Safeguarding & child protection

• allsorts is an important part of the wider system that safeguards children.
• Safeguarding is the responsibility of everyone who works with children at allsorts.
• All children (anyone under 18) receive equal protection regardless of age, gender, ability, culture, race, language, religion or sexual identity.
• Children have the right to be heard and to have their wishes and feelings taken into account.
• All staff understand safe professional practice and adhere to our code of conduct and related policies.

allsorts has appointed two members of the leadership team as Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs): Sasha Stevenson and Melissa Healy. The DSLs have overall responsibility for the day-to-day oversight of safeguarding and child protection systems, and undertake formal safeguarding training at least every two years, with regular updates in between.

The DSLs:

• Act as the central contact point for all staff to discuss any safeguarding concern.
• Maintain a confidential recording system for safeguarding and child protection issues.
• Coordinate safeguarding action for individual children.
• Liaise with other agencies and professionals, and make referrals to Early Help and Specialist Children's Services where necessary.
• Are available during term time (and summer school) for staff to discuss safeguarding concerns.
• Ensure all staff receive appropriate safeguarding training.

All adults working for allsorts – including visiting staff and volunteers – must report any actual or suspected abuse or neglect to a DSL. If a member of staff continues to have concerns about a child, they may also report directly to Local Authority Children's Services.

Our safeguarding work has four elements:

• Prevention – a positive, supportive and safe culture, appropriate pastoral care and safer recruitment of staff.
• Protection – agreed procedures, and staff who are trained and supported to respond appropriately and sensitively to safeguarding concerns.
• Support – for pupils, parents and staff, including specific intervention for those at risk of harm.
• Working with parents and other agencies – ensuring appropriate communication and coordinated action.

All staff are trained to understand the definitions and signs of the four categories of abuse: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect. Abuse and neglect may occur over a period of time or as a one-off event, and can have significant long-term impacts on a child's health, development and wellbeing.

Our policy also covers specific safeguarding issues including bullying and cyberbullying, child sexual exploitation, domestic violence, substance misuse, faith-based abuse, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, gangs and youth violence, hate incidents, honour-based abuse, mental health, online safety, radicalisation and extremism (the Prevent duty), private fostering, relationship abuse, trafficking and modern slavery, and youth-produced sexual imagery (“sexting”).

allsorts also recognises that children can abuse their peers. Peer-on-peer abuse – in any form – is never tolerated, dismissed or minimised, and is managed in the same way as any other child protection concern.

All staff follow the “6 Rs” when a child discloses a concern:

• Receive – keep calm, listen without displaying shock or disbelief, and take what is said seriously.
• Respond – reassure the child they were right to speak, never promise confidentiality, and reassure them they are not to blame.
• React – ask only open questions (Tell, Explain, Describe), never leading ones, and explain what will happen next.
• Record – note the date, time, place and the child's actual words as soon as possible; record facts, not interpretations.
• Remember – contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead, who may make records available to other agencies.
• Relax – get support for yourself; dealing with a disclosure can be traumatic.

allsorts is committed to a safe culture and takes every step to recruit staff and volunteers who are safe to work with children. All staff are DBS checked before recruitment, and are required to disclose anything that may affect their suitability to work with children.

All staff and volunteers are encouraged to raise concerns about poor or unsafe practice, which the senior leadership team will always take seriously. Staff who feel unable to raise a concern internally can contact the NSPCC whistleblowing helpline on 0800 028 0285 (8am–8pm, Monday to Friday) or help@nspcc.org.uk.

Child protection issues are treated as confidential, and information is shared with staff only on a need-to-know basis. Staff record any welfare concern on our safeguarding concern form and pass it to the DSL without delay. All concerns, discussions and decisions are recorded in writing.

Staff never promise a child to keep secrets that might compromise the child's safety or wellbeing. Except in exceptional circumstances, parents and carers are made aware of concerns at an early stage, and their consent is sought before a referral to Specialist Children's Services unless doing so would place the child at risk.

Parents and carers are asked to read our policies, discuss safeguarding with their children, reinforce safe behaviour at home (including online), and seek help early if they have a concern. Children are encouraged to seek help from a trusted adult whenever an issue arises, and to help keep themselves and others safe.

• NSPCC – www.nspcc.org.uk
• ChildLine – www.childline.org.uk
• Young Minds – www.youngminds.org.uk
• The Mix – www.themix.org.uk
• Papyrus – www.papyrus-uk.org
• UK Safer Internet Centre – www.saferinternet.org.uk
• Internet Matters – www.internetmatters.org
• CEOP – www.ceop.police.uk
• Family Lives – www.familylives.org.uk
• The Samaritans – www.samaritans.org

All staff are required to read, understand and sign this policy, and it is reviewed annually by the Designated Safeguarding Leads. A full copy of the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is available on request – contact us if you would like one.

Thank you for working with us to keep all our children safe.