'ELYON  HOUSE CHILDCARE SERVICES

​

SAFEGUARDING AND CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

 

I am committed to ensure children’s safety and well-being and I have developed this policy in accordance with the principles established by the Children Acts 1989 and the Camden Safeguarding Children Board.

 

Safeguarding is promoting the welfare of children and is defined as follows:

• Protecting children from maltreatment;

• Preventing impairment of children's health or development;

• Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and

• Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

 

All children must be equally protected from:

• Physical, Emotional, Sexual abuse and Neglect

• Radicalisation or Extremism behaviour

• Discrimination such as Racism, Disability/Special needs, Gender, Religion, Sexual orientation

• Bullying (including cyberbullying)

• Female Genital Mutilation, Violence against women and girls, Forced Marriage

• Gang and Substance abuse / Youth Violence Domestic abuse

• Child Sexual Exploitation and trafficking

• Poor parenting etc… (List is not exhaustive - You can find more details regarding child abuse on the NSPCC and Camden Safeguarding Children websites.)

 

As a designated safeguarding lead, I must ensure that all children in my care are protected at all times. I have been trained to recognise any indicator of possible abuse and neglect like deterioration in children’s general well-being, unexplained bruising/ marks, children’s comments…

I also work with other agencies and must assist the authorities for protecting children.

 

Under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, I have the duty to protect vulnerable children from being drawn into terrorism or radicalisation.

 

Here at ‘Elyon House, we value freedom of opinions, speech, the expression of beliefs.

Children will be taught about British values as there are fundamentals for an open society. If you are experiencing materials which promote extremism such as illegal or harmful pictures or videos,

you can report it online through GOV.UK.

 

Most injuries are accidental and can be simply explained. However, some are not.

A child will be subject to a child protection plan if s/he is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm.

​

MOBILE PHONE AND CAMERA

​

Mobile phones or cameras are prohibited in the presence of children in the house for safeguarding purposes. Taking photographs is not allowed. If you are staying for the settling period, please turn your phone off.

The childminder is the only person who can take photographs to:

• Support each child's individual learning record

• Illustrate work on display around the setting.

• For external outdoor project (outing)

Material use may be a mobile phone, Ipad or another device. These images are deleted after printing in your child learning folder. All parents need to sign a consent form when their child starts at ELYON HOUSE and give their permission for photographs and mobile phone(store phone numbers) to be used in the setting. I will store your contact details on my phone in case of emergency.

If my phone is lost/stolen, your details will remain confidential as I use a secure password.

Other parents are not allowed to take photographs of children in group, during visit, social events…

 

To reinforce and implement this policy, I also will make sure that:

 

• Any proposed staff and all household members over 16 years are a DBS cleared.

• Ofsted is informed of any new household members or assistants over 16 years.

• Children are at all the time supervised.

• Visitors must sign the book visitors.

• Family members, visitors or maintenance workers in the house do not have unsupervised access to the children under any circumstances

• My first aid training is up to date.

• Ratios are maintained

• Use of mobile phone and others devices are limited to me.

• A risk assessment is regularly held to avoid children to be put at risk.

• Workmen have not access to the house during minded hours except for emergency repair or Health and Safety reasons.

• Recording every accident and incident that occurs whilst in my care, informing parents and requesting them to sign my records  

• Recording any marks on the children when they arrive and asking parents to inform me of any accidents that have occurred whilst outside my care

• Keeping accurate records on each child

• A password or an ID (driving licence..)will be asked if you collect a child for the first time.

​

Please assured that this is only for safeguarding purposes. If you have any concerns, do not hesitated to contact me.