Safe Guarding Policy -

Safeguarding Policy Template

Section 1. Introduction (Aim / Ethos)

AIM-This policy sets out our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children. At JAvine Photography we provide photography workshops for children aged 10-14 years. We are committed to providing a safe, positive and inclusive environment for all children, and by following the procedures within the policy we will uphold our legal duty to safeguard children in our care.

Ethos-JAvine Photography fully recognises our responsibility to protect children from harm. We strive to ensure all children that attend our workshops feel safe, valued and respected. Our policy applies to all children, staff, volunteers, and parents. All staff and volunteers will be trained to respond to a disclosure from a child and will know the procedure to follow.

Section 2. Name and contact details of the Designated Safeguarding Person (DSP)

Name: Jemma Jermy

Contact Number: 07951149819

If the DSP are unavailable anyone with a safeguarding concern can contact The Children’s Advice and Duty Service (CADS).

-A staff member or volunteer can call (0344 800 8021) and choose from the following options:

Option 1-the child or young person is currently being supported by a Social Worker or Family Practitioner.

Option 2-your call relates to Child Exploitation.

Option 3-your call relates to Domestic Abuse.

Option 0 – for Child Protection and immediate Safeguarding Concerns

(Please note, during busy periods, if your call is not answered within 40 minutes, a call back option will be offered)

A parent or member of the public can call (0344 800 8020).

If you feel it is an emergency call the Police on 999.

3. Roles and Responsibilities of DSP

-The named person that safeguarding concerns are reported to.

-Liaise with Children’s Services and other agencies and make referrals to The Children’s Advice and Duty Service or Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) when required.

-Responsible for making sure the policy is reviewed yearly and updated when changes happen at local/national level.

-Ensure all staff/volunteers/visitors/parents are aware of this policy and the procedures to follow.

-Ensure all staff and volunteers have received appropriate safeguarding information during induction and have received safeguarding training.

-Ensure that safer recruitment practices are followed.

-Update staff on changes to safeguarding.

-Completed DSP Training.

-Follow the Norfolk Continuum of Needs Guidance produced by the Norfolk Safeguarding Children Partnership (NSCP).

Section 4: Safer Working Practices for staff and volunteers

Staff/volunteers are made aware of this policy at the start of their recruitment process and are required to sign to say they have read it. They are then contacted by email when any changes are made and are required to sign that they have read it.

Staff/volunteers/freelancers are interviewed after a successful job application. If the interview is successful, references will be contacted.

Freelancers/volunteers will be required to have their own up to date Enhanced DBS, as well as safe guarding training.

-What is the procedure for DBS Checks?

We will always gain the correct level of DBS disclosure appropriate to the role. We will use the update service for enhanced DBSs and staff/volunteers will be expected to update their enhanced DBS every year, and show the DSP and sign off that they have done this

-What is the safeguarding induction process for staff / volunteers?

Staff/volunteers will read all polices and procedures connected to safeguarding, have a meeting with the DSP to understand how to record and report safeguarding concerns.

-What training will staff/ volunteers have? (Safeguarding / First Aid)

Staff will attend the Safer Programme’s Introduction to Child Safeguarding Course or an equivalent level course. This will be renewed every 3 years.

All staff, volunteers and freelancers will be given a copy of our Code of Conduct and will be asked to read this and sign to confirm they will adhere to this, which forms part of our safer working practices.

Section 5: Procedure for handling a disclosure from a child

Key points to consider when dealing with a disclosure:

Listen and be supportive.
Do not ask any leading questions, interrogate the child, or put ideas in the child’s head, or jump to conclusions.
Do not stop or interrupt a child who is recalling significant events.
Never promise the child confidentiality– it must be explained that information will need be to be passed on to help keep them safe.
Record what was said immediately as close to what was said as possible. Also record what was happening immediately before the child disclosed.
Name, sign and date the record in ink.
Contact the DSP immediately who will decide on what action to take.

Section 6- Contacting The Children’s Advice and Duty Service (CADS)

If we have an emergency, we will call the Police on 999.

We will contact CADS when there are concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing, and we believe they may be at risk of harm. This includes:

Immediate Safeguarding Concerns – where a child is at risk of significant harm, including physical, emotional, sexual abuse, or neglect.
Escalating Concerns – Where previous support or interventions have not improved the situation and concerns are increasing.
Concerns About Parenting Capacity – Where a parent or carer’s ability to meet a child’s needs is compromised due to issues such as substance misuse, mental health, or domestic abuse.
Professional Consultation – Where the situation is complex and you require advice or guidance on appropriate next steps.

We will contact CADS on their direct line: 0344 800 8021.

We will choose from the following options:

Option 1 -the child or young person is currently being supported by a Social Worker or Family Practitioner.

Option 2 -your call relates to Child Exploitation.

Option 3 -your call relates to Domestic Abuse.

