Child Protection Policy
We intend to create an environment within our playgroup in which all
our children are safe from physical, sexual or emotional abuse.
Playgroup will follow the child protection guidelines set down by Glasgow City
Council Management Circular No 57 and Early Years Scotland.
All playleaders and committee members will have a working knowledge of the
policy, be aware of their responsibilities and what actions to take should an
issue of child protection arise or be suspected.
The contents of this policy will be given to every parent who uses the service.
In order to achieve our statement aims we will:
1) Carry out the following procedures for recruitment and training of
staff:
a) Ensure that all applicants for work within playgroup will be interviewed
before an appointment is made and will be asked to provide at least
two written references which should be both personal and work related.
b) Ensure that staff will be vetted by Disclosure Scotland and will not be
able to work until their disclosure certificate has been received from
Disclosure Scotland.
c) Seek out training opportunities for all staff members to ensure that they
recognize the symptoms of possible physical abuse, neglect, emotional
abuse and sexual abuse and are aware of child protection procedures.
A record will be kept of all training courses attended.
d) Provide each member of staff with a copy of SSSC code of practice
which they will be expected to follow.
e) Include Child protection policies as part of a new member of staff’s
induction procedure.
2) Ensure that abuse is prevented by means of good practice:
a) Children will be treated with respect at all times.
b) Children will be supervised at all times by a responsible adult.
c) There will always be wherever possible more than one adult present
during the activities with the children, or that one adult is in sight or
hearing of others.
d) Staff will be aware that even caring physical contact may be
misinterpreted.
e) Adult: child ratios will be adhered to at all times.
f) Children will only be collected from playgroup by adults whom are
authorised by parents or carers to do so.
g) There are no circumstances in which children will be punished by
smacking, slapping or shaking by anyone in the group. Neither will
humiliating or frightening methods be used. Parents will be requested
not to smack their own children.
h) Children will be respected, listened to and encouraged to develop a
sense of independence through adult support.
i) A child’s personal privacy will be respected and personal hygiene
needs eg “accidents” will be dealt with in a sensitive manner.
j) Risk assessment of playgroup’s child protection procedures will be
undertaken and reviewed annually.
3) Respond appropriately to disclosure from a child of abuse:
a)
b)
c)
d)
Provide a safe and supportive environment.
Allow them to speak without interruption
Alleviate feelings of guilt while passing no judgement.
Let them know that you are glad that they have shared this information
with you.
e) Advise the child that you must pass on the information.
f) Act promptly and report to child protection co-ordinator.
g) Do not investigate what you have been told.
4) Respond appropriately to suspicions of abuse:
a) Changes in a child’s behaviour or appearance will be monitored,
recorded and acted upon.
b) Any concerns will be reported to the Child Protection Co-ordinator
(Playgroup-in-charge).
c) Advice will be sought from an appropriate source before considering
informing the child’s parents of suspicion to prevent any investigation
being compromised.
d) Suspicions will be referred to the Social Work Department or Police.
e) All such suspicions will be kept confidential and shared only with those
who need to know.
f) If an allegation is made concerning an adult or yourself immediately
inform the Child Protection Co-ordinator.
g) Try to ensure that no-one is placed in a position which could cause
further compromise.
h) Make sure that support is given to any member of staff dealing with
child protection concerns.
5) Keep Records
a) Whenever concerns are raised about a child a specific and confidential
record will be set up. The record will include:
 The name, address and age of the child
 Timed and dated observations describing the child’s behaviour and
appearance without comment or interpretation; where possible the
exact words spoken by the child.
 The date, name and signature of the recorder.
b) These records will be kept in a separate locked file and will not be
accessible to people in the playgroup other than to specific personnel
as appropriate.
6) Liaise with other bodies
a) Playgroup will operate in accordance with Care Inspectorate, SSSC
and local authority guidelines.
b) Playgroup will support other agencies to conduct any investigation that
is required.
c) Contact details will be kept of the local Social Work Department and
another agencies and individuals as appropriate. (See below)
.
Child Protection Referrals to Social Work
Social Care Direct
Phone: 0141 287 0556
Fax: 0141 276 1201
Email: scdchildrenandfamilies@glasgow.gov.uk
Social Care Direct operates:
Monday to Thursday
Friday
08.45 – 16.45
08.45 – 15.55
Outwith these hours
0800811505
This is a central service for all Child Protection referrals. Referrals will be
allocated by the Social Care Direct team to the appropriate local office.
Police – Police Scotland 101 0r in an emergency 999
Care Inspectorate 0141 843 6840
Pro-forma for recording allegations or suspicions of abuse.
Name of the child
______________________________________________________
Age ____________
Address and telephone number
______________________________________________________________
_______
Name of parents or carers
________________________________________________
What is the nature of the concern?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
____________________________
If a child has disclosed abuse, give the name of the person they spoke to
together with the place and the time
______________________________________________________________
______
______________________________________________________________
______
If a child has disclosed abuse, record as quickly as possible precisely what
the child said. Remember to be as accurate as possible.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
_
If an adult has expressed concern at the safety of a child are they expressing
their own worries or passing on those from another adult? Record their
concerns and ask them to confirm the details are correct.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
_
If the concern is about an incident of abuse to a child, have any possible signs
or indicators been identified (e.g. physical or behavioural indicators or any
indirect signs)? Who identified these signs?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
____________________________
Record the name(s) of the person or persons who have allegedly abused the
child.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
_____________________
Record when the referral to social work or police was made and the name of
the officer who received your call and the advice given.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
__________________________________________
What advice has been given by the social work or police department about
liasing with the child’s carers?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
__________________________________________
Signed _______________________________________
Date ___________________