Safeguarding Policy

CHILD PROTECTION AND SAFEGUARDING

POLICY AND PROCEDURES

 

Prepared in accordance with

National Minimum Standards for Adoption

The Voluntary Adoption Agencies and the Adoption Agencies

(Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2003

The Adoption Agencies Regulations 2005

Children and Social Work Act 2017

 

Policy

 

Adoptionplus is a ‘not–for-profit’ Voluntary Adoption Agency with a range of therapeutic support services attached.

 

Adoptionplus aims in all of its work to safeguard and promote the physical, mental and emotional welfare of children and adults with whom the agency works.

 

Adoptionplus will do all it can to safeguard its service users from any form of abuse, exploitation and discrimination, including physical, financial, psychological and sexual, through deliberate intent, negligence or ignorance in accordance with the agency’s written policies and procedures. Our services will not only respond to allegations of alleged harm, but will also seek to do all it can to prevent harm.

 

All staff and volunteers who have any contact, direct or indirect, with children or vulnerable adults will receive safeguarding training every three years.  All staff, volunteers and service users have access to the Adoptionplus Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy and Procedures.

 

In the event of any allegation or concern, against a child, Adoptionplus shall immediately instigate its safeguarding procedures.

 

Adoptionplus recognises the importance of:

 

  • Working in partnership with relevant agencies for the protection of children.
  • Ensuring staff are aware of abuse and how to identify it and that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
  • Have a clear system for reporting both allegations of abuse and general concerns regarding safeguarding.
  • Preventing harm and abuse by ensuring rigorous recruitment and interview processes are in place.
  • Taking a child-centred approach based on an understanding of children’s needs.

 

1     Procedures when an allegation of abuse is made

    1. If an allegation is made to an Adoptionplus staff member about abuse (current or historic) of a child, the staff member will immediately inform their Adoptionplus Safeguarding Manager. These are Jo Meyjes, Counselling Service Team Manager; Rebecca Atkins, Therapy Team Manager; Rachel Staff, Therapy Service Manager.  The Agency Safeguarding Lead for Adoptionplus is Joanne Alper, Director of Services, who is responsible for signing off all safeguarding procedures.  Staff members need to recognise the urgency of the situation and ensure they pass this information on to one of the agency safeguarding managers immediately. If your local Safeguarding Manager is unavailable, you need to contact one of the other agency safeguarding managers. 
    1. With the support of a manager, the Adoptionplus staff member will inform the responsible local authority safeguarding team as soon as possible. This should be followed up in writing to ensure that no miscommunication occurs. A copy of our LOCAL AUTHORITY SAFEGUARDING INFORMATION SHEET (Appendix D) should also be sent to the responsible authority.
    1. All information and action taken shall be clearly recorded. The SAFEGUARDING CONTACT RECORD will be completed. Following this, the date and time of every action needs to be recorded, as does an accurate account of what was said, who said it, when they said it, to whom they said it and the context in which it was said. The staff member is responsible for ensuring that this recording is kept up to date through the process of any investigation. Any actions taken by other Adoptionplus staff members need to be included in this running record of events. Once any investigation or actions are completed this running records of events along with the SAFEGUARDING SUMMARY CLOSING REPORT will be passed to the Joanne Alper, Adoptionplus Safeguarding Lead. The Safeguarding Lead will ensure that all procedures were followed, and all action required to safeguard the child was taken. The Safeguarding Lead will then sign off the SAFEGUARDING SUMMARY CLOSING REPORT and this, along with the SAFEGUARDING CONTACT RECORD, will be placed in the safeguarding section of the child’s file.
    1. All safeguarding allegations are discussed at monthly Safeguarding meetings to ensure compliance with procedures and ensure that all practice promotes effective safeguarding.
    2. The responsible local authority will be:
  •  
    • In the case of a child where the adoptive parents hold an adoption order = the local authority where the child currently lives.
    • In the case where a child is placed for adoption and not adopted by an order, but no adoption order is in place = the child’s local authority and the local authority where the child currently lives.
    • In the case of a child placed in foster care, the child’s local authority and the local authority where the child currently lives.
    • Additionally, if the alleged perpetrator of the alleged offence lives in another area, this local authority also needs to be informed as it is possible that the police force in that area will also need to be involved.
    • The responsible local authority will then instigate child protection / safeguarding procedures.

 

    1. Adoptionplus staff will attend strategy meetings and share all relevant information if required.

 

Adoptionplus will work closely with the local authority and, where appropriate, the Police to ensure good communication of information, with the central focus being that the child’s welfare remain paramount.