Option 0 – for Child Protection and immediate Safeguarding Concerns

(Please note, during busy periods, if your call is not answered within 40 minutes, a call back option will be offered)

We will have the following information ready before contacting CADS:

all of the details known to your organisation about the child (including DOB, current address, contact details for the family, the family composition including siblings, and where possible extended family members and anyone important in the child’s life)
the nature of the concern and worries
history of the family (including significant events)
any work/support you have provided to the child or family to date.
where the child is now
whether you have informed parents/carers of your concern

When considering whether to contact CADS we will consult the CADS Flowchart in Appendix 4 and CADS FAQs on the NSCP Website Page: How to Raise a Concern | Norfolk Safeguarding Children Partnership | PWWC
We will also consult the Norfolk Continuum of Needs Guidance produced by the Norfolk Safeguarding Children Partnership (NSCP)
We will gain consent from the parent to contact CADS, unless the concerns being raised suggest that the child or someone else (including the referrer) would be placed at risk of significant harm, or it might undermine the investigation into a serious crime.
Reasons for not seeking consent should be clearly stated when contacting CADS and recorded on internal systems for our records.
We will have a discussion with a Consultant Social Worker.
A copy of the discussion will be securely emailed to us.
We will follow the advice given.
We will keep written dated records of all conversations with CADS, for our own safeguarding recording process.
We will not investigate and will be led by the Local Authority and/or the Police.
We understand if we are unhappy about a decision made by CADS, we can use the Resolving Professional Disagreements policy on https://norfolklscp.org.uk/
Parents or members of the public can contact CADS on 0344 800 8020

Requesting Early Help support

Community-based support and targeted early help can be accessed via Request for support – Norfolk County Council. Early Help is designed to support children, young people, and families experiencing difficulties that may affect their wellbeing, development, or ability to flourish.

Early Help is designed to support children, young people, and families experiencing difficulties that may affect their wellbeing, development, or ability to flourish. It aims to:

• Prevent problems from escalating by addressing issues early.

• Support the wider family context, including parents, carers, and siblings.

• Improve outcomes such as school attendance, mental health, and relationships.

• Encourage multi-agency working, bringing together professionals to create a coordinated support plan.

• Empower families by focusing on strengths and helping build resilience.

Concerns about Radicalisation and Extremism

If we have concerns that a child or young person could be vulnerable to radicalisation, we will follow the procedure in Appendix 1.

Section 7-Types of Abuse

Definitions of Abuse and Neglect from Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined for the purposes of this guidance as:

• providing help and support to meet the needs of children as soon as problems emerge

• protecting children from maltreatment, whether that is within or outside the home, including online

• preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development

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

• promoting the upbringing of children with their birth parents, or otherwise their family network through a kinship care arrangement, whenever possible and where this is in the best interests of the children

• taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes in line with the outcomes set out in the Children’s Social Care National Framework. Child protection is part of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and is defined for the purpose of this guidance as activity that is undertaken to protect specific children who are suspected to be suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm. This includes harm that occurs inside or outside the home, including online.

What is abuse and neglect? Abuse – A form of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm. Harm can include ill treatment that is not physical as well as the impact of witnessing ill treatment of others. This can be particularly relevant, for example, in relation to the impact on children of all forms of domestic abuse, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional and psychological abuse, coercive and controlling behaviour and economic or financial abuse, where they see, hear, or experience its effects. Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional or extra-familial context by those known to them or, more rarely, by others. Abuse can take place wholly online, or technology may be used to facilitate offline abuse. Children may be abused by an adult or adults, or another child or children. This includes in teenage relationships, or under the guise of ‘honour’ based abuse including forced marriage and female genital mutilation, or abuse related to faith or belief such as allegations of demonic possession.

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.

Emotional abuse –The persistent emotional or psychological maltreatment of a child so as to cause severe and persistent 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 the needs of another person. 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 that are beyond a 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 (including cyber 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 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. Sexual abuse can take place in family settings, in institutional settings, online, and technology can be used to facilitate offline abuse. Child sexual abuse material available online may have been generated in a family environment. Online abuse can also take the form of cyber grooming or self-generated sexual content under coercion. Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children. A child of any age or gender can be a victim of sexual abuse. 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 caregivers)

• ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment

• provide suitable education

It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs

For information on indicators of abuse consult Appendix 2.

Additional safeguarding concerns to be aware of are:

Child Sexual Exploitation
Child Criminal Exploitation
FGM – Female Genital Mutilation
Forced Marriage
Honour Based Abuse
County Lines
Domestic Abuse
Online Abuse
Radicalisation

For more information on these consult Appendix 3.

Section 8-Managing Allegations against people working or volunteering with children

Our aim is to provide a safe and supportive environment which secures the wellbeing and very best outcomes for the children who attend our setting. We do recognise that sometimes the behaviour of adults may lead to an allegation of abuse being made.

