Tda_2.2

TDA 2.2 Safeguarding the welfare of children and young people. Know about the legislation guidelines, policies and procedures for safeguarding the welfare of children and young people including e-safety. 1. Identify the current legislation guidelines, policies and procedures for safeguarding the welfare of children and young people including e-safety. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) – ensures that children are safe and looked after. Children have the right to be protected from all types of abuse. The convention gives children and young people the right to: Special protection measures and assistance Access to services such as education and healthcare Develop their personalities, abilities and talents to the fullest potential Grow up in an environment of happiness, love and understanding Be informed about and participate in achieving their rights in an accessible and active manner Children’s Act 1989 - Parents and professionals must work together to ensure the welfare of the child. At act believes that: The best place for children to be looked after is within their own homes. The welfare of the child is the paramount consideration. Parents should continue to be involved with their children and any legal proceedings that may concern them, and that legal proceedings should be unnecessary in most instances. The welfare of children should be promoted by partnership between the family and the Local Authority. Children should not be removed from their family, or contact terminated, unless it is absolutely necessary to do so. The child's needs arising from race, culture, religion and language must be taken into account. Education Act 2002 – This sets out the responsibilities for local education authorities, governing bodies, head teachers and all those working in schools to ensure that children are safe and free from harm. Teachers and other staff in the education service have day-to-day contact with individual children. They are, therefore, particularly well placed to observe outward signs of abuse, changes in behaviour or failure to develop. Children Act 2004 – This provides the legal framework for Every Child Matters. In addition to the Every Child Matters outcomes, the Children Act 2004 Establishes the duties to co-operate to improve well-being and to safeguard and promote welfare of children and young people for the statutory agencies. Makes local authorities responsible for publishing an integrated Children and Young People’s Plan, which describes how they intend to deliver outcomes specified in the Every Child Matters framework. Gives local authorities the responsibility for setting up a Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB).  Bullying should be part of the remit of the LSCB. Gives local authorities the responsibility for the arrangements to set up Children’s Trusts, local partnerships between the public, private voluntary and community sectors. Working Together to Safeguard Children 2010 – sets out how organisations, agencies and individuals working with children should work together to safeguard and promote their welfare in accordance with the Children Act 1989 and Children Act 2004. What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused 2006 – All those who come into contact with children and families in their everyday work, including practitioners who do not have a specific role in relation to safeguarding children, have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. This guidance looks at how adults should respond when they have concerns. E-safety – UKCCIS, the UK Council for Child Internet Safety has the role of safeguarding children in relation to internet safety and brings together over 180 organisations and individuals from government, industry, law enforcement, academia and charities – including groups representing parents and children. The aim is to work in partnership to keep children and young people safe online. 2. Describe the roles of different agencies involved in safeguarding the welfare of children and young people. Children’s social care – main responsibility is to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in need. This includes children and young people who: may be at risk of harm or neglect may be in trouble with the police have a disability have serious family problems The aim is to keep families together by providing back-up and support to prevent problems getting too big. Working closely with children, parents, relatives and carers Children’s social care provide help, advice, support or information about other services. If a child or young person appears to be at risk because of neglect or abuse, enquiries will be made to ensure that the child is safe. A thorough assessment will take place, talking with children, families, doctors, health visitors and teachers. If there are special concerns about the child, a Child Protection Conference may be held. This is a meeting with the family, Social Worker and other professionals to try to find a solution to the difficulties at home. If a child is thought to be at risk Children’s social care have responsibilities to decide on a course of action and to take action when a child is thought to be in immediate danger. Police - have a key role in safeguarding children. They recognise the fundamental importance of inter-agency working in combating child abuse. All forces have child abuse investigation units and while they normally take responsibility for investigating such cases, safeguarding children is a fundamental part of the duties of all police officers. The police will need to make a decision on whether a crime has been committed, they will speak to other agencies, take emergency action if a child is in danger and attend court to give evidence when a crime has been committed. The police are committed to sharing information and intelligence with other organisations. Health Professionals - All health professionals are trained to be alert to potential indicators of abuse and neglect of children and to be able to respond appropriately to their role in addressing such concerns for the care and safety of a child. Professionals may carry out an examination of a child thought to be at risk of abuse or who may have suffered abuse, they may also give information to children’s social care reports and give evidence in court when a crime has been committed. NSPCC - The purpose of the NSPCC is to end cruelty to children. The Society seeks to achieve cultural, social and political change - influencing legislation, policy, practice, attitudes and behaviours for the benefit of children and young people. This is achieved through a combination of service provision, lobbying, campaigning and public education. The NSPCC provides direct services for children and young people throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland, including ‘listening services’ such as ChildLine and There4me.com. In order to achieve best practice the NSPCC is committed to complying with legislation and guidance regarding the safeguarding of children, even where it is not under a duty to do so. The NSPCC is the only children's charity with statutory powers enabling it to act to safeguard children at risk. The NSPCC provides an independent campaigning voice for children. It works to influence government on legislation and policy affecting the lives of children and families and runs public education campaigns to raise awareness of, and encourage action to prevent, child abuse. Education – schools and colleges - The health, safety and welfare of children are central to all educational provisions and services, whether they relate to pre-school, nursery, primary, secondary or residential pupils, or youth work. All schools and education services must have clear policies and procedures for the safeguarding of children. Schools and education services also have responsibilities to tackle bullying and other forms of harassment, and to provide effective personal, social and health education. Schools and education services do not have a direct responsibility for investigating child protection concerns. However, because of their day- to-day contact with pupils and direct work with families, education staff have a crucial role in noticing indicators of possible abuse or neglect, and in referring concerns to the appropriate agency. They are also well placed to assist social care services by providing information and advice about the most effective means of communicating with the child or young person, or the potential impact of intervention on the child’s, or young person’s, care or behaviour. E-safety – UKCCIS, the UK Council for Child Internet Safety has the role of safeguarding children in relation to internet safety and brings together over 180 organisations and individuals from government, industry, law enforcement, academia and charities – including groups representing parents and children. They set out measures to protect children from unsuitable sites. The aim is to work in partnership to keep children and young people safe online. The Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) - main responsibilities of the LSCB are to co-ordinate and quality assure the safeguarding children activities of member agencies.