Last updated: October 27, 2024

Our Safeguarding Policy 

Acorns.Community CIC safeguarding policy applies to all members, employees, managers, volunteers, sessional workers, facilitators, learners or anyone working on behalf of Acorns.Community Community Interest Company and is guidance for providers and home educators using the Acorns.Community platform. 

Acorns.Community CIC Designated Safeguarding Lead can be contacted through a designated and prioritised email inbox that contains urgent contact information if required.

The purpose of this policy 

  • To provide safeguarding guidance for home educators, self educators, mums, dads, guardians and providers to meet their responsibilities.
  • To protect children and young people who use and receive Acorns.Community CIC’s services.
  • To provide employees and volunteers with overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding and child protection.

Safeguarding Advice for Home Ed Facilitators and Self Educators

Questions You Can Ask When Booking a Session

1. What safeguarding measures do you have in place?

Acorns.Community connects you with providers, but we are not their employers or agency. We share all the information that providers offer regarding their safety measures, but we do not verify it ourselves.

We encourage providers to make their documents (such as DBS checks, first aid certificates, public liability insurance certificate, safeguarding training certificate, codes of conduct and risk assessments etc) easy to access, so you can review them.

It’s important to take responsibility for ensuring that you feel confident about the safety and suitability of the provider for your son(s)/daughter(s). Please see ‘Safety and Educational Provisions’ in National Support Organisations section at the foot of this policy.

Acorns.Community CIC, primarily acts as a platform to connect parents, home educators, facilitators, self educators, and providers. If the Founding Director directly leads and teaches an educational workshop, our Safeguarding Policy, Ethos and Principles etc will apply to ensure the safety of children and young people during that event.

2. Can I attend or observe the activity with my son(s)/daughters(s)?

This depends on the provider. During the listing process, providers can indicate if they’re happy for mums, dads and guardians to attend or observe, and this can be clearly displayed on their listing. If you have any concerns about your son/daughter’s wellbeing, we recommend staying with them.

3. What should I do if I have a concern or complaint about a provider?

If something doesn’t seem right, it’s best to speak directly with the provider first. If you’re not satisfied with their response or feel we should be informed, you can contact us. We’ll do our best to help mediate the situation or take further action if needed. Also please read the rest of this Safeguarding policy that offers; (not limited to) advice, guidance, local support contact details, procedures, recognition, potential indicators and national support organisations.

4. Will the provider be allowed to take photos of my son(s)/daughter(s) during the activity?

We ask providers not to publish any photos of children on their listings without written consent from parents. However, we don’t manage how providers use cameras during their sessions, although we advise providers to gain consent of any photography before your first session.

If you have specific preferences or concerns about photography, it’s a good idea to discuss them directly with the provider before the session.

Safeguarding Advice for Home Ed Providers

Frequently Asked Questions for Providers

1. What safeguarding measures does Acorns.Community have in place?

At Acorns.Community CIC, we primarily act as a platform to connect parents, home educators, facilitators, self educators, and providers. If the Founding Director directly leads and teaches an educational workshop, our Safeguarding Policy, Ethos and Principles etc will apply to ensure the safety of children and young people during that event.

As a platform, while we make available the safety information shared by providers, we do not verify it. We encourage you to make any relevant documents (such as your own DBS checks, first aid certificates, public liability insurance certificate, safeguarding policy and safeguarding training certificate, codes of conduct and risk assessments etc) easily accessible to parents, and we remind parents to take full responsibility for ensuring their children’s safety.

2. What safeguarding measures should I have in place as a Provider?

If you are just starting out as a private tutor/provider, you might be wanting to make sure you have everything in place before you start your sessions. This can include first aid training, public liability insurance, smoke detectors, risk assessments, codes of conduct, first aid kit, safeguarding policy & training and a DBS check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Or even specific training in mental health awareness, online safety, supporting children with ADHD and autism and the emotional and mental health needs of children in education. Or bespoke teaching fundamentals with positive behaviour management, modelling in the classroom or using scaffolding theory to promote learner independence. These courses are listed within the ‘Safety and Educational Provisions’ should you wish to explore them.

