Innovate Dorset Ltd

    Child Protection Procedure

    Table of Contents

    1.    What Is Child Protection?
    2.    What Is Significant Harm?
    3.    Scope and Purpose of These Procedures
    4.    Responsibilities and Roles
    5.    What Is Child Abuse?
            5.1    Physical Abuse
            5.2    Emotional Abuse
            5.3    Sexual Abuse
            5.4    Neglect
    6.    Recognising Child Abuse
           6.1    Physical Abuse
           6.2    Emotional Abuse
           6.3    Sexual Abuse
           6.4    Neglect
    7.    Responses
            7.1    Responding to a Child Who Makes a Disclosure
            7.2    Responding to Concerns or Suspicions of Abuse
            7.3    Responding to Allegations or Concerns about Staff
    8.    Referral to Children’s Services Social Care
    9.    Children Who Are Disabled
    10.    Safer Working Practice
    11.    Absences and Attendance
    12.    Training

    1.    What Is Child Protection?

    Child Protection is the response to the different ways in which a child or young person’s physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual health is damaged by the actions of another person. Child Protection is one essential aspect of safeguarding. It refers to the activity undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering significant harm or are at risk of suffering.

    2.    What Is Significant Harm?

    1. The Children Act 1989 introduced the concept of ‘significant harm’ as the threshold that justifies compulsory intervention by statutory agencies in family life in the best interests of children.
    2. There are no absolute criteria on which to rely when judging what constitutes significant harm. Sometimes it might be a single traumatic event, but more often, it is a compilation of significant events which damage the child’s physical and psychological development.
    3. Decisions about significant harm are complex and require discussion with the statutory agencies.

    3.    Scope and Purpose of These Procedures

    These procedures should be read in conjunction with the Company Safeguarding Policy. They apply to all Company staff, including the Director, or anyone working on behalf of the Company, and explain what action should be taken if there are concerns that a child is or might be suffering harm.

    A child is a person under 18 years, but the principles of these procedures also apply to vulnerable young adults over 18 years.

    4.    Responsibilities and Roles

    1. All those who come into contact with children and families in their work, including those who do not have a specific role in relation to child protection, have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
    2. The Company has a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead(s) (DDSL) with responsibility for child protection. This is the person with whom you should typically discuss any concerns or allegations, and they should be able to offer appropriate advice and refer to other agencies as necessary.
    1. All action is taken in line with the following guidance:
      1. BCP Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH).
      2. Dorset Children Advice and Duty Service (CHAD).
      3. KCSIE 2022 – Keeping Children Safe in Education 2022.
    2. Working Together to Safeguard Children 2006 – Guidance published by HM Government.
    3. What to do if you are worried a child is being abused – Government Guidance –DfES 31553.

    5.    What Is Child Abuse?

    It is generally accepted that there are four primary forms of abuse. The following definitions are based on those from Working Together to Safeguard Children (HM Government 2006).

    Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of ill-treatment of a child, though it may occur alone. These four definitions do not minimise other forms of maltreatment.

    5.1    Physical Abuse
    • Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child.
    • Physical damage may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of or deliberately induces illness in a child.
    • Physical abuse, as well as being a result of an act of commission (doing something), can also be caused through omission or the failure to act to protect.
    5.2    Emotional Abuse

    Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional ill-treatment of a child, such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development.

    • It may involve conveying to children that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate or valued only insofar as they meet another person’s needs.
    • It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions beyond the child’s developmental capability, overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the child from participating in regular social interaction.
    • It may involve seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another.
    • It may involve causing children to frequently feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children.
    5.3    Sexual Abuse

    Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or YP to take part in sexual activities, including prostitution, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening.

    • The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative (e.g. rape, buggery or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts.
    • They may include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, pornographic material, watching sexual activities, or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.
    • Boys and girls can be sexually abused by males or females, by adults and by other YP. This includes people from all different walks of life.
    5.4    Neglect

    Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the severe impairment of the child’s health or development. Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse. Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to provide adequate food and clothing, shelter, including exclusion from home or danger, failure to ensure adequate supervision, including the use of insufficient caretakers, or the inability to provide access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of or unresponsiveness to a child’s basic emotional needs.

    6.    Recognising Child Abuse

    Recognising child abuse is not easy, and it is not your responsibility to decide whether or not child abuse has taken place or if a child is at significant risk.

    However, you are responsible for acting if you are concerned about a child’s welfare or safety.

    The following information is not designed to turn you into an expert, but it will help you be more alert to the signs of possible abuse.

    The following list is not meant to be definitive, but a guide to assist you. It is important to remember that many children and YP will exhibit some of these indicators at some time, and the presence of one or more should not be taken as proof that abuse is occurring.

