Child Protection Training
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PROGRAMME
Introduction to the Policy
Awareness of Abuse
Dealing with disclosure
Code of conduct for staff
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The Summer Madness Directors have a number of responsibilities in respect of Child Protection including: Ensuring a Child Protection Panel is appointed Insurance Safety of buildings being used Encouraging and supporting training Contractual responsibilities for all who have access to children and young people 3
CHILD PROTECTION PANEL The panel’s responsibilities include:
approving persons willing to serve as Summer Madness staff
advising staff on their responsibilities in respect of the Code
advising the Management Group in respect of its responsibilities
being an immediate contact point for staff when a suspicion or allegation of child abuse is made
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THE PURPOSE OF THE CODE OF GOOD PRACTICE Our Child Protection Policy is designed:
to promote the well being of children to prevent the physical, sexual and emotional abuse of children to set out the appropriate responses and procedures in the event of abuse taking place to encourage safe practices for those who work with children to safeguard those who work with children from the consequences of unfounded accusations 5
DEFINITIONS:
CHILDREN - means persons under 18 yrs or persons of any age with a learning disability
WORKER/LEADER – means anyone who shares in the ministry of Summer Madness with children
CHILD PROTECTION AGENCY – those State agencies which are recognised as providing child protection and welfare
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Summer Madness – A MODEL OF GOOD PRACTICE
Children matter. They should be valued, listened to and have their rights respected
those who work with children should also be valued, supported and have their rights respected
the Church as one of the major providers of care to children should provide a model of good practice
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Anyone working with children at SM
Shall have a basic awareness of the nature of child abuse Should know how to respond should a child make a disclosure of abuse Must follow guidelines of good practice when working with children and young people. Shall understand the insurance implications when working with children 8
WHAT IS ABUSE? TYPES OF ABUSE
PHYSICAL EMOTIONAL SEXUAL NEGLECT
Even for ‘experts’ it is often very hard to decide if a child has been abused.
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PHYSICAL ABUSE deliberate physical injury to a child or wilful or neglectful failure to prevent physical injury or suffering hitting shaking throwing poisoning burning drowning suffocating confinement Inappropriate drugs 10
EMOTIONAL ABUSE
Is the persistent emotional ill treatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development Smothering a child’s development through over-protection can also be a form of abuse.
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SEXUAL ABUSE
Involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening.
Can be summarised as any inappropriate sexual activity
Does not have to involve contact
May include inappropriate films, behaviour etc.
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NEGLECT
Is the persistent failure to meet a child’s physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in significant harm.
(largest category)
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BULLYING
A child who is bullied may be suffering any of the types of abuse defined above, It may take many forms but the main types are: Physical (eg hitting, kicking, theft) Verbal (eg sectarian / racist remarks, name calling) Groups should have a strategy to deal with bullying 14
Who can abuse?
Did you know?
Abusers don’t appear different from the rest of society.
Abusers come from all classes of society, all professions, all races and both sexes
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Who can abuse? continued ď Ź
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Sexual abuse of children may sometimes be carried out by strangers but it is much more common that the abuser is known to the child and is in a position of trust and/or authority It is not only adults who abuse children. Children may suffer abuse from other children and young people
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PREVENTING ABUSE Summer Madness must take all reasonable steps to : Exclude known abusers Report to the child protection agencies any suspicious person or known offender attempting to make contact with children
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DEALING WITH CONCERNS If you have any concerns regarding the welfare and protection of Children and Young People, or any concerns are expressed to you by any person, these should be passed immediately to the SM Child Protection Panel.
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How do I contact the Panel? During the Festival, the Panel can be contacted via the Duty Officer in Comms 24 hours per day, or via the Venue Manager during major meetings. Outside of the Festival, the Panel can be contacted via the Summer Madness office.
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The leader as observer
You may notice Physical injury to a child A child’s behaviour A church leader / worker’s behaviour The leader as listener Possible sources of concern Leader or worker Young person child
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Disclosure by over 18s ?