One thing that many tutors ask about is how to get a DBS as a private tutor. Please see ‘Safety and Educational Provisions’ below in the National Support Organisations section. If you live in England or Wales, it is now possible to request your own basic DBS check for a fee. Enhanced can be requested by employers, agencies or umbrella body companies.

There is no legal requirement for self-employed private tutors to have a basic DBS, however, many tutors and parents feel reassured by having this in place. If your role is deemed a regulated activity where teaching or caring for children is unsupervised and frequent, (more than 3 days in a 30 day period), an Enhanced DBS with children’s barred list can be obtained via an umbrella body company if self employed, Enhanced without Children’s Barred List if the role is supervised.

Please see ‘Safety and Educational Provisions’ under National Support Organisations.

3. Can I take photographs of children during the activity?

Please do not take or publish photos of children or vulnerable adults on your listings without getting written consent from the parents or guardians. We suggest that if parents have concerns, they reach out to you directly to discuss their preferences and yourselves initiating a consent form is advisable.

4. Can parents attend or observe the activity with their child?

If you’re comfortable with parents attending or observing, you can include this when creating your listing. We always recommend that parents stay with their child if they have any concerns about their wellbeing during the session.

5. What should I do if a disclosure is made to me the provider?

It’s important to take any disclosure of harm, neglect, or abuse involving under 18s or vulnerable adults seriously. If someone makes such a disclosure to you, here’s what we recommend:

  • Let them know that you are required to report what they share to those that can help and cannot keep it confidential from them.
  • Listen without interruption, be supportive, and avoid asking any investigative or leading questions.
  • Read ALL sections below, in particular Principles, Guidance, Procedures and Responding to Disclosures using the 6 R’s.
  • After receiving the disclosure, contact your local Children’s Services or Police for advice (see Local Support section below), or reach out to the Acorns.Community Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) here.

6. What should I do if a parent wants to make a complaint?

We suggest that parents speak to you directly if they have any concerns. If they’re not satisfied with your response or feel that Acorns.Community CIC should be informed, they can contact us. We’ll help mediate the conversation or take further action if needed.

7. What happens if an allegation is made against me?

If an allegation is made against a provider, home educator, facilitator, self educator, or booker on the Acorns.Community CIC platform, their profile will be removed from public view immediately. The individual will be informed, but no details of the allegation will be shared to avoid affecting any investigation.

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead will decide whether to contact the appropriate authorities (Children’s Services or the Police) within 24 hours, or as soon as possible. Acorns.Community CIC will not conduct any independent investigations or questioning.

Context

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of law and guidance that seeks to protect children namely:

Our ethos

  • Acorns.Community CIC – Community Interest Company recognises the importance of providing an ethos and environment within all activities, events and online that will help children to feel safe, secure and respected; encourage them to talk openly; and enable them to feel confident that they will be listened to. We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow procedures to ensure that children receive effective support, protection and justice. 
  • All connected staff, volunteers and participating organisations have an essential role in making events and initiatives safe and secure. Acorns.Community CIC – Community Interest Company recognises our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children with their best interests at the centre of our work.
  • Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families and carers has a role to play in safeguarding children. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all professionals, staff, volunteers and members should make sure their approach is child-centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child.
  • Acorns.Community CIC – Community Interest Company recognises the importance of ensuring that safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people is an integral factor at each stage of the recruitment and selection process for all employees and volunteers. Therefore, staff and volunteers will be subject to relevant DBS checks and Safeguarding training.

