P10- Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adult Policy

Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy

This policy was adopted by Council on 23^rd May 2022.

1.0 Protection Policy Statement

Newmarket Town Council’s duties and services do not often require supervision of children or vulnerable adults, however these groups do use its facilities and venues and at times its staff and members may be in a position where direct assistance is given. The Council is committed to protect children and vulnerable adults from harm. Staff and Members will accept and recognise their responsibilities to develop awareness of the issues which may cause harm to children or vulnerable adults.

It is acknowledged as a sensitive and difficult issue but one which must be addressed. For this reason, the Council will ensure there is a proportionate balance between civil liberties and safeguarding vulnerable groups, including children

It will endeavor to safeguard children and vulnerable adults by:

Stating that the welfare of children/vulnerable adults is paramount.
Adopting child protection/vulnerable adult guidelines through an operational procedure for staff and members.
Sharing information about child protection and good practice with children/vulnerable adults, and parents/guardians.
Sharing information about concerns with agencies that need to know, and involving parents/guardians and children/vulnerable adults where appropriate.
Investigating and responding to all suspicions and allegations of abuse.
Following carefully the procedures for recruitment and selection of staff and
Providing effective management for staff throughout supervision, support and training.
Provide suitable training for relevant staff and councillors.

Leisure Services Committee have determined that they will only employ people with the relevant documentation and qualifications for working with children and vulnerable adults.

The Council’s child/vulnerable adult protection policy and guidelines are there to be acted upon to protect staff and Members as well as children and vulnerable adults. Child/vulnerable adult abuse can and does occur outside the family setting and it is important to understand what to look for and how to react.

The Council is committed to regularly reviewing its policy and good practice guidelines.

2.0 Operating Procedures

The Council will maintain an operating procedure which includes sections on:

The definition of abuse, including the four main areas of abuse-emotional, neglect, physical and sexual.
Advice on how to recognise the symptoms of abuse
Understanding the consequences of abuse
How to react if a child/vulnerable adult says or indicates he/she is being abused
How to react to suspicions or allegations
What staff should do if they have concerns
A nominated officer to be responsible for dealing with issues of abuse or potential abuse.
Undertaking CRB (DBS) checks where appropriate. If staff, members or volunteers are to work in a regulated activity within the Council, the Council will carry out enhanced DBS (CRB) checks and ensure they are not on the Barred list with the Disclosure and Barring Service.
How to keep essential records
How the Complaints Procedure and/or Disciplinary Procedure will be used to deal with complaints against staff or Members
How the potential to abuse children/vulnerable adults will be considered during recruitment and selection.

3.0 Newmarket Town Council’s standards

All staff, members and volunteers must be DBS (CRB) checked as appropriate and if working within a regulated activity, the Council will carry out enhanced DBS (CRB) checks and ensure they are not on the Barred list with the Disclosure and Barring Service.
On initial appointment all volunteers must submit two references (including phone numbers) by reputable individuals (who cannot be family members), which the Town Council Manager will check.
If the Council becomes aware or is informed of information from a reputable source (e.g. Police, NSPCC, Social Services etc.) that an individual is not suitable to be involved with a Council project, it has the right to stop the individual from having any further involvement in any Council projects or services.
A copy of the Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy will be available for inspection at any of the Council’s premises by parents, carers, etc.
The Town Council Manager is appointed as the responsible officer for implementing the Council’s Protection of Children & Vulnerable Adult Policy.
The Town Council Manager will report all incidents to the Council’s insurers, where the project or service is covered by the Council’s insurance policy.

4.0 Good Practice

Although the Council’s activities and services do not generally require the direct supervision of children/vulnerable adults, however one area which may become a regulated activity under current legislation is administration of the Youth Committee. The following good practice will however be brought to the attention of all staff. Promoting good practice can reduce the possibility of potentially abusive situations and help to protect staff, councilors and volunteers. The following are more specific examples of care which should be taken when working within a Council context:

Always be publicly open when working with children/vulnerable adults. Avoid situations where a single member of staff and an individual child/vulnerable adult are working unobserved.
If any form of physical manual support is required, there should always be a second member of staff present or another responsible adult. Care is needed, as it is difficult to maintain hand positions when the child/vulnerable adult is constantly moving. Some parents/guardians are becoming increasing sensitive about physical manual support and their views should always be carefully considered.
Council staff should not get directly involved in supervising children/vulnerable adults except in an emergency situation. This should otherwise be left to parents, guardians or siblings or to the leaders of organisations
As a general rule, it makes sense for staff/volunteers not to spend excessive amounts of time alone with children/vulnerable adults.

You should never:

Engage in rough, physical or sexually provocative games, including horseplay.
Allow or engage in any form of inappropriate touching.
Allow children/vulnerable adults to use inappropriate language.
Make sexually suggestive comments to a child/vulnerable adult, even in fun.
Allow allegations made by a child/vulnerable adult to go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted upon.

Do things of a personal nature for children/vulnerable adults they can do for themselves

It may in the case of an emergency be necessary for staff to do things of a personal nature for children/vulnerable adults, particularly if they are young or have impairments. These tasks should only be carried out with the full consent of parents or person in charge and the children/vulnerable adults involved. You need to be responsive to the child’s/vulnerable adult’s reactions – if a child is fully dependent upon you, talk with him/her about what you are doing, give choices where possible, particularly, if you are involved in any dressing or undressing, or where there is physical contact or lifting or assisting a child to carry out a particular activity.

If you accidentally hurt a child/vulnerable adult; he/she seems distressed in any manner; appears to be sexually aroused by your actions; or misunderstands or misinterprets something you have done, report any such incident as soon as possible to the Town Council Manager or another colleague and make a brief written note of it. Parents/guardians or carers should be informed of the incident.

Designated Safeguarding Officer: Town Clerk, Cathy Whitaker, townclerk@newmarket.gov.uk / 01638 661777

APPENDIX A: TYPES AND SIGNS OF ABUSE

Types of Abuse

Bullying and cyberbullying
Child or vulnerable adult sexual exploitation
Child or vulnerable adult trafficking
Criminal exploitation and gangs
Domestic abuse
Emotional abuse
Female genital mutilation
Grooming
Neglect
Non-recent abuse
Online abuse
Physical abuse
Sexual abuse

Indications That a Child or Vulnerable Adult is Being Abused

Unexplained or suspicious injuries such as bruising, cuts or burns, particularly if situated on a part of the body not normally prone to such injuries
An injury for which the explanation seems inconsistent
The child describes what appears to be an abusive act involving him/her
Someone else—a child or adult, expresses concern about the welfare of another child
Unexplained changes in behaviour—eg. becoming very quiet, withdrawn, or displaying sudden outbursts of temper
Inappropriate sexual awareness
Engages in sexually explicit behaviour in games
Is distrustful of adults, particularly those with whom a close relationship will normally be expected
Has difficulty in making friends
Is prevented from socialising with other children
Displays variations in eating patterns including overeating or loss of appetite
Loses weight for no apparent reason
Becomes increasingly dirty or unkempt.

It must be recognised that the above list is not exhaustive and the presence of one or more of the indicators is not proof that abuse is actually taking place. It is not the responsibility of council staff to decide that child abuse is occurring, but it is their responsibility to act on any concerns.

Procedure for Reporting Suspected Abuse or Concerns

Listen to the child/vulnerable adult/person reporting abuse
Make some notes of record
Report immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Officer

Next revision July 2021