As a childminder I intend to create an environment in which children are safe from abuse, and in which any suspicion of abuse is promptly and appropriately responded to. The welfare of the child is paramount.

Consultation and inter-agency working is the key to effective child protection and it may be that, following my discussions with Social Services, it is agreed that I will inform the parents or that Social Care will do so or that doing so will be delayed.

• Ensuring all household members over 16 are DBS cleared
• Ensuring all visitors to the house NEVER have unsupervised access to the children under any circumstances.
• Ensuring, where possible, that no workmen are in the house during minded hours, unless it is to repair an emergency service or health and safety reasons.
• Document every accident and incident that occurs whilst in my care, informing parents and requesting them to sign my records
• Noting any marks on the children when they arrived and asking parents to inform me of any accidents that have occurred whilst outside my care.
• Ensuring the children are supervised at all times
•  Keeping accurate recorded on each child and writing a daily diary.

• Designated Officer for allegations (within the MASH team) within one working day to discuss the nature of the allegation and appropriate action to be taken
• I must notify OFSTED
• It is not for me to investigate myself. 

Types of Abuse.

There are four areas of abuse and neglect

Physical Abuse - Actual or likely physical injury to a child, or failure to prevent physical injury.

Sexual Abuse - Actual or likely sexual exploitation of a child or adolescent. The child may be dependent or developmentally immature.

Emotional Abuse - Severe or persistent emotional ill treatment or rejection likely to cause adverse effect on the emotional and behavioural development of a child. All abuse involves some emotional ill treatment.

Neglect - The persistent or severe neglect of a child, or the failure to protect a child from exposure to any kind of danger, resulting in the significant impairment of a child's health or development, including non-organic failure to thrive.

Radicalisation - Even very young children may be vulnerable to radicalisation by others, whether in the family or outside, and display concerning behaviour. The Prevent Duty (July 2015) does not require childcare providers to carry out unnecessary intrusion into family life but as with any other safeguarding risk; I must take action when I observe behaviour of concern.

Other safeguarding issues can include:

Female genital mutilation (FGM) and Forced Marriage

There are many different types of abuse but there are some that staff may be initially less aware of. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Forced Marriage fall into this category.

Professionals need to be alert to the possibility of a girl being at risk of FGM, or already having suffered FGM. There is a range of potential indicators that a child or young person may be at risk of FGM:

· Knowing that the family belongs to a community in which FGM is practiced and is making preparations for the child to take a holiday, arranging vaccinations or planning absence from school.

· The child may also talk about a special procedure/ceremony that is going to take place or a special occasion to 'become a woman'.

· Professionals should note that girls at risk of FGM may not yet be aware of the practice or that it may be conducted on them, so sensitivity should always be shown when approaching the subject.

Indicators that FGM may already have occurred:

· Prolonged absence from school or other activities with noticeable behaviour change on return, possibly with bladder or menstrual problems,

  Difficulty walking, sitting or standing, and look uncomfortable.

· Spend longer than normal in the bathroom or toilet. 

May complain about pain between their legs or talk of something somebody did to them that they are not allowed to talk about.

Domestic Abuse

Abuse can be physical, sexual or verbal. It can also include things such as the

constant breaking of trust, psychological games, harassment and financial control.

Children are affected in many ways. They may feel frightened, become withdrawn, aggressive or difficult, bedwet, run away, have problems at school, lack concentration and suffer emotional upset. Long-term effects: The longer children are exposed to violence, the more severe the effects on them are. These can include a lack of respect for the non-violent parent, loss of self-confidence (which will affect their ability to form relationships in the future), being over-protective of a parent, loss of childhood, problems at school and running away. Children need time to discuss the feelings they have about violence or abuse. Children need to know that it is not their fault and that this is not the way relationships should be.

County Lines

The National Crime Agency (NCA) describe county lines as a term used to describe gangs and organised criminal networks involved in exporting illegal drugs from big cities into smaller towns, using dedicated mobile phone lines or other forms of ‘deal line’. Customers will live in different areas to where the dealers and networks are based, so drug runners are needed to transport the drugs and collect payment.

Offenders will often use coercion, intimidation, violence (including sexual violence) and weapons to ensure compliance of victims. Children can be targeted and recruited into county lines in a number of locations including schools, further and higher educational institutions, pupil referral units, special educational needs schools, children’s homes and care homes.

I keep upto date by regularly update our knowledge, new information and guidlines by continuing personal development courses. A list is shown on the 'Certificates' section on the website.

My certificates can all be seen on request.