Task 1 (1.1 1.2)
Completing your Unit 2.2 Safeguarding Workbook requires deep understanding of child protection legislation and procedures. When you need assignment writing service, our qualified experts provide comprehensive support covering all safeguarding policies, ensuring your coursework meets academic standards and regulatory requirements for early years education.
Q1. Working with your manager or mentor, please go through the polcies that would relate to safeguarding and child protection and then
Identify your settings policies for Safeguarding and name them, summarise what they set out.
Policy and their Key Points
Children Act 1989
· In accordance with this policy children have been looked upon by their family members. In case safety of the children is at risk then, they are taken away from their family members.
· It determines the responsibilities of local authorities related to safeguarding of children.
· There is need to prioritise the safety of children and they should be protected from any kind of abuse.
· The childcare and educational institutions need to adopt the safeguarding policies so they can support children along with prioritising their safety (Thoburn, 2023).
· When any safety issue at the court arises then, children welfare is considered as the major priority.
Children Act 2004 – This is extension of Children Act 1989
· This policy focuses on “Every Child matter” initiative and accordingly, each child should be treated with dignity and equality.
· There is need to support children so they can get economic stability.
· Focus requires to be implied on undertaking positive changes in the lives of children.
The Children and Social Work Act 2017
· This policy is specifically for enhancing decision-making and providing support to children within England and Wales (Thoburn, 2023).
· It has supported in the establishment of new regulations for supporting the social workers who are working for children safety.
· Certain improvements at the local level have been witnessed that are safeguarding children and it has encouraged people to improve child protection practice at the local and national level.
· This act also focuses on the safeguarding of children by providing sex education in the schools.
The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
· This act is specifically for protecting the children from the exploitation.
· Minimising the risk and harm and further offering centralised process and working closely with the children who are facing complexities.
The Care Act 2014
· Focusing on empowerment, supporting and encouraging children and young people so they can make their own decision. Hence, prior focus is implied on empowering children.
· This act states that it is important to take action before harm occurs.
· Providing support and solution to children who are facing exploitation and further protects children from exploitation.
· The local solutions have been provided within working with communities.
· Accountability and transparency have been maintained in delivering and providing the safeguarding process.
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015
· Local authorities, social services, childcare setting, educational institutions and police requires to implement collaboration for promoting the welfare of children who are at the risk of abuse or experiencing harm
· It depicts about the signs and further highlights about the negative influence of abuse on children (Thoburn, 2023).
· It provides detailed guidelines and principles that is required to be followed while working with children and their families.
· It further focuses on setting the training requirement for all those individuals who are involved within childcare.
· It provides guidance related to the procedure which should be followed after the death of any children.
Protection if Children Act 1999
· In accordance with this act, childcare provider is not allowed to offer paid and unpaid jobs to those individuals who are unsuitable for working with children.
Disclosure and Barring Service [DBS]
· Prevents collaboration of unsuitable people with children and emphasis on the safety of children.
· It is important that employers checks whether employees have any criminal record or not and accordingly they decision should be taken.
EYFS [Early Year Foundation Stage Revised Edition 2017]
· This focuses on enhancing the learning and development of children who are concerned with different requirements.
· It adheres with the safeguarding and welfare requirement which are important for the safety of children.
· It involves approaching suitable staff and trained staff, developing positive environment, promoting healthy behaviours, manages special education needs and maintains record-keeping.
Q2. Identify the roles in your workplace that relate to safeguarding, protection, and welfare of children, and in the 2nd column, give 2 examples of how you do this in your setting.
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Identify roles |
Example 1 |
Example 2 |
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Providing protection to children from any type of wrong treatment |
I will consistently communicate with children and this helps in identifying whether they are facing any type of exploitation at the setting. |
Equality at the setting will be maintained and no discrimination with the children will be done. |
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Prevention of the risk and protecting well-being of children |
I will consistently observe children and risk analysis will be done before each activity and consequently, further action will be taken. |
I will build emotional interaction with children so they can express their emotions such as sadness in front of me. Consequently, I will take corrective measures and well-being of the children will be protected. |
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Assuring that children are growing in such environment that contributes in their developmental procedure. |
All the activities which will be organised in the setting would be concerned with the motive of developing children. The preferences of children will be analysed and on the basis of this further action would be taken and support will be ensured to children. |
I will take feedback from the children and accordingly, further activities will be organised. In this manner, I will be able to consider the children interest and their development procedure will be focused out. |
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Taking part in safeguarding training |
I will take part in training programs and further I will learn about the policies and guidelines that related with safeguarding procedure. In this manner I will be able to learn about the contextual elements which are important to consider for protecting children. |
I will attain the workshops and accordingly, I will implement practices in the setting. |
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Implementing collaboration with parents and communities for ensuring the safety of children. |
Weekly meetings will be organised and discussion with the parents would be undertaken. It supports in identifying the additional needs of children and consequently, decision will be taken. |
I will make collaboration with child care communities so that children safeguarding can be prioritised. The guidance and support from these communities will enable me to understand the requirements of children. |
Q3. Working with your DSL. Please draw a flow chart on how you would report 1. A child who you feel has been physically abused by their parent. Then draw a 2nd flow chart showing who you would report to if you had seen the manager abuse a child.
