Safeguarding Policy & Procedure

Safeguarding

Dyslexia Support Consultancy believes that no child or vulnerable adult should experience abuse of any kind and we recognise our responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children, or vulnerable adults by a commitment to a practice which protects them. Its safeguarding practices apply to both children and vulnerable adults.

Dyslexia Support Consultancy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and vulnerable adults that it supports. We believe all children and vulnerable adults have the right to be protected from all types of abuse and harm. We recognise that we have a duty of care to those who utilise our service and a responsibility to safeguard and promote their welfare.

The purpose of this policy is to:

Protect children and vulnerable adults who receive Dyslexia Support Consultancy services. This includes the children of adults who use our services;
Provide staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of law and guidance that seeks to protect children and vulnerable adults, namely:

Children Act 1989;
United Convention of the Rights of the Child 1991;
Data Protection Act 1998;
Sexual Offences Act 2003;
Children Act 2004;
Protection of Freedoms Act 2012;
Children and Social Act 2017?
Working together to Safeguard Children 2018
Other relevant government guidance on safeguarding children.

Safeguarding definitions

A ‘child’ is defined for the purpose of safeguarding as anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday. This includes the provisions in safeguarding legislation that refers to a young person.

A ‘vulnerable adult’ is someone who is 18 years or over who is, or may be, unable to take care of himself/herself, or unable to protect himself/herself against significant harm or exploitation. Government guidance identifies adults who are at risk due to:

sensory or physical disability or impairment;
learning disability;
physical illness;
chronic or acute mental ill health (including dementia);
addiction to alcohol or drugs;
failing faculties in old age;
permanent or temporary reduction in physical, mental or emotional capacity through life events such as bereavement, abuse or trauma.

What is child abuse?

Child abuse happens when a person harms a child. It can be physical, sexual or
emotional, but can also involve neglect.

Children may be abused by:

family members
friends
people working or volunteering in organisational or community settings
people they know
strangers

General signs of abuse

Children experiencing abuse often experience more than one type of abuse over a period of time.
Children who experience abuse may be afraid to tell anybody about the abuse. They may struggle with feelings of guilt, shame or confusion – particularly if the abuser is a parent, caregiver or other close family member or friend.

Types of abuse

Physical Abuse
Neglect
Emotional Abuse
Domestic Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Child Sexual Exploitation
Harmful Sexual Behaviour
Child Trafficking
Female Genital Mutilation

Safeguarding is the promotion of activities to support the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. The primary concept in safeguarding is recognising, preventing and minimising the potential for significant harm of children and vulnerable adults.
Significant harm is any single or multiple maltreatment or impairment to the health and development of a child or vulnerable adult and is determined by careful assessment. Abuse or mistreatment is a single or repeated act which violates an individual’s human and or civil rights. It can occur in any relationship and may result in significant harm or exploitation.
Child protection is part of safeguarding and used for responding to concerns where it appears that a child may have been harmed.

Key principles

Dyslexia Support Consultancy accept, endorse, and are implementing the principles enshrined in the Children Act 1989, that the welfare of the child is paramount. The organisation is committed to creating a safe environment in which young people and vulnerable adults can feel comfortable and secure while engaged in any of Dyslexia Support Consultancy Dyslexia’s programmes, events or activities.

Dyslexia Support Consultancy consultants, assessors and tutors should at all times show respect and understanding for individual’s rights, safety and welfare.
Dyslexia Support Consultancy will seek to keep children and vulnerable adults safe by:

Establish a safe environment where our service users can learn and develop
A code of conduct for contractors and volunteers;
Providing effective management for consultants through supervision, support and training;
Committing to principles of safer recruitment for selection, recruitment and vetting of its Consultants, teaches and assessors.
Sharing information about child protection and good practice with children, parents, and staff.
Sharing concerns with agencies who need to know, and involving parents and children appropriately;
Taking all concerns and allegations of abuse and/or poor practice seriously and respond appropriately, accepting that this may require a referral to children’s services and in emergencies, the police;
Ensuring that there are appropriate arrangements in place to enable Dyslexia Support Consultancy to discharge its duty to provide a safe and secure environment, and to deal with issues concerned with suspected or reported abuse of children or vulnerable adults;
Supporting and equipping Consultants, assessors and teachers to make informed and confident responses to specific child and vulnerable adult protection issues;
Ensuring that the policy and procedure complies with current legislation, statutory duties and reflects guidance and good practice in safeguarding children and vulnerable adults, whilst keeping arrangements proportionate and based upon common sense;
Reviewing the policy and its procedure annually.