Acorns.Community CIC’s core safeguarding principles are:

Acorns.Community CIC’s five core safeguarding principles are:

  1.  It is the responsibility of every member, employee and volunteer to safeguard and promote the welfare of children as its paramount concern.
  2. All children (defined as those up to the age of 18) and vulnerable adults, regardless of age, gender, ability, culture, race, language, religion or sexual identity, have equal rights to protection from all types of harm or abuse.
  3. All children have a right to be heard and to have their wishes and feelings taken into account.
  4. All staff have a responsibility to recognise vulnerability in children and act on any concern in accordance with this guidance.
  5. Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.

We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:

  • Valuing them, listening to and respecting them.
  • Appointing a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for children and young people.
  • Adopting child protection and safeguarding practices through procedures and a code of conduct for employees, volunteers and members.
  • Developing and implementing an effective e-safety policy and related procedures.
  • Providing effective management for employees and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures.
  • Recruiting employees and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made.
  • Recording and storing information professionally and securely and sharing information about safeguarding good practice with children, their families, employees and volunteers.
  • Using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately.
  • Creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise.
  • Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance.

Safeguarding Guidance:

There are four main elements to our safeguarding policy:

  1. Prevention (e.g. positive, supportive, safe and safe learning environments and recruitment procedures);
  2. Protection (by following the agreed procedures, ensuring all staff are trained and supported to respond appropriately and sensitively to safeguarding concerns);
  3. Support (for all members, employees and volunteers where appropriate specific intervention for those who may be at risk of harm);
  4. Working with parents and other agencies (to ensure appropriate communications and actions are undertaken).

 

Acorns.Community CIC acknowledges that this policy will incorporate a range of safeguarding issues including (but not limited to):

  • Bullying (including cyberbullying)
  • Children missing education
  • Child missing from home or care
  • Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
  • Domestic violence
  • Drugs and alcohol
  • Fabricated or induced illness
  • Gangs and youth violence
  • Hate
  • Honour based violence, including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
  • Mental health
  • Online Safety
  • Prevent (Radicalisation and extremism)
  • Private fostering
  • Relationship abuse and gender-based violence
  • Youth Produced Sexual Imagery or “Sexting”
  • Trafficking

Acorns.Community CIC’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Officer can be reached upon the designated and prioritised email inbox that contains urgent contact information if required.

It is the role of the DSL to:

  • Act as the central contact point for all employees, volunteers, members and their families or carers to discuss any safeguarding concerns.
  • Maintain a confidential recording system for safeguarding and child protection concerns.
  • Coordinate safeguarding action for individual children.
  • Liaise with other agencies and professionals in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children.
  • Ensure that locally established procedures are followed and making referrals to other agencies, including Early Help and Children’s Social Work Services as necessary.
  • Refer children and young people in line with Integrated Front Door processes to the appropriate support level in conjunction with KSCB guidance.
  • Represent, or ensure that Acorns.Community CIC is appropriately represented at interagency safeguarding meetings (including Child Protection conferences).
  • Be available for members, volunteers and employees to discuss any safeguarding concerns.
  • Ensure all employees access appropriate safeguarding training and relevant updates in line with the recommendations within KCSIE (2024).

All employees and volunteers have a responsibility to:

  • Provide a safe environment in which children and young people can learn, play and create.
  • Identify and recognise children who may be in need of extra help, who are suffering, or are likely to suffer significant harm.
  • Provide help for children, where appropriate and reasonable.
  • Take appropriate action to prevent safeguarding concerns escalating and work with other services as needed.
  • Maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here’ where safeguarding is concerned and to always act in the best interests of the child.
  • Respond to and refer any concerns about children or other members of the community in accordance with this policy.
  • Contribute towards, read and adhering to Acorns.Community CIC’s policies.

Local Sussex Support:

Local Kent Support:

 

For safeguarding points of contact outside of Sussex & Kent, please visit your local authority online and search safeguarding partnerships in your area.

