Safeguarding Policy
Safeguarding Policy Statement.
Enterprise Causeway is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children, young people and Adults at Risk of Harms. It recognises its responsibility to take all reasonable steps to promote safe practice and to protect children from harm, abuse and exploitation. Enterprise Causeway acknowledges its duty to act appropriately to any allegations, reports or suspicions of abuse. Paid staff and volunteers will endeavour to work together to encourage the development of an ethos which embraces difference and diversity and respects the rights of children, young people and Adults at Risk of Harms.
In implementing this child protection policy Enterprise Causeway will:
Ensure that all workers understand their legal and moral responsibility to protect children, young people and Adults at Risk of Harms from harm, abuse and exploitation;
Ensure that all workers understand their responsibility to work to the standards that are detailed in the organisation’s Child Protection Procedures and work at all times towards maintaining high standards of practice.
Ensure that all workers understand their duty to report concerns that arise about a children, young people and Adults at Risk of Harms, or a worker’s conduct towards a child/young person, to the organisation’s named person for child protection;
Ensure that the named person understands his/her responsibility to refer any child protection concerns to the statutory child protection agencies (i.e. Police and/or Social Work);
Ensure that any procedures relating to the conduct of workers are implemented in a consistent and equitable manner.
Provide opportunities for all workers to develop their skills and knowledge particularly in relation to the welfare and protection of children, young people and Adults at Risk of Harms.
Ensure that children, young people and Adults at Risk of Harms are enabled to express their ideas and views on a wide range of issues and will have access to the organisation’s Complaints Procedure.
Ensure that parents/carers are encouraged to be involved in the work of the organisation and, when requested, have access to all guidelines and procedures.
Endeavour to keep up to date with national developments relating to the welfare and protection of children, young people and Adults at Risk of Harms.
Abide by legislation laid down in relation to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007
Section 1 – Introduction:
These procedures have been designed to ensure that the welfare and protection of any child/young person or Adults at Risk of Harm who accesses the services provided by Enterprise Causeway. The procedures recognise that child protection can be a very difficult subject for workers to deal with to the extent that it is sometimes easier to close your eyes to what is happening or believe that it is somebody else’s problem to deal with. Enterprise Causeway is committed to the belief that protecting children, young people and Adults at Risk of Harms is everybody’s responsibility and therefore the aim here is to provide guidelines that will enable all workers and volunteers to act appropriately to any concerns that arise in respect of a child/young person or Adults at Risk of Harm.
Section 2 - Recognising the Signs and Symptoms of Abuse
Enterprise Causeway will ensure that all staff members whether paid or unpaid, undertake training to gain a basic awareness of the signs and symptoms of child abuse.
For example:
a child, young person or Adults at Risk of Harm alleges that abuse has taken place or that they feel unsafe.
a third party or anonymous allegation is received.
a child, young person or Adults at Risk of Harms’ appearance, behaviour, play, drawing or statements cause suspicion of abuse and/or neglect.
a child, young person or Adults at Risk of Harm reports an incident(s) of alleged abuse which occurred some time ago.
a report is made regarding the serious misconduct of a worker towards a child, young person or Adults at Risk of Harm.
Section 3 - A Named Person(s) for Child Protection
Every organisation that works with children, young people or Adults at Risk of Harms should have in place a named person who is responsible for dealing with child protection issues that may arise. A deputy must be made available in their absence. These individuals must be trained in child protection and their responsibilities clearly stated within your procedures.
Enterprise Causeway has an appointed individual who is responsible for dealing with any child protection concerns. In their absence, a deputy will always be available for workers to consult with. The named persons for Child Protection within Enterprise Causeway are:
Named Person for Child Protection: Richard Boyde
Work telephone number: 028 7035 6318
Mobile number: 07791 702346
Deputy Name of contact person: VACANT
Work telephone number: 028 7035 6318
Mobile number:
The role and responsibilities of the named person(s) are:
To ensure that all staff are aware of what they should do and who they should go to if they are concerned that a child/young person or Adults at Risk of Harm may be subject to abuse or neglect.
Ensure that any concerns about a child/young person or Adults at Risk of Harm are acted on, clearly recorded, referred on where necessary and, followed up to ensure the issues are addressed.
The Named Person(s) will record any reported incidents in relation to a child/young person or Adults at Risk of Harm, or breach of Child Protection policies and procedures. This will be kept in a secure place and its contents will be confidential.
Section 4 - Stages to Follow if you are Worried about a Child/Young Person or Adults at Risk of Harm
Enterprise Causeway recognises that it has a duty to act on reports or suspicions of abuse. It also acknowledges that taking action in cases of abuse is never easy. However Enterprise Causeway believes that the safety of the child/young person or Adults at Risk of Harm should override any doubts or hesitations. When worrying changes are observed in a child/young person or Adults at Risk of Harms’ behaviour, physical condition or appearance staff will:
Stage 1
Initially talk to a child/young person or Adults at Risk of Harm about what you are observing. It is okay to ask questions, for example: “I’ve noticed that you don’t appear yourself today, is everything okay? But never use leading questions
Listen carefully to what the child/young person or Adults at Risk of Harm has to say and take it seriously.
