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CH218-Protecting Children and Young People from Bullying, Harassment, and Exploitation Policy

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Protecting Children and Young People from Bullying, Harassment, and Exploitation Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all children and young people supported by {{org_field_name}} are protected from all forms of bullying, harassment, and exploitation while receiving care in their homes. This policy promotes a culture of safety, respect, and zero tolerance for abuse in any form. It aligns with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, particularly Regulation 13 (Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatment), Regulation 10 (Dignity and respect), and Regulation 17 (Good governance), and reflects statutory safeguarding duties and expectations including the Children Act 1989 and 2004 and Working Together to Safeguard Children (statutory guidance, 2023).

Where children and young people we support also attend education settings, staff will be mindful of education safeguarding expectations (for example, Keeping Children Safe in Education) as contextual best practice; however, our organisational safeguarding requirements are governed by health and social care legislation, CQC regulations, and statutory multi-agency safeguarding guidance. We also align with CQC’s assessment approach under the Single Assessment Framework, particularly the ‘Safe’ key question and the ‘Safeguarding’ quality statement, demonstrating that people are protected from abuse, harassment, avoidable harm and neglect and that concerns are recognised, escalated, recorded and learned from.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all employees, volunteers, agency staff, and contractors working with or in the presence of children and young people under the age of 18 in their own homes or community settings. It also informs families, advocates, and professionals involved in multidisciplinary care planning. It covers verbal, emotional, physical, sexual, and cyber-related forms of abuse or exploitation.

This policy also covers: (a) concerns and allegations about staff, volunteers, agency workers, contractors or other professionals (including low-level concerns and conduct outside work that may pose a safeguarding risk); (b) peer-on-peer abuse (including sexual violence and sexual harassment); (c) contextual safeguarding risks such as exploitation linked to locations, peer groups and online communities; and (d) safeguarding incidents occurring during the delivery of care in the community, during transport arranged or undertaken by staff, or in any setting where staff are working on behalf of {{org_field_name}}.

3. Related Policies

4. Policy Statement and Principles

{{org_field_name}} has a zero-tolerance approach to any form of bullying, harassment, grooming, or exploitation of children and young people. All staff are responsible for recognising and responding to indicators of harm and for promoting a culture of safety, inclusion, and respect. The voices of children and young people are at the centre of our care planning, and all concerns must be taken seriously, acted upon promptly, and recorded appropriately.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. All staff must act on any concern, however small, and must not wait for proof. We will share information promptly with safeguarding partners where a child may be at risk of harm, in line with information-sharing principles and local safeguarding procedures. The safety and welfare of the child is paramount.

We will maintain clear safeguarding roles and cover. {{org_field_name}} will appoint a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and a Deputy DSL with defined responsibilities, authority to act, and access to senior decision-makers. The DSL/Deputy DSL contact details and out-of-hours arrangements will be available to staff at all times.

4.1 Recognising Bullying, Harassment, and Exploitation

Bullying is defined as repeated behaviour intended to hurt another individual, physically, emotionally, or socially. Harassment includes unwanted behaviour that offends, humiliates, or intimidates, often linked to protected characteristics such as race, gender, disability, or sexuality. Exploitation may be sexual, financial, or criminal, including grooming for County Lines, online abuse, or trafficking. Staff are trained to recognise signs such as withdrawal, fearfulness, bruising, aggression, anxiety, changes in behaviour, or excessive secrecy. Care workers are expected to remain alert to patterns of control or isolation.

Staff must also be alert to peer-on-peer abuse (including sexual violence, sexual harassment, coercive behaviour, initiation/hazing, image-based abuse and ‘sharing nudes/sexting’), sexual safety risks, and harassment or abuse occurring in the community or within family/social networks. Indicators may include changes in presentation, unexplained gifts or money, secrecy about online activity, fear of particular individuals or places, repeated missing episodes, or sudden changes in relationships.

4.2 Prevention and Risk Reduction

Every child or young person supported by {{org_field_name}} has an individual risk assessment and care plan that identifies vulnerabilities, communication needs, relationships, internet usage, and known risks. This is regularly reviewed and shared with involved agencies. Where necessary, risk management plans are created with input from social workers, safeguarding teams, and families. Staff must actively encourage safe peer interactions, supervise contact where necessary, and promote healthy relationships and boundaries through everyday interactions.

Risk assessments and care plans must also address: staff professional boundaries; lone working controls; safe visiting arrangements (including where there are adults in the household who may pose a risk); supervision requirements; managing access to the child by others (including visitors); and actions to take if staff feel unsafe or observe environmental risks (for example, weapons, substances, unsafe adults, or exploitation indicators). Controls must be proportionate, regularly reviewed, and recorded.

4.3 Reporting and Whistleblowing

All staff must report any concern or suspicion of bullying, harassment, or exploitation immediately to the Safeguarding Lead {{org_field_safeguarding_lead_name}}. Staff must not investigate concerns themselves or ask leading questions. Immediate actions must prioritise the child’s safety, urgent medical attention if required, and preservation of evidence (including saving screenshots and URLs for online incidents). Where a child is at immediate risk, emergency services must be contacted without delay. Staff may also report directly to the Children’s Safeguarding Local Authority: {{org_field_children_safeguarding_local_authority_authority_name}}.

Whistleblowing protections apply, and concerns may also be escalated using our CH29 – Whistleblowing Policy if internal reporting is not safe or effective.

