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{{org_field_name}}

Registration Number: {{org_field_registration_no}}

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Safeguarding Children from Abuse and Improper Treatment Policy

1. Purpose

At {{org_field_name}}, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every child and young person with whom the service has contact and to protecting them from abuse, neglect, exploitation, discrimination, degrading treatment, unlawful restraint and other forms of improper treatment. This policy sets out the arrangements for preventing, recognising, reporting and responding to safeguarding concerns in accordance with the Children Act 1989, the Children Act 2004, Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026, the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 where applicable to young people aged 16 and 17, the Equality Act 2010, the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR, and the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, including Regulation 13: Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatment.

The purpose of this policy is to:

• Prevent harm, abuse, and neglect by creating a safe and supportive environment.
• Ensure staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and act upon concerns effectively.
• Ensure compliance with national and local safeguarding procedures.
• Promote a child-centred approach where the best interests of the child are always the primary concern.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all staff, volunteers, contractors, and agency workers working with or coming into contact with children in our service. It covers:

• Types of child abuse and signs to look out for
• Safeguarding procedures and reporting concerns
• Roles and responsibilities of staff and designated safeguarding leads
• Working in partnership with multi-agency safeguarding teams
• Confidentiality, record-keeping, and information sharing

3. Related Policies

• SL13 – Safeguarding Adults from Abuse and Improper Treatment Policy
• SL34 – Confidentiality and Data Protection (GDPR) Policy
• SL21 – Medication Management and Administration Policy
• SL12 – Safe Care and Treatment Policy
• SL07 – Person-Centred Care Policy
• SL16 – Infection Prevention and Control Policy
• SL08 – Dignity and Respect Policy

4. Legal and Regulatory Compliance

This policy must be implemented in accordance with the applicable safeguarding, health and social care, equality, information governance and safer recruitment legislation and statutory guidance in England, including:

• Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 – Regulation 13: Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatment. {{org_field_name}} must protect service users from abuse and improper treatment, operate effective systems and processes to prevent abuse, and investigate immediately upon becoming aware of any allegation or evidence of abuse. Care and treatment must not involve unlawful discrimination, unnecessary or disproportionate restraint, degrading treatment or significant disregard of a person’s needs. A service user must not be deprived of their liberty without lawful authority.
• Children Act 1989. The welfare of the child must be properly safeguarded. Concerns that a child is suffering or is likely to suffer significant harm must be referred to the relevant local authority children’s social care service so that the appropriate statutory safeguarding response can be considered.
• Children Act 2004. Relevant organisations and professionals must work effectively together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
• Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026. {{org_field_name}} will follow the current statutory safeguarding framework for multi-agency working, responding to concerns about children and managing allegations against people who work with children.
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 and associated Disclosure and Barring Service requirements. {{org_field_name}} will operate safer recruitment arrangements and will make referrals to the Disclosure and Barring Service where the statutory referral conditions are met.
• Mental Capacity Act 2005. The Act applies, subject to its statutory provisions and exceptions, to young people aged 16 and 17 where a decision-specific assessment of capacity is required. Decisions made on behalf of a young person who lacks capacity must comply with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and its best interests requirements.
• Equality Act 2010. Children and young people must be protected from unlawful discrimination. Safeguarding arrangements must take account of protected characteristics and any additional risks of abuse, discrimination or exploitation associated with them.
• Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR. Personal information must be processed lawfully and securely. Data protection legislation must not be used as a reason to prevent necessary and proportionate information sharing where information needs to be shared to safeguard a child.
• Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009. Where an incident, allegation or other event meets the statutory criteria for notification to CQC, the registered person must ensure that the required notification is made without delay and in accordance with CQC requirements.

The organisation will also comply with the safeguarding partnership arrangements, thresholds, referral pathways and escalation procedures applicable in the local authority area in which the child is located.

5. Recognising and Preventing Abuse

5.1 Types of Abuse and Improper Treatment

Staff must understand that abuse may be a single incident or repeated behaviour and may be deliberate or arise through neglect, poor practice or a failure to act. Abuse may be perpetrated by a member of staff, volunteer, contractor, another service user, family member, carer, visitor, peer, professional, acquaintance or any other person.

