Safeguarding Children and Young People 1 Everyones responsibility

Safeguarding Children and Young People 1

Everyone's responsibility Everyone has a responsibility to keep children and young people safe. All organisations that come into contact with children should have specific safeguarding policies and procedures in place. This includes voluntary and community organisations, faith groups, private sector providers, as well as schools, hospitals and sports clubs (NSPCC). This presentation forms part of our safeguarding policy and procedure. It may be unlikely you will ever need to report a concern about a child's wellbeing, but, we have a duty of care and legal responsibility to ensure you know how to. Even if you don’t work directly or regularly with children. 2

How do we define child abuse? Child abuse is understood as any form of maltreatment of a child. This is split into the following categories: • • • Neglect Emotional abuse Physical abuse Sexual abuse Failure to thrive (separated from emotional abuse in Scotland) This may occur in a family, community or institutional setting by those known to the victim, but can be by strangers often via the internet. Abuse can be perpetrated by men or women, by more than one adult and by children towards other children. 3

A disclaimer The next two slides list signs/indicators for each type of abuse. Keep in mind: • Noticing these signs, and changes in behaviour, often requires you to have repeated contact with a child over a length of time. • These are generalised and do not take into account pre-existing conditions, such as Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis, or other issues. These signs should therefore not be viewed in isolation and must be put into the context of your interaction with the child. 4

What are the signs and indicators of abuse? Neglect • Tired/listless • Unkempt/poor hygiene • Dressed inappropriately for the weather • Untreated medical conditions and missing appointments • Constantly hungry • Overeats when food is available • Poor growth • Poor school attendance • Few friends/withdrawn • Regularly left unsupervised Emotional abuse • Failure to thrive • Attention seeking • Low self-esteem • Over ready to relate to others • Apathy • Depression/self-harm • Drink/drug/solvent abuse • Persistently over protective • Withholding love and affection • Frequently humiliating a child • Failure to thrive 5

What are the signs and indicators of abuse? Physical abuse • Unexplained injuries • Injuries on unusual parts of the body e. g. backs of legs, upper arms, neck, in various stages of healing, or which suggest an object has been used to inflict harm. • Flinching when approached • Reluctant to change clothes • Limbs covered in hot weather • Crying/instability • Afraid of going home • Behavioural extremes • Apathy/depression Sexual abuse • Age inappropriate sexual behavior and knowledge • Wary of adults • Running away from home • Eating disorders • Depression/self harm • Unexplained gifts/money • Stomach pains • Bedwetting • Recurrent genital discharge • Sexually transmitted diseases • Secrecy when online 6

What is expected of you? Standards • • Place the child’s welfare at the centre of all that you do. Treat all children fairly, with respect, and dignity. Do not discriminate. Conduct and behaviour • • Be conscious of how you speak and what you say around children. • Do not engage in rough, physical, or sexualised games or behaviour, intrusive conversations, name-calling or excluding children/young people from an activity, instead challenge these behaviours and make a safeguarding report if appropriate. Do not put yourself out of plain sight and/or alone with a child. Do not allow children to engage you in inappropriate attention seeking. Only contact children through official channels. Do not accept friend requests on social media and don't ask for details/private information. 7

How do I respond to an incident or disclosure? • Don’t interrupt and listen carefully to what’s being said without drawing your own conclusions. • Stay calm, try not to react or express any opinion or view. • Let them know that telling someone was the right thing to do. • Use encouraging phrases like “You’re doing really well” and “It’s ok, I’m listening”. • Only ask questions to clarify facts or check you understand. • Don’t promise that you won’t tell anyone, explain what you will do next and that you have to inform someone who will be able to help. 8

How do I report a concern or incident? If you witness, are informed about, or have a concern about a child’s welfare or safety, regardless of who is implicated, you must: Report this as soon as possible by calling our reporting line: 07719 443 687 No response? Call the NSPCC on: 0808 800 5000 Is there an immediate risk? Call the police. Don’t talk to anyone until you have phoned one of the above numbers. It is not your job to conduct an investigation, just listen carefully and follow any instructions given to you by the person who answers your call. 9

What to do after making a call? Within 48 hours, write down an exact account of what you have witnessed or been told, including names, dates and locations. Write down facts and not your opinion. Sign and date this. Keep everything you have written in a secure place and do not share this with anyone until directed to do so. 10

Where can I find the policy? Our entire policy can be found on the website here: Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy Or, if you are a member of staff, a PDF and Word version are saved onto the Shared Drive here: Safeguarding folder 11

Support for yourself If this presentation has raised any issues for you, www. supportline. org. uk has a comprehensive list of services and advice that may help you. For other concerns or questions about safeguarding children, please contact the Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) By phone: 01727 734 497 By email: elliot. james@crohnsandcolitis. org. uk 12

Thank you. Follow us /crohnsandcolitisuk @Crohns. Colitis. UK 13