Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people policy
Policy Statement
YCT provides one to one counselling, group work, therapeutic and support services for children and young people. In addition to this work YCT also provides therapeutic support to some adults in connection to its overall charitable objectives.
This policy confirms YCT’s commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all the children, young people and adults at risk that it works with, regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or religion. This policy applies to all Board Members, staff, contractors and volunteers. It will be continually monitored and will have a full annual review to ensure its consistency with current statutory requirements and good practice.
In this document, as in the Children Acts 1989 and 2004, ‘a child’ is anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday. The fact that a child has reached 16 years of age, is living independently or is in further education does not change his or her status or entitlement to services or protection under these Acts.
An ‘adult at risk’ is any person aged 18 or over who ‘is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or disability, age or illness’ and ‘who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation.’ (Care Act, 2014). People with learning difficulties that make it difficult for them to protect themselves from harm will come within this definition. This policy and procedures have been developed to be pro-active in responding to Child and Adults at risk Safeguarding Legislation.
Everyone working on behalf of YCT, whether it is in a voluntary or paid capacity, has a role to play in safeguarding the welfare of children and adults at risk and preventing their abuse. A clear structure, with training and supervision, is in place to allow staff, contractors and volunteers to feel protected and supported.
The YCT Board of Management is committed to ensuring that YCT provides services in safe environments. In addition it is also committed to the identification of children/adults at risk who are suffering, or likely to suffer significant harm and to taking appropriate action to ensure that such people are kept safe.
The Principles of Safeguarding
Safeguarding is a term used to denote the duties and responsibilities that those providing services have to carry out to protect individuals from harm. Specifically, the objective of safeguarding is to provide a safe environment in which to deliver services and to identify those suffering or likely to suffer significant harm; it is then to take appropriate action to ensure those children/adults at risk are kept safe, both at home and in any wider community setting.
The protection of children and adults at risk requires close co-operation between professionals who have a duty to work in partnership and to assist lead agencies in safeguarding concerns. YCT staff, volunteers and contracted therapists who work with clients should be alert to the signs of abuse and know how to refer concerns on to the appropriate agency as outlined in “Working Together to Safeguard Children” (2018) and The Care Act (2014).
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child sets out key principles which are enshrined within these acts and the statutory guidance. From 15 January 1992, when the treaty came into force, every child in the UK has been entitled to over 40 specific rights. These include:
the right to life, survival and development
the right to have their views respected, and to have their best interests considered at all times
the right to a name and nationality, freedom of expression, and access to information concerning them
the right to live in a family environment or alternative care, and to have contact with both parents wherever possible
health and welfare rights, including rights for disabled children, the right to health and health care, and social security
the right to education, leisure, culture and the arts
special protection for refugee children, children in the juvenile justice system, children deprived of their liberty and children suffering economic, sexual or other forms of exploitation
The rights included in the convention apply to all children and young people, with no exceptions.
https://www.unicef.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNCRC_summary-1_1.pdf
Where there are concerns about the well-being of a child or adult at risk, YCT’s Safeguarding and Promoting the Welfare of Children and Adults at risk policy will be followed, and information will be shared with the relevant agencies in order to protect those affected.
Effective safeguarding requires a close working relationship between parents/carers, social care, the police, medical practitioners, community health workers, schools and other voluntary/community agencies to:
Protect children/adults at risk first and foremost
Work to the highest standards of current good practice in the field
Recognise the rights of staff and their need of support
Instigate effective intervention, using, as relevant, the Southend, Essex, Thurrock (SET) Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures (2022), Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership safeguarding arrangements (2022), the London Child Protection Procedures (2020), the SET Safeguarding Adults Guidelines (2019), the Hertfordshire Safeguarding Adults from Abuse Procedure (2020),the London Multi- agency Adult Safeguarding Policy and Procedures (2019), and other such policies and procedures as relevant
In all instances, where a child/adult at risk may be considered at risk, a discussion will take place between one of YCT’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and Local Authority Safeguarding professionals along with other agency representatives to determine the most appropriate forward action. At all relevant times the guidance given in ‘Provision of Therapy for Child Witnesses Prior to a Criminal Trial’ issued jointly by the Crown Prosecution Service and the Department of Health in 2001 will be taken into account in ongoing discussions. A copy is retained in the YCT office and is available to all staff, contractors, volunteers and Board Members.
Safeguarding Contact Information
YCT’s DSL is the CEO, Dan Lawrence. However, ultimate responsibility will be retained by the YCT Board of Management.