Types of abuse, neglect, exploitation and improper treatment may include:

• Physical abuse – including hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, scalding, drowning, suffocating, inappropriate physical punishment or otherwise causing physical harm.
• Emotional or psychological abuse – including persistent humiliation, intimidation, threats, rejection, isolation, bullying, coercion, controlling behaviour or behaviour that causes serious adverse effects on a child’s emotional development or psychological wellbeing.
• Sexual abuse – including causing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child understands what is happening; sexual contact; non-contact sexual activity; grooming; sexual exploitation; involving a child in sexual images or material; or any behaviour towards a child constituting an offence under applicable sexual offences legislation.
• Neglect – including the persistent or serious failure to meet a child’s physical or psychological needs where this is likely to result in serious impairment of the child’s health or development. This may include failure to provide appropriate food, clothing, shelter, supervision, healthcare, medication, personal care, education, emotional support or protection from harm.
• Child sexual exploitation and child criminal exploitation – where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child into sexual or criminal activity. This includes exploitation associated with county lines, trafficking, organised crime, forced criminality and other forms of exploitation.
• Domestic abuse – including circumstances in which a child experiences the effects of domestic abuse in their household or family relationships. Staff must recognise the safeguarding impact that domestic abuse can have on children.
• Online or technology-facilitated abuse – including online grooming, sexual exploitation, cyberbullying, coercion, threats, sharing or requesting sexual images, exposure to harmful material, financial exploitation and other abuse facilitated through digital communications or technology.
• Financial or material abuse – including theft, fraud, exploitation, misuse or misappropriation of a child’s money, benefits, possessions or property.
• Discriminatory abuse or treatment – including abuse, harassment or unfavourable treatment connected with a protected characteristic or other aspect of the child’s identity.
• Organisational or institutional abuse – including abusive, neglectful, degrading or unsafe practice arising from the structure, routines, culture, systems or practices of the service.
• Improper or degrading treatment – including treatment that humiliates, degrades or significantly disregards a child’s assessed care, treatment, welfare, dignity or support needs.
• Unlawful or disproportionate restraint or restriction – including the unnecessary or disproportionate use or threat of force, or physical, mechanical or chemical restriction of a child’s liberty of movement. Restrictive intervention must never be used for punishment, staff convenience, coercion or as a substitute for appropriate care.
• Trafficking and modern slavery – including recruitment, movement, harbouring or exploitation of a child for criminal, sexual, labour or other exploitative purposes.

This list is not exhaustive. Staff must report any behaviour, omission, practice or circumstance that causes, may cause, or creates a significant risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation or improper treatment.

5.2 Signs and Indicators of Abuse

Staff must be trained to identify signs of abuse, which may include:

• Unexplained bruises, burns, fractures, or injuries.
• Changes in behaviour, such as withdrawal, extreme aggression, anxiety, depression, or reluctance to be around certain individuals.
• Fear of a particular person or environment.
• Poor hygiene, malnutrition, or sudden weight loss.
• Delayed speech, motor development, or regression in skills.
• Unexplained school absences or sudden decline in academic performance.
• Inappropriate sexual knowledge or behaviour for the child’s age.
• Flinching when approached or reluctance to go home.
• Persistent hunger, hoarding food, or lack of suitable clothing for weather conditions.

5.3 Preventing Abuse

Preventing abuse is a shared responsibility across the organisation. Preventative measures include:

• Recruitment and Safer Staffing – Ensuring all staff and volunteers undergo enhanced DBS checks and thorough recruitment vetting.
• Code of Conduct – Ensuring all staff adhere to strict professional boundaries.
• Education and Awareness – Training children (where appropriate) on staying safe, recognising abuse, and knowing how to report concerns.
• Creating a Safe Environment – Implementing clear safeguarding policies, supervision, and whistleblowing procedures.
• Empowering Children – Encouraging children to express their feelings and providing opportunities for them to talk about concerns in a safe setting.

6. Safeguarding Procedures and Reporting Concerns

6.1 Responding to a Child Safeguarding Concern

All safeguarding concerns about a child must be taken seriously and acted upon without delay.

• If a child is in immediate danger, has sustained a serious injury, requires urgent medical treatment or an emergency crime is taking place, staff must call 999 immediately. Necessary emergency action must not be delayed while seeking permission from a manager or Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Staff must take any immediate and proportionate action necessary to protect the child and any other person who may be at risk.
• Any safeguarding concern, allegation, disclosure, suspicion or evidence of abuse, neglect, exploitation or improper treatment must be reported immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Registered Manager in accordance with the organisation’s safeguarding reporting arrangements.
• Reporting a concern internally does not remove an individual’s responsibility to act. Where there is an immediate safeguarding risk, where delay may place the child at further risk, or where the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Registered Manager is unavailable, staff must contact the relevant local authority children’s social care service and/or the police directly as appropriate.

