note the difference between fact and opinion. The child’s voice will be made clearly evident.

·  Ensure that concerns relating to children remain confidential and are only shared with the appropriate safeguarding staff.

·  Understand that any member of staff can make a referral to children’s services should that be required, informing Head Nanny Annette nolan of all action taken.

·  Report any concerns without delay about the behaviour of an adult towards a child to the Head Nanny, Designated Safeguarding Lead Annette Nolan

·  Understand their responsibility to escalate their concerns and ‘press for reconsideration’ if a child remains at risk or their needs are not met. This includes the understanding that any member Nanny can make a referral to Children’s Services if required to do.

·  Staff providing childcare must personally report to the police cases where they discover that an act of FGM appears to have been carried out.

·  Be aware safeguarding issues can manifest themselves via peer on peer abuse.

·  Be aware that behaviour by themselves, those with whom they have a relationship or association, or others in their personal lives (in or out of the booking or online), may impact on their work with children.

·  Be aware that if their role is within the scope of the Childcare Act 2006 and they commit a relevant offence that would appear on their DBS certificate or they become disqualified under the Childcare Act 2006, then they must inform owner, head nanny Annette nolan

·  Be aware that they should inform head nanny of any cautions, convictions or relevant order accrued during their employment, and/or if they are charged with a criminal offence.

·  Understand that some children, including those with Special Educational Needs or Looked After, may be more vulnerable to abuse.

·  Have access to managing allegations against adults procedures and whistle blowing policy. (The NSPCC whistleblowing helpline is available for staff who do not feel able to raise concerns regarding child protection failures internally. Staff can call: 0800 028 0285 – line is available from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Friday and Email: help@nspcc.org.uk.)

Procedures for reporting child protection or child welfare concerns:

·  Consideration will need to be given to immediately protecting the child and contacting the police and/or ringing for an ambulance if the child is injured.

·  The Designated Safeguarding Lead will take immediate action delay and will make a referral to children’s services by telephone if a child is believed to be suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. This referral will always be followed up in writing.

Children’s Services contact details are as follows:

Careline Hub 0151 233 3700
Halton Social Care Contact Centre 0151 907 8305 (Out of hours 0345 050 0148) Knowsley MASH 0151 443 2600
Sefton 0345 140 0845 (Out of hours 0151 934 3555)
St Helens Contact Centre 01744 676 600
Warrington 01925 443322 (Out of hours 01925 444400)
Wirral Integrated Front Door 0151 606 2008 (Out of hours 0151 677 6557)

If a member of staff in the course of their work discovers that an act of Female Genital Mutilation appears to have been carried out on a girl under the age of 18 the staff member must report this to owner head nanny (Annette) and to the police. Keeping Children Safe in Education provides additional guidance.

Process to follow if a child makes a disclosure

If a child makes a disclosure of abuse, staff should:

·  Listen and keep calm. Do not interrupt

·  Not promise the child that they will keep the matter confidential. Explain to the child who they will need to tell and why

·  Observe visible bruises and marks, but should not ask a child to remove or adjust their clothing to view them

·  Keep questions to a minimum as their role is not to investigate. If staff need to ask questions in order to ascertain whether this is a safeguarding concern, they should ensure they are open questions

·  Use the “TED” model for asking open ended questions: “Tell me about that”, “Explain that to me”, “Describe that”

·  Make a record of what has been said immediately afterwards in words used by the child and the member of staff to the best of their memory. Use capital letters for the child’s words to help distinguish between the two.

·  Note anything about the child which is connected i.e. any visible injuries including the position and description, the demeanour of the child i.e. crying, withdrawn etc.

·  Clearly indicate whether fact, opinion or third party information

·  Report the matter immediately to the authorities and owner, head nanny Annette

Nannies should not:

·  Ask leading questions, put words into the child’s mouth or press for details

·  Rush the child

·  Examine the child

·  Investigate

·  Promise confidentiality

·  Summarise or use your own words to describe events

·  Delay sharing the information with the Designated Safeguarding Lead

Managing allegations against staff working with NannyTap

All  staff will be aware of relevant policies and procedures. The Staff Code of Conduct includes guidance for staff regarding NannyTap expectations of the use of mobile phones, electronic equipment and social media.

All staff  must report any concerns about a member of staff’s behaviour towards children head/lead Nanny who will act as the lead Annette

Local Safeguarding Children Partnership multi-agency procedures will be followed in all cases where it is alleged that a member of staff has:

·  behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child

·  possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child

·  behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children

NannyTap managing allegations against staff  policy and procedures will support everyone to take appropriate action.

Concerns can also be taken directly Children’s Services /care line