Shropshire Council

Holiday activities and food programme (HAF) | Shropshire Council

SHROPSHIRE HAF
SAFEGUARDING
GUIDANCE
2022-2023
KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE
Safeguarding guidance for providers running community activities, holiday clubs and out- of-
school settings on behalf of Shropshire HAF.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

What is HAF? ____________________________________________________________ 1

Who is this guidance for? __________________________________________________ 3
Basic Safeguarding Requirements___________________________________________ 4
Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy ____________________________________ 6
Specific Safeguarding Issues _______________________________________________ 9
DSL (designated safeguarding lead) ________________________________________ 14
Reporting ______________________________________________________________ 15
Suitability of Staff and Volunteers __________________________________________ 20
Other Requirements: _____________________________________________________ 22
Useful Resources for Providers: ___________________________________________ 23
Contact Information ______________________________________________________ 27
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What is HAF?

THE HAF PROGRAMME IN SHROPSHIRE: FREE ACTIVITIES AND FOOD FOR

SHROPSHIRE FAMILIES

Shropshire HAF (Holiday Activities and Food) is managed by Shropshire Council. It is an

exciting programme of holiday activities. Over the Easter/Spring, Summer and
Christmas/Winter holidays. Schools, voluntary and community organisations, and childcare
providers are running activities across the Shropshire County.
There are free places available on the HAF programme for children and young people from
reception to year 11, who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals and for those who
have been referred onto HAF by a professional.
Children who are aged 4, who attend a nursery or pre-school are not eligible for the HAF
programme, activities are not suitable. Eligible children aged 4+, must be in full time
education and have started school in Reception Class (or equivalent).
During the three main school holidays, children and young people are invited to take part in a
range of fun activities, happening at venues from across the county.
Funded by the DfE (Department for Education), the aim of the programme, is to make holiday
activities as accessible and inclusive as possible.

Aims of the programme

There are many benefits for children who attend the HAF programme. We want to encourage
all HAF providers to ensure a high-quality experience that will result in children:

• receiving healthy and nutritious meals

• maintaining a healthy level of physical activity
• being happy, having fun and meeting new friends
• developing a greater understanding of food, nutrition and other health-related
issues
• taking part in fun and engaging activities that support their development
• feeling safe and secure
• getting access to the right support services

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• returning to school feeling engaged and ready to learn

Families can also benefit, when HAF providers include their needs in planning and delivering
their programme. This could be through:

• providing opportunities to get involved in cookery classes

• ensuring they are signposted towards other sources of information and support,
such as health services or employment and education opportunities

Holiday activities and food programme 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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Who is this guidance for?

This guidance is for all Core-Providers of the Shropshire HAF programme and their staff, who
manage, organise or deliver holiday activities or food provisions on behalf of Shropshire
Council.

This guidance is specific to Shropshire council and includes the relevant contact information
for services provided by Shropshire Council.

This guidance is bases on the ‘Keeping Children Safe during Community Activities, After-
School Clubs and Tuition Non-statutory guidance for providers running out-of-school settings
2020’ but has been updated to include up to date and relevant resource links.

Keeping children safe: code of practice (publishing.service.gov.uk)

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Basic Safeguarding Requirements

BASIC SAFEGUARDING REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL PROVIDERS
Every provider …

Health and safety

• must consider the suitability and safety of the setting for employees and take steps to
reduce any risks identified
• should have first aid training and/ or a first aid kit to hand, as well as awareness of
what to do in an emergency (for example, call 999 if a child is having an asthma
attack)
• must have a free safety and evacuation plan
• should have more than one emergency contact number for each child, where
reasonably possible, and know of any medical concerns or allergies

Safeguarding and child protection

• must have a safeguarding and child protection policy in place, including procedures
for dealing with safeguarding incidents which are communicated to and understood by
all staff members
• should have awareness of and training on the specific safeguarding issues that can
put children at risk of harm
• should have clear procedures on what to do if they have concerns about a staff
member, volunteer or other adult who may pose a risk of harm to children
• should appoint a designated safeguarding lead (DSL), who has undertaken
safeguarding and child protection training
• should provide parents with a named individual (such as the DSL) so they can raise
safeguarding concerns, or if you are a lone provider provide the contact details of your
local authority’s children’s services or the NSPCC helpline number
• should have contact details for the DSL and the local authority designated officer
(LADO) and know the local referral route into children’s social care.