 

Recognition and Categories of Abuse:

All members, volunteers and staff working for and with Acorns.Community CIC should be aware of the definitions and signs and symptoms of abuse. There are four categories of abuse:

  1. Physical abuse: a form of abuse which may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a child.
  2. Sexual abuse: involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example, rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside of clothing. They may also include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at or in the production of sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse (including via the internet). Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children.
  3. Emotional abuse: the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to a child that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet another person’s needs. It may include not giving the child opportunities to express their views, deliberately silencing them or ‘making fun’ of what they say or how they communicate. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions beyond a child’s developmental capability, overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the child from participating in normal social interaction. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another. It may involve serious bullying (including cyberbullying), causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, although it may occur alone.
  4. Neglect: the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development. Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse. Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to: provide adequate food, clothing and shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment); protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger; ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate care-givers); or ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.

Potential Indicators of Abuse; Approach with Care:

Certain signs may indicate abuse, physical abuse for example may be unexplained injuries, frequent or repeated bruising, unusual patterns of marks (e.g., burns or injuries that resemble objects), or a reluctance to naturally discuss or explain how an injury occurred. However, these signs are not definitive proof of abuse and should always be considered carefully alongside other factors. It’s important to avoid assumptions, as there may be other explanations for these signs. Any concerns should be followed up according to safeguarding procedures.

Potential Signs that MAY INDICATE Physical Abuse:

  • Bruises and abrasions around the face
  • Damage or injury around the mouth
  • Bi-lateral injuries such as two bruised eyes
  • Bruising to soft area of the face such as the cheeks
  • Fingertip bruising to the front or back of torso
  • Bite marks
  • Burns or scalds (unusual patterns and spread of injuries)
  • Deep contact burns such as cigarette burns
  • Injuries suggesting beatings (strap marks, welts)
  • Covering arms and legs even when hot
  • Aggressive behaviour or severe temper outbursts.
  • Any injuries should have clear explanations. If explanations are unclear, inconsistent, or there is a delay in seeking treatment, this may raise concerns and should be handled with care.

 

Potential Signs that MAY INDICATE Sexual Abuse:

  • Sudden changes in behaviour
  • Displays of affection which are sexual and age-inappropriate
  • Self-harm, self-mutilation or attempts at suicide
  • Alluding to secrets which they cannot reveal
  • Tendency to cling or need constant reassurance
  • Regression to younger behaviour, for example, thumb sucking, playing with discarded toys, acting like a baby
  • Distrust of familiar adults, e.g. anxiety of being left with relatives, a childminder or a lodger
  • Unexplained gifts or money
  • Depression and withdrawal
  • Fear of undressing for PE
  • Sexually transmitted disease
  • Fire setting
  • It is important to note that no single sign on its own may indicate sexual abuse, but several together, or even one on its own, may raise concerns and should be handled with care.

 

Potential Signs that MAY INDICATE Emotional Abuse:

  • Overreaction to mistakes
  • Lack of self-confidence/esteem
  • Sudden speech disorders
  • Self-harming
  • Eating Disorders
  • Extremes of passivity and/or aggression
  • Compulsive stealing
  • Drug, alcohol, and solvent abuse
  • Fear of parents being contacted
  • Unwillingness or inability to play
  • Excessive need for approval, attention and affection
  • While no single sign may definitively indicate emotional abuse, one or more signs together, or even one sign on its own, may raise concerns and should be handled with care.

 

Potential Signs that MAY INDICATE Neglect:

  • Constant hunger
  • Poor personal hygiene
  • Constant tiredness
  • Inadequate clothing
  • Frequent lateness or non-attendance
  • Untreated medical problems
  • Poor relationship with peers
  • Compulsive stealing and scavenging
  • Rocking, hair twisting and thumb sucking
  • Running away
  • Loss of weight or being constantly underweight
  • Low self esteem
  • While no single sign may definitively indicate neglect, one or more signs together, or even one sign on its own, may raise concerns and should be handled with care.

