Child Protection Policy

The Charity

The Child Growth Foundation supports children and adults with various growth conditions. The staff, trustees and group coordinators have regular contact with children and their families in various ways which include:

  • Email and social media exchanges
  • Telephone conversations
  • The annual convention
  • Social events

Some of the growth disorders supported by the CGF are associated with particular vulnerabilities such as learning disabilities, premature sexual maturation, autistic behaviour and medical conditions.

Rationale

  • We recognise our moral responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children.
  • We make every effort to provide a safe and welcoming environment underpinned by a culture of openness where children feel secure, able to talk and believe that they are being listened to.
  • We maintain an attitude of “it could happen here” where safeguarding is concerned.
  • The purpose of this policy is to provide staff, group coordinators and trustees with the framework they need in order to keep children safe and secure in all their contacts with the charity.
  • Specific guidance is available to staff within the procedure documents.

Definitions

Within this document:

The umbrella term Safeguarding is defined in the Children Act 2004 as protecting from maltreatment; preventing impairment of health and development; ensuring that children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care; and working in a way that gives the best life chances and transition to adult hood. Our safeguarding practice applies to every child.

Child Protection is an aspect of safeguarding but is focused on how we respond to children who have been significantly harmed or who we believe to be at risk of significant harm.

Child refers to all young people who have not yet reached their 18th birthday.

Parent refers to birth parents and other adults in a parenting role for example adoptive parents, step parents and foster carers.

Abuse could mean neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse or any combination of these. Parents, carers and other people can harm children either by direct acts and / or failure to provide proper care.

Aims

  • To provide staff, trustees and group coordinators with the framework to promote and safeguard the wellbeing of children.
  • To ensure consistent good practice.
  • To demonstrate our commitment to safeguarding children against all forms of abuse.

Principles and Values

All children regardless of age, gender, race, ability, sexuality, religion, culture or language have a right to feel safe and be protected from harm.

All staff, trustees and group coordinators have a key role in prevention of harm and an equal responsibility to act on any suspicion or disclosure that may indicate a child is at risk of harm in accordance with the guidance.

We acknowledge that working in partnership with other agencies protects children and reduces risk and so we will engage in partnership working, when appropriate, to safeguard children.

Whilst the CGF will work openly with parents as far as possible, the charity reserves the right to contact Children’s Social Care or the Police, without notifying parents if this is in the child’s best interests.

Leadership and Management

We recognise that anxiety around child protection can undermine good practice and so have established clear lines of accountability, training and advice for all staff and trustees.

The CGF appoints a Designated Safeguarding Lead and a trustee with specific responsibility for safeguarding.

Individuals associated with the charity should contact the DSL immediately if they have any concerns relating to safeguarding. However, any allegations involving a member of staff should be directed to the nominated trustee or the chairperson.

All staff, trustees and group coordinators should be aware of the signs and symptoms of abuse and be able to respond appropriately. Training is provided for all staff and trustees and is refreshed on a three-year cycle.

The CGF is committed to safe recruitment, selection and vetting procedures. Enhanced DBS checks are required for all employees, trustees and group coordinators.

The Responsibilities of the Trustees

The trustees are responsible for ensuring:

  • the charity has effective safeguarding policies and procedures in place
  • there is a member of staff identified as DS
  • that training is undertaken at the required frequency
  • there is a nominated trustee for dealing with allegations against employees of the charity
  • an annual audit of safeguarding is carried out and any concerns are remedied without delay

Annual review and monitoring

We review this policy and the effectiveness of our safeguarding procedures annually in line with NSPCC guidance.

Last Review: November 2018

Next Review: December 2019

Share This