Children and Vulnerable Adults Protection Policy

Introduction

SCG is committed to doing all that is possible to ensure the safety of all members, volunteers, and members of the public engaged in activities.

All or members are required to consider and action the following document relating to the protection of children and vulnerable adults.

SCG want children and vulnerable adults to enjoy their involvement with us, we expect the behaviour of everyone who works with us to be above reproach.

While primarily intended to safeguard children and similarly vulnerable people*, our child welfare policy is also meant to protect members, volunteers and others working with us.

We cannot cover every possible eventuality in these guidelines but hope to cover most situations that you are likely to encounter.

*For the purpose of this policy and guidelines, the term child means any child or young person under the age of 18 and is inclusive of those volunteers and /or staff under the age of 18 as defined in the Children (NI) Order 1995. Vulnerable adults are people in need of Community Care Services because of mental disability or other disability, age or illness, and who are unable to take care of themselves or unable to protect themselves against significant harm or exploitation.

Statement of Policy

We endeavour to ensure that children and vulnerable adults are protected from harm while they participate in our activities. We will do this by:

1. Making sure all members are aware of issues of child protection.
2. Taking all reasonable steps to ensure the health, safety and welfare of any child or vulnerable adult in contact with SCG.
3. Not physically, emotionally or sexually abusing any child or vulnerable adult in contact with SCG.
4. Taking any reasonable steps to prevent any SCG members, persons working with us or member of the public from putting any child or vulnerable adult in a situation in which there is an unreasonable risk to their health and safety.
5. Taking all reasonable steps to prevent any SCG members, persons working with us or member of the public from physically, emotionally or sexually abusing any child or vulnerable adult.
6. Reporting to a Designated Officer any evidence or reasonable suspicion that a child or vulnerable adult has been physically, emotionally or sexually abused in contact with SCG.
7. Implementing this policy in conjunction with our Health and Safety guidelines.

Definitions of Abuse

Neglect

• The actual or likely persistent or significant neglect of a child or vulnerable adult, or the failure to protect a child or vulnerable adult from exposure to any kind of danger, including cold or starvation, or persistent failure to carry out important aspects of care, resulting in the significant impairment of the child’s or vulnerable adult‘s health or development, including non-organic failure to thrive.

Physical injury

• Actual or likely deliberate physical injury to a child or vulnerable adult, or wilful neglectful failure to prevent physical injury or suffering to a child or vulnerable adult.

Sexual abuse

• Actual or likely sexual exploitation of a child or vulnerable adult. The involvement of children and adolescents in sexual activities they do not truly comprehend, to which they are unable to give informed consent or that violate the social taboos of family roles.*

Emotional abuse

• Actual or likely persistent or significant emotional ill treatment or rejection resulting in severe adverse effects on the emotional, physical and/or behavioural development of a child or vulnerable adult. All abuse involves some emotional ill treatment.

* Sexual activity involving a child who has achieved sufficient understanding and intelligence to be capable of making up his or her own mind on the matter, while illegal, may not necessarily constitute sexual abuse as defined for the purposes of this guide. One example, which could fall into this category, is sexual relationship between a 16-year-old girl and her 18-year-old boyfriend. The decision to initiate child protection action in such cases is a matter for professional judgement and each case should be considered individually. The police will of course, deal with the criminal aspects of the case.

Children And Vulnerable Adults Safety And Welfare Guidelines

These guidelines apply to:

• Any situation involving children and young people up to age 18, whether or not accompanied by adults. SCG also recognise that vulnerable people of any age will benefit from similar safeguards. Whenever the guidelines refer to children, this broader meaning applies.

General Duties of all SCG Members and Volunteers

• To take all reasonable steps to protect children from hazards;
• To take appropriate action if an accident occurs;
• To strictly observe the code of behaviour given here;
• To take all reasonable steps to prevent abuse of children in contact with the group
• To report any incident or suspicion of abuse.

Admission Policy

Children are welcome at SCG activities. Where unaccompanied children are concerned, SCG members need to exercise discretion, where practicable contact details, for unaccompanied children, should be obtained at the point of entry in case of accident. The main factors to consider are:

• The nature of the site;
• Age and understanding. It would be unwise for instance, to let a young child roam unsupervised on a site with lots of water features, tempting heights or hiding places.

Code of Behaviour for all SCG Members

You should always:

• Uphold the spirit and specific provisions of the Statement of Policy and these Guidelines.
• Do your best to behave in an open and friendly manner
• Avoid situations in which you are alone with children or similarly vulnerable people. If necessary, move to a place where you can both be seen by other colleagues or other adults.
• If a child is hurt or distressed, do your best to comfort or reassure them without compromising their dignity or doing anything to discredit your own behaviour.
• Try to avoid any physical contact or behaviour that could be unwelcome or misconstrued. Physical touch should only be in response to a child’s need and should respect their age and individual stage of development.
• Where you must rely on your own judgement, always treat the child’s welfare as paramount.

You have a strict duty never to subject any child to any form of harm or abuse. Failure to honour this will be treated as gross misconduct. This means that it is unacceptable for example:

• To distress a child by shouting at them or calling them derogatory names;
• To slap a child;
• To hold a child in such a way that it causes pain, or to shake them;
• To physically restrain a child except to protect them from harming themselves or others;
• To take part in horseplay or rough games;
• To allow or engage in inappropriate touching of any kind;
• To do things of a personal nature for children that they can do for themselves or an accompanying adult can do for them; this includes going to the toilet with a child unless another adult is present;
• To allow or engage in sexually suggestive behaviour within a child’s sight or hearing, or make suggestive remarks to or within earshot of a child;
• To give or show to a child anything which could be construed as pornographic;
• To seek or agree to meet children anywhere beyond normal visitor areas or off the SCG site without the full prior knowledge and agreement of their parents or guardians.

If you witness or suspect abusive behaviour towards a child, contact the Designated Officer who will be able to provide you with the necessary advice.

National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

(NSPCC) 24 HRS Protection Helpline 0808 800 5000

Nottingham City Council Children’s social care services 0115 915 5500

Notttingham City Council Adult social care services 0300 300 3333

Nottingham City Council Emergency Duty Team 0115 876 5600