When a child makes a disclosure, staff must:

• remain calm and listen carefully;
• take what the child says seriously;
• allow the child to speak in their own words;
• avoid leading, suggestive, repeated or investigative questioning;
• not promise confidentiality or promise that information will be kept secret;
• explain, in a way the child can understand, that information may need to be shared with people who can help keep them safe;
• reassure the child that they have done the right thing by speaking;
• not confront the alleged perpetrator or undertake their own investigation; and
• record the disclosure as soon as possible.

The written safeguarding record must include:

• the child’s name and identifying information;
• the date, time and location of the incident, observation or disclosure;
• the date and time the concern was reported;
• the child’s own words wherever possible;
• factual observations, including any visible injuries or relevant behaviour;
• the name of the person raising the concern;
• the name of the person to whom the concern was reported;
• immediate protective action taken;
• details of referrals, discussions or advice received from children’s social care, the police, LADO, healthcare professionals or other relevant agencies;
• decisions made and the reasons for those decisions; and
• required follow-up action and the person responsible for completing it.

Safeguarding records must clearly distinguish between fact, direct observation, information provided by another person and professional opinion.

Where there is reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering or is likely to suffer significant harm, the matter must be referred promptly to the relevant local authority children’s social care service so that the appropriate statutory response, including consideration of action under section 47 of the Children Act 1989, can be determined.

The organisation must cooperate fully with children’s social care, the police, health services, the LADO and other safeguarding partners and must implement without delay any necessary protective action arising from safeguarding enquiries or investigations.

If a member of staff believes that a safeguarding concern has not been responded to appropriately, they must escalate the concern through management, the local safeguarding escalation arrangements and/or the organisation’s Whistleblowing Policy as appropriate. No member of staff must allow disagreement between professionals or agencies to result in a child remaining at avoidable risk.

6.2 Designated Safeguarding Lead Responsibilities

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) ({{org_field_safeguarding_lead_name}}, {{org_field_safeguarding_lead_role}} is responsible for coordinating the organisation’s safeguarding arrangements.

The DSL must:

• ensure that safeguarding concerns are acted upon promptly and in accordance with legislation, Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026, CQC requirements and relevant local safeguarding procedures;
• provide safeguarding advice and support to staff while making clear that seeking management advice must never delay emergency or necessary safeguarding action;
• ensure appropriate referrals are made promptly to children’s social care, the police, the LADO or other relevant agencies;
• ensure that allegations meeting the LADO criteria are referred or notified in accordance with local arrangements and within the required timescale;
• ensure that the immediate safety, welfare, wishes and needs of the child are considered throughout safeguarding decision-making;
• maintain accurate, chronological and secure safeguarding records, including the concern raised, information received, risk identified, referrals made, advice received, decisions taken, reasons for decisions and follow-up actions;
• ensure that safeguarding records are retained and shared lawfully and securely;
• ensure that relevant safeguarding information is transferred appropriately when responsibility for a child’s care or safeguarding transfers to another service or professional;
• ensure that the organisation cooperates with statutory safeguarding enquiries, strategy discussions, child protection processes, LADO processes and child safeguarding practice reviews where required;
• monitor safeguarding cases to ensure agreed actions are completed and unresolved risks are escalated;
• ensure that CQC notifications and any other statutory notifications are made where the legal notification criteria are met;
• consider whether the statutory conditions requiring a Disclosure and Barring Service referral have been met following concerns about a person engaged in regulated activity;
• ensure staff receive safeguarding information and training appropriate to their roles and are informed of relevant changes to national and local safeguarding arrangements;
• ensure that lessons from safeguarding incidents, complaints, investigations, audits and reviews are identified and translated into changes in practice where necessary; and
• provide safeguarding oversight and assurance to the Registered Manager and provider’s senior governance arrangements.

6.3 Reporting to External Agencies

Safeguarding referrals must be made through the referral arrangements published by the relevant local authority children’s social care service and local safeguarding partnership.

Local arrangements must be kept current and accessible to staff, including:

• Local Authority Children’s Social Care: {{org_field_children_safeguarding_local_authority_authority_name}}
• Website/referral information: {{org_field_local_authority_information_link}}
• Local multi-agency safeguarding or MASH contact, where applicable: {{org_field_children_multi_agency_safeguarding_hub_authority_name}}
• MASH/referral information: {{org_field_children_multi_agency_safeguarding_hub_authority_information_link}}
• Out-of-hours children’s social care contact: {{out_of_hours}}
• Police emergency: 999
• Police non-emergency: 101

The Registered Manager and Designated Safeguarding Lead must ensure that these details are checked regularly against the relevant local authority’s current published safeguarding arrangements.