    6.1    Physical Abuse

    Most children will collect cuts and bruises in their daily lives, likely in places with bony body parts, like elbows, knees and shins. Some children, however, will have bruising that can only be caused non-accidentally.

    An important indicator of physical abuse is when bruises or injuries are unexplained, or the explanation does not fit the injury, or there are differing explanations.

    A delay in seeking medical treatment for a child when it is obviously necessary is also a cause for concern.

    Bruising may be more or less noticeable in children with different skin tones or from other racial groups, and specialist advice may need to be taken.

    Patterns of bruising that are suggestive of physical child abuse include:

    • Bruising in children who are not independently mobile
    • Bruises that are seen away from bony prominences
    • Bruises to the face, back, stomach, arms, buttocks, ears and hands
    • Multiple bruises in clusters
    • Multiple bruises of uniform shape
    • Bruises that carry the imprint of an implement used, hand marks or fingertips.

    Although bruising is the most typical injury in physical abuse, fatal, non-accidental head injuries and non-accidental fractures can occur without bruising. Any child with unexplained signs of pain or illness should be seen promptly by a doctor.

    Other physical signs of abuse may include:

    • Cigarette burns
    • Adult bite marks
    • Broken bones
    • Scalds.

    Changes in behaviour that can also indicate physical abuse:

    • Fear of the parents being approached for an explanation
    • Aggressive behaviour or severe temper outbursts
    • Flinching when approached or touched
    • Reluctance to get changed, for example, wearing long sleeves in hot weather
    • Running away from home.
    6.2    Emotional Abuse

    Emotional abuse can be challenging to measure, and often children who appear well cared for may be emotionally abused by being taunted, put down or belittled. They may receive little or no love, affection or attention from their parents or carers.

    Children who live in households with domestic violence can often suffer emotional abuse.

    Emotional abuse can also result in children not being allowed to mix/play with other children.

    The physical signs of emotional abuse may include:

    • A failure to thrive or grow, particularly if the child puts on weight in other circumstances, e.g. in a hospital or away from parents’ care.
    • Sudden speech disorders. 
    • Developmental delay, either in terms of physical or emotional progress. 

    Changes in behaviour that can also indicate emotional abuse include:

    • Neurotic behaviour, e.g. sulking, hair twisting, rocking
    • Being unable to play
    • Fear of making mistakes
    • Self-harm
    • Fear of the parents being approached.
    6.3    Sexual Abuse

    Adults who use children to meet their sexual needs abuse girls and boys of all ages, including infants and toddlers.

    Usually, in cases of sexual abuse, it is the child’s behaviour that may cause you to become concerned, although physical signs can also be present.

    In all cases, children who talk about sexual abuse do so because they want it to stop. It is, therefore, crucial that they are listened to and taken seriously.

    The physical signs of sexual abuse may include:

    • Pain or itching in the genital/anal areas
    • Bruising or bleeding near the genital/anal areas
    • Sexually transmitted disease
    • Vaginal discharge or infection
    • Stomach pains
    • Discomfort when walking or sitting down
    • Pregnancy.

    Changes in behaviour that can also indicate sexual abuse include:

    • Sudden or unexplained changes in behaviour, e.g. becoming aggressive or withdrawn
    • Fear of being left with a specific person or group of people
    • Having nightmares
    • Running away from home
    • Sexual knowledge which is beyond their age or developmental level
    • Sexual drawings or language
    • Bedwetting
    • Eating problems such as overeating or anorexia
    • Self-harm or mutilation, sometimes leading to suicide attempts
    • Saying they have secrets they cannot tell anyone about
    • Substance or drug abuse
    • Suddenly having unexplained sources of money
    • Not being allowed to have friends (particularly in adolescence)
    • Acting in a sexually explicit way towards adults.
    6.4    Neglect

    Neglect can be a complex form of abuse to recognise, yet it has some of the most lasting and damaging effects on children.

    The physical signs of neglect may include:

    • Constant hunger, sometimes stealing food from other children
    • Being constantly dirty or smelly
    • Loss of weight, or being constantly underweight
    • Inappropriate dress for the conditions.
      Changes in behaviour that can also indicate neglect may include:
    • Complaining of being tired all the time
    • Not requesting medical assistance and/or failing to attend appointments
    • Having a few friends
    • Mentioning being left alone or unsupervised.

    There may well be other reasons for changes in behaviour, such as a death or the birth of a new baby in the family, relationship problems between parents/carers, undiagnosed medical conditions, etc.

    The above list is not meant to be definitive, but a guide to assist you. It is important to remember that many children and YP will exhibit some of these indicators at some time, and the presence of one or more should not be taken as proof that abuse is occurring.