Allegations sometimes arise from a differing understanding of the same event, but when they occur, they are distressing and difficult for all concerned. We also recognise that many allegations are genuine and there are some adults who deliberately seek to harm or abuse children. We work to the thresholds for harm as set out in ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ (2026).

An allegation may relate to a person who works / volunteers with children who has:

behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child and/or;
- possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child and/or;
- behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates he or she may pose a risk of harm to children; and/or
- behaved or may have behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children.

The 4^th bullet point above recognises circumstances where a member of staff (including locum or supply staff) or volunteer is involved in an incident outside of setting/agency/workplace which did not involve children but could have an impact on their suitability to work with children; this is known as transferrable risk.

At JAvine Photography we recognise our responsibility to report / refer allegations or behaviours of concern and / or harm to children by adults in positions of trust known to us, but who are not employed by our organisation to the LADO service directly at lado@norfolk.gov.uk

We will take all possible steps to safeguard our children and to ensure that the adults at  JAvine Photography are safe to work with children. When concerns arise, we will always ensure that the safeguarding actions outlined in the local protocol and procedures NSCP Protocol 8.3 Allegations Against Persons who work/volunteer with children and The Management of Allegations Against People Working with Children Procedure are adhered to and will seek appropriate advice.

If an allegation is made or information is received about any adult who works/ volunteer in our setting which indicates that they may be unsuitable to work / volunteer with children, the member of staff receiving the information will inform Jemma Jermy immediately. This includes concerns relating to agency, supply and specialist staff, students and volunteers.

The DSP, should within 1 working day, report the allegation to the LADO in accordance with this procedure, by completing a LADO referral form.

If a parent attending the group or a volunteer at the group makes an allegation about the Designated Safeguarding Person, they can directly report their concern to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO). The parent or volunteer will need to complete a LADO referral form which can be downloaded from the Norfolk Safeguarding Children Partnership Website, and emailed to the LADO service directly at lado@norfolk.gov.uk

The LADO referral form can be downloaded here under the LADO tab, along with more information: https://norfolklscp.org.uk/people-working-with-children/how-to-raise-a-concern

For further information on the role/remit of Norfolk LADO Service, please see NSCP Protocol 8.3 Allegations Against Persons who work/volunteer with children and The Management of Allegations Against People Working with Children Procedure

Section 9- Disciplinary Procedures when an allegation has been made against a staff member or volunteer

Any staff member, volunteer or freelancer that has an allegation made against them, will be suspended pending an investigation.

Section 10 Low level concerns about adults working or volunteering with children which do not meet the harm threshold for a LADO referral

A low-level concern is any concern, doubt, or sense of unease, no matter how small, that someone may have acted in a way that is inconsistent with your organisations code of conduct.

Behaviour that might be considered as inappropriate often depends on the circumstances. A low-level concern may not be seen as immediately dangerous or intentionally harmful to a child, but it can soon escalate and become a serious safeguarding concern.

Examples of such behaviour could include:

Being over friendly with children
Excessive 1-1 to attention beyond what is required for their role
Having favourites
Adults taking photographs of children on their mobile phone
Engaging with a child on a one-to-one basis in a secluded area
Using inappropriate sexualised, intimidating or offensive language
Inappropriate sharing of images
Humiliating children

This list of examples is not exhaustive, and low-level concerns can arise from various forms of behaviour.

Low-level concerns may arise in several ways and from several sources. For example: suspicion; complaint; or disclosure by a child, parent or other adult within or outside of the organisation.

At our organisation we promote an open and transparent culture in which all concerns about all adults working in or volunteering on behalf of our organisation are dealt with promptly and appropriately.

Through induction, we ensure all staff/volunteers understand the importance of self-referring, where, for example, they have found themselves in a situation which could be misinterpreted, might appear compromising to others, and/or on reflection they believe they have behaved in such a way that they consider falls below the expected professional standards.

Managing a Low-Level Concern

At our organisation staff/volunteers are expected to report all low-level concerns immediately to the DSP.

If reported to the DSP they will inform Jemma Jermy of the concern.

The DSP will be the ultimate decision maker in respect of all low-level concerns.

At our organisation we understand the importance of recording low-level concerns and the actions taken in light of these being reported. We will review the records we hold to identify potential patterns and take appropriate action. This could be through a disciplinary process, or where a pattern of behaviour moves from a low-level concern to meeting the harm threshold, where it should be referred to the LADO.

If our organisation is in any doubt as to whether the information which has been shared about a member of staff/volunteer as a low-level concern in fact meets the harm threshold, they should consult with the LADO on lado@norfolk.gov.uk

Section 11- Making a Barring Referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service

If an allegation has been made about a staff member or volunteer, then our organisation has a legal duty to make a barring referral if the following conditions are met:

Condition 1

you withdraw permission for a person to engage in regulated activity with children and/or vulnerable adults. Examples: dismissed, re-deployed, retired, been made redundant or retired.