 

All members, volunteers and staff should be aware that abuse, neglect and safeguarding issues are rarely standalone events that can be covered by one definition or label. In most cases multiple issues will overlap with one another.

Members, volunteers or staff are made aware that child welfare concerns may arise in many different contexts, and can vary greatly in terms of their nature and seriousness. Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting, by those known to them or by a stranger. They may be abused by an adult or adults, or another child or children. Children may be abused via the internet by their peers, family members or by unknown and in some cases unidentifiable individuals. In the case of honour based violence, including forced marriage and female genital mutilation, children may be taken out of the country to be abused. An abused child will often experience more than one type of abuse, as well as other difficulties in their lives.

Abuse and neglect can happen over a period of time, but can also be a one-off event. Child abuse and neglect can have major long-term impacts on all aspects of a child’s health, development and well-being.

The warning signs and symptoms of child abuse and neglect can vary from child to child. Children also develop and mature at different rates so what appears to be worrying for a younger child might be normal behaviour for an older child. Parental behaviours may also indicate child abuse or neglect, so staff should also be alert to parent-child interactions which are concerning and other parental behaviours. This could include parents who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol or if there is a sudden change in their mental health.

By understanding the warning signs, we can respond to problems as early as possible and provide the right support and services for the child and their family. It is important to recognise that a warning sign doesn’t automatically mean a child is being abused.

Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures:

All members, volunteers, staff should be aware of the four key steps to follow to help them to identify and respond appropriately to possible abuse and/or neglect:

  • Be Alert

All members, volunteers, staff and anyone with a moral or statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children must prioritise their best interests at all times. It is essential to remain vigilant to the signs of abuse and neglect and to be familiar with the procedures outlined in local multi-agency safeguarding arrangements. Recognising these signs is key to ensuring timely intervention and protecting the safety and well-being of children.

  • Responding to Concerns

While signs of child abuse may not always be immediately obvious and children might not openly share their experiences, members, volunteers, and staff should remain attentive to any unusual behaviours or concerns. If a child discloses that they are being abused or neglected, members, volunteers and staff should:

  • Listen Carefully: Provide a supportive and non-judgmental environment for the child to share their concerns.
  • Take the Disclosure Seriously: Reassure the child that their safety is the priority and that appropriate actions will be taken to protect them.
  • Report Concerns: Notify the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) immediately. The DSL will determine the next steps in accordance with local safeguarding procedures and multi-agency arrangements.

Members, volunteers and staff should explain to the child that their concerns will be shared with those who can provide help and protection, and that confidentiality will be maintained to the extent possible.

  • Ask for Help

Concerns about a child’s welfare can vary widely. If members, volunteers and/or staff have concerns, they should consult with the DSL for guidance. The DSL will assess the situation and decide whether to make a referral to children’s social care or other relevant services.

  • Making a Referral

If members, volunteers, or staff (including practitioners) believe that a child is at risk of harm or in need of protection, they should:

  1. Refer the Matter: Contact local authority children’s social care to make a referral.
  2. Provide Relevant Information: Share any information that could be important, including details about the child’s needs, their development, and the family context.

In cases where a child is in immediate danger or at significant risk, staff should promptly contact children’s social care and/or the police. Make sure you have the necessary information when making a referral. The responsibility for conducting investigations and making decisions about statutory intervention or criminal investigations lies with social workers and the police.

