Identify the Current Lgislations, Guidelines, Policies and Procedures for Safegaurding the Welfare of Children and Young People

Often children die or get seriously injured due to abuse or avoidable accidents. Society has a duty to protect children. We have a range of professional organisations supported by legislation, policies and procedures in order to do this. When the procedures and policies do not work society has failed at the thing it is meant to do. It is vital and that the causes of failure are known and dealt with.

Section 47 of the Act places a duty upon local authorities to investigate such situations whereby 'there is reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering or likely to suffer harm'.

Children Act 2006 – Is an Act that defines the new duties imposed on the Local Authorities in respect to improving the Every Child Matters outcomes for pre-school children. The Act also defines new rules in relation to childcare for working parents as well as parental information services. It is aimed at improving the well-being of young children. It emphasises the importance of safeguarding children and young people within an educational setting. If a child discloses neglect or abuse; an establishment should have instructions to help the child. This could be referral to an outside organisation or internally.

To be able to safeguard children effectively we need to be aware of the following policies:

The following is an outline of current legislation, guidelines, policies and procedures within own UK Home Nation for safeguarding children

Children Act 1989 – Determines the duty of early year’s practitioners to identify and meet the separate and distinctive needs of children and to keep them safe. It initiated the belief that the child ought to be at the centre of planning and that a child’s well-being and safety are vital when judgements are made concerning them. This act also recognises the accountabilities of parents in keeping their offspring safe. In this act there are two particular segments that relate to the duty of local authority with concern to child protection, these are-

Child protection procedures should be linked with the Local Safeguarding Children Board’s procedures/All Wales Child Protection Procedures. The procedures and system should include a named person and deputy clearly defined with their role and responsibilities in relation to child protection. At my setting this is Jane the manager. A description of what child abuse is, how to respond to it where there are concerns about a child’s safety or welfare or concerns about who looks after the child at pre-school/ home. Children Act 1989 identifies the responsibilities of parents/professionals who must work to ensure the safety of the child. The Education Act 2002 sets out the responsibilities of Local Education Authorities (LEAs), to ensure that children are safe and free from harm.

Working together to safeguard children 2006 sets out how organisations and individuals should work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people in accordance with the Children’s Act 1989 and the Children’s Act 2004. It is important that all practitioners within settings and environments looking and caring after children and young people must know their responsibilities and duties in order to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people, following their legislations, policies and procedures.

Firstly before any legislation that a child is assessed under, an assessment has to be carried out to ascertain the following:

Children’s Act 1989: Identifies the responsibilities of parents and professionals who must work to ensure the safety and welfare of the child/young person. Two important sections included in the act are:

It emphasises the important principles to be followed when working with children and young people: settings must provide a safe and secure environment, if any children are identified as suffering from abuse or likely to suffer the appropriate action must be taken.

Take emergency action if children are in immediate danger – this may involve removing the child from the situation or alternatively removing the perpetrator

If any professional becomes concerned that a child might be at risk of abuse, be it physical, sexual, emotional or neglect, it is their legal duty to pass on such concerns to the appropriate professionals who can assess if and what action should be taken. In cases where it will not put the child at greater risk or danger, the parents / carers of the child will be informed that such action has been taken.

• The Police also have powers to enter premises to ensure that children are immediately protected against significant harm

Unless the child is at risk of harm, a child should not be taken from their family without family’s agreement