 

    1. If an allegation is made about Adoptionplus adoptive parents, our standard procedures will be instigated and in addition, the Adoptionplus Director of Services and Barnardos Head of Corporate Safeguarding will also be informed within 24 hours. During the investigation the adoptive parents will be offered support. With the agreement of the investigating local authority, Adoptionplus can also offer the family support during this difficult and stressful time.
    1. The local authority will make a decision during its investigation(s) as to whether the child should remain in the adoptive family whilst the investigation is being undertaken. Adoptionplus staff will liaise with the investigating local authority about the possible implications for actions that may be undertaken in respect of the child. 
    1. Once the investigation is completed by the local authority/the police, Adoptionplus will seek to clarify the outcome in writing at the earliest opportunity.
    1. If the investigation concludes that there is no evidence to corroborate the allegation and there is no cause for concern, then Adoptionplus will offer the family additional counselling support services to help deal with the stress of the investigation and explore the possible reasons that the allegation may have been made.
    1. If the investigation concludes that the allegations of abuse are founded, then two possible routes could be followed:
  • If the allegation was made prior to the making of the adoption order, the child’s local authority in discussion with Adoptionplus and the adoptive parents would need to decide whether the continuation of the placement was in the best interests of the child.  If it was decided that the placement should continue, discussion would need to take place regarding what additional support may be required.
  • If the allegation was made after the making of an adoption order, then the investigating local authority, in discussion with Adoptionplus and the adoptive parents would need to decide what action needed to be taken and if additional support could be offered to the family to reduce the likelihood of further harm to the child.
    1. Once the investigation of safeguarding concerns is completed all the paperwork will be passed to the relevant Adoptionplus Operational Safeguarding Manager.  For allegations in Moulsoe this will be Jo Meyjes, and in London this will be Rebecca Atkins, and Online will be Rachel Staff.  They will ensure all procedures have been followed and that everything has been done to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the child. The Operational Safeguarding Manager will complete a Summary Closing Report which together with all the contact records will be placed on the child’s file under the Safeguarding section and a copy sent to Joanne Alper, Director of Services and Agency Safeguarding Lead, who will retain a copy on the Safeguarding file
    2. The Adoptionplus Safeguarding Lead will inform Barnardo’s Head of Corporate Safeguarding of any significant allegations, including all allegations against staff, sessional workers or adoptionplus adopters.

2.     Procedures when there are general concerns

 

    1. Adoptionplus are committed to promoting the emotional and physical health and welfare of every child we work with.
    1. Where children have a history of abuse and trauma, additional factors need to be considered. This can add additional complexities when considering the safeguarding of children. In recognition of this complexity, where a member of staff has general concerns relating to the wellbeing of a child, that staff member needs to inform their manager at the earliest opportunity. A meeting will then be arranged, with the relevant staff member and manager to discuss the concerns and consider the most appropriate form of action. Attention must focus on the prevention of harm and the promotion of the child’s safety.
    1. If at any point a specific allegation of abuse comes to light the Adoptionplus staff member will follow the procedure from point 1.1 onwards.

3.     Procedures if allegations are made against a staff member

 

  1. The member of staff will be suspended whilst investigations are undertaken
  2. Contact Milton Keynes Council Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) - complete and return a LADO Notification Form to lado@Milton-keynes.gov.uk or call 01908 254307. If the LADO is not available, you should refer to Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub on 01908 253169/3170 and complete the Multi-Agency Referral Form (MARF).
  3. Barnardo's Procedure will be followed in line with the Complaints policy and Disciplinary policy
  4. If an allegation of abuse is made procedures will follow from 1.1 onwards
  5. There is a duty to inform the Disclosure and Barring Service if an individual is suspended, dismissed or resigns where an allegation of harm has been made.

4.     Procedures regarding allegations of child sexual exploitation

 

    1. If an allegation of child sexual exploitation is made procedures will follow 1.1 onwards.
    1. In cases where a child is vulnerable to sexual exploitation the agency will do what is possible to promote resilience and emotional health in the young person.  See Appendix A for additional guidance.

 

5.     Procedures regarding Radicalisation

 

Section 26 of the Counter Terrorism Act 2015 requires specified authorities to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”.  The June 2015 guidance states that it is essential that staff are able to “identify children who may be vulnerable to radicalisation and know what to do when they are identified.”  The guidance requires a focus on building resilience for vulnerable children.

 

Families that Adoptionplus work with will be provided with guidance on radicalisation.  See Appendix B.

 

6.     Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

 

Adoptionplus recognise that FGM is a safeguarding issue and we will instigate our safeguarding procedures should concerns come to our attention that a young person is at risk from or may be subjected to FGM.  See Appendix C.

