Safeguarding Policy

Policy statement
 
  Paul Dillon Swimming (PDSC LTD) aims to work with children and parents to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all of the children in our care,     regardless of age, gender, race, culture, background or disability.  We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all of our staff to share this commitment.
  We aim to create an environment in which children are safe from abuse and in which any suspicion of abuse is promptly and appropriately responded to.  In order to achieve this we will follow the following procedures:
 
Procedures
 
Safer Recruitment:
 

• ALL staff employed by Paul Dillon Swimming (PDSC LTD) are subject to enhanced DBS checks.
• All candidates for posts are subject to an intensive interview procedure and reference checks.  
• Any staff applying for posts within the company are informed in writing that the positions are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and that they must notify us immediately if they are charged or convicted with a criminal offence during their employment with us.
• All staff are required to declare that they not disqualified from doing so under the Childcare (Disqualification) Regulations (2009). 
• All staff are required to complete annual safeguarding training to ensure they are fully informed and up to date with current legislation.
• All staff, students are made aware of our safeguarding policies and procedures, including who to contact in the event of a safeguarding concern or an allegation against a member of staff.  (See below, section entitled Allegations against staff.)

 
Awareness & Training:
 

• All newly appointed staff receive safeguarding training as part of their induction, including a requirement to read and understand Keeping Children Safe in Education (2019).
• The designated safeguarding lead (DSL) will receive advanced safeguarding training and training in multi-agency working at least every three years or more frequently if relevant legislation changes merit this.  The DSL is responsible for coordinating child protection issues and liaising with external agencies.
• Paul Dillon Swimming has a clear behavior management policy that is understood by all.
• All staff will have access to ‘What to do if you are worried a child is being abused’
• (HMG 2015).
• The DSL who co-ordinates child protection issues within Paul Dillon Swimming

(PDSC LTD) is: Paul Dillon.  The role and responsibilities of the DSL include: to act as a reference point for all staff on any specific safeguarding policy, including potentially de-briefing staff following a referral, as necessary.  Ensuring that written referrals completed and any other written accounts are collated, completed and sent to Safeguarding and Social Care within 48 hours of a telephone referral being made.  To liaise with Camden’s Safeguarding and Social Care Boards.  To cascade policy, legislation changes and good practice to all staff.  To encourage a culture of professional reflection within the team.  To take lead responsibility for following procedures in cases where there are allegations made against a member of staff.
 
 
Paul Dillon Swimming (PDSC LTD) is committed to responding promptly and appropriately to all incidents or concerns of abuse that may occur and to work with statutory agencies in accordance with the procedures that are set down in 'What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused' (HMG 2015).
 
 
When to be concerned
 

• We acknowledge that abuse of children can take different forms - physical, emotional, and sexual, as well as neglect and Munchausen’s by Proxy.
• When children are suffering from physical, sexual or emotional abuse, or neglect, this may be demonstrated through the things they say (direct or indirect disclosure) or through changes in their appearance, their behaviour, or their play.

 
Teachers should be concerned about a child if he or she:

• has any injury which is not typical of the bumps and scrapes normally associated with children’s injuries
• Patterns of bruising that are suggestive of physical child abuse, including:

bruising in children who are not independently mobile 
bruises that are seen away from bony prominences 
bruises to the face, back, stomach, arms, buttocks, ears and hands
multiple bruises in clusters
multiple bruises of uniform shape 
bruises that carry the imprint of an implement used, hand marks or fingertips

• regularly has unexplained injuries
• frequently has injuries (even when apparently reasonable explanations are given)
• gives confused or conflicting explanations on how injuries were sustained
• When parents seem unconcerned or fail to seek adequate medical treatment
• exhibits significant changes in behaviour, performance or attitude, including becoming aggressive or withdrawn
• indulges in sexual behaviour which is unusually explicit and/or inappropriate to his or her age
• discloses an experience in which he or she may have been harmed
• failure to thrive or grow, appears underweight or unwell, particularly if the child puts on weight in other circumstances, e.g. in hospital or away from parents‟ care
• Lack of parental supervision
• developmental delay, either in terms of physical or emotional progress
• Attachment difficulties with parents or others
• Withdrawal or low self esteem
• gives other cause to believe that he or she may be suffering significant harm
• Appears neglected.  Neglect can be a difficult form of abuse to recognise, yet have some of the most lasting and damaging effects on children. The physical signs of neglect may include:  constant hunger, sometimes stealing food from other children, being constantly dirty or smelly, losing weight, or being constantly underweight, inappropriate dress for the conditions, mentioning being left alone or unsupervised.

 
Teachers should be concerned by:

• Inappropriate behaviour displayed by other swim teachers or other staff.  For example inappropriate sexual comments, excessive 1:1 attention beyond the requirements of their usual role and responsibilities, or inappropriate sharing of images.  The use of sanctions that humiliate or harm a child.

The above list is not meant to be definitive but should be used as a guide for reference. It is important to remember that many young children and young people will exhibit some of these indicators at some time, and the presence of one or more should not be taken as proof that abuse is occurring. There may well be other reasons for changes in behaviour, such as a death or the birth of a new baby in the family, relationship problems between parents/carers, undiagnosed medical conditions etc.
 