Tel: 01279 414090
Email: safeguarding@yctsupport.com
All disclosures made by clients who come into contact with YCT for any reason should be reported immediately in the first instance to one of the named DSL’s who are the principal contacts for all safeguarding matters within YCT.
The DSL’s have received the required level of safeguarding training as required by the relevant Child and Adult Safeguarding Boards. They have a responsibility to keep up to date with developments in child/adults at risk safeguarding issues. The DSL’s are responsible for:
Overseeing the referral of information to the relevant investigating agencies
Providing advice and support to all staff, volunteers and contractors on issues relating to child/ adult at risk protection
Maintaining a proper record of any child/ adult at risk protection referral, complaint or concern (even where that concern does not lead to a referral)
Liaising with other appropriate agencies including schools
Ensuring that staff, volunteers and contractors receive basic training in child/ adult at risk safeguarding issues and are aware of YCT’s child/ adult at risk safeguarding procedures
Regularly updating the YCT Board of Management on safeguarding issues and the discharge of DSO duties
Procedures for Safeguarding within YCT
Safeguarding Roles and Responsibilities
All organisations that work with children and adults at risk share a commitment to safeguard and promote their welfare. The safety and welfare of children and adults at risk is the responsibility of the local authority, working in partnership with other public organisations, the voluntary sector and service users and carers. Whilst YCT has no statutory remit or role to investigate disclosures/allegations, it does have a responsibility to pass on to the appropriate statutory agency concerns in relation to the safety or welfare of a child or adult at risk in order that these can be assessed
The YCT Board of Management retains the ultimate responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk supported by members of staff. They agree that:
The CEO of YCT and the Clinical Lead will be the Designated Safeguarding Officers (DSL’s)
The DSL’s will ensure that the safeguarding policy and procedures are available to all Board Members, staff, contractors and volunteers, and that these are integrated into practice
The DSL’s will ensure appropriate training provision and dissemination of information to trustees, staff, contractors and volunteers
The DSL’s will take a lead responsibility for dealing with safeguarding issues
The DSL’s will immediately inform the Chair regarding any allegations of child abuse against staff, contractors and volunteers
The DSL’s will liaise with appropriate local agencies with regard to safeguarding issues that may arise
The DSL’s will immediately inform the Chair of Trustees in the event of the serious injury or death of a child or adult at risk
The Responsibilities of all YCT Staff, Contractors and Volunteers Key
Responsibilities:
To be familiar with and adhere to all points as laid down in this policy and procedures document
To seek the support of the DSL’s over any concerns or worries concerning children or adults at risk
To attend any further training relating to safeguarding as required
To undertake refresher training at least every three years
Recognition and Reporting
Recognition of physical and/or sexual abuse may take the form of marks, bruises or injuries. Behavioural problems may be a sign of emotional abuse. Neglect is unlikely to be recognised by any single act or omission/commission. It is recognised by repeated acts of neglectful behaviour or lack of care and by the impact of these things on the child’s/ adult at risk welfare.
Further information with regard to the recognition of abuse can be obtained from the SET Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures available in the YCT office or electronically at:
https://www.escb.co.uk/working-with-children/safeguarding-policies-procedures/
https://www.escb.co.uk/media/3576/set-safeguarding-and-child-protection-procedures-2025.pdf
and, the SET Safeguarding Adults Staff Handbook also available in the YCT office or electronically at :
www.essexsab.org.uk/sites/default/files/2023-07/set-safeguarding-handbook.pdf
In addition to these sources, guidance is also available from the DSL’s concerning recognition and reporting processes in other local authority areas. All YCT staff and volunteers have a responsibility to pass on all of their concerns to the DSL’s who will, in turn approach the relevant local authority.
Record Keeping
Clear and accurate records ensure that there are documentary accounts of YCT’s involvement with a child and their family. Well-kept records are an excellent way of underpinning good safeguarding practice.
Early Help and Effective Support for Children and Families aims to give children, young people and families the right support at the right time, to reduce the need for higher level interventions. The Essex County Council website has resources to help you understand the level of need and templates to help you get started.
https://www.essex.gov.uk/children-young-people-and-families/report-concern-about-child
further information on procedures can also be found here
In the case of adults at risk an online safeguarding concerns should be submitted at the link below.
further information on procedures can also be found here
https://www.essexsab.org.uk/reporting-concerns
Advice on the completion of both forms can be sought from the DSL’s.