Never investigate or take sole responsibility for a situation where a child/young person or Adults at Risk of Harm makes a disclosure.
Always explain to children, young people and Adults at Risk of Harms that any information they have given will have to be shared with others.
Notify the organisation’s Named Person for Child Protection.
Record what was said as soon as possible after any disclosure.
The person who receives the allegation or has the concern should complete the pro-forma and ensure it is signed and dated.
Respect confidentiality and file documents securely.
Stage 2
The Named person(s) will take immediate action if there is a suspicion that a child/young person or Adults at Risk of Harm has been abused or likely to be abused. In this situation the Named Person will contact the police and/or Child and Community Services. (Contact details – see Appendix 2)
The named person can also seek advice and clarity about a situation that is beginning to raise concern through the NSPCC 24-hour National Child Protection Helpline on 0808 800 5000.
Section 5 – Managing Allegations made against a member of Staff or Volunteer
Enterprise Causeway will ensure that any allegations made against members or a member of staff will be dealt with swiftly and in accordance with these procedures:
The worker must ensure that that the child/young person or Adults at Risk of Harm is safe and away from the person against whom the allegation is made.
The named person for protection should be informed immediately. In the case of an allegation involving the named person, alternative arrangements should be sought to ensure that the matter is dealt with by an independent person. (Note: this could be a director or anyone within the organisation that is in a senior position within the organisation and believed to be independent of the allegations being made).
The named person should contact the local authority designated officer (LADO - who is based at the Child Protection Unit) for advice on how to proceed with the immediate situation. Outside of working hours the Emergency Duty Team can give advice and/or in the event of an emergency situation arising, the police.
The individual who first received/witnessed the concern should make a full written record of what was seen, heard and/or told as soon as possible after observing the incident/receiving the report. It is important that the report is an accurate description. The named person (if appropriate) can support the worker during this process but must not complete the report for the worker. This report must be made available on request from either the police and/or social services.
Regardless of whether a police and/or social services investigation follows, Enterprise Causeway will ensure that an internal investigation takes place and consideration is given to the operation of disciplinary procedures. This may involve an immediate suspension and/or ultimate dismissal dependant on the nature of the incident.
Section 6 – Disseminating/Reviewing Policies and Procedures
All organisations should have in place a system for disseminating and reviewing their overall policies and procedures. They should be reviewed annually, signed by representatives from the Board of Directors and/or anyone within the organisation that has overall responsibility for the service being provided. Any changes/amendments need to be clarified and shared with staff and where significant changes appear these must be relayed to parents/carers. (Best practice guidelines advise the involvement of parents/carers and young people in developing policies that affect them). 17 Sandel Village, Knocklynn Road, Coleraine, BT52 1WW Tel: 028 703 56318 e-mail: info@enterprisecauseway.co.uk Web: www.enterprisecauseway.co.uk Registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered Company No. NI 17565 Accepted as a Charity by HM Revenue and Customs
Appendix 1
Definitions of Abuse as cited in: Working Together to Safeguard Children (HM
Government 2006, Chapter 1, P:37-38)
PHYSICAL ABUSE: 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/carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces illness in a child.
EMOTIONAL ABUSE: Is the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to children that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only in so far as they meet the needs of another person. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions that are beyond the child’s developmental capability, as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the child participating in normal social interaction. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another. It may involve serious bullying, 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, though it may occur alone.
SEXUAL ABUSE: Involves forcing or enticing a children, young people and Adults at Risk of Harms to take part in sexual activities, including prostitution, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative (e.g. rape, buggery or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts. They may include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual online images, watching sexual activities, or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.
NEGLECT: Is 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 caregivers)
Ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment
It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.
Appendix 2
Useful Contacts/Support Organisations
If you have concern that a child/young person or Adults at Risk of Harm is being harmed as a result of abuse or neglect, you must not keep these concerns to yourself. Keeping children safe is everyone's responsibility.
You need to ensure that you speak to the appropriate organisations who can listen to and record your concern, and then take appropriate action.
In Coleraine, these are the numbers that you can ring for advice and to make a referral:
USEFUL NUMBERS
Causeway Hospital, Coleraine (028) 7032 7032
Child and Community Services (028) 7034 6096
Dalriada Doctor on call (0870) 5329024
NSPCC Helpline 0808 800 5000
PSNI, Coleraine 0845 600 8000
Childline (Freephone) 0800 1111
Causeway Local Health and Social Services (028) 2766 8370
IF YOU BELIEVE THAT A CHILDREN, YOUNG PERSON OR ADULTS AT RISK OF HARM IS AT AN IMMEDIATE RISK OF HARM CALL 999
Revised and Approved by:
Name: Jayne Taggart
Date: 30.05.25