Suitability of staff and volunteers

• should ensure staff and volunteers have had relevant pre-employment checks (e.g.
DBS check, verification of identity) or, if you are a volunteer or self-employed, checked
if the organisation contracting your services can apply for a DBS check on your behalf
• should have regular performance reviews in place to check the suitability and training
requirements of staff and volunteers after their appointment

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Governance
• should have a clear complaints procedure
• should have an effective whistleblowing policy

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Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

Safeguarding and child protection is everyone’s responsibility. DfE statutory guidance
“Working Together to Safeguard Children” Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018
(publishing.service.gov.uk) applies to all organisations and agencies who have functions
relating to children. It sets out how they should work together to safeguard and promote the
welfare of children.

It is clear, that anyone working with children should make their approach child centered (i.e.,
give priority to the interests and needs of the child). So, you should designate an adult (which
could be yourself) to have lead responsibility for safeguarding children while they are in your
care. We call this person the designated safeguarding lead (DSL). When appointing the DSL,
you should consider the needs and characteristics of the children attending your setting.

All staff, especially the DSL, should consider the context in which safeguarding incidents
occur. For example, threats to children’s welfare could arise in school or other educational
establishments, from external visitors to schools or clubs, in peer groups, and from the
wider/online community.

We advise staff and volunteers working with children to maintain an attitude of ‘it could
happen here’. When concerned about a child’s welfare, they should always act in the child’s
best interests. They should know and understand the setting’s safeguarding processes and
the appropriate escalation route. These ideas should form the basis of your child protection
policy. If school, college, or Local Authority premises are used for out-of-school setting
purposes, the school or college must continue to have regard to Keeping Children Safe in
Education (KCSIE) when they rent out their facilities. Providers should check that the school
or college has included safeguarding in their rental/hire agreement, or their Memorandum of
Understanding if there is no formal contract. The provider must comply with any terms that the
school or college sets to comply with KCSIE. See further requirements section of this
guidance.

Safeguarding and child protection policy

As a provider, you should have a clear and effective child protection policy in place that says
how you will protect children in your care. Policies should be tailored to your own organisation
and will vary from one organisation to another, but regardless of the type and size of your
setting it should include at a minimum:

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• A short policy statement, setting out the priority you give to keeping children and young
people safe and, in broad terms, how you seek to achieve this. This document should be no
more than about 2 sides of A4.

• A commitment that under no circumstances should any staff member or volunteer inflict
physical or psychological harm on a child. Assault of children is against the law. If any adult
causes physical or psychological injury to or mistreats a child, they could be prosecuted for a
criminal offence.

• A list of procedures that enable you to keep the children in your care safe. If you are self-
employed and do not have any staff members, you do not need to write down your
procedures step-by-step. However, you should know what steps you would take if faced with
a specific safeguarding issue.

• Any additional guidance, information, or expectations that you need families and anyone
else linked to your organisation to be aware of. These should include details of your
designated safeguarding lead (DSL), and how to contact them, as well as contact details for
local safeguarding services such as local authority children’s social care, the local authority
designated officer (LADO) and the police. The NSPCC provides guidance on how to write
user-friendly procedures which you might find helpful. Writing safeguarding policies and
procedures | NSPCC Learning

Procedures
If you have one or more employees or volunteers in your setting, then it is important to write
down your procedures to ensure that all staff members understand their responsibilities and
know what to do in the event of a safeguarding concern.

Typically, these should include a:

• procedure covering what to do if you have a concern that a child may be at risk of abuse or
exploitation.

• procedure to use in the event of allegations or concerns of peer-on-peer abuse in your

organisation.

• procedure to deal with allegations or concerns that an adult working with children and young
people in your organisation may present a risk of abuse.

• complaints procedure that includes provision for children, young people, and families to
raise a safeguarding concern.