Confidentiality
When safeguarding issues arise the degree of confidentiality is governed by the need to protect the child/ adult at risk. The right to confidentiality and the person’s lack of consent to share personal information can be overridden if there is a reasonable belief that a child/ adult at risk or another person is, or could be at risk of serious harm. In such cases the child’s/ adults at risk welfare is paramount. Only the information necessary to protect the child/ adult at risk should be disclosed. The information should be relevant, adequate, not excessive and factual. If stating an opinion it should be recorded this is the case.
Dealing with Concerns Regarding Colleagues
All staff, contractors and volunteers have an obligation to raise professional concerns about the conduct of colleagues. Where staff, contractors or volunteers are concerned that a child is at risk of physical or psychological injury due to the conscious or unconscious behaviour of another member of staff, their concerns must be passed on. The initial point of contact should be one of the DSL’s.
If appropriate, following discussion and initial enquiries to establish if there is concern for conduct/behaviour of a member of staff, contractor or volunteer, a referral to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) in the relevant local authority should be made and the appropriate YCT procedures should be followed. Police involvement will also be necessary where a criminal offence has occurred.
Disclosures by Children/ Adults at risk
If a child/ adult at risk discloses details of abuse to a staff member, contractor or volunteer, the following principles should be followed:
Listen carefully and stay calm
Offer reassurance that they have done the right thing
It must be explained in an appropriate way that disclosures may mean that the staff member, contractor or volunteer will pass information on to others and that only those who need to know will be told
The time, setting and details along with any other witnesses to the conversation should be recorded
A record should be kept of subsequent events, also including the time, date, details and if appropriate names of those involved
Staff, contractors and volunteers should not investigate concerns or allegations themselves, but should report them immediately to a DSO
Any marks, bruises or injuries noted on a child/ adult at risk should be documented and illustrated on a body map (Appendix 3). Injuries may be suspected of being non-accidental if they are found on a part of the body not usually associated with accidental injury, if they are unusually symmetrical or if they suggest that some kind of attack has taken place with hand marks, bite marks or if small round bruises are visible (suggesting grabbing).
Notes should be written up as soon as possible with the original notes being retained.
If a child/ adult at risk discloses anything that involves a significant risk to themselves or others, the member of staff, contractor, volunteer or Board Member has a responsibility to pass this information on. Once this disclosure has taken place, reporting it to a DSO is essential in order that appropriate contact with the local authority can be established.
Modern Slavery
The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is a framework for identifying and referring potential victims of modern slavery and ensuring they receive the appropriate support.
Modern slavery is a complex crime and may involve multiple forms of exploitation. It encompasses:
human trafficking
slavery
servitude
forced or compulsory labour
An individual could have been a victim of human trafficking and/or slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour.
Victims may not be aware that they are being trafficked or exploited, and may have consented to elements of their exploitation, or accepted their situation. If you think that modern slavery has taken place, the case should be referred to the NRM so that the Single Competent Authority (SCA) can fully consider the case. You do not need to be certain that someone is a victim.
The guidance explains how to complete the referral form before it is considered by the relevant SCA within the Home Office.
National referral mechanism guidance: adult (England and Wales) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Recruitment, Selection and DBS Clearance
YCT has effective recruitment and selection procedures with regard to safeguarding:
All staff, contractors and volunteers working directly, or indirectly with children/ adult at risk within YCT must have undergone Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks at the enhanced level prior to the commencement of their duties
Safeguarding training is a mandatory part of induction for all new staff and all staff must attend safeguarding training bi-annually
Responsibilities for safeguarding are defined in all job descriptions
Two references/testimonials must also be sought following a face-to- face interview with potential employees or contractors. References/testimonials must be in written form and each must be followed up by telephone in order to confirm that the references/testimonials are correct. References/testimonials are an essential part of the recruitment process that aid the assessment of a candidate’s suitability to work with children/ adults at risk.
Self-harm and suicide
This section of the YCT Safeguarding Policy aims to offer an informed and systematic approach to addressing the needs of children and young people at risk of self- harm or suicide. It also sets out to ensure that children and young people gain appropriate support, and are assessed and referred appropriately where needed.
It is recognised that children and young people who self-harm are doing so as a coping mechanism, and that telling them to stop does not work. However, therapists and members of staff should feel confident in making an assessment of risk and act accordingly. This is particularly important when dealing with a potentially suicidal client.
