Safeguarding

SAFEGUARDING IS EVERYBODY

We recognise that all children have a right to protection from abuse and here at ACE Care we accept our responsibility to protect and safeguard the welfare of children with whom staff may come into contact.:

 We will - 

• Respond quickly and appropriately where abuse is suspected or allegations are made.

• Provide both parents and children with the chance to raise concerns over their own care or the care of others.

• Have a system for dealing with, escalating and reviewing concerns.

• Remain aware of child protection procedures and maintain links with other bodies, especially the primary care organisation appointed contacts.

• The practice will ensure that all staff are trained to a level appropriate to their role, and that this is repeated on a refresher basis. New starters will receive training as employment commences.

BASIC PRINCIPLES:

• The welfare of the child is paramount.

• It is the responsibility of all adults to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. This responsibility extends to a duty of care for those adults employed, commissioned or contracted to work with children and young people.

• Adults who work with children are responsible for their own actions and behaviour and should avoid any conduct which would lead any reasonable person to question their motivation and intentions.

• Adults should work and be seen to work, in an open and transparent way.

• The same professional standards should always be applied regardless of culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief and/or sexual identity.

• Adults should continually monitor and review their practice and ensure they follow the guidance contained in this document and elsewhere.

​CONFIDENTIALITY

Staff are required to have access to confidential information about children and young people in order to do their jobs, and this may be highly sensitive information. These details must be kept confidential at all times and only shared when it is in the interests of the child to do so, and this applies to the restriction of the information within the clinical team. Care must be taken to ensure that the child is not humiliated or embarrassed in any way.

If an adult who works with children is in any doubt about whether to share information or keep it confidential he or she should seek guidance from the designated clinical Safeguarding Children lead. Any actions should be in line with locally agreed information sharing protocols, and the Data Protection Act applies.

Whilst adults need to be aware of the need to listen and support children and young people, they must also understand the importance of not promising to keep secrets. Neither should they request this of a child or young person under any circumstances.

Additionally, concerns and allegations about adults should be treated as confidential and passed to a designated or appointed person or agency without delay