Condition 2

You think the person has carried out 1 of the following:

engaged in relevant conduct in relation to children and/or adults. An action or inaction has harmed a child or vulnerable adult or put them at risk or harm or;
satisfied the harm test
received a caution for, or a conviction for, or been convicted for a relevant offence

More information on Barring Referrals can be found online. If we need guidance on making a Barring Referral, we will contact the East of England DBS Outreach Advisor for support. A Barring Referral can be completed online via the DBS website.

The DSP will be in charge of making this referral.

There could be times when we might consider that we should still make a referral in the interests of safeguarding children even if the legal duty to refer has not been met. This could include acting on advice of the police or a safeguarding professional, or in situations where there may not be enough evidence to dismiss or remove a person from working with vulnerable groups. DBS are required by law to consider any and all information sent to them from any source. This includes information sent to them where the legal referral conditions are not met. If we do make a referral to DBS where the referral conditions are not met, we will do so in consideration of relevant employment and data protection laws.

Section 12-Working with Parents/Carers

Parents will be sent a link to the safeguarding policy in the confirmation email after purchasing their child/ren’s place on the workshop.

Parents will be made aware of these two statements below in the following way, they will be included in the purchasing process. Where they will be required to tick to say they have read them.

Parents will be informed of our legal duty to assist other agencies with Safeguarding enquiries and that we will we contact The Children’s Advice and Duty Service (CADS) and or Police if we have concerns about the welfare of their child.
Parents will be made aware that we will need to share information with the relevant authorities if we have concerns about the welfare of their child, and that we do not have to seek consent from them if there are serious concerns about harm or likely harm to their child.

Section 13- Records and Confidentiality

Our organisation cannot guarantee confidentiality if there is a child safeguarding concern, as we will need to share these concerns with the Children’s Advice and Duty Service and or Police. It is an expectation that our organisation will seek consent to share information first unless to do so would place somebody at risk of harm or undermine a criminal investigation.

All records of disclosure/safeguarding concerns will be kept digitally and will only be accessible to the DSP and any parties who need to see them. They will be kept in a secure digital folder.

Section 14-Online Safety

Online Safety includes the use of photography and video, the internet and social media sites, mobile phones and smart watches.

Staff/volunteers and freelancers will be asked to have their phones on silent and not to take them out unless there is an emergency. They are not use their phones for taking photographs of children present. They are also prohibited from sharing contact information with any children present.

Parental consent for taking images/videos of children is seeked during the checkout process when purchasing tickets.

Only Jemma Jermy has access to any photos/videos taken, for the purpose of sharing as stated in the agreement.

Children will possibly be using phones during the session, and it will be discussed at the beginning of the session about how they are to be used during the session.

Children are only to use their technology for the task at hand or contact parents/guardians should they feel the need.

Section 15- Relevant Guidance and Legislation

-Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026

-What to do if You’re Worried a Child is Being Abused 2015

-Children Act 1989 / 2004

-The Online Safety Act 2023

-Data Protection Act 2018

-The Prevent Duty Guidance 2023

-Norfolk Continuum of Needs Guidance 2023 Norfolk Guidance to Understanding Continuum of Needs | NSCP | PWWC (norfolklscp.org.uk)

-Norfolk Safeguarding Children Partnership Policies and Procedures Polices & Procedures | Norfolk Safeguarding Children Partnership (norfolklscp.org.uk)

Section 16- Other Relevant Policies

Our safeguarding policy should be read in conjunction with the other following policies which also fall under our safeguarding umbrella:

-Safer Recruitment

-Code of Conduct

-Online Safety

-Whistleblowing

-Confidentiality and Information Sharing

-Photo consent policy

Section 17- Useful Contacts

Norfolk Children’s Advice and Duty Service (CADS) 0344 800 8021
Norfolk Children’s Services 24 hours 0344 800 8020
Norfolk Police 101 / In an emergency 999
LADO Team lado@norfolk.gov.uk
Norfolk Safeguarding Children Partnership (NSCP) norfolklscp.org.uk
Safer Programme 01603 228966 safer@norfolk.gov.uk

Section 18- Policy Review

We will make changes to our policy and procedures in line with Norfolk Safeguarding Children Partnership’s guidance on norfolklscp.org.uk

Name: Jemma Jermy……………………………………………………………………….

Signed: JAJermy…………………………………………………………………………….

Date: 10/7/2026………………………………………………………………………………

This policy will be reviewed on: 10/07/2027.

This policy will be reviewed by Jemma Jermy

Appendix 1-The Prevent Duty in Norfolk Procedure

PREVENT – Prevent is part of the UK’s Counter-terrorism strategy CONTEST. The aim of Prevent is to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. The key terms to be aware of are as follows:

Extremism – the vocal or active opposition to our fundamental values, including the rule of law, individual liberty and the mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.

Radicalisation – refers to the process by which a person comes to support terrorism and extremist ideologies associated with terrorist groups.