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If you have employees or volunteers, you should also consider additional guidance,
information, or expectations that you need them to be aware of.

These should include:

• a code of conduct for staff and volunteers

• information about the different types of abuse, signs, and symptoms.

• how to respond directly to a child who discloses abuse.

You should distribute written copies of your procedures to all staff and volunteers in your
setting and ensure that they understand them. The NSPCC provides guidance on how to
write user-friendly procedures which you might find helpful. Writing safeguarding policies and
procedures | NSPCC Learning

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Specific Safeguarding Issues

Staff and volunteers should be aware of safeguarding issues that can put children at risk.
Training will differ according to the type of setting, but all staff and volunteers should be
appropriately trained in safeguarding and child protection. The NSPCC offers an introductory
online training course on child protection. Behaviours linked to issues such as drug taking,
alcohol abuse, missing education, and sexting (also known as sharing self-generated
indecent images) endanger children.

Additionally, the Shropshire Council’s HAF programme will offer relevant and appropriate
training and it is mandatory that all core-providers and their staff to attend this.

Abuse and neglect

Staff and volunteers should be aware of indicators of abuse and neglect so they can identify
children who may need help or protection and know how to deal with the matter. Abuse can
be physical, emotional or sexual and, can take place in a variety of settings, including in the
family environment or the local community. It includes child sexual exploitation (CSE) and
child criminal exploitation (CCE).

Signs of abuse could be behaviour changes, such as becoming withdrawn or seeming

anxious, physical signs, such as having money or items that they can’t explain, or something
they say, such as a comment that shows knowledge of adult issues inappropriate for their
age.

Further information about safeguarding concerns and indicators of abuse can be found in
Keeping Children Safe in Education and ‘What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused:
advice for practitioners Stat guidance template (publishing.service.gov.uk). Any concerns
about a child should be acted on immediately. This will typically involve speaking to the
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), who will record the concern and consider making a
referral to the local authority children’s social care team. If a child is suffering (or is likely to
suffer) immediate harm, it is important to make a referral to children’s social care (and, if
appropriate, the police) at once. If you are the DSL, you should talk to your local authority
children’s social care team if you have any concerns. Referrals should follow the local
authority’s referral process.

Knowing what to look for is vital to the early identification of abuse and neglect. If staff and
volunteers are unsure, they should always speak to the DSL. The DSL will consider the most
appropriate course of action and make referrals to appropriate agencies as required. If a staff
member believes after such consideration a child may still be at risk of harm they should

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speak to the DSL. If they are still not satisfied, they should consider making their own referral
into local authority children’s social care or the local authority designated officer (LADO).

Peer-on-peer abuse
Staff and volunteers should read this section of the guidance and be aware that peer-on-peer
(often referred as child on child) abuse is a safeguarding issue. Such abuse is most likely to
include, but is not limited to:

• Abuse in intimate personal relationships between peers

• bullying (including cyberbullying)

• physical abuse such as hitting, kicking, shaking, biting, hair pulling, or otherwise causing
physical harm

• sexual violence, such as rape and sexual assault

• sexual harassment, such as sexual comments, remarks and jokes either in person or online

• “sexting” (also known as sharing self-generated indecent images)

• initiation/hazing-type violence and rituals

• upskirting17

• criminal and sexual exploitation

Staff and volunteers should be clear about their setting’s policy and procedures on peer-on-
peer abuse. It should be set out in the child protection policy.

Online safety issues

It is important to recognise that the misuse of technology plays a significant part in many
safeguarding issues, such as peer-on-peer abuse, child sexual exploitation, child criminal
exploitation, radicalisation, and sexual predation. Technology often provides the platform that
facilitates harm. An effective approach to online safety:

• empowers you to protect and educate children in their use of technology

• establishes mechanisms to identify, intervene in and escalate any incident where

appropriate. Staying safe online includes a wide range of issues.

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The three main risk areas are:

• content: being exposed to illegal, inappropriate, or harmful material; for example,
pornography, racist or extremist views, glamorisation of drugs or gang lifestyles

• contact: being subjected to harmful online interaction with other users; for example, adults
posing as children or young adults, and

• conduct: personal online behaviour that increases the likelihood of, or causes, harm; for
example, making, sending, and receiving explicit images, or online bullying.