Where a child is suffering or is likely to suffer significant harm, a referral must be made without delay to children’s social care and/or the police as appropriate. Internal reporting requirements must not delay a necessary external referral.

Where there is uncertainty about whether the threshold for referral has been met, advice must be sought promptly from children’s social care in accordance with the relevant local safeguarding arrangements. The advice received, the decision made and the reasons for the decision must be recorded.

If the organisation considers that an external agency’s response does not adequately address an identified risk to a child, the matter must be escalated through the relevant local safeguarding partnership’s professional challenge or escalation procedure. Safeguarding responsibility does not end merely because a referral has been made.

Notification to the Care Quality Commission

Where {{org_field_name}} is providing a CQC-regulated activity, the Registered Person must consider whether the safeguarding incident also requires notification to the Care Quality Commission under the Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009.

Where a statutory notification is required, it must be submitted to CQC without delay using the notification method specified by CQC. Making a referral to children’s social care, the police, LADO or another organisation does not replace any separate legal duty to notify CQC.

A record must be maintained of:

• whether a CQC notification was required;
• the basis for that decision;
• the date the notification was submitted;
• the person who submitted it; and
• any acknowledgement, reference number or subsequent communication from CQC.

All communications with safeguarding agencies must be recorded, including the date and time of contact, the agency contacted, the person spoken to where known, the information shared, advice received, decisions made and follow-up action required.

Reporting Allegations or Concerns About People Who Work With Children – Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)

{{org_field_name}} will follow Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026 and the relevant local authority procedures for managing allegations against people who work with children.

The LADO process applies where an allegation or information indicates that a person who works or volunteers with children has:

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

These criteria may apply to information concerning the person’s conduct inside or outside work where that conduct may have implications for their suitability to work with children.

Any allegation meeting or potentially meeting these criteria must be reported immediately to the Registered Manager or Designated Safeguarding Lead. Where the allegation concerns the Registered Manager, it must be reported to the appropriate senior person within the provider organisation.

The organisation must ensure that the relevant LADO or local authority designated officer arrangements are informed in accordance with local procedures and within one working day where the allegation meets the applicable criteria. Advice from the LADO must be sought before commencing an internal investigation where doing so could prejudice or interfere with a child protection or criminal investigation.

The organisation must:

• take immediate action necessary to safeguard the child and any other child who may be at risk;
• consider whether children’s social care and/or the police also need to be contacted;
• preserve relevant records, documents, electronic information and other potential evidence;
• maintain appropriate confidentiality;
• cooperate fully with the LADO, children’s social care, police, CQC and other relevant bodies;
• ensure that employment or disciplinary processes are coordinated appropriately with safeguarding and criminal investigations;
• record all referrals, discussions, advice, decisions, reasons and actions;
• consider whether a statutory notification to CQC is required; and
• consider whether the legal conditions requiring referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service have been met.

No member of staff should undertake their own investigation into an allegation before appropriate safeguarding and LADO advice has been obtained where external investigation may be required.

Suspension or Alternative Duties

Suspension must not be automatic following an allegation. The organisation will undertake an individual risk assessment and consider the available safeguarding information and advice from the LADO and other relevant agencies.

Where necessary and proportionate to protect children or preserve the integrity of an investigation, the organisation may suspend the person or implement alternative arrangements, such as non-contact duties, in accordance with employment law and the organisation’s disciplinary procedures.

The welfare and safety of children must remain the primary safeguarding consideration while ensuring that allegations are managed fairly, objectively and without prejudging their outcome.

Outcome and DBS Consideration

At the conclusion of the safeguarding and employment processes, {{org_field_name}} will record the outcome and any action required to protect children.

Where the organisation removes a person from regulated activity, or would or might have removed them had they not resigned, retired, been made redundant or otherwise ceased the activity, because the relevant statutory harm conditions are met, the organisation will make a referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service where required by law.

A referral to the LADO, children’s social care, police or CQC does not remove or replace any separate legal obligation to make a DBS referral.

Contact details for the relevant LADO service must be kept current and readily available to the Registered Manager, Designated Safeguarding Lead and other appropriate senior managers.