 

These procedures are a reflection of the requirement for partnership between independent organisations and Area Child Protection Committees.

 

Adoptionplus’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Procedures are in line with:-

 

  • The local area Child Protection Committee procedures
  • Working together to safeguard children
  • What to do if a child is being abused
  • Adoptionplus will notify Ofsted and Barnardo’s Head of Corporate Safeguarding on all cases contained in SCHEDULE 4, Regulation 19(1), EVENTS AND NOTIFICATIONS of the Voluntary Adoption Agencies and the Adoption Agencies (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2003 as outlined in the below table. 

 

7.     Online therapy

 

Providing therapeutic support remotely to adults and young people can raise additional safeguarding issues. Alongside the procedures already outlined, the following is required in addition for remote therapy

 

    1. As the location of families accessing online services can be throughout the UK, individual Local Authority Safeguarding contact information must be obtained, prior to any work starting. This includes contact details for office hours and out of hours.
    2. More than one form of contact information should be obtained in case the service user is cut off or ends a call abruptly during a session. Phone contact details should be obtained in order that the therapist has another way of contacting the service user to check on their health and wellbeing. If the service user is a teenager, then the parents’ contact details are also required.
    3. To ensure safeguarding agency management availability, work ideally needs to take place within office hours. However, in certain circumstances, with the manager's agreement therapy sessions can take place in the early evening up until 7pm between Monday and Wednesday.
    4. Online therapists will receive specialist safeguarding training that relates to the particular changes associated with remote working

 

Voluntary Adoption Agencies and the Adoption Agencies (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2003. 

SCHEDULE 4                 Regulation 19(1)                  EVENTS AND NOTIFICATIONS

Column 1

Event:

Column 2

To be notified to:

 

Registration Authority

Secretary of State

Placing Agency

Area Authority

Primary Care Trust

Death of a child placed for adoption by the agency

Yes

Yes if the Registration authority is Ofsted.

 

Yes

Yes

Referral to the Secretary of State pursuant to section 2(1)(a) of the Protection of Children Act 1999 (a) of an individual working for a the agency.

Yes

 

 

 

 

Serious illness of, or serious accident sustained by, a child placed for adoption by the agency.

Yes

 

 

Yes

Yes

Any serious complaint about a prospective adopter approved by the agency where no child is placed for adoption with that prospective adopter.

Yes

 

 

 

 

Any serious complaint about a prospective adopter approved by the agency where a child is placed for adoption with that prospective adopter by the agency.

Yes

 

 

Yes

 

Any serious complaint about a prospective adopter approved by the agency where a child is placed for adoption with that prospective adopter by another agency.

Yes

 

Yes

Yes, if not notified as the placing agency.

 

Instigation and outcome of any child protection enquiry involving a child placed for adoption by the agency.

Yes

 

 

Yes

 

 

 

 

Ofsted to be contacted online:

 

Report a serious incident in a voluntary adoption agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

 

Procedures for dealing with allegations of historical abuse

 

Adoptionplus takes seriously the concern of historical abuse. Adoptionplus is aware that people who have harmed children may continue to do so, and as such, information of this nature needs proper investigation.

 

Should any concerns of historical abuse come to the attention of an Adoptionplus employee or sessional worker they should follow procedure 1.1 and onwards.

 

With regards to the Birth Family Counselling service, when taking a new referral, Adoptionplus will ask the local authority social worker for any information they may have regarding historical abuse.  This information is recorded on the referral form.

 

The referral form is then sent to the Adoptionplus counsellor so that they are aware of the information the local authority has about historical abuse.

 

During the first meeting, the counsellor will inform the service user that should any new information regarding child abuse be shared, this information will need to be passed to the local authority.  The service user will be asked to sign a consent form.

 

The counsellor will inform the Adoptionplus Director of Services if a service user shares information about historical abuse that was not recorded on the initial referral form.  This information should be passed to the Adoptionplus Director of Services as soon as possible after the report of abuse has been disclosed.

 

The Adoptionplus Director of Services will then pass this information on to the relevant local authority as soon as possible.

 

Adoptionplus has an identified contact person within each local authority in respect of the Birth Relative Counselling Service, to pass information on regarding historical abuse.

 

All information will be clearly recorded by both the counsellor and the Adoptionplus Director of Services as soon as they have received the information.

 

Any persons working for, engaged by or involved with Adoptionplus who have any concerns about child welfare or safety, shall be entitled or able to contact the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) through its office detailed below.

 

OFSTED

Piccadilly Gate

Store Street

Manchester

M1 2WD

 

Telephone: 0300 123 123 Email: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

 

Notification:

Report a serious incident in a voluntary adoption agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

 

Updated July 2023