Safeguarding Framework
Purpose and aims
The purpose of this Safeguarding statement for Alongside Psychology is to ensure and evidence that we:
are committed to a robust culture of vigilance and challenge around children’s safety and wellbeing. This includes the children of adults who use our services
provide clients, professional partners and anyone working with us with a statement of the principles guiding our approach to child protection and safeguarding.
Legal framework
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England. A summary of the key legislation and guidance is available from NSPCC https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/safeguarding-child-protection
Related documents
This statement is referenced in and/or also relevant to the principles of the following other Alongside Psychology documents
Supervision Agreement
Privacy Policy/GDPR statement
Terms and Conditions
Ethos
Our ethos is:
The child’s welfare is of paramount importance.
Follow the statutory duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Furthermore, to maintain a professional attitude of ‘it could happen anywhere’ where safeguarding is concerned.
No single practitioner can have the full picture of a child’s needs and circumstances meaning that communication with others, paying attention to information sharing guidance (GDPR), is an essential part of safeguarding culture and practice.
All children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse.
We recognise that some children are more vulnerable to abuse, neglect and exploitation as a result of their previous experiences; their level of needs and dependency on adults (particularly around communication); their identity as part of minoritized or discriminated against communities. These children and young people may need additional safeguards to stay safe from abuse. Links to resources to find out more about safeguarding children who may have additional vulnerabilities can be found here:
Safeguarding children from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities | NSPCC Learning
Safeguarding d/Deaf and disabled children and young people | NSPCC Learning
Safeguarding LGBTQ+ children and young people | NSPCC Learning
Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) | NSPCC Learning
How we keep children and young people safe
We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:
When working with children and their families, we will make all efforts possible to capture the voice of the child and to try and understand what their daily lived experiences are like by developing and maintaining relationships and in developing a relationship of trust. We make it our business to know our children and their parents/ carers and understand their lives and the challenges they and their families face. These are the conditions which enable children to speak up about their experiences.
We will consider whether children are at risk of abuse or exploitation in situations both inside and outside their families. Extra-familial harms take a variety of different forms and children can be vulnerable to multiple harms including, but not limited to, sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation, radicalisation (in person or online) and serious youth violence.
As a West Sussex based service, we will follow the procedures set out by West Sussex Safeguarding Children’s Partnership. When working with families from other counties and areas, we will also refer to their local procedures.
We have a responsibility to act without delay to protect children by reporting anything that might suggest a child is being abused or neglected. Where there is no suggestion that reporting following a discussion with parents, carers and other key people in the child’s life is likely to cause further harm, our ethos is to communicate concerns and discuss with the key adults first. This will always be the case if referring for support from Early Help Services which is based on consent from the adult(s) with parental responsibility.
If the concern is urgent and delaying reporting will cause a potentially damaging delay OR if there is a reasonable belief that alerting key adults to a potential referral is likely to put the child at further risk, a referral to the West Sussex Integrated Front Door Safeguarding Team (or appropriate service in another locality) and/or the Police will be made prior to communication with the adult(s) with parental responsibility. We will take into consideration proportionate sharing of information and confidentiality according to the Alongside Psychology Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions (confidentiality and information sharing) documents.
Ensuring that as a specialist provider we maintain knowledge and understanding as well as embedding safeguarding, through Continuous Professional Development so that safeguarding is a robust element of our practice.
Kathryn will ensure that updating safeguarding children refresher training is undertaken at least every 3 years.
Kathryn will maintain enhanced DBS certificate via the DBS update service
Kathryn is subscribed to the NSPCC CASPAR weekly update to receive regular information, research and guidance on policy and practice in keeping children safe.
Kathryn has clinical supervision with an experienced Clinical Psychologist and may take dilemmas and concerns to supervision for reflection. The supervisor has their own Safeguarding framework and Privacy/GDPR policy and will not store any identifying information about any clients Kathryn shares with them. The supervisor will offer advice and recommendations to Kathryn about her safeguarding practice. The supervisor can take action to report any concerns about Kathryn’s practice to relevant safeguarding authorities and/or professional regulators.
Contact details
The nominated safeguarding and child protection lead for Alongside Psychology is Dr Kathryn Whyte, Clinical Psychologist
07427835820
Referral links and other safeguarding resources
West Sussex Integrated Front Door
(including MASH – Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub) for all early help, safeguarding and child protection concerns
Or call 01403 229900 Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm and 033 022 26664 out of hours evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
NSPCC helpline
NSPCC helpline for support, guidance or to raise a concern about the safety or wellbeing of a child or young person under 18 years old. Call 0808 800 5000 Monday to Friday 10am – 4pm
Childline
Phone and text chat service for children and young people under 18 who have concerns or want a listening adult to talk to and who can offer support.
Call 0800 1111 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or https://www.childline.org.uk/get-support/contacting-childline/ to read about the full range of Childline services
West Sussex LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer)
To discuss concerns or suspicions that a professional or volunteer in a children’s setting is causing harm of any kind to a child or young person under the age of 18.
Call 0330 222 6450 Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm or email LADO@WestSussex.gov.uk
The NSPCC whistleblowing helpline
The NSPCC whistleblowing helpline is available for staff who do not feel able to raise concerns regarding child protection failures in their organisation. Staff can call on 0800 028 0285 and the line is available from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday. Email: help@nspcc.org.uk
West Sussex Safeguarding Adults
To report a concern about a vulnerable adult experiencing, or at risk of being abused or neglected. Or to get advice about other services for adults in need of support and protection
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023
Link to full guidance document (168 pages):
Illustrated guide for children and families (60 pages)