East Sussex Children’s Social Services Contact Number: 01424 724120

Kent Children’s Social Services Contact Number: 03000 41 11 11

Allegations against members, volunteers and staff procedures

  • Acorns.Community CIC – Community Interest Company recognises that it is possible for members, volunteers and staff to behave in a way that might cause harm to children and takes seriously any allegation received. Such serious and credible allegations should be referred immediately to the DSL who will first contact the police to agree further action to be taken in respect of the child, member, volunteer and/or staff member. In the event of allegations of abuse being made against the Managing Director then staff are advised that allegations should be reported directly to the LADO.
  • All members, volunteers and staff should feel able to raise concerns about poor or unsafe practice.
  • Members of Staff can also access the NSPCC whistleblowing helpline if they do not feel able to raise concerns regarding child protection failures internally. Staff can call: 0800 028 0285 (8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday to Friday) or email: help@nspcc.org.uk
  • Acorns.Community CIC – Community Interest Company has a legal duty to refer to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) anyone who has harmed, or poses a risk of harm, to a child, or if there is reason to believe the member of staff has committed one of a number of listed offences, and who has been removed from working (paid or unpaid) in regulated activity, or would have been removed had they not left. The DBS will consider whether to bar the person. If these circumstances arise in relation to a member of staff, a referral will be made as soon as possible after the resignation or removal of the individual in accordance with advice from the LADO.

Safeguarding children with special education needs and disabilities

  • Acorns.Community CIC – Community Interest Company acknowledges that children with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities can face additional safeguarding challenges as they may have an impaired capacity to resist or avoid abuse. They may have speech, language and communication needs, making it difficult to tell others what is happening.
  • All members, volunteers and staff should ensure that children with SEN and disabilities, specifically those with communication difficulties, will be supported to ensure that their voice is heard and acted upon.
  • Members, volunteers and staff are encouraged to be aware that children with SEN and disabilities can be disproportionally impacted by safeguarding concerns such as bullying. All members, volunteers and staff will be encouraged to appropriately explore possible indicators of abuse such as behaviour/mood change or injuries and not to assume that they are related to the child’s disability and be aware that children with SEN and disabilities may not always outwardly display indicators of abuse.

Specific Safeguarding Issues

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)

Acorns.Community CIC – Community Interest Company members, volunteers and staff should be made aware of the revised definition of Child Sexual Exploitation, as issued in the Department for Education in February 2017 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-sexual-exploitationdefinition-and-guide-for-practitioners

‘Child sexual exploitation is a form of child sexual abuse. It occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity (a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants and/or (b) for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator. The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual. Child sexual exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology.’

Acorns.Community CIC – Community Interest Company identifies that CSE involves exploitative situations, contexts and relationships where young people receive something (for example food, accommodation, drugs, alcohol, gifts, money or in some cases simply affection) as a result of engaging in sexual activities.

‘Honour-based’ Violence

Members, volunteers and staff at Acorns.Community CIC – Community Interest Company should be aware that ‘Honour-based’ violence (HBV) encompasses a range of crimes which have been committed to protect or defend the honour of the family and/or the community, including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), forced marriage, and practices such as breast ironing. All members of staff are alert to the possibility of a child being at risk of HBV, or already having suffered HBV. All staff members know that all forms of HBV are abuse (regardless of the motivation) and will be handled and escalated as such. Staff will speak with DSL if they are concerned about HBV. All members of staff will follow the KSCB procedures, using existing national and local protocols for multi-agency liaison with police and children’s social care.

Forced Marriage

The Forced Marriage Unit has published Multi-agency Guidelines. Members, volunteers and staff should report concerns regarding forced marriage to the DSL or can contact the Forced Marriage Unit if they need advice or information. Contact: 020 7008 0151 or email: fmu@fco.gov.uk

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) mandatory reporting duty

All members, volunteers and staff must personally report to the police cases where they discover that an act of FGM appears to have been carried out. Members, volunteers and staff should discuss any such case with the DSL and involve children’s social care as appropriate.

Radicalisation

Acorns.Community CIC – Community Interest Company recognises that exposure of children (and adults) to extremist ideology can hinder their social development and educational attainment, alongside posing a very real risk that they could support or partake in an act of violence. The radicalisation of young people can be compared to grooming for sexual exploitation.

Every member of staff at Acorns.Community CIC – Community Interest Company recognises that children exposed to radicalisation and extremism is no different to safeguarding against any other vulnerability and should be approached in the same way as protecting children from other risks. All members of the community at Acorns.Community CIC – Community Interest Company will report concerns regarding radicalisation and extremism to the DSL who will follow local and national guidance.