Definitions:
Self-harm*
Self-harm describes a wide range of things that people do to themselves in a deliberate and usually hidden way. In the vast majority of cases self-harm remains a secretive behaviour that can go on for a long time without being discovered. Self-harm can involve:
Attempted hanging;
Overdosing of tablets or medicines;
Cutting, often to the arms using razor blades, broken glass or knives; Burning using cigarettes or caustic agents;
Punching and Bruising; Inserting or swallowing objects; Head banging;
Pulling out hair or eyelashes. Self-Injury
Self-injury is any act which involves deliberately inflicting pain and/or injury on the body, but without suicidal intent. Self-injury is seen as a coping mechanism with the aim of relieving emotional distress.
NB: Although self-harming behaviour is relied on as an attempt to cope and manage and may not be intentionally suicidal, it must be recognised that the emotional distress that leads to self-harm can also lead to suicidal thoughts and actions.
Suicide
Suicide is an intentional, self-inflicted, life-threatening act resulting in death from a number of means.
Suicidal-intent
This is indicated by evidence of premeditation (such as saving up tablets), taking care to avoid discovery, failing to alert potential helpers, carrying out final acts (such as writing a suicide note) and choosing a violent or aggressive means of deliberate self-harm allowing little chance of survival.
*The term self-harm is often used as an all-encompassing term referring to suicidal thoughts and attempted suicide.
Definitions of Abuse (Children and Young People)
‘Child abuse and neglect’ are forms of maltreatment of a child. These terms include serious physical and sexual assaults as well as cases where the standard of care does not adequately support the child’s health or development. Children may be abused or neglected through the infliction of harm, or through the failure to act to prevent harm.
Abuse can occur within the family or in an institution or community setting. Abuse can occur within all social groups regardless of religion, culture, social class or financial position. Children may be abused by those known to them or, more rarely, by a stranger. They may be abused by an adult/s or another child/ren.
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 sets out definitions and examples of the four broad categories of abuse:
Physical abuse
Emotional abuse
Sexual abuse
Neglect
These categories overlap and an abused child frequently suffers more than a single type of abuse.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) based Forms of child physical, sexual and emotional abuse are included in the below descriptions.
For more information on online forms of abuse, or any of the categories below, please check
https://www.escb.co.uk/working-with-children/abuse/
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child.
It may also be caused when a parent / carer fabricates symptoms of, or deliberately induces illness in a child, or when children are incited to fight/be violent to others.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional ill treatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent effects on the child’s emotional development, and may involve:
Conveying to children they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person
Not giving the child opportunities to express their views, deliberately silencing them or ‘making fun’ of what they say or how they communicate
Imposing developmentally inappropriate expectations e.g. interactions beyond the child’s developmental capability, overprotection, limitation of exploration and learning, preventing the child from participation in normal social interaction
Causing children to feel frightened or in danger e.g. witnessing domestic abuse, seeing or hearing the ill treatment of another
Exploitation or corruption of children
Serious bullying, causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, including online
Some level of emotional abuse is involved in most types of ill treatment of children, though emotional abuse may occur alone.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child / young person to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening.
The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example, rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside clothing.
Sexual activities may also include non-contact activities, e.g. involving children in looking at (including online and with mobile phones), or in production of abusive images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways. This may include use of photographs, pictures, cartoons, literature or sound recordings e.g. the internet, books, magazines, audio cassettes, tapes, CD’s. It may also involve grooming a child in preparation for abuse (including via the internet).
Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children.
Children under 16 years of age cannot provide lawful consent to any sexual activity, though in practice many are involved in sexual contact to which, as individuals, they may have agreed.
Online-based sexual abuse of a child constitutes significant harm through sexual and emotional abuse. All should be alert to the possibility that:
A child may already have been/is being, abused and the images distributed on the internet or by mobile telephone;
An adult or older child may be grooming a child for sexual abuse, including for involvement in making abusive images. This process can involve the child being shown abusive images;
An adult or older child may be viewing and downloading child sexual abuse images.
Neglect
Neglect involves the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health and development. Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance misuse
Once the child is born, neglect may involve failure to:
Provide adequate food, clothing or shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment)
Protect from physical and emotional harm or danger
Meeting of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.
