Outline_Current_Legislation,_Guidlines,_Policies_and_Procedures_Within_Own_Uk_Nation_Affecting_Safeguarding_of_Children_and_Young_People

Unit 025 Outcome 1 1. Polices and procedures for safeguarding and child protection in settings for children and young people in England and Wales are the result of legislation passed in parliament, including: • In England and Wales, The Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004/In northern Ireland , Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 ~ These acts were brought in with the aim of simplifying the laws that protect children and young people. They tell people what their duties are and how they should work together when Child Abuse is suspected. • Working Together to Safeguard Children 1999 ~ Providing guidelines for professionals in England and Wales to help them work with children who are at risk of harm. • Working Together to Safeguard Children 2006 ~ This updates safeguarding and how agencies should work to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. • Children Act 2004 ~ This act includes, councillors for children’s services with responsibility for local child welfare. Local authority’s children’s directors with responsibility for education and children’s social services. Local safeguarding children’s boards, with powers to make sure that social services, the NHS, education services, the police and other services work together to protect vulnerable children. A common assessment framework to help agencies to identify needs of children. • The Vetting and Barring Scheme ~ If you wish to work with childfren, young people or vulnerable adults you must register with The ISA (Independent Safeguarding Authority), they then check each applicant by looking at their CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check before registering them. • Policies and Procedures ~ All settings working with children and young people must have the following: o Arrangements to work with the local safeguarding children board o A policy for the protection of children that states responsibilities and is reviewed annually o A duty to inform the ISA of any individual who is a threat to children o Up-to-date training on safeguarding for all staff, governors and volunteers o Effective risk assessment of the provision to check that all safeguarding policy and plans work o A named senior member of staff in charge of safeguarding arrangements o Arrangements for CRB checks on all adults who have regular un supervised access to children up to the age of 18 o A single central record of all checks on staff, governors and volunteers o Contact details of at least one parent or carer for all children under the age of 18 • E-safety ~ In 2011 many children and young people have access to the internet and or the use of a mobile phone, which could hold a number of risks. Children risk the exposure of potentially harmful or inappropriate material; The Byron Review 2008 reported on these risks and issued guidance on how they should be protected. No-one will be able to make the internet completely safe but we can reduce the risks to children by blocking unsuitable sites, limiting the time they spend on the internet, making them aware of the potential dangers, and also by educating parents about the risks.