Reporting 1
Reporting 2
Task 2 (2.1 2.2 2.3 3.3)
Read this Scenario.
James is 3 years old and has recently started attending your setting. James is upset as he has had an accident and wet his trousers, on helping him change to clean ones you notice bruising on his upper thigh.
Now answer this question in detail: -
Explain the procedures that you would follow in detail when reporting this type of incident, to include your line of reporting, think about who you would speak to and the paperwork that you will complete.
In such situation I will listen to child and then reassurance will be provided to children that the action would be taken. This is a critical situation and therefore, no question will be asked to James. The written record will be made that consistent with the record of observation and disclosure. This will be associated with date and time of disclosure and observation. I will assure that exact works that has been spoken by child will be recorded and the name of the person will be mentioned to whom the concern requires to be reported. I will report this incident to safeguarding lead and they will be informed about the issues so they can frequently take the actions. Further, I will file the incident and accordingly the record will be formed and name, date of birth, children name and everything will be mentioned in the report. The series of steps will be followed and reporting to mentor, room leader and deputy safeguarding office would be done.
Following from the scenario above, what are the boundaries of confidentiality? What can you share? Tell me about consent and when this is needed?
It is important to manage the boundaries of confidentiality as it is the foremost factor which needs to be focused out and therefore, I will imply significant focus on this area so that I can effectively maintain the confidentiality of children. I will share information only with the concerned person such as mentor, room leader and safeguarding team. By prioritising the confidentiality of children they can be protected and therefore, this will be my foremost priority so that support can be ensured to children.
Task3 (3.1 3.2 3.4 3.5)
Q1 Explain child protection in relation to safeguarding- explain Child Protection and Safeguarding how are they connected.
Safeguarding is considered as a proactive approach that focuses on preventing harm and often promotes welfare of the children. On the other hand, child protection significantly deals with different types of cases in which children are at the risk of abuse or experiencing any kind of significant harm. Child protection is related to safeguarding as it focuses on protecting the children from abuse (Dillon, 2021). Both of these components are connected with each other as the major aim is linked with protecting the children. Child protection is itself part of the safeguarding process as it focuses on protecting children rights and further saves them from abuse and harms. Thus, there is no doubt in stating that child protection and safeguarding are interconnected with each other and it is important to develop significant focus on this area so that children can be protected.
Q2 Describe signs, symptoms, indicators and behaviours that may cause concern relating to:
- Domestic abuse
Anti-social behaviour, depression, suicidal thoughts, insomnia, eating disorders, troubling in learning, withdrawal and tantrums.
- Neglect
When children appear dirty or smelly then it signifies about Neglect. Further, they face health and development issues such as poor muscle tone, anaemia and skin issues. Further, there is change has been witnessed in the behaviour of children. They become depressed and anxious which further changes into trauma.
- Physical abuse
Bruises on the body, fractured bones, burns and scandals, bite marks and head injuries. Children are afraid of everyone specially; they are afraid of their parents. Children becomes aggressive and they started hitting and pushing others.
- Emotional abuse
Lack of confidence in children, not able to maintain the relationship and extreme outburst shown by children.
- Sexual abuse
When children experience sexual abuse then they face pain in genital areas and they often give clue about abuse. Also, children start to fear abuser and avoids them. In this manner, clues have been given by children.
Q3 Explain the rights of children and parents/carers in situations where harm or abuse is suspected or alleged.
Child- It is important to protect the children from harm and abuse and it is essential to ensure that children does not faces such kind of abuse in future. Safety of the child is topmost priority and it is the rights of children that he/she must get consistent support from safeguarding team. The issues of children require to be assessed and consistent support must be given to them (Davis, 2022). Thus, it is essential to provide significant support to children so their trust can be gained and accordingly they can be protected from the abuse. In this manner, effectual results can be gained and consistent support can be assured to children.
Parent- The parents have the right to get informed about the whole process. Further, they have right to get involved in the decision-making process so that effective decision can be taken for child. Moreover, parents can complain if they are not treated well during whole procedure. However, when parents are being implicated in the investigation procedure then, child needs to be removed from their case study. In this manner, support can be ensured to children and further the children can be protected.
Q4 Read your settings whistleblowing policy. Explain how you would report poor practice and your responsibilities for whistleblowing. Remember to include your internal and external reporting procedures.
Whistleblowing refers to the process in which an employee informs management about unethical practices undertaken by any of the colleague. In accordance with this process, it is important to assure that complaint which is undertaken is significantly for public interest and not for own personal interest (Baginsky and Manthorpe, 2020). Furthermore, it is essential to assure that disclosure is showing about the past, present and future aspects. I will report the poor practices of whistleblowing by raising issue with the manager and accordingly, the matter would be treated in confidence. Afterwards, the investigation procedure will be undertaken by staff and I will explain about the whole situation. There might be possibility that staff can bring the colleagues for completing the explanation. The nature of complaint decides about the solution procedure, if the complaint is extremely serious then, it is not easy to find an immediate solution. If I am not satisfied with the outcome then, I have the right to report to director. This is my responsibility to maintain the confidentiality in the whole procedure, the reporting procedure should be adhered with set rules and protocols and therefore, confidentiality requires to be maintained.
