Safeguarding

 

Staff working in the nursery has a duty of care towards the children attending and this duty brings with it the responsibility to ensure that all efforts are made to safeguard children from suspected

and actual harm.

 

Children attending the nursery have a right to feel safe and staff, in partnership with parents/carers

 have a responsibility to act on any concerns they may have regarding a child’s welfare and well‐being.

 

Practitioners have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

Due to the many hours of care we provide, staff will often be the first people who sense that there is a problem

 They may well be the first people in whom children confide about abuse.

 

The nursery has a duty to be aware that abuse does occur in our society.

Our prime responsibility is the welfare and well being of children in our care.

If we have any reason to believe that a child in our care is subject to welfare issues including physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect. As such we believe we have a duty to the children, parents/carers and staff to act quickly and responsibly in any instance that may come to our attention.

 

 

All staff need to work as part of a team where needed in the best interest of the child.

 

All staff will be familiar with their own responsibilities to act swiftly upon any suspicions or concerns

they may have about any child or member of staff at the nursery.

 

Staff must not make comment either publicly or in private about a parent’s supposed or actual behaviour, strict confidentiality will be observed at all times.

Staff must raise any concerns initially with the’ deputy who will discuss these concerns with the manager on a need to know basis and appropriate action will be considered.

 

 

Staff responsibilities do not include investigating the suspected abuse and all related information

must be kept in a locked filling cabinet.

 Parents and families will be treated with respect in a non-judgemental manner whilst investigations by the appropriate authorities are being carried out in the best interests of the child.

 

 

It is the policy of the nursery to provide a secure and safe environment for all children from abuse.

The nursery will therefore not allow an adult to be left alone who has not received their enhanced

CRB check clearance and all our staff will receive safeguarding training. We know how important staff ratios are and ensure that we follow the legal requirements for the minimum numbers of staff

present with the children at any time as set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory

framework.

 

 

We aim to

 

Ensure that children are never placed at risk while in the charge of the nursery staff.

Ensure that confidentiality is maintained at all times.

Ensure that all staff are alert to the signs and understand what is meant by safeguarding and

are aware of the different ways in which children can be harmed, including by other children

i.e. bullying.

Ensure that all staff are familiar with safeguarding issues and procedures when they register

with the nursery and kept informed of all updates when they occur.

Regularly review and update this policy.

 

What is child abuse?

 

A person may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm. Staff in

the nursery recognise that child abuse can and does happen in all types of families. The different

social and cultural backgrounds of the children do not constitute barriers to child abuse and in most

cases children are abused by individuals known to them, rather than strangers. Child abuse can take

many formats, but all instances can be broadly categorised under one of four headings; neglect,

physical abuse, sexual abuse and emotional abuse. The following indentifies some possible

manifestations of child abuse; however these lists are not exhaustive.

 

Neglect – is the persistent failure to meet basic physical and psychological needs, which may result

in the serious impairment of the child’s health and development. For example; poor hygiene,

untreated medical problems, emaciation or under nourishment. Staff may notice behavioural signs

such as a child who always seems to be hungry, is constantly tired or talks of being left alone.

 

Procedure:

The concern should be discussed with the parent/carer.

Such discussions will be recorded and the parent/carer will have access to such records.

If there appears to be any queries regarding the circumstances the RIU or Social Services family & children initial response will be contacted

 

Physical abuse

Physical signs may involve unexplained bruising in unlikely areas, facial bruising,

hand/finger marks, bite marks, burns, lacerations or abrasions. Staff may notice certain behavioural

signs that also indicate physical abuse such as a child that shy’s away from physical contact, is

withdrawn or aggressive towards others or their behaviour changes suddenly.

All signs of marks/injuries to a child when they come into nursery will be recorded as soon as

noticed by a staff member

The incident will be discussed with the parent/carer at the earliest opportunity.

Such discussions will be recorded and a signature obtained from the parent/carer who will

have access to such records.

If there appears to be any queries regarding the injury, the necessary departments

should be informed immediately.

 

Sexual Abuse – Physical signs may include bruising consistent with being held firmly, discomfort in

walking/sitting, pain or itching in the genital area, discharge or blood on under clothes, or loss of

appetite. Behavioural signs may include drawings or play showing indicators of sexual activity,

sexual explicit language, knowledge of adult sexual behaviour, seductive behaviour towards others,

poor self esteem and a child who is withdrawn.

 

Procedure:

The observed instances will be detailed in a confidential report.

The observed instances will be reported to the Nursery manager.

The matter will be referred to the children’s services immediately.

 

Emotional Abuse – Physical signs of emotional abuse may include a general failure to thrive, not

meeting expected developmental milestones and behaviourally a child may be attention seeking

tells lies, have an inability to have fun, low self esteem, speech disorders, and be inappropriately

affectionate towards others.

 

Procedure:

The concerns should be discussed with the parent/ Manager.

Such discussions will be recorded and the parent/carer will have access to such records.

If there appears to be any queries regarding the circumstances, the children’s services will be notified.

However, when identifying any potential instances of abuse, staff must at all times be aware that

children may demonstrate individual or combinations of the indicators detailed, but may not be the

subject of abuse. Individual or isolated incidents do not necessarily indicate abuse. However, staff

should always remain vigilant and must not ignore warnings signs and contact Children’s services

access center at any stage for support.

 

Recording suspicions of abuse and discloses

Staff will make an objective record of any observation or disclosure and include:

Child’s address

Child’s age and date of birth

Date and time of the observation or the disclosure

EXACT words spoken by the child/injuries or marks seen

 

Reviewed December 2018