4.4 Allegations or concerns about staff, volunteers or professionals

Any allegation or concern that a member of staff (including agency staff, contractors or volunteers) has: (a) behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have harmed, a child; (b) possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child; (c) behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm; or (d) behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children, must be escalated immediately to the Registered Manager (or on-call manager) and the DSL. Where the threshold is met, the Registered Manager/DSL will contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) for advice and will follow local procedures. The staff member may be removed from duties pending advice and risk assessment. Where appropriate, referrals will also be made to the DBS and any relevant professional regulator. All actions and decisions will be recorded, including the rationale.

4.5 Multi-Agency Safeguarding and Escalation

{{org_field_name}} works closely with safeguarding partners to manage risk and respond to incidents. If a referral is made, full cooperation is provided, and all relevant documentation is shared securely. Staff must follow escalation procedures if they feel a concern is not being taken seriously or acted upon quickly. All safeguarding referrals are logged, monitored, and reviewed by the Registered Manager {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}.

Information will be shared lawfully and proportionately with safeguarding partners where required to protect a child. Where there is professional disagreement or a concern is not being acted upon, staff must use the organisation’s escalation and resolution process (including escalation within local safeguarding partnership arrangements) and must record all escalation steps taken.

4.6 Online Safety and Digital Conduct

Children and young people must be supported in using technology safely. Staff must never engage in personal communication with children through social media, text messaging, or email. Where digital devices are used as part of communication, education, or recreation, staff must ensure safety filters are in place, monitor screen time appropriately, and report any online risks, such as sexting or radicalisation.

Online risks include grooming, coercion and blackmail, image-based abuse, sexual extortion, hate content, and exploitation facilitated through social media, gaming platforms and messaging apps. Staff must report any concerns about online harm immediately as a safeguarding concern and must preserve digital evidence where safe to do so (for example, screenshots, usernames and URLs). Staff must only use approved organisational devices and accounts where digital contact is part of an agreed care plan and must record any such contact in the child’s record.

Families are supported in understanding online risks and how to manage them at home.

4.7 Staff Training and Supervision

All staff working with or around children receive safeguarding training appropriate to their role, including Prevent, CSE (Child Sexual Exploitation), FGM (Female Genital Mutilation), County Lines, and online safety. Training is refreshed annually and monitored by the Deputy Manager {{org_field_deputy_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_deputy_manager_last_name}}. Staff receive regular supervision and are encouraged to reflect on safeguarding concerns and personal conduct. DBS checks are conducted for all staff and updated periodically in line with safer recruitment principles.

Training must be role-specific and competency-assessed. Completion alone is not sufficient; managers must assure that staff can recognise indicators, respond appropriately to disclosures, record factually, and follow escalation routes. Training records, supervision notes and competency checks will be available for audit.

Safer recruitment controls will include identity checks, right to work checks, appropriate references (including exploring safeguarding concerns), DBS checks at the appropriate level, and confirmation of suitability before lone working. Any new information indicating a risk will be acted on immediately through risk assessment and HR/safeguarding processes.

4.8 Listening to Children and Advocacy

{{org_field_name}} actively promotes a listening culture where children and young people feel safe to express concerns or talk about relationships. Staff must take all disclosures seriously, record statements factually, and follow the safeguarding procedure. Where needed, independent advocacy is arranged, and the wishes and feelings of the child are central to all safeguarding decisions and care reviews.

Staff must be clear that confidentiality cannot be promised where a child may be at risk of harm. Children will be supported to understand what information will be shared, with whom, and why. Parents and carers will be involved where appropriate and safe to do so, taking account of safeguarding advice and the child’s wishes and feelings.

4.9 Confidentiality and Record-Keeping

All concerns, disclosures, and incidents are recorded clearly, securely, and in a timely manner in accordance with CH34 – Confidentiality and Data Protection Policy. Records include date, time, nature of concern, who was involved, actions taken, and the outcome. These are accessible only to designated safeguarding personnel and statutory partners when appropriate. Safeguarding logs are regularly reviewed to identify patterns or systemic risks.

Records must distinguish clearly between fact, opinion and professional judgement and must include the child’s words where a disclosure is made (verbatim where possible). Records must document decision-making, escalation actions, referrals made (or not made) and the rationale.

Safeguarding records will be quality-checked routinely (for example, by the Registered Manager/DSL) to ensure timeliness, completeness and appropriate escalation. Themes, trends and learning will be reviewed through governance processes and used to improve practice, training and risk management.

4.10 Roles and Responsibilities

This section will define responsibilities for: all staff; the DSL; the Deputy DSL; the Registered Manager; the on-call manager; HR; and how to access safeguarding advice out of hours. It will specify who makes referrals, who records concerns, who quality-checks records, and who liaises with external agencies.

4.11 Immediate Response to Disclosures

When a child discloses harm or risk of harm, staff must: listen calmly; reassure the child; explain that information may need to be shared to keep them safe; avoid leading questions; record the disclosure promptly using the child’s words where possible; escalate immediately in line with this policy; preserve any evidence where safe to do so; seek urgent medical attention if required; and follow multi-agency safeguarding advice.

4.12 Peer-on-Peer Abuse Procedure

Where peer-on-peer abuse is suspected or disclosed, staff must treat it as a safeguarding concern, ensure immediate safety of all children, record and report promptly, and implement risk management actions for both the child who has been harmed and the child who may have caused harm. Support plans must be proportionate, reviewed, and aligned with multi-agency safeguarding advice.

5. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed at least every 12 months and sooner following: changes to legislation or statutory guidance; updates to CQC regulatory guidance or assessment approach; learning from safeguarding incidents, allegations, audits or complaints; or changes to local safeguarding partnership procedures. The latest version will be available at {{org_field_website}} or on request from {{org_field_email}}. All staff will be informed of updates and receive training where required.

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.

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