Terrorism – action that endangers / causes serious violence to a person/people; causes serious damage to property; or seriously interferes with / disrupts an electronic system.

Responding to a Concern-Notice – Check – Share

Notice-A staff member or volunteer working with a child or young person could be the person to notice that there has been a change in the individual’s behaviour that may suggest they are vulnerable to radicalisation. Every case is different, and there is no checklist that can tell us if someone is being radicalised or becoming involved in terrorism. There are some common signs that may mean someone is being radicalised.

Expressing an obsessive or angry sense of injustice about a situation and blaming this on others.
Expressing anger or extreme views towards a particular group such as a different race or religion.
Suggesting that violent action is the only way to solve an issue, sharing extreme views or hatred on social media.

Check-The next step is for the staff member/volunteer to speak to the manager or safeguarding lead to better understand the concerns raised by the behaviours observed to decide whether intervention and support is needed. In many cases there will be an explanation for the behaviours that either requires no further action or a referral not related to radicalisation or extremism.

Share-Where the staff member/volunteer still has concerns that the individual may be vulnerable to radicalisation, then the organisation’s safeguarding procedures will be followed, and this safeguarding concern will be reported to (CADS). Following this the Prevent referral form should be completed, which can be downloaded from here referral form and sent to: preventreferrals-NC@Norfolk.police.uk

An initial assessment of the referral will be carried out prior to any further information gathering on the individual.

For urgent radicalisation concerns contact Norfolk police on 101 or, in an emergency, 999.

Additional information and guidance on Prevent is available on the NCC website.

Need advice or support?

If it’s not an emergency, please get in touch by emailing prevent@norfolk.police.uk.

You can also contact the Norfolk Police Prevent team on 01953 423905 or 01953 423896.

Appendix 2-Indicators of Abuse

Caution should be used when referring to lists of signs and symptoms of abuse. Although the signs and symptoms listed below may be indicative of abuse there may be alternative explanations. In assessing the circumstances of any child any of these indicators should be viewed within the overall context of the child’s individual situation.

Emotional Abuse

Physical, mental and emotional development lags
Sudden speech disorders
Continual self-depreciation (‘I’m stupid, ugly, worthless, etc’)
Overreaction to mistakes
Extreme fear of any new situation
Inappropriate response to pain (‘I deserve this’)
Unusual physical behaviour (rocking, hair twisting, self-mutilation) – consider within the context of any form of disability such as autism
Extremes of passivity or aggression
Children suffering from emotional abuse may be withdrawn and emotionally flat. One reaction is for the child to seek attention constantly or to be over-familiar. Lack of self-esteem and developmental delay are again likely to be present
Babies – feeding difficulties, crying, poor sleep patterns, delayed development, irritable, non-cuddly, apathetic, non-demanding
Toddler/Pre-School – head banging, rocking, bad temper, ‘violent’, clingy. Spectrum from overactive to apathetic, noisy to quiet. Developmental delay – especially language and social skills
School age – Wetting and soiling, relationship difficulties, poor performance at school, non-attendance, antisocial behaviour. Feels worthless, unloved, inadequate, frightened, isolated, corrupted and terrorised
Adolescent – depression, self-harm, substance abuse, eating disorder, poor self-esteem, oppositional, aggressive and delinquent behaviour
Child may be underweight and/or stunted
Child may fail to achieve milestones, fail to thrive, experience academic failure or under achievement
Also consider a child’s difficulties in expressing their emotions and what they are experiencing and whether this has been impacted on by factors such as age, language barriers or disability

Neglect

There are occasions when nearly all parents find it difficult to cope with the many demands of caring for children. But this does not mean that their children are being neglected. Neglect involves ongoing, severe failure to meet a child’s needs. The majority of these signs and symptoms can occur across any age group. Here are some signs of possible neglect:

Physical signs:

Constant hunger
Poor personal hygiene
Constant tiredness
Emaciation
Untreated medical problems
The child seems underweight and is very small for their age
The child is poorly clothed, with inadequate protection from the weather
Neglect can lead to failure to thrive, manifest by a fall away from initial centile lines in weight, height and head circumference. Repeated growth measurements are crucially important
Signs of malnutrition include wasted muscles and poor condition of skin and hair. It is important not to miss an organic cause of failure to thrive; if this is suspected, further investigations will be required
Infants and children with neglect often show rapid growth catch-up and improved emotional response in a hospital environment
Failure to thrive through lack of understanding of dietary needs of a child or inability to provide an appropriate diet; or they may present with obesity through inadequate attention to the child’s diet
Being too hot or too cold – red, swollen and cold hands and feet or they may be dressed in inappropriate clothing
Consequences arising from situations of danger – accidents, assaults, poisoning
Unusually severe but preventable physical conditions owing to lack of awareness of preventative health care or failure to treat minor conditions
Health problems associated with lack of basic facilities such as heating
Neglect can also include failure to care for the individual needs of the child including any additional support the child may need as a result of any disability

