SM Child Protection Training

Child Protection Training

PROGRAMME
Introduction to the Policy
Awareness of Abuse
Dealing with disclosure
Code of conduct for staff

The Summer Madness Directors have a number of responsibilities in respect of Child Protection including:
Ensuring a Child Protection Panel is appointed
Insurance
Safety of buildings being used
Encouraging and supporting training
Contractual responsibilities for all who have access to children and young people

The panel’s responsibilities include:
approving persons willing to serve as Summer Madness staff
advising staff on their responsibilities in respect of the Code
advising the Management Group in respect of its responsibilities
being an immediate contact point for staff when a suspicion or allegation of child abuse is made

FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Panel members are :-
Mr Hugh Marcus
Mr Colin Taylor
Arlene Kee
Rev Pat Storey
Rev John Alderdice
Ms Laura Totten

THE PURPOSE OF THE CODE OF GOOD PRACTICE
Our Child Protection Policy is designed:
to promote the well being of children
to prevent the physical, sexual and emotional abuse of children
to set out the appropriate responses and procedures in the event of abuse taking place
to encourage safe practices for those who work with children
to safeguard those who work with children from the consequences of unfounded accusations

NOTE:
CHILDREN - means persons under 18 yrs or persons of any age with a learning disability
WORKER/LEADER – means anyone who shares in the ministry of Summer Madness with children
CHILD PROTECTION AGENCY – those State agencies which are recognised as providing child protection and welfare

Summer Madness – A MODEL OF GOOD PRACTICE
Children matter . They should be valued, listened to and have their rights respected
those who work with children should also be valued , supported and have their rights respected
the Church as one of the major providers of care to children should provide a model of good practice

Anyone working with children at SM
Shall have a basic awareness of the nature of child abuse
Should know how to respond should a child make a disclosure of abuse
Must follow guidelines of good practice when working with children and young people.
Shall understand the insurance implications when working with children

WHAT IS ABUSE?
TYPES OF ABUSE
PHYSICAL
EMOTIONAL
SEXUAL
NEGLECT
Even for ‘experts’ it is often very hard to decide if a child has been abused.

PHYSICAL ABUSE
Is the deliberate physical injury to a child or the willful or neglectful failure to prevent physical injury or suffering
This may include hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning or suffocating, confinement to a room or cot, or inappropriately given drugs to control behaviour

EMOTIONAL ABUSE
Is the persistent emotional ill treatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development
It may involve conveying to children that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may involve causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children.

Emotional abuse continued
Smothering a child’s development through over-protection can also be a form of abuse. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of ill treatment of a child, though it may occur alone. Domestic violence, adult mental health problems and parental substance misuse may expose children to emotional abuse.

SEXUAL ABUSE
Involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening.
The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative and non-penetrative acts. They may include non-contact activities such as involving children in looking at, or the production of, pornographic material or watching sexual activities, or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.

NEGLECT
Is the persistent failure to meet a child’s physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in significant harm. It may involve a parent or carer failing to provide adequate foods, shelter and clothing, failing to protect a child from physical harm or danger, failing to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment, lack of stimulation or lack of supervision. It may also include neglect of or unresponsiveness to a child’s basic emotional needs

BULLYING
A child who is bullied may be suffering any of the types of abuse defined above, It may take many forms but the main types are:
Physical (eg hitting, kicking, theft)
Verbal (eg sectarian / racist remarks, name calling)
Groups should have a strategy to deal with bullying

Who can abuse?
Did you know?
Abusers don’t appear different from the rest of society.
Abusers come from all classes of society, all professions, all races and both sexes

Who can abuse? continued
Sexual abuse of children may sometimes be carried out by strangers but it is much more common that the abuser is known to the child and is in a position of trust and/or authority
It is not only adults who abuse children. Children may suffer abuse from other children and young people
Sexual abuse is an addictive and developing process involving careful planning and manipulation

PREVENTING ABUSE
Summer Madness must take all reasonable steps to :
Exclude known abusers
Report to the child protection agencies any suspicious person or known offender attempting to make contact with children

DEALING WITH CONCERNS
If you have any concerns regarding the welfare and protection of Children and Young People, or any concerns are expressed to you by any person, these should be passed immediately to the SM Child Protection Panel.

How do I contact the Panel?
During the Festival, the Panel can be contacted via the Duty Officer in Comms 24 hours per day, or via the Venue Manager in the Kings’ Hall during major meetings.
Outside of the Festival, the Panel can be contacted via the Summer Madness office.