6.4 Disclosure and Barring Service Referrals

{{org_field_name}} will comply with its legal duties under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 in relation to referrals to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Where {{org_field_name}} is a regulated activity provider, the Registered Manager or other authorised senior manager must consider whether a DBS referral is legally required whenever a person has been removed from regulated activity because the relevant statutory harm conditions are met.

This consideration must also take place where the organisation would or might have removed the person from regulated activity had the person not:

• resigned;
• retired;
• been dismissed for another reason;
• been made redundant;
• been transferred or redeployed;
• ceased to provide services; or
• otherwise stopped engaging in regulated activity.

A person leaving the organisation does not end the organisation’s responsibility to consider and, where required, make a DBS referral.

The organisation must:

• make required referrals promptly;
• provide the DBS with the prescribed and relevant information held by the organisation;
• retain a record of the decision whether or not to refer and the reasons for that decision; and
• cooperate with lawful requests for additional information from the DBS.

A referral to the DBS is separate from referrals or notifications to children’s social care, the LADO, police, CQC or any professional regulator. One referral does not remove the obligation to make another where the respective statutory criteria are met.

7. Staff Training and Competency

7.1 Mandatory Safeguarding Training

• All staff must complete annual safeguarding children training.
• The DSL must complete advanced safeguarding and multi-agency training.
• Training will cover:
  • Recognising abuse and neglect.
  • Responding appropriately to disclosures.
  • Recording and reporting safeguarding concerns.
  • Multi-agency collaboration and information sharing.

7.2 Competency Assessments

• Staff must undergo regular safeguarding competency assessments.
• Any staff failing assessments will be retrained before working with children.

8. Confidentiality and Information Sharing

8.1 Record-Keeping

• All safeguarding concerns must be documented in secure, confidential records.
• Records should include:
  • Date, time, and details of the concern.
  • Child’s statement (if applicable).
  • Actions taken and decisions made.
  • Name and contact details of involved professionals.

8.2 Data Protection and Safeguarding Information Sharing

Personal information relating to safeguarding must be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018, UK GDPR, the organisation’s data protection policies and applicable safeguarding legislation and guidance.

Data protection legislation must not be used as a reason to withhold information where sharing is necessary and lawful to safeguard a child.

Staff must:

• consider whether there is a lawful basis for sharing the information;
• share information without consent where this is necessary and lawful to protect a child or another person from harm, support a statutory safeguarding function, prevent or detect crime, or comply with another legal obligation;
• seek consent where appropriate, but must not seek consent where doing so could place the child or another person at increased risk, prejudice an investigation or otherwise be inappropriate;
• share only information that is necessary, relevant, proportionate, adequate and accurate for the safeguarding purpose;
• share information promptly and securely;
• share information only with persons or organisations that have a legitimate safeguarding need for it; and
• record the decision to share or not share information, the reasons for the decision, the information shared, the recipient and the purpose.

Where staff are uncertain about information sharing, they should seek prompt advice from the Designated Safeguarding Lead, Registered Manager or Data Protection Lead. Seeking advice must not delay urgent action necessary to protect a child.

9. Multi-Agency Collaboration

• {{org_field_name}} works in partnership with social services, healthcare professionals, police, and education providers to protect children.
• Regular safeguarding meetings will be attended by the DSL to ensure case updates and collaborative interventions.
• Staff must comply with any Child Protection Plans or multi-agency safeguarding protocols.

10. Mental Capacity Act and Children

10.1 Application of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 to Young People

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 applies to people aged 16 and over, subject to the provisions and exceptions contained within the Act.

For a young person aged 16 or 17:

• capacity must be assessed in relation to the specific decision that needs to be made and at the time the decision needs to be made;
• the young person must be presumed to have capacity unless it is established that they lack capacity;
• all practicable steps must be taken to support the young person to make the decision before concluding that they lack capacity;
• a person must not be treated as lacking capacity merely because they make a decision that others consider unwise; and
• any act or decision undertaken on behalf of a young person who lacks capacity must comply with the Mental Capacity Act 2005, including the best interests and least restrictive requirements.

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 does not generally apply to children under 16. Where a child under 16 is making a decision about care or treatment, staff must apply the appropriate legal framework for that decision, including consideration of whether the child has sufficient understanding and intelligence to make the particular decision where the principle of Gillick competence is relevant.

Staff must seek appropriate professional or legal advice where there is uncertainty about consent, parental responsibility, capacity, best interests or the legal authority for proposed care or restrictions.

