safeguarding policy

At Creative Corner After School Club, we firmly believe that every child has the right to feel safe, secure, and free from both the fear and reality of abuse. We are fully committed to safeguarding all children in our care from harm. 

Creative Corner After School Club designates a Child Protection Officer (DP) with appropriate experience, training, and expertise. This officer is responsible for liaising with Social Care, the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB), and Ofsted on all child protection matters. I am trained as a DP. Our Child Protection Procedures comply with all relevant legislation and guidance from the LSCB. 

Child abuse can take many forms, both obvious and subtle. A child may be harmed directly or through neglect. Abuse may occur within families, institutions, or community settings and can be perpetrated by individuals known to the child or, more rarely, by strangers. 

• Physical Abuse: Includes hitting, shaking, throwing, burning, suffocating, or any form of physical harm. Intentionally causing a child’s ill health is also considered physical abuse. 

• Sexual Abuse: Involves forcing or encouraging a child to participate in sexual activities, with or without their understanding. This includes physical contact (penetrative or non-penetrative), showing pornography, or encouraging sexually inappropriate behaviour. 

• Emotional Abuse: Emotional abuse is present in almost all incidents of abuse and may occur independently. It involves persistent or severe illtreatment that harms a child’s emotional development, such as making them feel worthless, unloved, or frightened. 

• Neglect: Persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical, emotional, or psychological needs, which may seriously impact their health and development. This includes failing to provide adequate food, shelter, clothing, or emotional support. 

Not all child protection concerns lead to referrals, but individual pieces of information may collectively form a significant picture. 

• Record all information on a log immediately. 

• Inform the DP and pass on the record. The DP will decide whether to contact Social Care or make a formal referral. 

• Staff who feel an incident has not been followed up appropriately have the right to contact Social Care directly. • If the concern involves a staff member, follow the Creative Corner After School Club Whistleblowing Procedure (refer to the Child Protection Whistleblowing Policy). 

 Third-party information is any concern shared by someone not directly involved with Creative Corner After School Club. This information must be taken seriously: 

• Encourage the third party to contact Social Care directly.

• If they choose not to, explain our obligation to report such concerns. 

• Record the concerns and all actions taken. 

If an allegation is made against a staff member or volunteer: 

• Report it immediately to the onsite DP or, if unavailable, to the Manager of Childcare Services. 

• The matter will then be referred to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and Ofsted. 

• LADO will advise on involving other agencies (e.g., the police) to avoid jeopardising any investigation. 

• Follow the Allegation of Abuse Made Against an Adult in a Childcare Setting Procedure. 

• Record the allegation factually using the Logging a Concern about a Child’s Safety and Welfare form. 

• If necessary, initiate the Staff Disciplinary Procedure, following LADO guidance. 

• Creative Corner After School Club may seek professional advice from employment law specialists. 

We are committed to ensuring all staff meet their responsibilities regarding child protection. We will: 

• Provide access to regular child protection training for all staff. 

• Ensure all staff, students, and volunteers are carefully recruited, with verified references and up-to-date enhanced DBS checks. 

• Distribute the Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy during staff induction and explain its implications. 

• Offer regular supervision and training related to child protection issues. 

• Ensure all staff receive appropriate support and management based on their safeguarding responsibilities. 

• Ensure all staff understand the main indicators of child abuse and their statutory duties to report concerns. 

• Take appropriate actions following investigations into abuse allegations, balancing child safety and fair treatment for staff. 

• Apply the Staff Disciplinary Procedure when a staff member, student, or volunteer is under investigation for child abuse. 

• Display and follow the ‘What to Do If You’re Worried a Child Is Being Abused’ flowchart. 

All staff are required to follow Creative Corner After School Club’s Child Protection Procedures and to apply safe caring principles at all times: 

• Avoid situations where a staff member, student, or volunteer is left alone with a child. If unavoidable, keep doors open and inform another staff member. 

• Record any instance of a child making inappropriate physical contact. 

• Refrain from performing personal tasks for children that they can do themselves. If assistance is essential, staff should be accompanied by a colleague. 

• Staff should avoid accompanying children into toilets unless there is a specific need and must remain mindful of actions that could be misinterpreted. 

• Be conscious of how and where children are touched, considering their age and emotional development. Avoid unnecessary or potentially inappropriate physical contact.