Connected Families
Autism and Mental Health Service
Safeguarding Policy
Connected Families is an Autism and Mental health service that aims to promote the autonomy and welfare of its children, young people and vulnerable adults. Recognising that everyone is unique and is on their own journey. Working collaboratively in a whole family approach; where possible, to bring about positive outcomes that lead to sustained change. Ensuring a safe, nurturing environment for children, young people and vulnerable adults to reach their potential and lead fulfilled lives.
The purpose of this policy statement is:
To protect children, young people and vulnerable adults who receive support from Connected Families services from harm. This also includes the children of adults who access our service, ensuring a whole family approach to safeguarding.
To ensure that staff and volunteers, as well as the children, young people, vulnerable adults and their families who access the service have an understanding of the overarching principles that guide our approach to children protection and adult safeguarding.
This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of Connected Families including CEO, Senior managers, paid staff and volunteers.
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children and vulnerable adults in England. The key legislation and guidance available from.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1989/41/contents - Safeguarding Children's Act 1989
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/31/contents - Safeguarding Children’s Act 2004
https://www.socialworkengland.org.uk/media/1501/cswa-2017.pdf - Children and Social Work Act 2017
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/47/contents - Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
WE BELIEVE THAT
At Connected Families we believe that everyone within the organisation and our wider partners, have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, young people and vulnerable adults. Keeping them safe from harm and ensuring that we practice in a manner that also protects from harm.
Creating a culture in which all safeguarding concerns and allegations about children, young people and vulnerable adults (including those that do not meet the harm threshold) are shared responsibly and with the right person, and recorded and dealt with appropriately, is crucial. If implemented well this should encourage an open and transparent culture; enabling Connected Families to identify inappropriate, problematic or concerning behaviour early; minimise the risk of abuse; and ensure that adults working in or on behalf of the organisation are clear about professional boundaries and act within them, in accordance with the ethos and values of the organisation
WE RECOGNISE THAT
The welfare of the children, young people and vulnerable adults is paramount in all the work we do and in the decisions we make.
Working in partnership with the children, young people, vulnerable adults, their families and other agencies is essential in promoting our service user's welfare.
All children, young people and vulnerable adults, regardless of age, disability, gender resignment, race, religion or belief, sec, sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse.
Some of our children, young people and vulnerable adults will be additionally vulnerable due to their previous experiences, level of dependency, communication needs or other factors.
Extra safeguards may be required to keep those with additional vulnerability factors safe from abuse.
WE WILL SEE TO KEEP CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND VULNERABLE ADULTS SAFE BY
Valuing, listening and respecting them.
Appointing a nominated child protection and safeguarding adult lead, a deputy and lead trustee/board member for safeguarding.
Adopting child protection and safeguarding adults', best practice through our policies, procedures and code of conduct for staff and volunteers.
Developing and implementing effective online safety policy and related procedures
Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures. So that all staff and volunteers know about and follow our policies, procedures, and behaviour codes confidently and competently.
Recruiting and selecting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made.
Recording, storing and using information professionally and securely, in line with data protection legislation and guidance.
Sharing information about safeguarding and good practice with children, young people, vulnerable adults and their families via leaflets, posters and one to one discussion.
Making sure children, young people, vulnerable adults and their families know where to go for help if they have a concern.
Using our safeguarding and child protection procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, vulnerable adults and their families appropriately.
Using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately.
Creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise.
Ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing procedures in place.
Ensuring we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, vulnerable adults, staff and volunteers. Applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance.
Building a safeguarding culture where staff and volunteers, children, young people and vulnerable adults and their families, treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns.
Dealing with disclosures and concerns about a child, young person or vulnerable adult.
Children young people and vulnerable adults may find it hard to disclose abuse that is taking place. Therefore, being aware of what is being said and unspoken behaviours is essential when protecting from further harm.
It is important to maintain an unbiased approach when responding to disclosures, ensure that each case is treated in a fair and transparent manner and that the child, young person or vulnerable adult gets the protection and support that they need.
How to respond
Give your full attention to the child, young person or vulnerable adult
Keep body language open and encouraging
Be compassionate
Offer reassurance.
Let them speak at their own pace and do not interrupt
Reflect back what is being said to check your understanding. Use their language to show it is their experience.
Make clear notes including names, age and address. What has been said, or what gave you cause for concern. Write down exact words. Along with any information they have shared about the alleged abuse or abuser.
Do not promise to keep anything secret.
Why is sharing information important
Information sharing helps to ensure that an individual receives the right services at the right time and prevents a need from becoming more acute and difficult to meet. (Department for Education (DFE) 2018). Safeguarding a child, young person or vulnerable adult is a legitimate reason for sharing information and the data protection law does not prevent you from doing this.
How to share information
Where appropriate and safe to do so, consent should be sought before information is shared. Where consent has not been given, ensure it is clear as to the steps you sought to gain consent and the reason consent was not given; or why you felt it was necessary to share the information without consent.
Information sharing should be timely.
All allegations of abuse need to be shared with the designated safeguarding lead (DSL) and documented accordingly.
Where the allegation places the individual at significant and immediate risk of harm, the police should be called immediately. The appropriate social care department should be called to share information.
Use language that is clear and precise.
Ensure information shared is factual.
Record all information on the individuals record using the timeline to keep it specific.
Ensure all paperwork is completed and sent to either children’s or adults social care once completed, this needs to be done as soon as possible especially if the referral was initially completed over the phone
How to refer to CFW for family support or CSC for child in need or child protection concerns
Children and Family Wellbeing Service CON2 The Children and Family Wellbeing Service (CFW) offers support to children, young people age 0-19+yrs (0 - 25yrs for SEND) and their families across Lancashire. Any agency can request access to this support for a family or individual child by making a Request for Support. Please note that a CAF (Early Help Assessment) should be in place.
Lancashire Children’s Social Care / MASH CON 3 and 4 Anyone can raise a concern about the safety and welfare of a child by calling 0300 123 6720 (or between 5.00pm - 8.00am on 0300 123 6722.)* Before you make contact with MASH you need to consider if the child or young person’s needs can be met by services from within your own agency, or by other professionals already involved with the family, including consideration to initiating a CAF (Early Help Assessment) Where possible, share information with consent, and where possible, respect the wishes of those who do not consent to having their information shared. Under the GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 you may share information without consent if, in your judgement, there is a lawful basis to do so, such as where safety may be at risk. Where the needs of the child meet Levels 3 and 4 of the Continuum of Need, professionals are advised to submit a referral form directly to Children's Social Care via the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub cypreferrals@lancashire.gov.uk
Where there are immediate safeguarding concerns about a child or young person (level 4 of the CON / child protection), you should make direct contact with MASH on the following number or the Police (999 in an emergency) - and complete the referral form once the immediate concerns have been addressed. If the child you are concerned about already has an allocated Social Worker go directly to this person by contacting 0300 123 6720.
Where the concern relates to a vulnerable adult within Lancashire please contact 0300 123 6721 or complete the following form https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/adult-social-care/report-a-concern-about-an-adult/
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