Dyslexia Support Consultancy Safeguarding

Dyslexia Support Consultancy Safeguarding Officer: Sarah-Louise Jeffries

The role of the Safeguarding Office is to:

Be conversant with the latest legislation and best practice pertaining to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults
Have a working knowledge of which appropriate legislative body to contact in the event of a concern (e.g. Police, LADO, Social Services etc)
Making prompt contact with the appropriate body where there are concerns that a child/ vulnerable adult may be in need of help or is at risk of suspected abuse
Ensure that any confidential data is stored safely and securely, in line with GDPR
Review the Safeguarding Policy annual to the procedures are working and that it complies with current best practice

Safeguarding training

Assessors and teachers are advised to undertake training to update and refresh their child protection knowledge annually. As sole traders this is the responsibility of the individual adult.

Safer recruitment

All Consultants, assessors and tutors undergo a DBS enhanced disclosure check and positions are subject to the receipt of an acceptable disclosure. This will be represented on the website. We take no responsibility for a fraudulent DBS.

Concerns:

Concerns about a child or vulnerable adult may present themselves in a number of ways. The core actions that should always be taken are:
Take any emergency action needed to alleviate any immediate risk;

Discuss your concerns with our / the Safeguarding officer
Make a brief factual note of what you have seen, heard or become concerned about (within an hour when possible);
Listen, don’t ask any leading questions and treat all information confidentially
Ensure the safety and feelings of the child or vulnerable adult at risk are considered throughout the process;
All situations of actual or suspected abuse should be reported without delay to the Safeguarding officer.
Agree whether or not a referral should be made to the relevant Local Authorities Designated Officer (LADO), this will normally be done by the person reporting the incident with the support of the Safeguarding Officer.
Remember that the child, vulnerable adult and family should, wherever possible, be informed about and consent to the referral unless this would put the welfare of the child, vulnerable adult or another person at further risk or if allegations of a sexual abuse nature have been made. If you have serious concerns, the absence of consent should not prevent a referral;

When making a referral to the LADO the following points should be kept in mind:

Give the social worker as much detail as possible: descriptions, dates, times, and what was actually said;
Distinguish between fact and opinion and between what you have seen and what others have told you;
Follow up your contact with the children’s social care by a letter confirming what you have said to them (within 24 hours), copied to the Safeguarding Officer.
Keep a record;
Be prepared to have further discussions with the social services and/or a police investigation team;
Continue to support the child or vulnerable adult;

Allegations against Dyslexia Support Consultancy assessor or tutor

The guidance below relates to circumstances where it is alleged that a Dyslexia Support Consultancy staff member:

Behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have harmed, a child or a vulnerable adult;
Possibly committed a criminal offence against, or related to, a child or vulnerable adult;
Behaved in a way that indicates that he or she is unsuitable to work with children or vulnerable adults.

Where there are concerns for the behaviour of or allegations against a Dyslexia Support Consultancy staff member these should be directed immediately to Sarah-Louise Jeffries:

This may involve: providing advice, supervision and training, the use of disciplinary and statutory processes or a combination of these.
In England, any allegation against those working with children must be reported to the relevant Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).

Dyslexia Support Consultancy ensures the safety of students by practicing safe recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work with children. We also ensure that all our staff have current DBS checks.

For immediate advice contact the NSPCC 24 hour helpline on 0808 800 5000.

Dyslexia Support Consultancy

April 2021