Rainbow 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. In order for Rainbow to achieve this we will:
Exclude Known Abusers:
It will be made clear to applicants for posts within the pre-school that the position is exempt from the provisions of the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
All applicants from work within Rainbow Pre-School, whether voluntary or paid, will be interviewed before an appointment is made and will be asked to provide at least one reference. All such references will be followed up. In the case of applicants with unexplained gaps in their employment history, or who moved rapidly from one job to another, explanations will be sought.
All appointments, both paid and voluntary, will be subject to a probationary period and will not be confirmed unless Rainbow Pre-School is confident that the applicant can be safely entrusted with children.
Seek and Supply Training:
Rainbow will seek out training opportunities for all adults involved in the group to ensure that they recognise the symptoms of possible physical abuse, neglect, emotional abuse and sexual abuse.
Prevent Abuse by Means of Good Practice:
Adults will not be left alone for long periods with individual children or with small groups. An adult who needs to take a child aside – for example, for time out behaviour which needs improvement – will leave the door ajar.
Adults who have not been registered as “fit” persons will not take children unaccompanied to the toilet.
Children will be encouraged to develop a sense of autonomy and independence through adult support in making choices and in finding names for their own feelings and acceptable ways to express them. The will enable children to have the self confidence and the vocabulary to resist inappropriate approaches.
The layout of the playroom(s) will permit constant supervision of all children.
Respond Appropriately to Suspicions of Abuse:
Changes in children’s behaviour/appearance will be investigated.
Parents will normally be the first point of reference, though suspicions will also be referred as appropriate to the Social Services Department using “multi-agency referral form”.
All such suspicions and investigations will be kept confidential, shared only which know that need to know. The people most commonly involved will be the member of staff/keyworker, Rainbow leader and the management committee chairperson.
Keep Records:
Whenever worrying changes are observed in a child’s behaviour, physical condition or appearance, a specific and confidential record will be set up, quite separate from the usual on-going records of children’s progress and development. The record will include, in addition to the name, address and age of the child: time and dated observations, describing objectively the child’s behaviour/appearance, without comment or interpretation; where possible the exact words spoken by the child; the dated name and signature of the recorder.
Such records will be kept in a separate file and will not be accessible to people at Rainbow Pre-School other than the Pre-School leader, chairperson and keyworker or other member of staff as appropriate.
Liaise with Other Bodies:
Rainbow Pre-School operates in accordance with local authority guidelines. Confidential records kept on children about whom Rainbow Pre-School is anxious will be shared with Social Services Department if Rainbow Pre-School feels that adequate explanations for changes in the child’s condition have not been provided. The form “multi-agency referral form to Social Services” to be used.
If a report on a child is to be made to the authorities, the child’s parents will be informed at the same time as the report is made.
Rainbow Pre-School will maintain ongoing contact with the registering authority, including names, addresses and telephone numbers of individual social workers, to ensure that it would be easy, in any emergency, for Rainbow and the Social Services Department to work well together.
Records will also be kept of the local NSPCC contact, or other contact(s) as appropriate.
Support Families:
Rainbow will take every step in its power to build up trusting and supportive relationships between families and staff and volunteers in the group.
Where abuse at home is suspected, Rainbow will continue to welcome the child and family while investigations proceed.
Confidential records kept on a child will be shared with the child’s parents.
With the proviso that the care and safety of the child must also be paramount, Rainbow will do all in its power to support and work with the child’s family.
RAINBOW PRE-SCHOOL
Procedure for allegations of abuse made against a member of staff or volunteer.
Staff must avoid putting themselves in situations that may lead to allegations being made against them.
Adults will not be left alone for long periods with individual children or with small groups. An adult who needs to take a child aside for any reason, will leave the door open.
“Minor” incidents to be dealt with between staff and parents, quickly and confidentially. (staff discussion, then meeting with parents)
If an allegations is made, that member of staff will be temporarily suspended whilst investigations are made.
The local authority child protection unit and ofsted will be informed.
Confidentiality will be kept as far as possible between staff, Chairperson, investigating bodies and parents of the child involved.