You should be able to have positive, supportive conversations about online safety with young
people when appropriate. If your setting provides internet-connected devices or internet
connectivity, then it is important that you have an online safety policy for both staff and
children.

Extremism and radicalization

Staff and volunteers should be vigilant to ensure that no person in the setting is exposed to
extremism or is at risk of radicalisation. Extremists, driven by harmful ideologies, promote or
justify actions which run directly contrary to our shared values (defined by the Government as
democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with
different faiths and beliefs). This causes harm to society in general and is used to radicalise
vulnerable people.

Radicalisation is the process by which a person comes to support terrorism and extremist
ideologies associated with terrorist groups. Children can become exposed to extremist
material and views associated with terrorist groups online and there is a risk that they will
share this harmful content with their peers, but you should also be vigilant to the risk of other
staff members promoting such views to the children in your setting. This exposure may be
through sight of criminal acts that encourage or justify violence as well as, activities or
information that glorify or incite terrorism, advocate honour killings, call for the deaths of
members of the British armed forces, or actively promote hatred towards other people or
groups on the basis of their belief, opinion or background, or distribution of inflammatory
materials. If you have extremism-related concerns, you should contact your local authority’s
Prevent lead or designated officer. Information is also available on the government’s Educate
Against Hate website. Home Office Prevent Training and Wrap for Schools
(educateagainsthate.com)

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Children with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities

Children with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities can face additional
safeguarding difficulties. Providers should ensure their child protection policy reflects the fact
that additional barriers can exist when recognising abuse and neglect among such children.

These can include:

• assumptions that signs of possible abuse such as behaviour, mood and injury relate to the
child’s disability, without further exploration

• being more prone to peer-group isolation than other children

• the potential for these children to be disproportionately affected by behaviours such as

bullying, without showing any outward signs

• communication barriers and difficulties in managing or reporting these challenges.

To address these extra difficulties, providers should consider giving more pastoral support to
the children, for example, by drawing on external specialist resources or providing staff with
additional training.

Mental health and well-being

Mental health problems and suicidal thoughts can affect anyone, of any age and of any
background. Mental health problems are common among children and young people, but it
can be difficult to identify as they often keep it to themselves. This can also be true with other
forms of safeguarding issues. It is important that you and your staff know the signs and
symptoms of mental health problems.

These will differ from child to child, but some common signs include:

• becoming withdrawn from friends and family

• persistent low mood and unhappiness

• tearfulness and irritability

• sudden outbursts of anger

• loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed, and

• problems eating or sleeping.

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Children who are suffering from mental health problems may also be more vulnerable to
harms such as exploitation, grooming and radicalisation. Mental health problems may also be
indicators of, or seen in conjunction with, other forms of harm – such as abuse and neglect,
peer-on-peer abuse, exploitation, grooming, or radicalisation. If you are worried that a child
who attends your setting may be suffering from a mental health problem, the NSPCC gives
guidance on children’s mental health and on preventing self-harm. As per your child
protection policy, if there is a suggestion that a child has been harmed or is at risk of harm
this should be raised with the DSL and consideration given to making a referral to local
authority children’s social care. You can find further advice and support by contacting the
NSPCC at [email protected] or by phone at 0808 800 5000.

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DSL (designated safeguarding lead)

DSLs should be suitably trained and have a good understanding of specific safeguarding
issues: including bullying, physical abuse, sexual harassment and sexual violence, sexting,
hazing, online safety, substance abuse and extremism and radicalisation, child protection,
what abuse and neglect look like, referral processes into the local authority children’s social
care team and what to expect when a referral is made to children’s social care.

Managing Safeguarding Concerns Detailed information on a Designated Safeguarding Lead's

(DSL) duties and relevant training can be found at Annex B in the latest Keeping Children
Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance Keeping children safe in education 2022
(publishing.service.gov.uk). Although KCSIE is intended for schools and colleges, it is useful
for OOSS providers. DSLs can also contact their local authorities for information on training
and safeguarding. It is good practice for DSLs to have the contact details for your local
authority’s children’s social care team on hand in case you need guidance – this information
is available through your local authority. https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/the-send-local-
offer/social-care/childrens-social-care/safeguarding/

Find details on how to make a referral to children's social care- see the reporting section of
this guidance.

