SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE AT RISK OF ABUSE 2024

This procedure applies to any Trustee, paid member of staff or volunteer who may be concerned about the safety and protection of a child/young person up to the age of 18. 

Purpose and aim of this procedure.   

These procedures are designed to support the recognition of abuse of children and provide clear guidance about what processes and actions should be taken if this is identified to ensure that children are safeguarded and protected.  

Definitions of different types of abuse   

Physical abuse is when someone hurts or harms a child or young person on purpose.  It includes:   

  • A child or young person being hurt or injured by being: hit with hands or objects, kicked, thrown, shaken, slapped, punched, bitten or scratched, squeezed, thrown, burned, scalded, breaking bones.   

  • Someone tries to drown or suffocate a child.   

  • Someone gives a child poison, alcohol or non-prescribed drugs.   

  • Someone fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a child.   

In some cases, the injuries will be caused deliberately. In others they may be accidental but caused by the child being knowingly put at risk.   

Sexual abuse: occurs when a child or young person is forced or tricked into sexual activity.  They may not understand what’s happening or that it is wrong.  And they might be afraid to tell someone. There are 2 types of sexual abuse – contact and non-contact. 

 

Contact abuse is where an abuser makes physical contact with a child or young person.  This includes: 

  • Sexual touching of any part of a child/young person’s body, whether clothed or not. 

  • Using a body part or object to rape or penetrate a child or young person. 

  • Forcing a child/young person to take part in sexual activities. 

  • Making a child/young person undress or touch someone else. 

Contact abuse can include touching, kissing and oral sex – sexual abuse isn’t just penetrative. 

 

Non-contact abuse is where a child or young person is abused without being touched by the abuser.  This can be in person or on-line and includes. 

  • Involving children/young people in watching other people’s sexual activity or in inappropriate discussions about sexual matters in person or on-line or through a smart phone. 

  • Exposing or flashing  

  • Showing pornography 

  • Making them masturbate 

  • Forcing a child or young person to make, view or share child abuse images or videos. 

  • Making, viewing, or distributing child abuse images and videos. 

  • Grooming a child or young person for purposes of sexual activity or distribution or making of sexual images/videos.  

Emotional abuse is persistent or severe emotional ill-treatment of a child that is likely to cause serious harm to his/her development. It may include:   

  • Persistently denying the child love and affection   

  • Regularly making the child feel frightened by shouts, threats or any other means   

  • Hurting another person or a pet in order to distress a child.   

  • Being so over-protective towards the child that he/she is unable to develop or lead a normal life.   

  • Exploiting or corrupting a child, e.g., by involving him/her in illegal behaviour.  

  • Conveying to a child the message that he/she is worthless, unlovable, inadequate, or his/her only value is to meet the needs of another person. This may or may not include racist, homophobic or other forms of abuse.   

  • Exposing a child/young person to upsetting events or situations, like domestic abuse or drug taking.  

  • Being absent. 

  • Not allowing them to have friends. 

 

Neglect involves persistently failing to meet a child’s physical, psychological or emotional needs. It may include:   

  • Failing to ensure that a child’s basic needs for food, shelter, clothing, health care, hygiene and education are met.   

  • Failing to provide appropriate supervision to keep a child out of danger. This includes lack of supervision of particular activities or leaving a child alone in the house.   

  

Ways that abuse might be brought to your attention.   

  • A child might make a direct disclosure about themselves.   

  • A child might make a direct disclosure about another child.   

  • A child might offer information that is worrying but not a direct disclosure.   

  • A member of staff might be concerned about a child’s appearance or behaviour or about the behaviour of a parent or carer towards a child.   

  • A parent or carer might make a disclosure about abuse that a child is suffering or at risk of suffering.   

  • A parent might offer information about a child that is worrying but not a direct disclosure.   

  • The child/young person’s presentation may be different than you have seen before – this can look like heightened or low mood. 