10.2 Best Interests Decisions

Where a young person aged 16 or 17 lacks capacity to make a particular decision, any decision made on their behalf must comply with the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

The decision-maker must:

• identify the specific decision to be made;
• ensure that the capacity assessment is decision-specific and properly recorded;
• consider all relevant circumstances;
• support and encourage the young person to participate as fully as possible;
• consider the young person’s past and present wishes and feelings, beliefs and values;
• consult appropriate persons involved in the young person’s welfare where it is practicable and appropriate to do so;
• consider whether the purpose can be achieved in a less restrictive way; and
• record the decision, the information considered and the reasons why the chosen option is considered to be in the young person’s best interests.

A formal best interests meeting should be convened where the decision is serious or complex, there is significant disagreement, multiple organisations are involved, substantial restrictions are proposed, or a coordinated decision is required.

Where there is disagreement concerning capacity, consent, parental responsibility, serious medical treatment, restrictions or the proposed best interests decision, appropriate specialist or legal advice must be obtained. An application to the Court of Protection or another court may be required depending on the young person’s age, the issue concerned and the legal jurisdiction applicable to the decision.

10.3 Deprivation of Liberty and Children and Young People

The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards contained within the Mental Capacity Act 2005 do not apply to people under the age of 18.

However, a child or young person must not be deprived of their liberty as part of their care or treatment arrangements unless there is lawful authority for that deprivation.

Where care arrangements for a child or young person may amount to a deprivation of liberty, the Registered Manager must ensure that:

• the arrangements are identified promptly;
• the restrictions are individually assessed, necessary and proportionate;
• less restrictive alternatives have been considered;
• the child’s or young person’s views, wishes and feelings are considered;
• relevant capacity, consent and parental responsibility issues are addressed;
• the commissioning authority, social worker and other relevant professionals are informed without delay;
• appropriate legal advice is obtained where necessary; and
• the required court or other lawful authorisation is obtained before an unauthorised deprivation of liberty is permitted to continue.

For a young person aged 16 or 17 who lacks capacity to consent to arrangements amounting to a deprivation of liberty, authorisation may require an application to the Court of Protection under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

For a child under 16, the appropriate legal route will depend on the child’s circumstances and the proposed restrictions. Advice must therefore be obtained from the placing or commissioning authority and, where required, from legal advisers so that the correct statutory or court authorisation is obtained.

No member of staff may introduce, materially increase or continue restrictions amounting to a deprivation of liberty merely because the restrictions are contained in a care plan, have been agreed by family members or are considered operationally convenient.

All restrictive practices must be documented, regularly reviewed and reduced or removed as soon as they are no longer necessary or proportionate.

11. Policy Availability

Availability to Staff Through Training and Documentation

All employees must be well-informed about the Safeguarding Children Policy and their responsibilities under it.

• New Staff Induction: All new employees must be trained on safeguarding procedures as part of their induction.
• Ongoing Training: Annual refresher training must be provided to ensure staff remain updated on best practices.
• Access to Written Copies: The policy must be available in digital and printed formats at all workplace locations.
• Regular Briefings: Safeguarding must be discussed in staff meetings, supervisions, and team briefings.

Availability to Children, Advocates, Family Members and Legal Representatives

Children, their advocates, family members and persons lawfully acting on their behalf must be able to obtain information about how {{org_field_name}} safeguards children and how concerns can be raised.

{{org_field_name}} will:

• make the Safeguarding Children from Abuse and Improper Treatment Policy available upon request;
• provide information in an accessible format appropriate to the child’s age, communication needs and circumstances where required;
• provide information about how safeguarding concerns can be reported internally;
• provide current contact or referral information for the relevant Local Authority Children’s Social Care service;
• explain how concerns can be raised directly with external safeguarding organisations where appropriate; and
• provide information about contacting CQC where the matter relates to a CQC-regulated service.

Information will be provided in a way that does not compromise the safety of a child, breach another person’s confidentiality unnecessarily or interfere with a safeguarding or criminal investigation.

12. Policy Review and Continuous Improvement

12.1 Monitoring Safeguarding Practices

• Quarterly audits will assess safeguarding compliance.
• Lessons learned from safeguarding cases will be used to improve procedures.
• Feedback from children, families, and staff will be reviewed to enhance safeguarding approaches.

12.2 Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually or sooner if required due to:

• Changes in safeguarding legislation.
• Updates from Local Safeguarding Partnerships or CQC guidance.
• Findings from internal audits or external inspections.

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Responsible Person: {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}}{{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}
Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}
Next Review Date: {{next_review_date}}
Copyright © {{current_year}} – {{org_field_name}}. All rights reserved.