If concerned about a child, the DSL may discuss the matter with their local authority children’s
social care team before deciding whether to make a referral to them. In some cases, early
help services can be delivered to children and their families. Early help | Shropshire Council

The DSL should record any concerns regarding abuse and neglect, what they have done
about them and the reason for their decisions. There are a range of templates available
online which give examples of how concerns can be recorded in education settings, but these
can also be adapted for use by out-of-school providers.

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Reporting

Shropshire Council:

We all have a duty to protect children and vulnerable adults. Abuse can be in many forms,
including the following:

• Emotional abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Child sexual exploitation
• Neglect
• Physical abuse

Concerned about a child?

If you suspect that a child or vulnerable adult is experiencing any of the above or is at risk of
being harmed, it's vital that you report it.

Your initial reaction may be to dismiss it and just hope it’s not true. But it’s vital that you report
your concerns if you feel a child may be suffering. If you don’t report your concerns, it could
mean that the neglect will continue.

Whether you are the child’s parent, relative, family friend, neighbour or a professional, don’t
let anything stop you from protecting a child.

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How do I report a concern?

If you think a child or young person is being harmed or at risk of being harmed
you must contact the First Point of Contact (FPOC), Children's Services and tell them your
concerns. Don't delay, please contact us straight away - we are here to help you.
Please report your concerns to FPOC on 0345 678 9021.

If you need to report concerns out of office hours, then please contact the Emergency Social
Work Team on 0345 678 9040 selecting option 1

If you are a professional reporting concerns then you will need to follow this up in writing
using the Multi-agency Referral Form (MARF).

Alternatively, you can report your concerns online to the NSPCC via the 'Report child abuse
online - NSPCC website'.

You can also speak to:

• Protecting Vulnerable People (West Mercia Police): 0300 333 3000

• NSPCC: 0800 800 5000

• Childline: 0800 1111

If a child is in immediate danger:

If you believe a child or young person in Shropshire to be at immediate risk of harm or in need
of emergency medical attention, call the emergency services on 999.

For the very latest information and advice about safeguarding children visit Shropshire
Safeguarding Community Partnership.

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Related information
• Shropshire Safeguarding Community Partnership (SSCP)
• Reporting Child Abuse Online (NSPCC)
• Childline
Contact us
• [email protected]
• 0345 678 9063

What to do if a child makes a disclosure of abuse or harm:

If a child in your setting discloses to you that they have been abused or that they feel at risk of
harm, you should follow your safeguarding policies and procedures immediately. These
should include clear instructions on the local referral route into children’s social care.

If a child is at risk of immediate harm, you should call the police on 999.

When the child makes the disclosure, you should not confront the alleged abuser, but you
should:

• listen carefully to the child so they know that you are taking the disclosure seriously
• take notes on what the child says as soon as possible after the disclosure
• reassure them they have done the right thing in telling you
• explain what you will do next (if age appropriate)
• report the abuse without delay.

It is important not to investigate the disclosure yourself (beyond the information gathering set
out) as this may jeopardise a police or social care investigation and possibly the prosecution
of the offender. It is important you take advice from children’s social care and the police and
cooperate with their investigations.

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You should record any safeguarding incidents and store the information securely, ideally in a
private office. Only the Designated Safeguarding Lead or other relevant senior colleagues
should have access to the records, and you should only keep them for as long as necessary.
The information should not be given to other parties without the child’s consent (or parental
consent if the child is under 13)—except for legitimate sharing of safeguarding information as
described at subheading GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Data Protection Act 2018
(legislation.gov.uk)

What to do if you believe a family need additional support but you

don’t believe the child’s welfare is at immediate risk:

Shropshire council have three locality development officers (LDO) who are up to date with all
local support on offer, if you believe a child and their family would benefit from receiving help
or support you can contact them:

Charlotte Evans – Locality Development Officer south Shropshire

[email protected]
Delia Beckett- Locality Development Officer North Shropshire
[email protected]
Diljit McCabe – Locality Development Officer Central Shropshire
[email protected]

See below for a copy of the LDO’s ‘menu’ of support resources that staff can share
with families:

• Managing behaviour and containment -

[email protected] or 01743 250950 or free online at
https://inourplace.co.uk/ with code DARWIN18
• Public Health Nursing Service
– Single Point of Access 0333 358 3654
– Text for Health Advice: Health Visitor Team and Parenting Chat
Health line 07520 635212 / School Nursing Team 07507 330346
• Support with young people’s emotional well-being – Bee U is the emotional
health and wellbeing service for people up to the age of 25
– BEAM [email protected]
– Online support for young people http://www.kooth.com
– Specialist Young People and Families Mental Health Service Single
Point of Access - 0300 124 0093

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– Parents can get more information about support available from

Young Minds and from the Charlie Waller Trust
• Housing issues / homelessness – Housing Options -
https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/housing-options-and-homelessness/ or SUSTAIN
consortium - 0300 300 0059 or 01743 285159
• Adult mental health
– IAPT – Psychological Therapies can support people with mild to
moderate mental health issues such as anxiety or low mood. Includes
Silver Cloud online therapy,
https://www.mpft.nhs.uk/services/improving-access-psychological-
therapies-iapt or 0300 123 6020
– See Shropshire Council wellbeing pages for more links -
https://shropshire.gov.uk/coronavirus/information-for-the-
public/mental-health-and-wellbeing/
– Shropshire MIND - Shropshire Mind provides support for any person
with emotional or mental health needs, including long term enduring
mental health needs or those triggered by recent incidents.
Telephone: 01743 368647, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm; Saturday
and Sunday 11am to 3pm. Outreach support is available Monday to
Friday 9am to 5pm.
– TogetherAll - a free-to-access online community for Shropshire
residents aged 16 and above for people who are stressed, anxious or
feeling low. The service has an active forum with round-the-clock
support from trained professionals. You can talk anonymously and
confidentially to other members https://togetherall.com/en-gb/
– Every Mind Matters provides clear advice and actions to take care of
your mental health and wellbeing. The Mind Plan tool helps you
create a personalised list of ideas to improve your mental health
• Support for young carers – [email protected]
• Domestic abuse - https://www.shropsdas.org.uk/ or WMWA 0800 783 1359 or
national helpline 0808 2000 247
• Substance misuse - https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk/services/shropshire/
• On a low budget or need help accessing free or low cost food - Foodbank -
or for more info https://www.shropshirelarder.org.uk/
• Sexual health services - https://openclinic.org.uk/

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Suitability of Staff and Volunteers

Working with Staff and Volunteers:

Staff and volunteers should be aware that they must raise all safeguarding concerns with the
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) immediately. The DSL should act as a source of
support, advice, and expertise to staff and volunteers on matters of safeguarding. But it is
important that all staff and volunteers know the appropriate safeguarding policies they should
follow.

The DSL should also know the contact information of their local authority designated officer
(LADO), who may also simply be known as ‘the designated officer’:

Shropshire LADO Ellie Jones [email protected] 01743 250009

Shropshire LADO Michelle Taylor [email protected] 01743 256247

The role of the LADO is to coordinate all allegations and concerns made against a person
who works with children. The LADO will advise, in discussion with the Senior Manager within
the organisation (SMO), on what action should be taken by the provider and whether
the matter should be referred to Children’s Social Care. The LADO’s contact details can
usually be found on your local authority website. In addition to alerting the LADO, the DSL
should inform the police if a crime may have been committed.

Working alone with children:

In most situations, you should have at least two adults present when working with children
and young people in your setting. However, sometimes it may be appropriate or necessary for
an adult to supervise a small group of children on their own or to speak one-to-one with a
child. If you are working alone unexpectedly with a child or young person, you should make
sure you are somewhere where other people can see you – for instance, in a room with a
window. You should also tell another adult that you are alone with the child; this could be your
supervisor or designated safeguarding lead.