 

Talking to a child who has told you that he/she or another child is being abused.   

  • Reassure the child that telling someone about it was the right thing to do and most importantly that you believe then and that you are listening.   

  • Tell them that you now must do what you can to keep them (or the child who is the subject of the allegation) safe.  

  • Check out what they would like to happen next if you feel this is appropriate. 

  • Let the child know what you are going to do next and who else needs to know.  

 

Reporting Procedures – DO NOT DELAY 

Keeping a record of your concerns  

An accurate account should be made of: 

  • Name and age of child or young person concerned.  

  • Additional needs or known vulnerabilities. 

  • Address and contact details. 

  • Time and place of disclosure 

  • Name of person (staff/volunteer) making the report. 

 

Detail of concern or incident(s) 

Let the child/young person tell their whole story. Don’t try to investigate or quiz the child, but make sure that you are clear as to what they are saying.  Always use the words of the child/young person. 

If known or suspected, please provide details of anyone alleged to be the source of the concerns/incident being reported:   

Please provide details of anyone who has witnessed the incident or who shares your concerns:   

The designated member lead for Safeguarding Children will then use the appropriate reporting systems for the situation.  It can be used to forward information to the statutory child protection authorities if a referral to them is needed.  The form should be signed and dated by all those involved in its completion and kept safe in the Whitleigh Community Trust office. The name of the person making the notes should be written alongside each entry.   

Remember the child/young person or carers can request to see a copy of anything that is written about them so be mindful of the language you use.  Keep it child friendly and avoid acronyms.   

Helping a child in immediate danger or in need of emergency medical attention  

  • If the child/young person is in immediate danger and is with you, remain with them and call the police.   

  • If the child/young person is elsewhere, contact the police and explain the situation to them.   

  • If they need emergency medical attention, call an ambulance and, while you are waiting for it to arrive, get help from your first aider.   

  • If the first aider is not available, use any first aid knowledge that you may have yourself to help the child.   

  • You also need to contact the senior worker on site and one of the named persons for child protection to let them know what is happening.   

  

A decision will need to be made about who should inform the child’s family and the local authority children’s social care department, and when they should be informed. If you have involved the police and/or the health services, they should be part of this decision. Consider the welfare of the child in your decision making as the highest priority.  Issues that will need to be taken into account are:   

  • the child’s wishes and feelings   

  • the parent’s right to know (unless this would place the child or someone else in danger, or would interfere with a criminal investigation)   

  • the impact of telling or not telling the parent    

In the following contexts there are times that when you should get advice from specialist service Gateway before speaking further with the child or young person or their family. Or when your concerns relate to the actions of the designated Safeguarding Officer for Whitleigh Community Trust. 

  • Where sexual abuse or sexual exploitation is suspected 

  • Where organised or multiple abuse is suspected. 

  • Where Fabricated or Induced Illness (previously known as Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy) is suspected 

  • Where Female Genital Mutilation is the concern 

  • In cases of suspected Forced Marriage 

  • Where contacting or discussing the referral would place a child, yourself, or others at immediate risk. 

Once any immediate danger or emergency medical need has been dealt with, please contact lead safeguarding officer for Whitleigh Community Trust 

  

Whitleigh Community Trust contact details are: 

Community Development Manger Safeguarding lead 

Pippa St John Cooper 

pippa@whitleighbiglocal.org.uk 

07725868807 

 

Chair of Trustees 

Barry Meek 

barry@whitleighcommunitytrust.org.uk 

 

First point of contact Local Authority – for an immediate crisis  

If you're worried about a child or young person or think they're being abused, even if you're unsure, call 01752 668000 or email mash@plymouth.gov.uk.  

Outside of normal working hours call Plymouth Out of Hours Service: 01752 346984. 

 

The service is made up of multi-agency professionals who can give you advice, information, and support. You can also contact the NSPCC if you want to talk to someone about your concerns and get advice.