Chandran Foundation Safeguarding Policy

1. Safeguarding Policy Statement

1.1 Chandran Foundation acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice.
1.2 The policy recognises that the welfare and interests of children are paramount in all circumstances. It aims to ensure that regardless of age, ability or disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, socio-economic background, all children:

● Have a positive and enjoyable experience at Chandran Foundation in a safe and child centred environment.
● Are protected from abuse whilst participating in homework club and breakfast club or outside of the activity.

1.3 Chandran Foundation acknowledges that some children, including disabled children and young people or those from ethnic minority communities, can be particularly vulnerable to abuse and we accept the responsibility to take reasonable and appropriate steps to ensure their welfare.
1.4 As part of our safeguarding policy Chandran Foundation will:
● Promote and prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
● Ensure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities in respect of safeguarding and is provided with appropriate learning opportunities to recognise, identify and respond to signs of abuse, neglect and other safeguarding concerns relating to children and young people.
● Ensure appropriate action is taken in the event of incidents/concerns of abuse and support provided to the individual/s who raise or disclose the concern.
● Ensure that confidential, detailed and accurate records of all safeguarding concerns are maintained and securely stored.
● Prevent the employment/deployment of unsuitable individuals.
● Ensure robust safeguarding arrangements and procedures are in operation. The policy and procedures will be widely promoted and are mandatory for everyone involved in Chandran Foundation. Failure to comply with the policy and procedures will be addressed without delay and may ultimately result in dismissal/exclusion from the organisation.

2. The purpose and scope of this policy statement

The purpose of this policy statement is:
● To protect children and young people who receive Chandran Foundation’s services.
● To provide parents, staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.

This policy statement applies to anyone working on behalf of Chandran Foundation including
senior managers and the board of trustees, paid staff, volunteers, agency staff and students.

2.1 We believe that:
● Children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind.
● We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them.

2.2 We recognise that:
● The welfare of the child is paramount.
● All children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse.
● Some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues.
● Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.

2.3 We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:
● Valuing, listening to and respecting them.
● Appointing a nominated safeguarding lead.
● Developing child protection and safeguarding policies and procedures which reflect best practice.
● Using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately.
● Creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise.
● Developing and implementing an effective online safety policy.
● Recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made.
● Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support,training and quality assurance measures.
● Implementing a code of conduct for staff and volunteers.
● Using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately.
● Ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place.
● Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance.
● Recording and storing information professionally and securely.

2.4 Related policies and procedures

This policy statement should be read alongside our organisational policies and procedures,
including:
● Procedures for responding to concerns about a child or young person’s wellbeing
● Dealing with allegations of abuse against a child or young person
● Role of the designated safeguarding officer
● Managing allegations against staff and volunteers
● Safer recruitment policy and procedures
● Adult to child supervision ratios
● Code of conduct for staff and volunteers
● Anti-bullying policy and procedures
● Photography and image sharing guidance
● Child protection records retention and storage policy
● Whistle blowing policy

2.5 What is safeguarding?
Every child can be hurt, put at risk of harm or abused, regardless of their age, gender, religion or ethnicity.

Safeguarding legislation and government guidance says that safeguarding means:
● Protecting children from maltreatment.
● Prevent impairment of children’s health or development.
● Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of
safe and effective care.
● Taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcome.
● And “The action we take to promote the welfare of children and protect them from
harm – is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and families has a role of play.” Working together to safeguard children (HM Government 2015). Definitions of Abuse (As defined by the NSPCC)

Physical Abuse
Actual or likely physical injury to a child or young person under the age of 18, (however if a child is receiving care then it is up to the age of 21), or failure to prevent physical injury (i.e. hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning or suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child) – (Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces illness in a child).

Sexual Abuse
Involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, and whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (e.g. rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as: masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside of clothing, or encouraging a minor to watch sexually explicit material.

Emotional Abuse
Severe or persistent emotional ill treatment or rejection that is likely to cause adverse effects on the emotional and behavioural development of the child. This also covers psychological, mental abuse and emotional blackmail. All abuse involves some emotional ill treatment (i.e. telling or making children feel they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only by meeting the needs of another person, not giving the child opportunities to express views; deliberately silencing them or ‘making fun’ of what they say or how they communicate, causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation of corruption of children). Neglect The persistent or severe neglect of a child, or the failure to protect a child from exposure to any kind of danger, resulting in the significant impairment of a child’s health or development. This includes Non-Organic Failure to Thrive (NOFTT) which includes, but is not limited to: during pregnancy, maternal substance misuse, lack of nutrition – once a child is born, failing to provide food or water, clothing, shelter, failing to protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger, failing to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment.

Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse is any type of controlling, bullying, threatening or violent behaviour between people in a relationship. But it isn’t just physical violence – domestic abuse includes emotional, physical, sexual, financial or psychological abuse.

Online Abuse
Online abuse is any type of abuse that happens on the web, whether through social networks, playing online game or using mobile phones. Children and young people may experience cyber bullying, grooming, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation or emotional abuse.

Historical Abuse
There may be occasions when an adult will disclose abuse (either sexual or physical) which occurred in the past, during their childhood. This information needs to be treated in exactly the same way as a disclosure or suspicion of current child abuse. The reason for this is that the abuser may still represent a risk to children now.

Child Trafficking
Child trafficking and modern slavery are child abuse. Children are recruited, moved or transported and then exploited, forced to work or sold. Children are trafficked for child sexual exploitation, benefit fraud, forced marriage, domestic servitude such as cleaning, childcare and cooking, forced labour in factories or agriculture, criminal activity such as pick pocketing, begging, transporting drugs, working on cannabis farms, selling pirated DVDs and bag theft.

Honour Based Violence (HBV)
Is a crime or incident, which has or may have been committed to protect of defend the honour of the family and/or community (i.e. acid attacks, child marriage, rape, forced marriage, suicide, bride price, male child preference, female genital mutilation). In cases where there is concern that HBV may be present, normal Child Protection Procedures may need to be adapted to ensure that communication with the family does not place the child at increased risk (i.e. increased risk of being removed from the country to face forced marriage). Therefore, when disclosing to Social Services and/or Police, HBV must be disclosed.

Child Sexual Exploitation (also as NSPCC)
Child sexual exploitation is a form of child sexual abuse. It occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity (a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or (b) for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator. The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual. Child sexual exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology.

Radicalisation and Extremism
Children and young people can be at risk of being drawn into terrorism both violent and non-violent extremism. The Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 imposes a ‘Prevent’ duty on a list of specified authorities to have ‘due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism’.

Chandran Foundation is not a ‘specified authority’ for the purposes of the Prevent duty however, we will work with the specified authorities, such as local authorities, universities, the NHS and the police, in carrying out their Prevent duties.

Child Criminal Exploitation County Lines/Gangs
County lines is the police term for urban gangs supplying drugs to suburban areas using dedicated mobile phone lines or “deal lines”. It involves child criminal exploitation (CCE) as gangs use children and vulnerable people to move drugs and money. Gangs establish a base typically by taking over the homes of vulnerable adults by force or coercion in a practice referred to as ‘Cuckooing’.

One of the key factors found in most cases of CLE is the presence of some form of exchange (e.g. carrying drugs in return for something) – where it is the victim who is offered, promised or given something they need or want, the exchange can include both tangible (such as money, drugs or clothes) and intangible rewards (such as status, protection or perceived friendship or affection). It is important to remember the unequal power dynamic and to remember that the receipt by a young person does not make them any less a victim. It is also important to note that the prevention of something negative can also fulfil the requirement for exchange, for example, a young person who engages in county lines activity to stop someone carrying out a threat to harm his/her family.

Harmful Sexual Behaviour
Harmful sexual behaviour includes using sexually explicit words and phrases, inappropriate touching, using sexual violence or threats, full penetrative sex with other children or adults.

Self-Harm (NHS)
Self-harm is when somebody intentionally damages or injures their body. It’s usually a way of coping with or expressing overwhelming emotional distress. Self harm can also be a cry for help. Ways of self-harming can include cutting, poisoning, overeating or under-eating, biting themselves, picking or scratching at skin, burning skin, inserting objects into the body, hitting themselves or walls, overdosing, exercising excessively, pulling hair or getting into fights where the person will know they will get hurt.

3. Implementation

3.1 In relation to safeguarding and child protection Chandran Foundation acknowledges thatchildren may have had previous difficult experiences. The approach of this policy is based on ensuring wherever possible the safeguarding of children and reflects the principles of both UK legislation and guidance and international agreements:

● The health and welfare of the child is the paramount consideration.
● All children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial or ethnic origin, religious belief, sexual identity, transgender and pregnancy and maternity have a right to protection from harm or abuse.
● All concerns, and disclosures of abuse will be taken seriously by Board of Trustees, the Executive Director, staff and volunteers and responded to appropriately – this may require a referral to children’s services and in emergencies, the Police. If this happens parents will be informed unless it is in the interest of the child not to do so.
● All safeguarding concerns in relation to any or more of the definitions mentioned above will be reported to the Executive Director within 24 hours using our Child Protection procedure.
● Where there is alleged misconduct on the part of a Chandran Foundation employee, this will be investigated and where appropriate, action taken in accordance  with the Chandran Foundation’s Disciplinary Policy & Procedure.
● Where there are allegations made against a Person in a Position of Trust (PiPoT), these will be investigated and we will work within local authorities Guidelines.
● Information will only be shared with relevant agencies and will be proportionate to the concern.
● Chandran Foundation is committed to safe recruitment, selection and vetting of staff, including by DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checking prior to appointment and every three years thereafter.
● Contractors working on behalf of Chandran Foundation are also DBS checked and are subject to Chandran Foundation’s Safeguarding Children Policies and Procedures.
● Children and parents have a right to information which could make life better and/or safer for them.
● All information held by Chandran Foundation in relation to children will be stored securely.
● No children will be photographed by any Chandran Foundation staff without written permission from the parents.

3.2 Online tutoring:
3.2.1
Although we are operating in a different way to normal, we are still following these
important core safeguarding principles:
● The best interests of children must come first.
● If anyone has a safeguarding concern about any child, they should continue to act on it immediately.
● A designated safeguarding lead (DSL) or deputy should be available at all times.
● Children should continue to be protected when they are online.
● Where staff are interacting with children online, they will continue to follow our existing policy Code of conduct for staff and volunteers.

3.2.2 When working with parents, we will make sure parents and carers:
● Are aware of the potential risks to children online and the importance of staying safe online.
● Know what our school is asking children to do online, including what sites they will be using and who they will be interacting with from Chandran Foundation.
● Are aware that they should only use reputable online companies or tutors if they wish to supplement the remote teaching and resources Chandran Foundation provides.
● Know where else they can go for support to keep their children safe online.
● We will share these relevant websites with parents.
Internet matters – for support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online
London Grid for Learning – for support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online
Net-aware – for support for parents and carers from the NSPCC
Parent info – for support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online
Thinkuknow – for advice from the National Crime Agency to stay safe online
UK Safer Internet Centre – advice for parents and carers

3.2.3 Safeguarding induction and training

We will make sure staff and volunteers are aware of changes to our procedures and arrangements. They will continue to receive:

● A safeguarding induction
● A copy of our Safeguarding children policy

3.2.4 We will keep a record of which staff and volunteers are on site or tutoring each day, and that appropriate checks have been carried out for them.

4. Responsibility and Reporting Arrangements

4.1 The Executive Director who is the designated safeguarding lead and the deputy safeguarding lead at Chandran Foundation are responsible for ensuring that all staff understand the importance of this policy and the related procedures and comply with them. All staff at Chandran Foundation will be briefed on reporting procedures.

4.2 It is essential to the implementation of the policy that staff know how to deal with emergencies and to express concerns to the appropriate person in the organisation.

5. Monitoring and Review Arrangements

5.1 We will monitor the effectiveness and implementation of this Policy to ensure that customers are treated fairly and equitably.

6. Approval

6.1 This Policy will be reviewed every year, unless legislation or sector developments require otherwise, ensuring that it continues to meet its objectives and take account of good practice developments.

6.2 These procedures have been agreed by the board of trustees, who will approve them whenever reviewed.

6.3 Useful web addresses Links to all Local Authority Safeguarding Pages and Safeguarding Boards:

https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/safeguarding-child-protection/for-voluntary-and-community-groups
https://www.londonscb.gov.uk/contacts/safeguarding-contacts/
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk

(CEOP works with child protection partners across the UK and overseas to identify the main threats to children and coordinates activity against these threats to bring offenders to account. We protect children from harm online and offline, directly through NCA led operations and in partnership with local and international agencies.)

Act & Serious Crime Gangs:
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130403145936/https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationDetail/Page1/DCSF-00064-2010
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/serious-crime-bill

Female Genital Mutilation:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/multi-agency-statutory-guidance-on-female-genital-mutilation

Refugees & Victims of organised gangs:
http://www.refworld.org/docid/4bb21fa02.html
http://www.unhcr.org/uk/gang-resources.html

Unaccompanied migrant children and child victims of modern slavery (and adults):
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/656429/UASC_Statutory_Guidance_2017.pdf

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/30/pdfs/ukpga_20150030_en.pdf

Prevent:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protecting-children-from-radicalisation-the-prevent-duty
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/445977/3799_Revised_Prevent_Duty_Guidance__England_Wales_V2-Interactive.pdf

Child Sexual Exploitation:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/591903/CSE_Guidance_Core_Document_13.02.2017.pdf
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/child-abuse-and-neglect/child-sexual-exploitation/