Safeguarding and Promoting Children's Welfare

Safeguarding and Promoting Children's Welfare

All practitioners working with children and young people have a duty to ensure they are kept safe and that their needs are met appropriately.
All providers must adhere to the information in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage: May 2008.  

“Providers are expected to take the necessary steps to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in their care”.
 (Practice Guidance for the Early Years Foundation Stage: May 2008: Page 14)

All providers should follow the guidance set out in the publication 'What to do if you are worried a child is being abused' published by DCS F. This includes guidance on information sharing and confidentiality.

Advice About Safeguarding

Keep to hand all important telephone numbers by displaying copies of the Staying Safe: List of Telephone Numbers - April 2012 (PDF, 325KB) provided by the Cheshire East Early Years and Childcare team.

Where there are  concerns about the immediate safety of a child  The Children’s Assessment Team (formerly Children’s Social Care Access Team) must be contacted immediately on 0300 123 5012. Prior to making contact, collate the details on the Referral Confirmation Form to make the sharing of information easier.

If there are no immediate concerns but it   would be helpful  to discuss a safeguarding issue then the Children’s Safeguarding team will be able to offer  support and advice. Contact the Safeguarding Advisor for Early Years on 01606 275039.

Additional Information can be found in "What to do if you are worried a child is being abused" and in the “Staying Safe: Safeguarding Children” folder issued to all settings (blue folder). Additional information can be found on the  LSCB pages of this website.

Safeguarding Audit of Early Years and Childcare Settings

In order to support settings with Safeguarding procedures  a 'Safeguarding  Audit: Early Years and Childcare Settings'  has been produced.  A Safeguarding Audit and Action Plan will need to be completed annually  as part of the FEEE grant.  All new settings will be asked to complete a full audit.   

Useful National and Local Documentation

National Documentation

Downloads are available as follows:

• Working Together to Safeguard Children: A guide to interagency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children (2010)
• The Common Assessment Framework
• Guidance for Safer Working Practice for Adults Who Work With Children and Young People (PDF, 511KB)
• What to do if you are worried a child is being abused ( PDF,439KB)

Local Documentation

Downloads are available as follows:

• Staying Safe: List of Telephone Numbers - April 2012 (PDF,325KB) (Please Print and ensure copies are displayed around your setting)
• Model Safeguarding Policy (WODR,3.14MB) (Endorsed by Cheshire East Council  LSCB ) 
• Cheshire East Safeguarding Further Guidance (WORD, 49KB) 
• Safeguarding Children in Settings Referral Confirmation Form (MS Word, 2.4MB)
• Safeguarding Audit: Early Years and Childcare Settings (MS Word, 332KB)
• “I have concerns” flowchart (PDF, 81KB)
• One Minute Guide - Level of Need (PDF, 1.0MB)
• Brochure on Identifying Abuse (PDF, 1MB) including the different types of abuse and the the signs to look for.
• Record keeping and making a referal (PDF,181KB)

Further Information and Guidance

For ISA referral and guidance – visit the ISA website or tel. 01325 953 795

Visit The Local Safeguarding Children Board website for further information and guidance including training details

Also See

For more information about Safeguarding and Promoting Children's Welfare go to:

• Information about The Safeguarding Policy and The Role of the Safeguarding of Children Coordinator ( SoCCo )
  
• Information on Safe Recruitment of Staff  and Responding to Allegations about  Adults Who Work with Children and Young People
• Information on  Domestic Abuse and Internet Safety
• Information for employee's who wish to raise concerns about practices and procedures in their workplace Ofsted Whistle Blowing Policy.

When discussing Safeguarding with staff please be mindful of the fact that some may find the theme distressing and that some may themselves have been victims of abuse or neglect.