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Reporting concerns about a colleague who may pose a risk

of harm to children:

Being clear about your expectations of the behaviour of staff is an important part of
safeguarding the children in your care. A staff behaviour policy sets out the standards of
behaviour your staff, including volunteers, should follow. It should include clear expectations
of what people should do and say, and what they must not. This will help raise awareness of
illegal, unsafe, unprofessional, and unwise behaviour. Providers should ensure they have
procedures in place, including clear escalation routes, to manage concerns and allegations
against staff and volunteers that might indicate they pose a risk of harm to children. Such
allegations should usually be referred to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or another
agreed senior person, who will then escalate the concern to the Local Authority Designated
Officer (LADO).

Working Together to Safeguard Children Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018

(publishing.service.gov.uk) gives more guidance on dealing with allegations about people in
positions of trust. Part 4 of Keeping Children Safe in Education explains the procedure for
handling the allegations. Keeping children safe in education 2022 (publishing.service.gov.uk)

If your setting is a charity, you are required to report serious incidents, including incidents of
abuse or mistreatment (alleged or actual) of beneficiaries of the charity (adults or children)
which have resulted in or risk significant harm to them. For help handling safeguarding
allegations about the behaviour of an adult towards a child in a charity, see the Department
for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport’s online safeguarding tool. More information on when
and how to report an incident is also available in the Charity Commission’s guidance.

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Other Requirements:
An important quote from Keeping children safe in education 2022 (publishing.service.gov.uk)
for any providers who use school/college premises as their venue.

Use of school or college premises for non-school/college activities:

166. Where governing bodies or proprietors hire or rent out school or college
facilities/premises to organisations or individuals (for example to community groups,
sports associations, and service providers to run community or extra-curricular activities)
they should ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place to keep children safe.

167. When services or activities are provided by the governing body or proprietor, under the
direct supervision or management of their school or college staff, their arrangements for
child protection will apply. However, where services or activities are provided separately
by another body this is not necessarily the case. The governing body or proprietor should
therefore seek assurance that the body concerned has appropriate safeguarding and child
protection policies and procedures in place (including inspecting these as needed); and
ensure that there are arrangements in place to liaise with the school or college on these
matters where appropriate. This applies regardless of whether or not the children who
attend any of these services or activities are children on the school roll or attend the
college. The governing body or proprietor should also ensure safeguarding requirements
are included in any transfer of control agreement (i.e. lease or hire agreement), as a
condition of use and occupation of the premises; and that failure to comply with this would
lead to termination of the agreement.

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Useful Resources for Providers:

GDPR

• Guidance on data protection issues for employers carrying out criminal records checks is
available on the ICO website. Guide to the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK
GDPR) | ICO

• ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ provides a GDPR myth buster. Working Together
to Safeguard Children 2018 (publishing.service.gov.uk)

• The Department for Education provides a data protection toolkit for schools that you may
also find useful for your setting. Data protection: a toolkit for schools
(publishing.service.gov.uk)

Health and safety

• For advice on site safety, check what is available on your local authority’s website. The local
Fire and Rescue Service, Police and local authority might be able to help.

• You can find a template by the Health and Safety Executive for creating a health and safety
policy for your setting. The link also includes an example of a good health and safety
policy. Prepare a health and safety policy - HSE

• General guidance on workplace health, safety and welfare is available on the Health and
Safety Executive’s website. A safe place of work (hse.gov.uk)

• The Department for Education also provides advice on health and safety for schools, which
you may find useful for your setting. Health and safety: responsibilities and duties for
schools - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

• Advice on the control of substances hazardous to health is available online. Control of

Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) - COSHH (hse.gov.uk)

• Advice on fire safety is available online. Fire safety in the workplace: Who's responsible -
GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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• The ABI provides online information on insurance, and public liability insurance in particular.
Public liability insurance | ABI

• The Department for Education provides advice on health and safety for educational visits
which settings may find useful. Health and safety on educational visits - GOV.UK
(www.gov.uk)

Safeguarding and child protection

• The NSPCC has a number of free resources for the voluntary and community sector to set
up child protection policies and procedures. It also covers safeguarding standards and
guidance, specific guidance for faith communities, and signposts to training:

• NSPCC Learning: Introductory guide to safeguarding and child protection for the voluntary
and community sector (formerly ‘Are they safe?)

