Safeguarding Children Level 1 and 2

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Safeguarding children is a fundamental responsibility for health professionals. This training material covers Level 1 and Level 2 safeguarding, providing essential knowledge and skills to protect children from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

 

Level 1: Basic Awareness of Safeguarding Children

Principles of Safeguarding Children

  1. Child-Centered Approach:
    • Always consider the best interests of the child.
    • Listen to and respect the views of children.
  2. Prevention:
    • Take proactive measures to prevent abuse and neglect.
    • Provide information and support to reduce risks.
  3. Proportionality:
    • Respond appropriately to the severity of the risk.
    • Use the least intrusive intervention necessary.
  4. Protection:
    • Ensure the safety and well-being of children.
    • Support children in need and at risk.
  5. Partnership:
    • Work collaboratively with other agencies and community resources.
    • Share information appropriately to enhance safeguarding efforts.
  6. Accountability:
    • Be transparent and accountable for actions and decisions.
    • Ensure clarity in roles and responsibilities.

Legal Framework

  • Children Act 1989 and 2004: Provides the legal framework for the care and protection of children in England. Emphasizes the importance of the child’s welfare and the need for cooperation between agencies.
  • Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018: Sets out how organizations and individuals should work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
  • Keeping Children Safe in Education 2020: Provides statutory guidance for schools and colleges on safeguarding children.
  • United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC): An international treaty that sets out the civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights of children.

Types of Abuse and Neglect

  1. Physical Abuse: Hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child.
  2. Emotional Abuse: Persistent emotional maltreatment, causing severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development.
  3. Sexual Abuse: Forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, including physical contact and non-contact activities.
  4. Neglect: Persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in serious impairment of the child’s health or development.
  5. Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE): A form of child sexual abuse where children are manipulated or coerced into sexual activity in exchange for money, gifts, or other rewards.
  6. Online Abuse: Abuse that occurs on the internet, including grooming, exploitation, and cyberbullying.
  7. Domestic Abuse: Any incident of controlling, coercive, or threatening behavior, violence, or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members.

Recognising Signs of Abuse and Neglect

  • Physical: Unexplained injuries, bruises, burns, fractures.
  • Emotional: Withdrawal, anxiety, depression, fearfulness, changes in behavior.
  • Sexual: Inappropriate sexual behavior or knowledge, pain or bleeding in genital areas, sexually transmitted infections.
  • Neglect: Poor hygiene, untreated medical conditions, malnutrition, frequent absence from school.

Actions to Take

  1. Recognise: Be vigilant and identify signs of abuse or neglect.
  2. Respond: Ensure immediate safety, provide support, and document concerns.
  3. Report: Follow organizational procedures for reporting to safeguarding leads or appropriate authorities.
  4. Record: Keep detailed, factual records of observations and actions taken.

Level 2: Intermediate Safeguarding Children

Enhanced Understanding of Safeguarding

  1. Risk Assessment:
    • Conduct thorough assessments to identify risks and vulnerabilities.
    • Use standardized tools and frameworks to evaluate the severity and impact of risks.
  2. Safeguarding Plans:
    • Develop and implement comprehensive safeguarding plans.
    • Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to address identified risks and support the child at risk.
  3. Legal and Ethical Considerations:
    • Apply relevant legislation, such as the Children Act and Working Together guidance, in practice.
    • Balance respect for family rights with the duty to protect children.

Advanced Types of Abuse and Neglect

  1. Child Trafficking: Recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of children for the purpose of exploitation.
  2. Forced Marriage: Marrying without the consent of one or both parties and under duress.
  3. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): Procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
  4. Radicalisation: Process by which children come to support terrorism or extremism.

Advanced Recognition and Response

  • Pattern Recognition: Identify patterns of abuse over time, rather than isolated incidents.
  • Holistic Assessment: Consider physical, emotional, social, and environmental factors when assessing for abuse.
  • Multi-Agency Working:
    • Collaborate with social services, law enforcement, education, and other agencies.
    • Participate in safeguarding meetings and case conferences to share information and plan interventions.

Detailed Steps in Responding to Abuse

  1. Initial Response and Triage:
    • Ensure the immediate safety of the child.
    • Provide necessary medical treatment and support.
  2. Detailed Reporting:
    • Report concerns following organizational protocols.
    • Include all relevant information, such as the nature of the abuse, involved parties, and any immediate actions taken.
  3. Comprehensive Recording:
    • Keep detailed, accurate, and timely records.
    • Document observations, conversations, and actions taken.
  4. Referral and Follow-Up:
    • Refer to safeguarding authorities or specialist services as required.
    • Follow up on referrals to ensure appropriate actions have been taken and outcomes achieved.

Role of Health Professionals in Safeguarding Children

  1. Awareness and Training:
    • Stay informed about safeguarding policies and procedures.
    • Participate in regular training to keep skills and knowledge up to date.
  2. Supporting Families:
    • Provide support and guidance to families to promote the well-being of children.
    • Refer families to appropriate support services as needed.
  3. Multi-Agency Collaboration:
    • Work collaboratively with other professionals and agencies.
    • Share information appropriately to protect children.

Multi-Agency Collaboration

  1. Building Effective Partnerships:
    • Develop and maintain strong relationships with partner agencies.
    • Foster a culture of collaboration and information sharing.
  2. Multi-Agency Meetings and Case Conferences:
    • Participate in multi-agency meetings and case conferences.
    • Ensure coordinated and holistic responses to safeguarding concerns.
  3. Information Sharing:
    • Share information appropriately and securely.
    • Ensure compliance with data protection laws.

Applying Advanced Knowledge

  1. Managing Complex and High-Risk Situations:
    • Apply advanced knowledge in managing complex and high-risk cases.
    • Use critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
  2. Supporting Survivors of Abuse:
    • Provide specialized support to survivors of abuse.
    • Ensure access to appropriate services and resources.
  3. Safeguarding Children Reviews (SCRs):
    • Participate in and learn from SCRs.
    • Use lessons learned to improve safeguarding practices.

Course Content