Our Policies

We believe that every child regardless of age has, at all times and in all situations, a right to feel safe and protected from any situation or practice that results in a child being physically or psychologically damaged. In our group, if we have suspicions about a child’s physical, sexual or emotional well-being, we will take action.

We recognise that child protection should not be treated in isolation – we will take on board guidance given by Highland Child Protection Committee and will address recruitment and selection of volunteers and paid employees by doing the following:

1. We accept that it is our responsibility as a group to check that all adults in positions requiring disclosure checks are members of the appropriate Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme and have been appropriately vetted

2. We will ensure we have a record of personal details for each member of staff/volunteer

3. We will ensure we have carried out necessary checks in relation to anyone working with children and young people, including requesting references where appropriate

4. We will interview prospective volunteers and staff

5. We will notify Disclosure Scotland if anyone on the Disqualified from Working with Children List applies to work for or volunteer with our group

6. We will ensure that all staff are given Codes of Practice to work to

7. We will remove any member of staff or volunteer whom we know or suspect to have caused harm to a child or to have placed a child at risk of harm and we will notify Disclosure Scotland of our actions and the reasons for them, even if that person has left our group

All volunteers or staff are encouraged to share concerns with the group’s Child Protection Lead. If the situation urgent, the child is too frightened to go home or we have very serious doubts about the child’s safety, we will contact Social Work or Police immediately.

Child Protection Is Everyone’s Responsibility

We believe that every child regardless of age has, at all times and in all situations, a right to feel safe and protected from any situation or practice which results in a child being physically or psychologically damaged. In our group, if we have suspicions about a child’s physical, sexual or emotional well-being, we will take action.

All volunteers or staff will share concerns with the group’s Child Protection Lead/Designated Person. If the situation is clearly an urgent case, the child is too frightened to go home or we have very serious doubts about the child’s safety, we will contact Social Work Services or Police immediately.

If our concerns are more general about a child’s welfare, then we will discuss these with our group’s Child Protection Lead/Designated Person, who would then make a referral to an appropriate professional for assessment of the child’s needs. It is important that all volunteers and staff communicate concerns accurately.

To this end, volunteers and staff will follow the procedures below;

1. Upon the receipt of any information from a child or suspicions, it is necessary to make an accurate and detailed written record of what they have seen, heard or know, at the time the event occurs;

2. Share their concerns with the Child Protection Lead for the group and agree what action to take;

3. Avoid asking any more questions than are necessary to clarify whether there is a concern. Always REFER to statutory services to undertake in depth INVESTIGATION of any suspicions or allegations about abuse.

If we have concerns we must act – it may be the final piece of the jigsaw that is needed to protect that child – or we may prevent, further children from being hurt.

Contact numbers for Local Family Teams and the Police are available at www.hcpc.scot

For ease of reference note them below:

Local Family Team (Care and Protection)

Police                                                                     101 (non-urgent)

                                                                             999 (urgent)

Out of hours Social Work Emergency Service:             08457 697284