Safeguarding the Welfare of Children

Each and every individual is responsible for safeguarding the welfare of children and young adults but Section 11 of The Children Act 2004 places duties on a range of organization and individuals.

1. SCHOOLS/COLLEGES

All adults within the school have a responsibility to safeguard the welfare of the children. There must be a staff who has been assigned particular duties in response of protecting children. Schools must have the responsibility:

• To create and maintain safe learning environment.
• To develop children’s awareness and their knowledge of what is acceptable and what is not acceptable
• Taking safety measures, know whether the child is having a healthy diet, their behavior and any signs of abuse, close observation of pupils in the classroom
• Set up guidelines for the safe use of internet and other technology in order to protect children from harm and abuse of cyber bullying.
• Know, support and protect children who are at risk. these children need more care and help they should feel more secure in the setting
• School management should provide professional training of all staff related to safeguarding
• Schools with special needs children’s staffs should have appropriate training in medical issues as well as in safeguarding.
2. Children’s Social Care

It has key role to safeguard and promote the welfare of children those who need it. They work together in partnership with different organization and parents for the welfare of children.

• If there is any case of abuse or a child is at risk of abuse social care has the responsibility to act on any person found guilty in harming the child.
• They carry out assessment of children and their parents who are thought to be at risk.
• They carry out interviews with children and parents and collect information for further investigations.
• Work together with other agencies to gather more information and evidences.
• Take action when the child is thought to be in danger.
3. Police

The police have the power to investigate, interview, and arrest anyone who is suspected of abusing a child. Children’s cases are very sensitive, the police should work with other organization such local authority (LSCB), children’s social care, health professionals, schools etc to gather information and evidence. All police officers should be trained in child abuse investigation. The police decide whether the crime has been committed or not. they further take the case in court and submit all the evidences and information so that proper justice is done with the children.

4. Health Professionals

School nurses, general practitioners, local clinics and hospitals have crucial role in protecting children.

• They have the responsibility to examine child with bruises which they suspect to be non-accidental.
• They provide developmental check ups on under five-year age children.
• It is their duty to alert LSCB, social care services and police if abuse has been suspected.
• They help in making medical reports for the evidence in court.
• They help and support parents of young children making them aware of all types of disease and abuse
5. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)

It is a voluntary organization to protect children in the UK. they have the responsibility to :

• Identify and prevent cruelty to children
• Contributes to multi agency training
• It is approved to initiate reports to protect children under The Children’s Act 2004

Operates a helpline services advising adults and professionals (childminders, carers) on safeguarding matters, help them to know whether the child is at risk of harm or not.

• It also operates Childline services for children and young people which gives service 24 hours, it helps children with any kind of information and advise about abuse, bullying, cyberbullying, maltreatment etc.
• It shares expertise with other professionals and childcare services.
• Raise awareness of abuse through seminars in schools and colleges, advertising on all the social media platform and through training.
6. Local Safeguarding Children board(LSCB)

Their role is to

• Oversee the work of other agencies
• This board comprises of all those who are experts from all the different child care services.

They always review the serious case of abuse. They appoint an officer called lead in all the areas for safeguarding.