Ensure adequate supervision including use of adequate care-takers
Ensure that her/his educational needs are met
Ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment
Included in the four categories of child abuse and neglect above are a number of factors relating to the behaviour of the parents and carers which have significant impact on children, such as domestic abuse. Children/ adults at risk can be affected by seeing, hearing and living with domestic violence and abuse as well as being caught up in any incidents directly, whether to protect someone or as a target. The Home Office definition of domestic violence and abuse was updated in March 2013 as: "Any incident of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over, who are or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender and sexuality.
This can encompass, but is not limited to, the following types of abuse:
Psychological
Physical
Sexual
Financial
Emotional
Controlling behaviour is: a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour.
Coercive behaviour is: an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim. This definition, which is not a legal definition, includes so called ‘honour’ based violence, female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage, and is clear that victims are not confined to one gender or ethnic group.
* All definitions in Appendix 1 are taken from the Southend Essex Thurrock (SET) Child Protection Procedures (2019)
Categories of Abuse (adults at risk)
These categories of abuse are in addition to those identified for safeguarding children and young people.
The following examples of abuse are not exhaustive:
Physical abuse
The non-accidental infliction of physical force that results (or could result) in bodily injury, pain or impairment including; Assault, hitting, slapping, pushing, misuse of medication, restraint or inappropriate physical sanctions, accumulation of minor accidents without seeking medical assistance. Possible indicators of abuse include unexplained bruising, cowering or flinching, bruising consistent with being hit, unexplained burns, unexplained fractures, scalds especially with well-defined edges e.g. from emersion in water.
Domestic Abuse
Incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse by someone who is or has been an intimate partner or family member regardless of gender or sexuality. Domestic abuse is not just about partners but all family relationships. This includes: psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional abuse; so called ‘honour’ based violence; Female Genital Mutilation*; forced marriage. Possible indicators include people being prevented from seeing family/friends, prevented from attending college/work/appointments, being followed or continuingly being asked where they are, accusations regarding other relationships unjustly, feeling scared of others, being threatened personally or threats against other family/friends, prevented from leaving the home, withholding finances, being forced to do something unwanted for their partner.
In 2021 the Domestic Abuse act was updated to strengthen rules surrounding controlling or coercive behaviour, target revenge porn and end the “rough sex defence” in court. Importantly it also recognises children as victims of domestic abuse. For full details of the act please visit
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2021/17/contents/enacted
* Since October 2015 the Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Act 2003 Section 5B introduces a mandatory reporting duty which requires regulated health and social care professionals and teachers in England and Wales to report ‘known’ cases of FGM in under 18s which they identify in the course of their professional work to the police.
Sexual abuse
Direct or indirect involvement in sexual activity without consent. This could also be the inability to consent, pressured or induced to consent or take part. Could include: rape, indecent exposure, sexual harassment, inappropriate looking or touching, sexual teasing or innuendo, sexual photography, subjection to pornography or witnessing sexual acts, indecent exposure and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the adult has not consented or was pressured into consenting. Indicators of sexual abuse include unexplained changes in behaviours, incontinence/bed-wetting, difficulty/discomfort in walking, excessive washing, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, bruising/bleeding in genital or rectal area, deliberate self-harm, unexplained love bites.
Psychological abuse
Acts or behaviour which impinge on the emotional health of, or which causes distress or anguish to, individuals. This may also be present in other forms of abuse. Some examples include: emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, cyber bullying, isolation or unreasonable and unjustified withdrawal of services or supportive networks. Possible indicators could be; disturbed sleep, anxiety, confusion, extreme submissiveness or dependency, sharp changes in behaviour in the presence of certain people, self-abusive behaviour, loss of confidence and loss of appetite.
Financial or material abuse
Unauthorised, fraudulent obtaining and improper use of funds, property or any resources of an adult at risk from abuse. Examples including theft, fraud, internet scamming, coercion in relation to an adult’s financial affairs or arrangements, including in connection with wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits. In practice possible signs include unexplained or sudden inability to pay bills, unexplained withdrawal of money from accounts, personal possessions going missing, contrast being known income and actual living conditions, unusual interest by friend/relative/neighbour in financial matters, pressure from next of kin for formal arrangements being set up.
Modern slavery
Encompasses slavery, human trafficking, forced labour and domestic servitude. Traffickers and slave masters use whatever means they have at their disposal to coerce, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment. Possible indicators include poor physical appearance, isolation, poor living conditions, few or no personal effects, restricted freedom of movement, unusual travel habits, reluctance to seek help.
* All categories in Appendix 2 are taken from the Southend Essex Thurrock (SET) Safeguarding Adults Guidelines (2019)