    7.    Responses

    7.1    Responding to a Child Who Makes a Disclosure
    1. Listen carefully to what is said.
    2. Stay calm.
    3. Find an appropriate opportunity to explain that it is likely that the information will need to be shared with others – do not promise to keep secrets.
    4. Allow the child to continue at their own pace and do not interrupt if the child freely recalls events.
    5. You do not need to find a ‘witness’.
    6. Ask questions for clarification only, and always avoid asking questions that suggest a particular answer.
      Questions should be framed openly and not ‘lead’ the child in any way.
      1. For example, “Tell me what has happened”, rather than, “Did s/he do ... ?”
    7. Reassure the child that they have done the right thing in telling you.
    8. Explain what you will do next and with whom the information will be shared.
    9. Do not ask the child to repeat the disclosure to anyone else in school or ask them to write a ‘statement’.
    10. Contact the DSL or DDSL as soon as you can, within 24 hours.
    11. Record in writing what was said, including the child’s own words, as quickly as possible – note the date, time, any names mentioned, to whom the information was given and ensure that the record is signed and dated.
    12. Do not discuss this with parents or carers. The DSL will agree with the Social Care team on when parents or carers should be contacted and by whom.

    Remember: everyone in the service must be aware that the person who first encounters a case of alleged or suspected abuse is not responsible for deciding whether or not abuse has occurred and should not conduct an investigation to establish whether the child is telling the truth. That is a task for Social Care and the Police following a referral about a child. Your role is to act promptly on the information you have received.

    7.2    Responding to Concerns or Suspicions of Abuse
    • Any suspicion or concern that a child or YP may be suffering or at risk of suffering significant harm MUST be acted on. Doing nothing is not an option.
    • Any suspicions or concerns should be discussed without delay with the DSL or DDSL.
    • If the child/YP is felt to be in immediate danger, the Police should be called.
    • A careful record should be made of what you have seen/heard that has led to your concerns and the date, time, location, and people present.
    • As far as possible, record verbatim what was said and by whom.
    • Do not ask to see injuries that are said to be on an intimate part of the child’s body.
    • See Record Keeping Procedures.
    • In the unlikely event that your Team Manager, DSL or DDSL is unavailable, you should discuss your concerns with another senior Company staff member.
    • The DSL/DDSL should telephone the referral to the appropriate Social Care duty team (presently the MASH Team or CHAD Team) without delay, but not before informing the parents or carers that a referral has been made, unless the concern is about the parent/guardian. 
    • The DSL/DDSL should keep a record of the conversation with all parties, noting what actions will be taken and by whom and giving the date and time of the referral.
    • The referral must be confirmed in writing on the inter-agency referral form (MASH Form BCP) as soon as possible and within 24 hours.
    7.3    Responding to Allegations or Concerns about Staff

    Rigorous recruitment and selection, and other safeguarding procedures and adhering to safer practice guidance will hopefully mean that there are relatively few allegations against or concerns about staff.

    However, if you have any reason to believe that another member of staff has acted inappropriately or has abused a child or young person, you must take immediate action by reporting your concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). If the DSL is unavailable, or if your concern involves the DSL, you should report the matter to a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL). Even though it may seem difficult to believe that one of your colleagues may be unsuitable to work with children, the risk is far too severe for any staff member to dismiss such a suspicion without taking action.

    In all allegations against staff, the Company Director will follow the correct procedure to the best of their ability.

    See the Allegation Management Procedures and the Allegations Policy.

    Referral to Children’s Services Social Care

    What happens after a referral is made to Children’s Services Social Care?

    8.    Referral

    • Once the correct Social Care team receives a referral, a manager will decide on the next course of action within one working day. When there is concern that a child is suffering or at risk of suffering significant harm, this will be decided more quickly, and an initial assessment will be conducted.
      Initial Assessment
    • The Initial Assessment must be completed within seven working days of receiving the referral and will determine what should happen next.
      StrategyDiscussion
    • If there is reasonable cause to suspect actual or likely significant harm, the Social Care Manager and the Police (and other agencies as appropriate) will hold a Strategy Discussion or meeting to decide whether to initiate a child protection enquiry (S47 enquiry) and whether a joint criminal investigation is required.
      Enquiries
    • The investigation process is determined by the needs of the case, but the child or YP will be seen as part of that process, which means that the child or YP is jointly interviewed by the Police and Social Care, sometimes at a special suite where a video recording of the interview is made.
      The Child Protection Conference
    • If, following the S47 enquiries, the concerns are substantiated, and the child or YP is judged to be at continuing risk of significant harm, a Child Protection Conference (CPC) will typically be convened.
    • A CPC must be held within 15 days of the Strategy Discussion, and staff invited to attend (Designated Senior Person for child protection) should produce a written report in the correct format. This will be shared with the child or YP, as well as their famil,y at least 24 hours before the initial CPC is held.
    • A copy should also be sent to the person chairing the initial CPC at least 24 hours in advance.

