Child Safeguarding Policy

What is a child safeguarding policy?

A child safeguarding policy is a policy that will be used by an organisation to set out its practices and procedures for protecting children. Typically, an organisation will require this type of policy if they organise events for children or offer services which may be accessed by children. This might include:

• voluntary and community organisations
• faith groups
• charities
• sports groups

Is it mandatory to have a child safeguarding policy?

Yes - generally speaking all organisations that work with children should hold a safeguarding policy. Formal guidance emphasises the importance of holding an appropriate child safeguarding policy. The policy will help staff members to know how to safely work with children and how to address any safeguarding issues.

Who is involved in preparing a child safeguarding policy?

A child safeguarding policy will be prepared, approved and signed by somebody from the management team of an organisation. This will usually include a director, trustee or member of the organisation.

What will be the duration of a child safeguarding policy?

The child safeguarding policy will remain in place until it is reviewed and updated. The policy will specify the usual timeframe for updating and reviewing the policy.

What has to be done after signing?

Once the document has been signed and approved, it should be drawn to the attention of staff members and members of the public who are accessing the services of the organisation. The organisation may place an electronic version of the policy on its website. Alternatively, the organisation place a printed version of the policy in an accessible place on its premises.

What other documents should be used in conjunction with a child safeguarding policy?

An organisation should hold a first aid policy which should be read in conjunction with this policy. An organisation may also hold other relevant documents such as:

• A health and safety policy
• A website acceptable use policy
• Any relevant consent forms
• A complaints policy

What is the legal status of a child safeguarding policy?

The policy does not form part of any formal contract of workers, employees or volunteers. However, it does set out the standards expected of them. Any breach of the policy may therefore give grounds for a disciplinary process to be brought against the staff member concerned.

Furthermore, any overarching failure of the organisation to adhere to the principles in the policy may give rise to complaints or reporting to the relevant authorities.

What must a child safeguarding policy contain?

A child safeguarding policy should contain details about:

• reporting –how safeguarding concerns should be responded to and reported by staff members
• safeguarding checks – the processes undertaken by an organisation to ensure that staff members are safe to work with children
• supervision – how children must be supervised at the organisation and by whom
• photography/videos – including whether the organisation will capture any footage of children at their venue and what their rules are regarding photography at their premises/events

Which laws apply to a child safeguarding policy?

There are many different legal frameworks which are in place to safeguard children in the United Kingdom:

• The guidance in England: 'Working Together to Safeguard Children'
• The guidance in Wales: 'Working Together to Safeguard People - information sharing to safeguard children' and the 'Wales Safeguarding Procedures'
• The guidance in Scotland: 'National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland'
• The guidance in Northern Ireland: 'Co-operating to Safeguard Children and Young People in Northern Ireland' and 'Revised Regional Core Child Protection Policies and Procedures for Northern Ireland'
• The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (as amended by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012) sets out rules for organisations where employees, workers or volunteers are involved in regulated activities with children in England and Wales. Some parts of this act also apply to Scotland and Northern Ireland
• The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (as amended by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012) sets out rules for organisations where employees, workers or volunteers are involved in regulated activities with children in Northern Ireland
• The Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 sets out rules for organisations where employees, workers or volunteers are involved in regulated activities with children in Scotland
• The Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004 (see section 11 in particular) - England and Wales
• The Children (Scotland) Act 1995 / the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (Scotland)
• The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 and the Safeguarding Board Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (Northern Ireland)
• The retained EU General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 govern the processing of personal data belonging to children in the United Kingdom.

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