The leader as observer
You may notice
Physical injury to a child
A child’s behaviour
A church leader / worker’s behaviour
The leader as listener
Possible sources of concern
Leader or worker
Parishioner
Young person
child

Disclosure by over 18s ?
Confidence cannot and should not be guaranteed
Should be referred to the Panel in all situations
Will be referred to the appropriate agencies as the alleged offender may still have access to children.
ie NO DIFFERENCE IS DRAWN BETWEEN DISCLOSURE BY OVER 18s and UNDER 18s

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE CONCERNED THAT ABUSE IS OCCURRING / MAY HAVE OCCURRED
DO
Stay calm
Listen and hear
REFER IMMEDIATELY TO SUMMER MADNESS PANEL MEMBER
DON’T
Panic
Ask leading questions
Make the child repeat the story unnecessarily
Promise to keep secrets
Enquire into the details of abuse
Delay
Start to investigate
Communicate with any person directly accused
Never do nothing, and assume that someone else will do something

SUMMARY OF THE REFERRAL PROCEDURE
Allegation / Suspicion / Concern / Query raised
Report immediately to a Panel member
The Panel will speak directly with the person raising the concern.
The Panel will consult with Social Services / PSNI CARE/ NSPCC as appropriate.
The Panel will follow the advice given by the appropriate agency
NOTE – Any individual worker may make direct contact with the agencies above if he/she chooses

Your primary responsibility is to IMMEDIATELY REPORT any suspected abuse to the panel or to make an individual report to the statutory agencies

Young people working with children
Permission of the Panel must be sought by the senior leader before any young person is involved in such a role
Such young people must at all times work under the supervision of leaders who have been trained to implement Child Protection.
The Management group must ensure that appropriate training is provided to cope with: bullying, shouting, physical contact, emergency procedures, first aid policy and include the need to protect themselves without the need to undergo the full training of core leadership.

General Safety
Safety is of prime importance during any activity. Be aware of the following guidelines..

General safety
Always have a quick look around the premises you are about to use and identify any possible sources of danger eg a stack of chairs, or an electric cable
Be aware of the location of the fire exits and ensure they are not obstructed. Occasional fire drills should be conducted and ensure all young people know what evacuation procedure to use. Know where the nearest fire extinguishers are located. In the event of fire, evacuation and saving life is more important than fighting a fire
Know where the nearest help is available ie Venue Manager / Duty officer

More on safety
There should be adequate supervision by staff when using certain equipment
During games or ‘icebreakers’ be aware of the risks of physical injury and guard against these
Know where the first aid provision is located ie St John Ambulance via Comms

Code of conduct for staff
Be aware of the dangers arising from private meetings with children
Such meetings should be transparent and in the knowledge of another leader
Where possible another child or staff member should be present or within sight or hearing
Do not make unnecessary physical contact with children eg horseplay
Conduct which could be misconstrued should be avoided

Code of conduct for staff continued
Distressed children may need comforting - use your discretion and ensure that it will be seen by others to be normal and natural
First Aid is only to be given by designated First Aiders accessed by the Duty officers
Following an incident where a worker feels that his/her actions may be misconstrued, a member of the Panel must be contacted immediately
Take care in the setting of Summer Madness where relationships tend to be quite informal

GOOD PRACTICE FOR LEADERS
All young people who attend the organisation should have a registration form filled in by parent or guardian giving: name, address, DOB, special medical details, dietary needs, emergency telephone nos, next of kin, and parental consent to attend the organisation
An accident and incident log
Do not take children off site without the prior consent of parents and informing another staff member
Ensure adequate supervision – no fewer than two adults present

Staff should NEVER
Engage in sexually provocative games
Allow or engage in inappropriate touching of any form
Allow children to use inappropriate language unchallenged
Make sexually suggestive comments about or to a child
Strike a child or young person
Use offensive, abusive or generally inappropriate language
Leave young people unsupervised

Leaders should make every effort NOT TO :
Do things of a personal nature for children that they can do for themselves
Spend excessive amounts of time alone with children away from others
Interview a child alone
Take children alone on car journeys – unless with the full knowledge and consent of another leader or the child’s parents
Have a young person in their home

Supervision
Supervision – where a party consists of children of both sexes, both male and female supervision should be provided unless otherwise agreed.
Supervision ratios:
Children 0-4 yrs: Minimum of two adults and a ratio 1:3
Children 5-12yrs: Minimum of two leaders and a ratio 1:8
Children 12 and above: Minimum of two leaders and a ratio 1:10
Swimming – children under 8 : one adult in the water for every child

THE PURPOSE OF THE CODE OF GOOD PRACTICE - REMINDER
Child Protection is designed:
to promote the well being of children
to prevent the physical, sexual and emotional abuse of children
to set out the appropriate responses and procedures in the event of abuse taking place
to encourage safe practices for those who work with children
to safeguard those who work with children from the consequences of unfounded accusations

Notice of acceptance of Child Protection
Summer Madness
I have received summary notes of the Code of Good Practice for use with Summer Madness.
I agree to uphold the Code of Practice, and to exercise a duty of care to those in my charge.
I attended a training session on
_________________________
at _______________________
Signature_____________
Name in block caps___________
Date _________

SM Child Protection Training

by Summer Madness

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