Responding to Disclosures

All members, volunteers and staff at Acorns.Community CIC should feel safe when dealing with safeguarding issues and follow the 6 R’s when responding to disclosures:

1. Receive

  • Keep calm.
  • Listen to what is being said without displaying shock or disbelief.
  • Take what is being said to you seriously.
  • Note down what has been said.

2. Respond

  • Reassure the child or young person that they have done the right thing in talking to you.
  • Be honest and do not make promises you cannot keep, e.g. “It will be all right now”.
  • Do not promise confidentiality; you have a duty to refer.
  • Reassure and alleviate guilt if the young person refers to it, e.g. “you’re not to blame”.
  • Reassure the child that information will only be shared with those who need to know.

3. React

  • React to the young person only as far as is necessary for you to establish whether or not you need to refer the matter, but do not interrogate for full details.
  • Do not ask leading questions; “Did he/she….?” Such questions can invalidate evidence.
  • Do ask open “TED” questions; Tell, explain, describe.
  • Do not criticise the perpetrator; the child may have affection for him/her.
  • Do not ask the child to repeat it all for another member of staff.
  • Explain what you have to do next and who you have to talk to.

4. Record

  • Make some brief notes at the time on any paper which comes to hand and write them up as soon as possible.
  • Do not destroy your original notes.
  • Record the date, time, place, and non-verbal behaviour and the words used by the child. Always ensure that, as far as possible, you have recorded the words the child used.
  • Record statements and observable things rather than your interpretations or assumptions.

5. Remember

  • Contact the designated safeguarding lead (DSL).
  • The DSL may be required to make appropriate records available to other agencies.
  • East Sussex Safeguarding Children Partnership -ESSCP www.esscp.org.uk
  • Kent Safeguarding Children Multi-agency Partnership www.kscmp.org.uk

6. Relax

• Get some support for yourself, dealing with disclosures can be traumatic for professionals.

National Support Organisations:

Here follows an easy to reference contact list for your perusal and discernment:

Support for members, volunteers and staff

 

Support for children

 

Support for adults

 

Support for Learning Disabilities

 

Domestic Abuse

 

Honour Based Violence

 

Sexual Abuse and CSE

 

Online Safety

 

Radicalisation and Hate

 

Safety and Educational Provisions

  • There is no legal requirement for self-employed private tutors to have a basic DBS, however, many tutors and home educators/facilitators/parents feel reassured by having this in place. If your role is deemed a regulated activity where teaching or caring for children is unsupervised and frequent, (more than 3 days in a 30 day period) an Enhanced DBS with Children’s Barred List can be obtained via an umbrella body company if self employed, Enhanced without Children’s Barred List if supervised.
  • DBS Umbrella Body Companies: https://dbs-ub-directory.homeoffice.gov.uk
  • Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme: www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-sex-offender-disclosure-scheme-guidance
  • Home educators, facilitators, parents, and guardians have the right to formally request information from the police to determine if an individual has a history of child sex offences.

    Sarah’s Law

    This process is commonly referred to as “Sarah’s Law”, which is a public scheme enabling individuals to make inquiries to the police about individuals who have regular contact with children. The official name for this scheme is the “Child Sexual Offender Disclosure Scheme”. It allows concerned individuals to ask for information about whether a person has a record of child sexual offences.

This policy is reviewed every year.

Acorns.Community CIC: (Community Interest Company) 15429620
Registered office address
86-90 Paul Street, London, England, EC2A 4NE

Last reviewed date by all the company directors of Acorns.Community CIC

This policy was adopted by Acorns.Community CIC on 10/09/2024

Signed on behalf of the Management Committee by:

Founding Director of: Acorns.Community CIC

The policy has been last reviewed by the Management Committee on:

Date October 27, 2024

Health & Safety Policy

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