Task 5
Q1. Who are the services that we would work with in order to safeguard children?
There are different agencies that has legal rights for intervening when the child is abused.
When different agencies and professionals works together and shares information related to child then, significant decision regarding child can be taken.
Social workers are accountable for promoting the welfare of children, there is need to work with them as they maintain collaboration with everyone.
The Local Safeguarding Children Boards monitors the work of agencies and further observe whether ethical practices are undertaken or not.
Psychologist deals with the emotional traumas of children and therefore, it is important to implement significant interaction with them.
Q2. Explain why it is important to work with others when it comes to safeguarding and the welfare of children?
Safeguarding and child protection is just not limited to any individual or organisation. It is a wider concept that concerned with shared responsibility and therefore, it requires coordination and cooperation with parents, children’s agencies, communities and social workers (Dixon et al, 2022). The collective efforts ensures that child has been protected from all perspectives and further it contributes in undertaking immediate reporting procedure. Thus, partnership working led to foster a sense of shared responsibility and further safeguards children. The involvement of multiple services and agencies results in shared decision making that ultimately assures protection to children.
Q3. Describe what can happen if we did not work together.
In case when partnership working has not been done then, this creates negative impact on the children. Also, the burden keeps passing on an individual and organisation that lead to negative outcomes. In order to safeguard and protect children it is essential to undertake collaboration with different services and individuals. Based on the nature of case and complaint the collaboration requires to be implemented. In this manner, effectual decision making can be done and significant support to children could be ensured.
Task 6
Q1. In your own words, explain what safeguarding practice reviews are. (to answer this questions, get a range of sources of information and then write what you have concluded it is in your own words)
Child Safeguarding Practice Review is specifically undertaken when child has experienced serious harm or in the situation when child dies. The safeguarding review process concerned with the purpose that is related to serious child safeguarding cases at domestic and national level (Firmin, 2020). The review identified the improvement that are needed to be implemented in safeguarding procedure and it further focuses on promoting the welfare of children. As a result, risk related to recurrence of same events reduces. Therefore, it is essential to focus on this procedure so that significant decision making can be done and consistent support to the children can be ensured.
Q2. How can safeguarding practice reviews inform your policies and practices within the setting?
The safeguarding practice review plays prominent role in informing the practices and policies within the setting. Furthermore, it informs about the ways in which actions are needed to be undertaken (Zaccagnino et al, 2021). The improvements can be identified and accordingly, appropriate actions can be taken. The safeguarding practice review protects child and encourage effective learning and improvement so that future deaths can be prevented and harm can be reduced for children.
Q3. Look at your local safeguarding board website and find one of the safeguarding practice reviews. Explain here what the lessons are and how this will impact your policies in the setting and your practice.
The review can be done through emphasising on a case. In Berkshire, serious accidental injuries on a 7-year-old boy were recognised while he was in the care of his mother. This incident happened in February 2021. However, mother of Alex failed in seeking medical treatment and this led to life threatening consequences (Local safeguarding children boards, 2021). As a result, she had the allegations of neglect. Through this case review, I have learned that it is important to respond towards neglect and substance misuse. It is essential to consider the protective factors and role of the stepfather. These are important consideration which can help in identification of the drastic complexities faced by child. I have further learned that, in such situation partnership with multi-agency requires to be implemented as it helps in assuring that effective services are provided to child. The multi-agency audit should be arranged for observing whether child is facing abuse or harm and immediate actions are needed to be taken.
References
Baginsky, M. and Manthorpe, J., 2020. Keeping children and young people safe during a pandemic: Testing the robustness of multi-agency child protection and safeguarding arrangements for schools. NIHR Policy Research Unit in Health and Social Care Workforce, The Policy Institute, King’s College London.
Davis, J., 2022. Adultification bias within child protection and safeguarding. HM Inspectorate of Probation.
Dillon, J., 2021. ‘Wishes and feelings’: Misunderstandings and missed opportunities for participation in child protection proceedings. Child & family social work, 26(4), pp.664-676.
Dixon, S., Kendall, B., Driscoll, J. and Pope, C., 2022. Supporting the ‘multi’in multi-agency working: learning with and from each other could enable multi-agency safeguarding. British Journal of General Practice, 72(722), pp.438-439.
Firmin, C., 2020. Contextual safeguarding and child protection: Rewriting the rules. Routledge.
Thoburn, J., 2023. Child welfare and child protection services in England. The Oxford handbook of child protection systems, pp.135-155.
Zaccagnino, R., Capo, C., Guarino, A., Lettieri, N. and Malandrino, D., 2021. Techno-regulation and intelligent safeguards: Analysis of touch gestures for online child protection. Multimedia tools and applications, 80, pp.15803-15824.
Online
Local safeguarding children boards, 2021. Online. Available through < https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-safeguarding-children-boards >
5 Years | Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Human Rights