Confidence cannot and should not be guaranteed Should be referred to the Panel in all situations Will be referred to the appropriate agencies as the alleged offender may still have access to children. NO DIFFERENCE IS DRAWN BETWEEN DISCLOSURE BY OVER 18s and UNDER 18s
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WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE CONCERNED THAT ABUSE IS OCCURRING / MAY HAVE OCCURRED
DO
Stay calm Listen and hear REFER IMMEDIATELY TO SUMMER MADNESS PANEL MEMBER
DON’T
Never do nothing, and assume that someone else will do something
Panic Ask leading questions Make the child repeat the story unnecessarily Promise to keep secrets Enquire into the details of abuse Delay Start to investigate Communicate with any person directly accused 22
SUMMARY OF THE REFERRAL PROCEDURE
Allegation / Suspicion / Concern / Query raised Report immediately to a Panel member The Panel will speak directly with the person raising the concern. The Panel will consult appropriate agency. The Panel will follow the advice given by the appropriate agency NOTE – Any individual worker may make direct contact with the agencies above if he/she chooses
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Your primary responsibility is to IMMEDIATELY REPORT any suspected abuse to the panel or to make an individual report to the statutory agencies
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Young people working with children Permission of the Panel must be sought by the senior leader before any young person is involved in such a role
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Such young people must at all times work under the supervision of leaders who have been trained to implement Child Protection.
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The Management group must ensure that appropriate training is provided to cope with: bullying, shouting, physical contact, emergency procedures, first aid policy and include the need to protect themselves without the need to undergo the full training of core leadership.
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General Safety
ďƒ˜ Safety is of prime
importance during any activity. Be aware of the following guidelines..
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General safety
Always have a quick look around the premises you are about to use and identify any possible sources of danger Be aware of the location of the fire exits and ensure they are not obstructed. Occasional fire drills should be conducted and ensure you know evacuation procedure. Know where the nearest fire extinguishers are located. In the event of fire, evacuation and saving life is more important than fighting a fire Know where the nearest help is available 27
More on safety There should be adequate supervision by
staff when using certain equipment During games or ‘icebreakers’ be aware of the risks of physical injury and guard against these Know where the first aid provision is located
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Code of conduct for staff
Be aware of the dangers arising from private meetings with children Such meetings should be transparent and in the knowledge of another leader Where possible another child or staff member should be present or within sight or hearing Do not make unnecessary physical contact with children - horseplay Conduct which could be misconstrued should be avoided
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Code of conduct for staff continued
Distressed children may need comforting use your discretion and ensure that it will be seen by others to be normal and natural
First Aid is only to be given by designated First Aiders accessed by the Duty officers
Following an incident where a worker feels that his/her actions may be misconstrued, a member of the Panel must be contacted immediately
Take care in the setting of Summer Madness where relationships tend to be quite informal 30
GOOD PRACTICE FOR LEADERS
All young people who attend the organisation should have a registration form filled in by parent or guardian giving: name, address, DOB, special medical details, dietary needs, emergency telephone nos, next of kin, and parental consent to attend the organisation An accident and incident log Do not take children off site without the prior consent of parents and informing another staff member Ensure adequate supervision – no fewer than two adults present 31
Staff should NEVER
Engage in sexually provocative games Allow or engage in inappropriate touching of any form Allow children to use inappropriate language unchallenged Make sexually suggestive comments about or to a child Strike a child or young person Use offensive, abusive or generally inappropriate language Leave young people unsupervised
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Leaders should make every effort NOT TO:
Do things of a personal nature for children that they can do for themselves Spend excessive amounts of time alone with children away from others Interview a child alone Take children alone on car journeys – unless with the full knowledge and consent of another leader or the chil d’s parents Have a young person in their home
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THE PURPOSE OF THE CODE OF GOOD PRACTICE - REMINDER Child Protection is designed: to promote the well being of children to prevent the physical, sexual and emotional abuse of children to set out the appropriate responses and procedures in the event of abuse taking place to encourage safe practices for those who work with children to safeguard those who work with children from the consequences of unfounded accusations
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THANKS FOR MAKING IT THROUGH TO THE END
Please use this link to go and register the fact that you have watched and or attended this Child Protection presentation.
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