Behavioural signs:

No social relationships
Compulsive scavenging
Destructive tendencies
If they are often absent from school for no apparent reason
If they are regularly left alone, or in charge of younger brothers or sisters
Lack of stimulation can result in developmental delay, for example, speech delay, and this may be picked up opportunistically or at formal development checks
Craving attention or ambivalent towards adults, or may be very withdrawn
Delayed development and failing at school (poor stimulation and opportunity to learn)
Difficult or challenging behaviour

Physical Abuse

Always obtain a medical diagnosis regarding any suspected abusive injury
No injury is 100% symptomatic of abuse
Look for unexplained recurrent injuries or burns; improbable excuses or refusal to explain injuries

Physical signs:

Bald patches

Bruises, black eyes and broken
Untreated or inadequately treated injuries
Injuries to parts of the body where accidents are unlikely, such as thighs, back, abdomen
Scalds and burns
General appearance and behaviour of the child may include:
Concurrent failure to thrive: measure height, weight and, in the younger child, head circumference
Frozen watchfulness: impassive facial appearance of the abused child who carefully tracks the examiner with his eyes
Consider the age of child:
Any bruising to a young baby
It is unusual for a child under the age of 1 year to sustain a fracture accidentally
Injuries that are not consistent with the story: too many, too severe, wrong place or pattern, child too young for the activity described
Bruising:
Bruising patterns can suggest gripping (finger marks), slapping or beating with an object
Bruising on the cheeks, head or around the ear and black eyes can be the result of non-accidental injury
Bruises on black children will be more difficult to identify
Congenital Dermal Melanocytosis (CDM) may be mistaken for bruises. a congenital developmental condition exclusively involving the skin. Usually, as multiple spots or one large patch, it covers one or more of the lower back, the buttocks, flanks, and shoulders. CDM most prevalent among Asian groups. Nearly all East Asian infants are born with one or more spots. It usually fades over the years and is most frequently gone by the time the child reaches adolescence
Recent research indicates that bruises cannot be aged accurately. Estimates of the age of the bruise are currently based on an assessment of the colour of the bruise with the naked eye
Other injuries:
Bite marks may be evident from an impression of teeth
Small circular burns on the skin suggest cigarette burns
Scalding inflicted by immersion in hot water often affects buttocks or feet and legs symmetrically
Red lines occur with ligature injuries
Tearing of the frenulum of the upper lip can occur with force-feeding. However, any injury of this type must be assessed in the context of the explanation given, the child’s developmental stage, a full examination and other relevant investigations as appropriate
Retinal haemorrhages can occur with head injury and vigorous shaking of the baby
Fractured ribs: rib fractures in a young child are suggestive of non-accidental injury
Other fractures: spiral fractures of the long bones are suggestive of non-accidental injury

Behavioural signs:

Wearing clothes to cover injuries, even in hot weather
Refusal to undress for gym
Chronic running away
Fear of medical help or examination
Self-destructive tendencies
Fear of physical contact – shrinking back if touched
Admitting that they are punished, but the punishment is excessive (such as a child being beaten every night to ‘make him study’)
Fear of suspected abuser being contacted
Injuries that the child cannot explain or explains unconvincingly
Become sad, withdrawn or depressed
Having trouble sleeping
Behaving aggressively or be disruptive
Showing fear of certain adults
Having a lack of confidence and low self-esteem
Using drugs or alcohol
Repetitive pattern of attendance: recurrent visits, repeated injuries
Excessive compliance
Hyper-vigilance

Sexual Abuse

In young children behavioural changes may include:

Regressing to younger behaviour patterns such as thumb sucking or bringing out discarded cuddly toys
Being overly affectionate – desiring high levels of physical contact and signs of affection such as hugs and kisses
Lack of trust or fear of someone they know well, such as not wanting to be alone with a trusted adult
They may start using sexually explicit behaviour or language, particularly if the behaviour or language is not appropriate for their age
Starting to wet again, day or night/nightmares

Behavioural changes in older children might involve:

Extreme reactions, such as depression, self-mutilation, suicide attempts, running away, overdoses, anorexia
Personality changes such as becoming insecure or clinging
Sudden loss of appetite or compulsive eating
Being isolated or withdrawn
Inability to concentrate
Become worried about clothing being removed
Suddenly drawing sexually explicit pictures
Trying to be ‘ultra-good’ or perfect; overreacting to criticism
Genital discharge or urinary tract infections
Marked changes in the child’s general behaviour. For example, they may become unusually quiet and withdrawn, or unusually aggressive. Or they may start suffering from what may seem to be physical ailments, but which can’t be explained medically
The child may refuse to attend school or start to have difficulty concentrating so that their schoolwork is affected
They may show unexpected fear or distrust of a particular adult or refuse to continue with their usual social activities
The child may describe receiving special attention from a particular adult, or refer to a new, “secret” friendship with an adult or young person
Children who have been sexually abused may demonstrate inappropriate sexualised knowledge and behaviour
Low self-esteem, depression and self-harm are all associated with sexual abuse

