Safeguarding Policy for Children and Young People

Purpose and Aim of the policy  

Butterflies Holistic Occupational Therapy is a small business dedicated to supporting children and young people under 18 within clinic spaces, schools, and nurseries. We prioritize child welfare reporting and are committed to keeping children safe.  

At Butterflies Holistic Occupational Therapy, we believe that everyone has a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, ensuring their safety and practicing in ways that protect them.  

- We will give equal priority to keeping all children and young people safe, regardless of their age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.  

- We recognize that some children may be more vulnerable due to the impacts of discrimination, previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs, or other issues.  

**Safer Recruitment in Education (2024)**  

We have a separate policy in place concerning safer recruitment practices.  

**Child Protection System in England**  

Individuals working with children are obligated to report concerns related to a child’s welfare to the appropriate agencies. Legislation provides the framework for safeguarding and child protection in England, outlining the expectations and requirements surrounding duties of care for children and establishing accountability in these matters. The primary pieces of legislation include the Children Act 1989, the Children Act 2004, the Children and Social Work Act 2017, and Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023).  

Local safeguarding arrangements are led by three statutory safeguarding partners:  

- The local authority  

- The integrated care board (ICB, formerly clinical commissioning group or 'CCG')  

- The police.  

**Duty to Protect Children**  

The key guidance for child protection underlines the need for working together to safeguard children (Department for Education, 2018). This guidance emphasizes:  

- Everyone who works with children has a responsibility for their safety.  

- Every individual who interacts with children and families has a role in sharing information and identifying concerns.  

Furthermore, Section 11 of the Children Act 2004 imposes a statutory duty on specific agencies to cooperate in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. This duty extends to:  

- Local authorities  

- NHS services and trusts  

- Police  

- Probation services and young offenders institutions.  

Individuals working within these agencies who fail to report suspected cases of abuse or neglect may face disciplinary actions, although they currently do not face criminal penalties.  

**Butterflies Holistic Occupational Therapy Procedure:**  

When addressing allegations, whether linked externally or internally, procedures include:  

Within School – Report concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead and SENCO, adhering to the school’s safeguarding procedures, including making written notes on accessible school systems.  

Additionally, schools should appoint a deputy to handle allegations in the absence of the named person or if an allegation is made against them. Allegations involving head teachers should be directed to the Chair of governors. Leeds has a designated Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) responsible for overseeing the management of all cases concerning allegations against staff. The LADO provides advice to schools on specific cases, liaises with Children’s Safeguarding and Social Work (CSSW), and the Police Child Abuse Investigation Team (CAIT) as needed, while monitoring and reviewing case progress to ensure appropriate investigations are conducted by schools and colleges.  

**What is the Local Authority Designated Officer**  

The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) must be notified when there are allegations against a professional or volunteer working with children who has:  

- Behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child  

- Possibly committed a criminal offense against or related to a child  

- Behaved towards a child in a way indicating a potential risk of harm  

- Behaved in a manner suggesting they may not be suitable to work with children.  

The LADO’s role involves overseeing allegations that meet these criteria, ensuring proper recording, monitoring, and timely progression of concerns about any adults working or volunteering with children. It is equally important to ensure that the voice of the child or young person is heard and taken into account throughout the entire process.  

If you feel out of depth, call 101.  

If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.  

**LADO LEEDS**  

Notification forms can be obtained by contacting the LADO service at: LADO@leeds.gov.uk or by calling 0113 378 9687.  

**Mandatory Reporting**  

In England, it is mandatory for all regulated health and social care professionals and teachers to report 'known cases' of female genital mutilation (FGM) in those under 18 to the police (Home Office, 2016).  

**How to Report Concerns About a Child’s Welfare**  

If you believe a child is in immediate danger, contact the police at 999. If you have concerns about a child who is not in immediate danger, you should report your concerns.  

- Contact local child protection services, whose details can be found on the local authority's website.  

If you are at home and need to contact services in Leeds:  

- Adult – If you are concerned about an adult at risk, contact adult social care at: 0113 2224401 or 07712 106378 (out of hours)  

- Children – If you suspect a child is at risk of significant harm from abuse or neglect, you must immediately report this by calling Children's Social Work Services during office hours (9.00 am – 5.00 pm) at 0113 2224403.  

- For out-of-hours emergencies, contact the Children's Emergency Duty Team at 0113 535 0600.  

- Contact the police.  

- Contact the NSPCC Helpline at 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk. Trained professionals can discuss your concerns and provide expert advice.  

Services will assess the risk and act accordingly to protect the child, which may involve a referral to the local authority.  

Working together to safeguard children emphasizes that local authority children's services should provide feedback to anyone who has made a child protection referral (Department for Education, 2018).  

**Data Protection Compliance**  

According to the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018:  

- Practitioners should know that 'safeguarding of children and individuals at risk' allows for the sharing of special category personal data without consent.  

- Information can be shared legally without consent if a practitioner is unable to obtain consent or if obtaining consent might put a child at risk.  

For any questions, please contact:  

Jenny Stephenson (Owner of Butterflies Holistic Occupational Therapy)  

07535 876740