S121. Online Safety of Children and Adults at Risk
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Online Safety of Children and Adults at Risk Policy
Policy Statement
This policy mainly applies where a care service is providing support to children and young people. It could also apply to vulnerable adults who might lack mental capacity. Issues of e-safety are likely to arise when {{org_field_name}}’s staff are responsible for a person who is engaged in or seeks to obtain access to the Internet via computer or handheld device without the parents/guardians being present to give their consent.
The care provider is mindful of the UK Government’s attempt to restrict children’s exposure to amount of potentially harmful internet content through its Online Safety Act 2023.
It is also mindful of the need to work in line with Local Authority child safeguarding policies and procedures and the Government’s Working together to Safeguard Children Guidance 2023. The provider is aware that this guidance applies to online abuse as to any other form of abuse, including grooming, sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation, radicalisation and the role of technology and social media in presenting harm.
As the guidance states, “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”.
In these respects, online harm is covered in the provider’s other child safeguarding policies, particularly:
- Safeguarding Children and Young People in Domiciliary Care Policy, which covers the safeguarding of children as people who use services
- Safeguarding Children in the Home of a Person Receiving Care Policy, which covers the safeguarding needs of other children in the home.
In most care service situations access to and use of computers, handheld devices and of the Internet by children and vulnerable adults will be governed by the parents or representatives of the person using services, if required.
However, {{org_field_name}} will not agree to its staff becoming responsible for supervising access to illegal or inappropriate content and would not allow its staff to collude with this in any way.
Procedures — SMART Rules of Online Safety
As far as possible agency staff will work with parents of anyone using services who is a child or young person to comply with the basic SMART rules of online safety advocated by Education and Training UK.
- S = Safe. Keep safe by being careful not to give out personal information — such as your name, email, phone number, home address, or school name — to people who you don’t know online.
- M = Meeting. Meeting someone you have only been in touch with online can be dangerous. Do so only with your parents’/carers’ permissions and when they can be present.
- A = Accepting. Accepting emails, instant messenger messages or opening files from people you don’t know or trust can be dangerous; they might contain viruses or nasty messages.
- R = Reliable. Someone online might be lying about who they are, and information you find on the Internet might not be reliable.
- T = Tell. Tell your parent, your carer or a trusted adult if someone or something makes you feel uncomfortable or worried.
Where the care staff member considers that these rules are not being followed or are being misapplied they should discuss the issue with the person’s parents or guardians and report their concerns to their manager, who will attempt to address any issue that could compromise the service agreement or care plan.
In instances where it is thought that the person using services is at risk of harm as a result of online safety rules not being followed, the issue might need to be addressed through invoking safeguarding of people from abuse/harm procedures in line with {{org_field_name}}’s main child safeguarding policies (see above).
By harm {{org_field_name}} means exposure to content, which can be produced in different ways and might involve criminal acts, that can or does cause adverse physical reactions and/or emotional distress and disturbance to the young person or vulnerable adult. Harmful online content and activity includes cyberbullying, racism, misogynistic abuse, pornography and material promoting violence and self-harm.
Any staff member who encourages or colludes with a person to engage in illegal or inappropriate internet usage and/or puts the person using services at risk of harm as a result of their lack of supervision or collusion will face disciplinary action, which could lead to dismissal and referral to the current disclosure and barring service as someone who might not be suitable to be employed to work with vulnerable children or adults.
Training
All staff involved in online safety issues in the user’s home or place of residence are trained in the above safeguarding procedures.
New staff are introduced to this policy and procedure in their induction training.
Responsible Person: {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}
Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}
Next review date: this policy is reviewed annually (every 12 months). When needed, this policy is also updated in response to changes in legislation, regulation, best practices, or organisational changes.
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