Physical signs and symptoms for any age child could be:

Medical problems such as chronic itching, pain in the genitals, venereal diseases
Stomach pains or discomfort walking or sitting
Sexually transmitted infections
Any features that suggest interference with the genitalia. These may include bruising, swelling, abrasions or tears
Soreness, itching or unexplained bleeding from penis, vagina or anus
Sexual abuse may lead to secondary enuresis or faecal soiling and retention
Symptoms of a sexually transmitted disease such as vaginal discharge or genital warts, or pregnancy in adolescent girls

Appendix 3-Additional Safeguarding Issues

Child Sexual Exploitation-CSE is a form of child sexual abuse. It occurs when an individual or group take advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a children 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. CSE does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through use of technology.

Child Criminal Exploitation-A term to describe where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into any criminal activity:

(a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants; and/or

(b) for the financial or other advantage or the perpetrator or facilitator; and/or

The victim may have been criminally exploited even if the activity appears consensual. Child criminal exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology.

FGM – Female Genital Mutilation– (FGM) is a procedure where the female genitals are deliberately cut, injured or changed, but where there’s no medical reason for this to be done. It’s also known as “female circumcision” or “cutting”. FGM is often performed by someone with no medical training who uses instruments such as a knife, scalpel, scissors, glass or razor blade. Children are rarely given anaesthetic or antiseptic treatment and are often forcibly restrained.

FGM is often motivated by beliefs about what is considered acceptable sexual behaviour. It aims to ensure premarital virginity and marital fidelity. FGM is in many communities believed to reduce a woman’s libido and therefore believed to help her resist extramarital sexual acts. It is illegal to carry out FGM in the UK. It is also a criminal offence for UK nationals or permanent UK residents to perform FGM overseas or take their child abroad to have FGM carried out. The maximum penalty for FGM is 14 years’ imprisonment.

Forced Marriage-People have the right to choose who they marry, when they marry or if they marry at all. Forced marriage is when some face physical pressure to marry (for example, threats, physical violence or sexual violence) or emotional and psychological pressure (eg if they’re made to feel like they’re bringing shame on their family).

Forced marriage is illegal in England and Wales. This includes:

taking someone overseas to force them to marry (whether or not the forced marriage takes place)
marrying someone who lacks the mental capacity to consent to the marriage (whether they’re pressured to or not)

Honour Abuse–Honour based violence is a violent crime or incident which may have been committed to protect or defend the honour of the family or community.

It is often linked to family members or acquaintances who mistakenly believe someone has brought shame to their family or community by doing something that is not in keeping with the traditional beliefs of their culture. For example, honour based violence might be committed against people who:

become involved with a boyfriend or girlfriend from a different culture or religion
want to get out of an arranged marriage
want to get out of a forced marriage
wear clothes or take part in activities that might not be considered traditional within a particular culture

Women and girls are the most common victims of honour based violence however it can also affect men and boys. Crimes of ‘honour’ do not always include violence. Crimes committed in the name of ‘honour’ might include:

domestic abuse
threats of violence
sexual or psychological abuse
forced marriage
being held against your will or taken somewhere the victim doesn’t want to go
assault/killing

County Lines-A term used to describe gangs and organised criminal networks involved in exporting illegal drugs into one or more importing areas within the UK, using dedicated mobile phone lines or other form of ‘deal line’. They are likely to exploit children and vulnerable adults to move and store the drugs and money, and they will often use coercion, intimidation, violence (including sexual violence) and weapons.

This activity can happen locally as well as across the UK; no specified distance of travel is

required.

Domestic abuse –The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 introduced the statutory definition of domestic abuse (section 1 of the Act). The statutory definition is clear that domestic abuse may be a single incident or a course of conduct which can encompass a wide range of abusive behaviours, including a) physical or sexual abuse; b) violent or threatening behaviour; c) controlling or coercive behaviour; d) economic abuse; and e) psychological, emotional, or other abuse such as ‘honour’ abuse, faith- or belief-based abuse, forced marriage, female genital mutilation or reproductive coercion, harassment and stalking.

Under the statutory definition, both the person who is carrying out the behaviour and the person to whom the behaviour is directed towards must be aged 16 or over and they must be “personally connected” (as defined in section 2 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021). The definition ensures that different types of relationships are captured, including ex-partners and family members.

