To ensure the protection of all children in our care.
IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT ALL WRITTEN REPORTS OF CONCERNS RELATING TO CHILD PROTECTION REGARDLESS OF THE ORIGIN OF THE CONCERN MUST BE SIGNED AND INCLUDE THE TME AND DATE. FAILURE TO COMPLY MAY RESULT IN THE REPORT BEING INADMISSABLE IN A COURT OF LAW. THIS MAY CAUSE UNNECESSARY DISTRESS TO THE CHILD AND OTHERS.
All visitors must be signed in and out by a member of staff, and must be accompanied at all times.
Any person who is not police checked will not be left unsupervised with the children.
All children must be signed out by the correct designated adult and this should be observed by a member of staff.
All staff must realise and be aware that any changes which may occur in a child’s physical or mental state/behaviour may be a cause for concern and these changes must be noted on the day in question and the play leader/club owner informed. Observations can then be carried out and a report written, this must include the child’s background as this may play a part in the said problem, as we must consider that some symptoms have a reasonable explanation, such as a medical condition. Once an observation and a report has been written, then the decision of further immediate action will be taken and discussed further with a member of Social Services.
All staff will read the document “Child Protection in Wiltshire - Procedures and Guidance”. Any issues of suspected abuse or abuse reported to a member of staff through the child or an adult will result in the following procedures:
Any child who confides in a member of staff about any problem must be listened to carefully and taken seriously - the staff member must not at any time ask the child questions relating to the problem but must inform the play leader or club owner immediately.
The matter will then be dealt with sympathetically and in the strictest of confidence.
When recording something that a child has said the following must be included:
When recording something which has caused concern to a member of staff the following must be included:
Everything the child says must be taken seriously.
The child must be taken aside and allowed to talk, it is essential that the child lead the conversation, the member of staff must not at any time question the child.
The child should be reassured throughout the procedure that he/she is taking the right course of action.
The member of staff may need to inform the child gently and with care that the club may need to seek the advice of others in finding the best way to deal with the situation.
The member of staff will inform the play leader/club owner.
The member of staff will write a full report of what the child said, this report will be signed and will include the date and time. This report will be passed to the play leader/club owner.
The play leader/club owner will decide on the action to be taken, this may be to monitor the situation for a specified length of time, to speak to the parents or to contact social services or another course of action. In making the decision the play leader/club owner will take into account the guidelines of the Wiltshire Area Child Protection Committee.
The action taken will be documented.
The member of staff must document the observation, noting the concern raised and how the observation relates to that concern.
The member of staff will notify the play leader/club owner.
The play leader/club owner together with the member of staff will write a plan of action and observation taking into account the guidelines of the Wiltshire Area Child Protection Committee. This plan of action may include speaking to the parents.
The plan of action will include a date for review when the play leader/club owner will decide whether to continue monitoring, inform social services or if the concern is no longer valid.
he accusation will be reported immediately to the nursery manager/proprietor.
A written statement of the accusation will be recorded to include:
OFSTED will be informed. This is a requirement of the OFSTED National Standards in Day Care.
The member of staff accused of the child protection offence will be interviewed by the nursery manager/proprietor. The member of staff will be made aware of the details of the allegation and that OFSTED have been informed.
The member of staff will be asked to comment on the allegation.
The nursery manager/proprietor will decide on the action to be taken, this may include immediate suspension of the member of staff , without pay. In making the decision the nursery manager/proprietor will take into account the guidelines of the Wiltshire Area Child Protection Committee.
The nursery manager/proprietor will ensure that all stages of the investigation are recorded to include the date and time of reproted incidents and all written reports will include the date and time of recording. The member of staff, OFSTED and any other bodies such as social services or police will be kept informed until there is a conclusion to the matter.
Warminster and Westbury Team
The Beckford Centre
6 Gypsy
Lane
Warminster
BA12 9LR
Telephone 01985 218021
Emergency Duty Team (out of hours)
PO Box 1424
Devizes
SN10
3TF
Telephone 0845 6070888