• NSPCC safeguarding standards and guidance (England)

• The NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit works to safeguard children in sport and has a
dedicated website. Safer recruitment for children's sports | CPSU (thecpsu.org.uk)

• The NSPCC also sends free weekly e-mail alerts to keep you up to date with the latest
national safeguarding and child protection news. You can sign up online. NSPCC
Resources | NSPCC Learning

• ‘What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused’ is DfE advice for anyone who comes
into contact with children and families while working. It describes the signs of abuse and
neglect and the action to take if a child appears to be, or is at risk of being, abused or
neglected. Child abuse concerns: guide for practitioners - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

• ‘Child sexual exploitation: definition and guide for practitioners’ is DfE advice for anyone who
works with children and families. The guide can help providers to identify child sexual
exploitation and take appropriate action in response. Department for Education
(publishing.service.gov.uk)

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• ‘Sexual violence and sexual harassment between children in schools and colleges’ is DfE
advice on how to minimise the risk of sexual violence and sexual harassment between
children happening and what to do when it does occur. While the advice is primarily
directed at schools and colleges, it may also be a useful starting point for providers. This
advice can now be found Keeping children safe in education - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

• The harmful sexual behaviour prevention toolkit has been designed by the Lucy Faithfull
Foundation in collaboration with the Home Office for parents, carers and professionals
working with children. As well as support, advice and information, it has links to key
organisations and helplines, resources about harmful sexual behaviour by children,
tips about internet safety and advice about sexual development and preventing child
sexual abuse. Preventing harmful sexual behaviour in children - Stop It Now

• ‘Safeguarding children who may have been trafficked’ is practical, non-statutory guidance for
agencies in England which are likely to encounter, or have referred to them, children and
young people who may have been trafficked. Children who are unaccompanied or have
been a victim of trafficking are often at increased risk of safeguarding issues such as child
criminal exploitation or child sexual exploitation. Safeguarding children who may have
been trafficked (publishing.service.gov.uk)

• Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 provides statutory guidance to all

organisations and agencies who have functions in relation to children. Working together to
safeguard children - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

• Keeping Children Safe in Education 2022 provides guidance on safeguarding and promoting
the welfare of children for schools and colleges. Keeping children safe in education -
GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Links related to Shropshire Council:

Early Years & Schools Safeguarding Policies & Guidance – Shropshire Learning Gateway
(shropshirelg.net)

Early help | Shropshire Council

Early help family hubs | Shropshire Council

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Information and resources | Shropshire Council – Early Help and Children’s Services

The SEND local offer | Shropshire Council

Shropshire Family Information Service (0-19 years) | Shropshire Council

https://www.shropshiresafeguardingcommunitypartnership.co.uk/

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Contact Information

ALEXA PUGH SARAH MORRIS JULIE DUNCAN

HAF CO-ORDINATOR HAF CO-ORDINATOR EARLY HELP WORKFORCE

HAF (Holiday Activities & HAF (Holiday Activities & Early Help Workforce
Food) Coordinator, Shropshire Food) Co-Ordinator, Development Officer,
Council Shropshire Council
Shropshire Council, People’s
Tel: 01743 257734 Directorate, Strengthening
Families Through Early Help
Mob: 07990 085619 Tel: 01743254212

Email: Email:
[email protected] Sarah.L.Morris@shropshire. Tel: 01743 251621 /
k gov.uk 07990085247

Holiday activities and food Holiday activities and food Email: julie.duncan@shropshir
programme (HAF) | programme (HAF) | e.gov.uk
Shropshire Council Shropshire Council
http://new.shropshire.gov.uk/e
arly-help

DEVELEOPMENT OFFICER

Shropshire Council
Shirehall, Abbey Foregate
Shrewsbury
Shropshire
SY2 6ND
United Kingdom
Tel 03456789000
https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/schools-and-education/holiday-activities-and-food-
programme-haf/

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