Safeguarding children including
CRB
It is critical for organisations working with children,
young people and families to develop policies and procedures for
safeguarding children. If it is a while since you reviewed your
child protection policies and procedures it may be worth updating
them in light of recent legislation affecting children and young
people.
Safeguarding is a relatively new term which is broader than
‘child protection’ as it also includes prevention. Safeguarding has
been defined as:
All agencies working with children, young
people and their families taking all reasonable measures to ensure
that the risks of harm to children’s welfare are minimised; and
where there are concerns about children and young people’s welfare,
all agencies taking appropriate actions to address those concerns,
working to agreed local policies and procedures in full partnership
with other local agencies.
Safeguarding children is vital for charities as charity trustees
have a duty of care towards the children with whom they have
contact. Having safeguards in place within an organisation not only
protects and promotes the welfare of children but also it enhances
the confidence of trustees, staff, volunteers, parents/carers and
the general public. Safeguarding children is beneficial to a
charity in many ways – protecting its reputation, helping to
effectively meet its objectives and protecting its finances.
The necessity to safeguard children applies both to charities
working in the UK and other countries where children may face
different or additional risks of abuse or exploitation. These
safeguards should include a child protection policy and procedures
for dealing with issues of concern or abuse. For the purposes of
child protection legislation the term ‘child’ refers to anyone up
to the age of 18 years.
The child protection policy
This is a statement of intent that demonstrates a commitment to
safeguard children involved with a charity from harm. The essential
inclusions for a child protection policy are outlined below:
- the welfare of the child is paramount;
- all children without exception have the right to protection
from abuse regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality
or beliefs;
- the policy is approved and endorsed by the board of
trustees;
- who the policy applies to (i.e. all trustees, staff and
volunteers);
- children and parents are informed of the policy and procedures
as appropriate;
- all concerns, and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously
by trustees, staff and volunteers and responded to appropriately -
this may require a referral to children’s services and in
emergencies, the Police;
- a commitment to safe recruitment, selection and vetting;
- reference to principles, legislation and guidance that underpin
the policy;
- arrangements for policy and procedures review;
- reference to all associated policies and procedures which
promote children’s safety and welfare e.g. with regards to: health
and safety, anti-bullying, protection of children online, and
photography.
The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), an Executive Agency of the
Home Office, provides wider access to criminal record information
through its Disclosure service. This service enables organisations
in the public, private and voluntary sectors to make safer
recruitment decisions by identifying candidates who may be
unsuitable for certain work, especially that involve children or
vulnerable adults.
Child safeguarding responsibilities of
trustees
Children are an especially vulnerable group and therefore the
Charity Commission is concerned to stress the importance of
charities having proper safeguards in place for their protection.
Charity trustees are responsible for ensuring that those benefiting
from, or working with, their charity are not harmed in any way
through contact with it. They have a legal duty to act prudently
and this means that they must take all reasonable steps within
their power to ensure that this does not happen. It is particularly
important where beneficiaries are vulnerable persons or children in
the community. Trustees are expected to find out what the relevant
law is, how it applies to their organisation, and to comply with it
where appropriate. They should also adopt best practice as far as
possible – advice on this is available from a number of
knowledgeable sources, some of which are listed below.
Useful links
For current guidance on safeguarding, legislation and resources
see the Every Child Matters
website.
Two documents are particularly helpful:
What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused [pdf
648Kb] (2003) Department of Health.
Working together to safeguard children: a guide to inter-agency
working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children [pdf
1.21Mb] (2006) HM Government.
Charity Commission guidance on Safeguarding Children:
Protecting children in your organisation
CRB - Registered and
Umbrella Body Guidance
NSPCC
inform is the UK’s only free, specialised online child
protection resource
NSPCC Child
Protection in Sport Unit is a joint NSPCC/Sport England
initiative. It provides an accreditation scheme for national
governing bodies and county sports partnerships; provides advice
and training to a range of sport and leisure organisations and has
produced a range of child protection resources for training and
child protection policy development: including Sportscheck; Safe
Sports Events (NSPCC and Sport England, 2003); Standards for
Safeguarding and Protecting Children in Sport (NSPCC and Sport
England, 2003), and Safe Sport Away (ASA and NSPCC 2001).
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