Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy

LCDA is committed to building a ‘culture of safety’ in which the children in our care are protected from abuse and harm.

LCDA will respond promptly and appropriately to all incidents or concerns of abuse that may occur. The Academy’s child protection procedures comply with all relevant legislation and guidance issued in ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ - Information for all school and college staff (www.gov.uk – Department of Education).

Forms of Child Abuse and Neglect

Child abuse is any form of physical, emotional, or sexual mistreatment or lack of care that leads to injury or harm. An individual may abuse or neglect a child directly or by failing to protect them from harm. Some forms of child abuse and neglect are listed below:

• Emotional Abuse: This involves the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child, causing severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve making the child feel worthless, unloved, or inadequate. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, though it may occur alone.
• Physical Abuse: This can involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer feigns the symptoms of or deliberately causes ill health to a child.
• Sexual Abuse: This involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. This can include physical contact or non-contact activities such as showing children sexual activities or encouraging them to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.
• Neglect: This is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and emotional needs. It can involve a failure to provide adequate food, clothing, and shelter; to protect a child from physical and emotional harm; to ensure adequate supervision; or to allow access to medical treatment.

Signs of Child Abuse and Neglect

Signs of possible abuse and neglect may include:

• Significant changes in a child’s behavior
• Deterioration in a child’s general well-being
• Unexplained bruising or marks
• Comments made by a child which give cause for concern
• Inappropriate behavior displayed by other members of staff or any other person, such as inappropriate sexual comments, excessive one-to-one attention beyond the requirements of their role, or inappropriate sharing of images.

If Abuse is Suspected or Disclosed

When a child makes a disclosure to a member of staff, that member of staff will:

• Reassure the child that they were not to blame and were right to speak out
• Listen to the child but not question them. Allow them to speak freely
• Give reassurance that the staff member will take action but not make promises it may not be possible to keep
• Not show signs of disbelief or shock
• Not criticize the alleged perpetrator
• Record the incident as soon as possible (see ‘Logging an Incident’ below)

If LCDA witnesses or suspects abuse, we will record the incident straight away. If a third party expresses concern that a child is being abused, we will encourage them to contact Social Care directly. If they will not do so, LCDA is obliged to, and the incident will be logged accordingly.

Confidentiality

LCDA has a responsibility to share disclosed information with the appropriate investigative agencies.

If a child requests that a disclosure be kept secret, it must be explained in an appropriate manner that complete confidentiality cannot be promised but that the information needs to be passed on to other professionals who can help keep the child safe.

All registration forms that hold personal data such as home address, emergency contacts, etc., are kept in a locked cabinet at the office of LCDA or with the teacher when traveling to and from teaching.

LCDA teachers hold this data on their mobile devices so they can contact parents/carers quickly in case of an emergency, but this can only be accessed by teachers as it requires a security pin code. Please see use of mobile phones on the next page.

Logging an Incident

All information about the suspected abuse or disclosure will be recorded on the ‘Logging a Concern’ form as soon as possible after the event. The record should include:

• Date of the disclosure or of the incident causing concern
• Date and time at which the record was made
• Name and date of birth of the child involved
• A factual report of what happened. If recording a disclosure, use the child’s own words
• A diagram illustrating any injuries
• Name, signature, and job title of the person making the record

In the first instance, LCDA will decide whether they need to contact Social Care or make a referral.

Allegations Against Staff

If anyone makes an allegation of child abuse against a member of staff:

• The allegation will be recorded on an ‘Incident Record’ form. Any witnesses to the incident should sign and date the entry to confirm it.
• This record should be given to the Principal or relevant Safety Officers.
• The allegation must be reported to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO). The LADO will advise if other agencies (e.g., Police) should be informed, and the Academy will act upon their advice.
• Following advice from the LADO, it may be necessary to suspend the member of staff pending a full investigation of the allegation.

Promoting Awareness Among Staff

Everyone working or applying to work for LCDA is to be made aware of this policy for children’s welfare. This document will be issued to all staff and other people who are likely to have contact with children as part of their work with us.

Contact Numbers

LCDA ensures that:

• Safe recruitment practices, including safe practice dance space ensuring the floor is clean and free of obstacles, are followed for all new staff.
• There is sufficient ventilation.
• Children are allowed to bring a bottle of water into class and sufficient water breaks will be given.

Use of Mobile Phones

LCDA will not use their phone during classes unless recording a routine to aid planning for the next lesson or taking photographs/videos for promotional use on posters/leaflets and on the LCDA website, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok social media platforms.

LCDA teachers will store any pictures/videos of the children/adult students in an LCDA file on their mobile device, which again can only be accessed by themselves as it is secured by a security pin. If you/your child choose to leave LCDA, teachers can delete any pictures/videos of yourself or your child. If you wish this to happen, it will need to be in writing; otherwise, LCDA presumes you are happy for us to continue using the pictures/videos to promote the academy.

Contact Numbers

• Social Care: Children’s Service: 0300 123 4040
• LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer): 01992 555 420
• HSCP (Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership): 01992 588 757
• Police: 101
• NSPCC: 0808 800 5000
• Lisa Connell: 07359 226 217

LCDA takes its responsibility towards safeguarding children very seriously. The school holds copies of DBS and First Aid certificates.