Safeguarding Children Policy Statement

Find out more about Gravesham Borough Council's commitment to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people when they come into contact with the services that we provide.

Introduction

The Children Act 1989 states that the child's welfare is paramount and that every child has a right to protection from abuse, neglect and exploitation. Statutory guidance on making arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children under Section 11 of the Children Act 2004 was published in August 2005. The guidance came into force 1 October 2005 and details what is expected of District Councils. This includes:

• Senior management commitment to the importance of safeguarding and promoting children's welfare
• A clear statement of the Council's responsibilities to children, made available to staff
• Clear lines of accountability for work on safeguarding and promoting well being
• Using the views of children and young people to help shape services
• Safe recruitment procedures for those coming into contact with children and young people
• Appropriate training for staff
• Effective working relations within the Council and with other agencies to safeguard and promote well being, and to share information effectively.

Child Protection and Safeguarding Children Policy Statement

Gravesham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people when they come into contact with the services that we provide. Child protection is part of safeguarding children and promoting welfare. Kent County Council has a Multi Agency Children's Safeguarding Board for Kent which Gravesham Borough Council supports. This policy is designed to function within that context and accordingly amendments may be made based on recommendations arising from the Kent Safeguarding Children's Board.

GBC offers a range of services to children and young people and recognises that these may have a very powerful and positive influence on them. It is our aim to aid the development of self-esteem and social awareness of children and young people and to provide opportunities for enjoyment with personal achievement in accordance with the Statutory Every Child Matters Framework 2004. GBC will promote the safeguarding of children in all our services affecting them and consult with children in policy and service delivery matters which affect them so that they may help shape our services.

In addition to direct service delivery for children, the wide ranging nature of the council's work gives many staff substantial one-to-one access to children and young people. This policy applies to all staff that may come into contact with children and young people in the course of their work, whether in someone's home, on Council premises, or in the community.

As many staff are in regular contact with children and young people, they are in a position to observe outward signs of abuse and can and should alert others when such signs are observed. All Gravesham Borough Council staff have a responsibility to be proactive, and to refer suspected cases of abuse to Kent County Council Children's Social Services or to the Police.

The Council's Child Protection and Safeguarding Children Policy and accompanying procedure guidance is designed to promote children's welfare, to protect children from potential abuse and to protect staff and volunteers from potential false allegations of abuse.

Scope

The Child Protection and Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures apply to all staff (full time, temporary or part time), Members, volunteers and those working on behalf of the council whose work involves contact with children and young people under the age of 18 and statemented ("vulnerable") young people under the age of 25, hereafter collectively referred to as 'staff'.

Contractors and/or those providing a service on behalf of the council i.e. sports coaches, unless bound to comply with their own Child Protection and Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures (which shall be no less onerous than the Council's), shall comply with the terms of this policy and procedure and shall ensure that employees and sub-contractors do likewise throughout the duration of the contract.

It is accepted that elected members of Gravesham Borough Council are not employees, but they do share a responsibility with staff when representing Gravesham Borough Council or carrying out the functions of their elected office. Therefore all aspects of this policy apply equally to elected members.

Accountability

Final accountability for ensuring that Gravesham Borough Council fulfils its child protection and safeguarding children responsibilities falls to the Chief Executive. However, responsibility is delegated to the designated Child Protection Officer who, for operational purposes, will have a nominated Deputy. The designated Child Protection officer and Deputy are also the Council's Champions for Children responsible for promoting well-being. The designated officer or their deputy will be suitably trained in child protection and will be responsible for:

• The actions set out within the Child Protection and Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures.
• Maintaining a record of all child protection related documents and reports.
• Receiving and recording information regarding child protection concerns.
• Assessing the information promptly and carefully, clarifying or obtaining more information about the matter as appropriate.
• Consulting with the relevant statutory agencies regarding any child protection concerns raised.
• Making formal referrals to relevant statutory agencies regarding any child protection concerns.

All staff are responsible for ensuring that the activities that they are involved in during the course of their work are carried out in accordance with this policy and procedures relating to it.

For further details regarding this issue, please contact;

John Britt
Service Manager (Communities)
Ext. 7195