All children can experience and be adversely affected by domestic abuse in the context of their home life where domestic abuse occurs between family members, including where those being abusive do not live with the child. Experiencing domestic abuse can have a significant impact on children. Section 3 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 recognises the impact of domestic abuse on children (0 to 18), as victims in their own right, if they see, 234 As set out in the Serious Crime Act 2015 Section 76, a child cannot be considered a victim of coercive or controlling behaviour if (see sub section 3) “A” has parental responsibility for “B” (the child) and if “B” is under the age of 16. To note, children aged 16 to 17 can be considered victims of coercive or controlling behaviour in their own personal relationships. 235 Controlling or coercive behaviour: statutory guidance 236 Domestic Abuse Act 2021: statutory guidance 237 Criminal exploitation of children and vulnerable adults: county lines guidance (Home Office) 238 Domestic Abuse Act 2021 164 hear or experience the effects of abuse.

Young people can also experience domestic abuse within their own intimate relationships. This form of child-on-child abuse is sometimes referred to as teenage relationship abuse. Depending on the age of the young people, this may not be recognised in law under the statutory definition of domestic abuse (if one or both parties are under 16). However, as with any child under 18, where there are concerns about safety or welfare, child safeguarding procedures should be followed and both young victims and young perpetrators should be offered support. The ‘Domestic Abuse Act 2021: statutory guidance’ provides further advice for frontline professionals who have responsibility for safeguarding and supporting victims of domestic abuse, including children. This guidance provides further information about the different forms of domestic abuse (including teenage relationship abuse and child to parent and carer abuse) and the impact of domestic abuse on children.

Group-based child sexual exploitation – Group-based is defined as two or more individuals (whether identified or not) who are known to (or associated with) one another and are known to be involved in or to facilitate the sexual exploitation of children. Being involved in the sexual exploitation of children includes e.g. introducing them to other individuals for the purpose of exploitation, trafficking a child for the purpose of sexual exploitation, taking payment for sexual activities with a child or allowing their property to be used for sexual activities with a child, etc. This can be perpetrated within or beyond the family, by both children and adults, and groups can be organised or loosely linked.

‘Honour’-based abuse – So-called ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) encompasses incidents or 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. Abuse committed in the context of preserving ‘honour’ often involves a wider network of family or community pressure and can include multiple perpetrators. It is important to be aware of this dynamic and additional risk factors when deciding what form of safeguarding action to take. All forms of HBA are abuse (regardless of the motivation) and should be handled and escalated as such. Professionals in all agencies, and individuals and groups in relevant communities, need to be alert to the possibility of a child being at risk of HBA, or already having suffered HBA.

Radicalisation –When we talk about radicalisation it means someone is being encouraged to develop extreme views or beliefs in support of terrorist groups and activities. radicalisation and the potential path towards terrorism and extremism can occur through face to face or online interactions. It is sadly the case that it is becoming easier than ever to be groomed by terrorist recruiters on the internet and to find extremist materials. Encouraging susceptible individuals to commit acts of terrorism on their own initiative is a deliberate tactic seen in emerging ideologies and seen in their propaganda. This is exacerbated by online environments which bring together and facilitate individuals sharing and validating thoughts and ideas.

Every case is different, and there is no checklist that can tell us if someone is being radicalised or becoming involved in terrorism. The importance of noticing the hallmarks of concern within these online communities, in friends or wider social spaces as well as work and educational settings has probably never been as important as it is now. There are some common signs that may mean someone is being radicalised.

Expressing an obsessive or angry sense of injustice about a situation and blaming this on others.
Expressing anger or extreme views towards a particular group such as a different race or religion.
Suggesting that violent action is the only way to solve an issue, sharing extreme views or hatred on social media.

It’s often the case that professional curiosity and belief in your own ability to determine if something just doesn’t sit right is sometimes a good check point to flag up where something may be going wrong, especially in the early stages of radicalisation.

Online Abuse-any type of abuse that happens on the internet. It can happen across any device that’s connected to the web, like computers, tablets, and mobile phones. It can happen anywhere online, including: social media, text messages and messaging apps, emails, online chats, online gaming and live-streaming sites. Children can be at risk of online abuse from people they know or from strangers. It might be part of other abuse which is taking place offline, like bullying or grooming. Or the abuse might only happen online. Children may experience several types of abuse online: Cyberbullying, Emotional abuse-which can include emotional blackmail, Sexting-pressure or coercion to create sexual images, Sexual abuse, Sexual exploitation and Grooming-perpetrators may use online platforms to build a trusting relationship with the child to abuse them.A child experiencing abuse online might:

-spend a lot more or a lot less time than usual online, texting, gaming or social media

-seem distant, upset or angry after using the internet or texting

-be secretive about who they’re talking to and what they’re doing online or on their mobile phone

-have lots of new phone numbers, texts or email addresses on their mobile phone, laptop or tablet

Be mindful that some of the signs of online abuse are similar to other types of abuse.

Appendix 4- The CADS Flowchart for Professionals

The CADS Flowchart for Professionals below, the CADS FAQS and further information on making a referral can be accessed here: How to Raise a Concern | Norfolk Safeguarding Children Partnership | PWWC