    9.    Children Who Are Disabled

    • Children who are disabled are especially vulnerable to abuse, and adults who work with them need to take extra care when interpreting apparent signs of abuse or neglect.
    • Child Protection procedures should be followed if a child who is disabled discloses abuse or if there are indicators of abuse or neglect. There are no different or separate procedures for children who are disabled.

    10.    Safer Working Practice

    All adults who come into contact with children in schools should behave at all times in a professional manner, which secures the best outcomes for children and also prevents allegations from being made.

    11.    Safe and Well Checks in the Event of Prolonged Absence

    The safety and wellbeing of all children and YP under the Company’s care is of the utmost importance. We recognise that prolonged absences of YP can raise concerns about their welfare. Therefore, as part of our Child Protection Policy, we have implemented a procedure for conducting Safe and Well Checks when the YP has been absent for a prolonged period of time.

    Purpose

    • The purpose of Safe and Well Checks is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of YP who have been absent for a prolonged period of time without any contact and/or reasonable explanation. In the event of a prolonged absence, the Company staff members will carry these out to ascertain the YP’s welfare and take appropriate action if necessary.
      Responsibility
    • All Company staff members are responsible for reporting any concerns regarding a YP’s prolonged absence to the DSL promptly.

    Procedure

    • When a YP’s prolonged absence is noticed and/or reported, the following steps should be taken:
      1. Documentation
        The staff member observing and/or reporting the YP’s absence should document all relevant details, including: the YP’s name, age, date of last contact, and any information about the reason for the absence, if available.
      2. Initial Assessment
        The DSL will conduct an initial assessment of the situation. This may involve: reviewing the YP’s records, contacting the YP’s emergency contact, or liaising with other professionals involved in the YP’s care.
      3. Safe and Well Check
        If the initial assessment raises concerns about the YP’s welfare, the DSL will authorise a Safe and Well Check. A trained staff member will visit the YP’s residence or their last known location and conduct a check in person.
      4. Safe and Well Check Procedure
        During the Safe and Well Check, the staff member will:
        • Identify themselves and explain the purpose of the visit in a non-threatening, child-friendly manner.
        • Observe the YP’s physical appearance, behaviour, and surroundings for any signs of abuse, neglect, or harm.
        • Talk to the YP to assess their emotional wellbeing and gather any relevant information about their absence.
        • Document the findings of the Safe and Well Check, including any of the YP’s concerns, observations, or statements.
        • Inform the DSL immediately of any significant concerns or risks identified during the Check.
      5. Follow-Up Actions

    Based on the findings of the Safe and Well Check, the DSL will assess and determine the appropriate course of action. This may involve: contacting relevant authorities, initiating a child protection investigation, involving external agencies, or providing additional support to the YP and their family.

    Confidentiality and Record-Keeping 

    • All the information obtained during Safe and Well Checks should be treated thoughtfully and mindful of the confidentiality of the YP and all those involved, and will be handled in accordance with GDPR and the Company’s Data Protection Policies and Procedures. The findings will be documented and stored in a safe and secure place, in accordance with the Company’s Data Protection Policies and Procedures.
      Training and Awareness 
    • All Company staff members involved in conducting Safe and Well Checks will receive appropriate training on child protection, safeguarding procedures, and the importance of maintaining professional boundaries and confidentiality. This will be updated where appropriate and/or relevant, for example, when new government policies are implemented and/or amended, or during annual staff training. 
    • This Child Protection Policy, like all our policies, shall be reviewed annually and updated accordingly and where appropriate. All Company staff members are expected to be familiar with this Policy and its updates, as they are with all the Company policies.

    Through implementing the Safe and Well Checks procedure, the Company aims to proactively and diligently safeguard the welfare of YP and take prompt action when concerns arise, in accordance with the Company’s Policies and the regulations set out by HM Government.

    12.    Training

    All staff will receive child protection and safeguarding training. Both new and current members of staff will be expected to receive this training as part of their induction and as part of their annual training, respectively. Certificates, etc., proving the staff member has passed this training should be emailed to the HR Department to be stored as a part of the staff member’s record with the Company.

    Control SheetVersion Number: 5
    Child Protection ProcedureAuthor: Samuel Thomas
    Date of Approval: 11th September 2025
    Next Review Date: 11th September 2026