 
 
Responding to suspicions of abuse
 

• Where such evidence is apparent, a member of staff will make a dated record of the details of the concern and discuss what to do with the company’s designated safeguarding lead (DSL). 
•   The record should include the date of the disclosure or incident causing concern, the date and time the record was made, the name and date of birth of the child concerned a factual report of the incident (when recording a disclosure the child’s own words must be used) and the name and signature of the person recording the incident.
• A decision will be made jointly as to what course of action is appropriate.
•  If child abuse or neglect is suspected we will notify the local safeguarding children’s board (LCSB) within 48 hours.   Any telephone reports must be followed up in writing. We follow the statutory guidance ‘Working together to safeguard children (2018)’ and the LSCB guidance and procedures.  In an emergency we would also notify the police.  If appropriate PDSC would make a referral to the DBS.

• The DSL would keep a formal record of the referral, either hardcopy or electronic, including any discussions with the child, discussions with the parent, any other teachers or staff consulted, Information provided to LA children's social care; Decisions and actions taken (with time and date clearly noted, and signed).

 
 
 
 
Recording suspicions of abuse and disclosures
 
Where a child makes comments to a member of staff that gives cause for concern (disclosure), or a member of staff observes signs or signals that gives cause for concern,
the member of staff will listen to the child, offers reassurance and gives assurance that she or he will take action and that they believe the child.  If appropriate they will ask open but not leading questions regarding the abuse although they may ask questions about the child’s feelings and general welfare.  Staff are aware that by asking leading questions or by attempting to investigate the allegations themselves they may jeopardise a future police investigation. They will never promise the child confidentiality. They will reassure him or her that what has happened is not his or her fault and that it was the right thing to tell them.  
 
The staff member will make a written record that forms an objective record of the observation or disclosure.  This must include:

• the date and time of the observation or the disclosure;
• the exact words spoken by the child as far as possible;
• If relevant the precise nature and location of any marks or bruising (if physical abuse is suspected).

• the name of the person to whom the concern was reported, with date and time; and

      the names of any other person present at the time.

• These records are signed and dated and kept in a secure, locked place in the manager’s office, separate from the child’s personal file.
• This information will only be shared on a need to know basis.

 
Making a referral to the local safeguarding team
 

• Based on ‘What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused’ (HMG 2015), Paul Dillon Swimming will follow the guidelines set out in this document in referring children to the local authority.  All referrals will be followed up in writing within 48 hours of the initial telephone referral.

 
Informing parents
 

• Parents are normally the first point of contact.
• If a suspicion of abuse is recorded, parents are informed at the same time as the report is made, only if the Local Safeguarding Children Board advises us to do so.

• Where the parent is the likely abuser, the investigating officers from the Local Safeguarding Children Board will inform parents.

 
Liaison with other agencies
 

• We work within the Local Safeguarding Children Board guidelines.
• We provide all staff with a copy of 'What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused' (HMG 2015),  and all staff are familiar with what to do if they have concerns.
• We have procedures for contacting the local authority on child protection issues, including maintaining a list of names, addresses and telephone numbers of relevant agencies, to ensure that it is easy, in any emergency, for Paul Dillon Swimming (PDSC LTD.) and social services to work well together.
• If a referral is to be made to the local authority social care department, we act within the Camden’s Safeguarding Children and Child Protection guidance in deciding whether we must inform the child's parents at the same time.

 
Allegations against staff
 

• We ensure that all parents and staff know how to complain about the behaviour or actions of staff, which may include an allegation of abuse.
• We follow the guidance of the Local Safeguarding Children Board when responding to any complaint that a member of staff or anyone working on the premises occupied has abused a child.
• We respond to any disclosure by children or staff that abuse by a member of staff or working on the premises occupied, that may have taken, or is taking place, by first recording the details of any such alleged incident.
• Allegations must be reported to the DSL, where the DSL is the subject of an allegation, this will be reported to a member of senior staff who will refer any such complaint immediately to the Local Authority’s safeguarding officer (the LADO) to investigate.   The telephone number for the Camden LADO is 020 7974 6999. 

• We co-operate entirely with any investigation carried out by children’s social care in

            conjunction with the police.
 
 
Disciplinary action

• Where a member of staff is dismissed because of misconduct relating to a child, we notify the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) administrators so that the name may be included on the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults Barred List.

 
Training
 

• We seek training opportunities for our staff to ensure that they are able to recognise the signs and signals of possible physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and neglect and that they are aware of the local authority guidelines for making referrals.
• We ensure that all staff know the procedures for reporting and recording their concerns.
• We promote a culture of professionalism with regard to children and families, treat all children fairly and with respect and prioritise the well being of children at all times.

 
Confidentiality
 

• All suspicions and investigations are kept confidential and shared only with those who need to know. Any information is shared under the guidance of the Local Safeguarding Children Board.

 
 
 
 
Authors of this policy: Elisabeth Dillon & Paul Dillon
This policy was adopted on: September 2023
Signed on behalf of Paul Dillon Swimming (PDSC LTD.):
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date for review: September 2024