Safeguarding Children

This report discusses the topic of safeguarding children, specifically focusing on unaccompanied minors in the United Kingdom. It covers the current condition of these children, the safeguarding policies in place, and the effectiveness of current laws in protecting them. The report also provides strategies to improve safeguarding policies for unaccompanied children.

Safeguarding Children
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Contents
TITLE: “Safeguarding children”.....................................................................................................3
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Main Body.......................................................................................................................................3
Safeguarding unaccompanied children and the safeguarding policies in the United Kingdom......3
Children safeguarding:.................................................................................................................3
Overview of current condition of Unaccompanied Minor children in UK.................................4
Britain’s Safeguarding actions and policies made to protect and support unaccompanied minor
children........................................................................................................................................6
Critical analysis of Britain’s Safeguarding actions and policies.................................................9
Effectiveness of current laws in protecting and safeguarding children.....................................11
Strategies to improve safeguarding policies of Britain to protect unaccompanied children.....11
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13
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TITLE: “Safeguarding children”
Introduction
Unaccompanied minors are the children without the existence of a legal guardian and are
also known as separated children. They are the children who are outside their nation and can be
highly susceptible and can be predominantly at danger of going missing because of trafficking
and exploitation. Protecting and promoting welfare of these children is the prime duty on local
authorities as well as requires effective joint working between professionals and agencies. Child
safeguarding means protecting the children from any kind of abuse and determining and stopping
it which is already occurring. The unaccompanied children safeguarding policy is assistive in
providing safe environment to children and protecting them from any kind of abuse. This is an
essay report which is based on the topic “Safeguarding Children”. This report covers discussion
about Safeguarding unaccompanied minors in the United Kingdom and the children safeguarding
policy. It also involves information about Child care act, 2006 and the rights of children. It also
covers information about safeguarding issues and the ways to safeguarding children.
Essay Question:
The question associated with this essay is “Are unaccompanied children protected
sufficiently by the current law in the United Kingdom?”
Main Body
Safeguarding unaccompanied children and the safeguarding policies in
the United Kingdom
Overview of current condition of Unaccompanied Minor children in UK
In year 2015 and year 2016, the number of separated and unaccompanied children claiming
asylum in European union was around 160,000 (Humphreys, and Bradbury-Jones, 2015). During
the similar period of time, more than 6000 children claimed asylum in United Kingdom, around
4% of total claims. On the other hand, the rapid rise in number of unaccompanied children in
United Kingdom has placed local authorities who supported those children, at risk of being
overwhelmed. In addition to this, child sexual exploitation and child criminal exploitation are
also the kind of abuse where an individual or group take benefit of an imbalance in coerce
power, deceive or manipulate a child into criminal or sexual activity (Machura, 2016). This
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imbalance in power can be because of physical strength, sexual identity, status, gender, age,
cognitive ability, access to economic and other resources.
On the contrary, unaccompanied Asylum seeking children get leave for short term to stay in
United Kingdom for 30 months only or until they turn to 17 and a half. Whereas, they may get
extension in the completion of such time period often the get removes from Nation. Therefore,
18 years of age is the time of much uncertainty as well as fear for unaccompanied children.
Many Asylum seeking in children in United Kingdom were removed to disturbed regions like
Iraq, Somalia, Afghanistan and Sudan which the government of UK deems too dangerous to visit
(Comment: Britain’s unaccompanied migrant children should be supported, not abandoned,
2019). According to section 20 of act, each local authority shall administer accommodation to
those who require it if there is no individual who has parental responsibility for children.
However, duties towards unaccompanied children came to an end at age of 18 when children
come in scope of immigrant deportation and detention powers. Fear of forced removal and
detention send youths underground. Lack of legal assistance made it impossible for people to
find appropriate legal representation for the decisions which affect them.
Britain’s Safeguarding actions and policies made to protect and support unaccompanied minor
children
The Equality Act, 2010 intents to protect groups or individuals who have the listed
protected characteristics in the Act. These characteristics includes race, religion, beliefs, sexual
orientation, disability, age etc. According to this act all the people are treated equally and fairly
and they have the right to treat with dignity and respect. Equality act ensure that all the
individuals are treated equally and fairly and they are not discriminated on any basis. It is the
duty of the health services to make sure that services are provided fairly and mitigating the needs
of each individual regardless current circumstances or their background.
On the other hand, the another act, that is Children and Families act 2014, it aims to make
sure greater protection for children who have been considered as vulnerable. Execution of this
act make sure that Health and Care and education plan is developed for any children who has
been recognised as having additional needs.
On the other hand, the government of United Kingdom introduced National Transfer
Scheme in year 2016 to transfer unaccompanied children successfully away from local
authorities. The constantly work towards equal distribution of responsibilities of care all across
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the United Kingdom so as to ensure that the children are given with adequate care which they
need. the protocols set out responsibilities of local authorities and home office who are included
in transferring unaccompanied minor children from one locally authority other. The legislation
underpinning the scheme extends to England.
Child Care Act, 2006: this act is concerned with child care and early years. It assists in
transforming the early years and child care services for generation to come, by taking forward
some main commitment from child care strategy. Measures in act develops crucial strategic role
which local authorities play by new set of duties. This needs authorities to render better parental
information service, secure sufficient care of child for working parents, enhance child matter
outcomes for the children in preschool and decline inequalities in these. This act has four parts
which are as follows:
 Part 1: duties on local authorities in England
 Part 2: duties on local authorities in Wales
 Part 3: inspection arrangements and regulation for child care providers in England
 Part 4: general provisions
There are some Safeguarding issues which are faced by Unaccompanied minors in United
Kingdom. There are five parts into which keep the children safe in education is organized. This
includes safeguarding information for staff, safer recruitment, child on child sexual harassment
and sexual violence, management of safeguarding and allegations of abuse made in opposition to
teachers as well as other staff (Keeping Children Safe in Education, 2020).
Part 1: Safeguarding information for all members of staff
It is the responsibility and role of staff to safeguarding and promoting children's welfare
and all the staff members must ensure that the decisions are made in the best interest of child.
Apart from this, they are also required to know about the way to identify signs of neglect and
abuse and the actions taken if child makes disclosure (Hodes and et. al., 2016). In case if the staff
member has concern regarding child, they must act immediately, speak to DSL and follow the
child protection policy. It is very necessary for the staff to know about the indicators of neglect
and abuse.
It has been also found in the study that mental health issues can also be an indicator that
children have suffered or at risk of suffering exploitation, neglect or abuse. That experience can
have adverse lasting impact on the experiences of childhood (Peckover, and Golding, 2017).
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Part 2: management of safeguarding
Governing board have the responsibility to ensure that the procedures, policies and
training of the school are effective as well as comply with legislation. The child protection policy
of the school must describe procedures in accordance with government guidance, be updated
each year, be publicly available and the staff behavior policy must cover communications
involving use of social media, acceptable utilization of Technologies and relationship between
people and staff (Peckover, Smith, and Wondergem, 2015). They need to be protected from
inappropriate or harmful online materials item must be taught about safeguarding. The
organisation must have the procedure for abuse allegations against staff and the child protection
policy must cover peer on peer abuse.
Part 3: safer recruitment
An enhanced DBS check is required by majority of staff with barred information. the pre
appointment check that need to be perform for new staff of school and governors involves
verifying their identity, professional qualifications, employment references and history, physical
and mental fitness to perform their responsibilities of work along with the right to work in United
Kingdom (Romeo and et. al., 2017).
Part 4: allegations of abuse made in opposition to teacher and other staff
When a volunteer or staff member has allegedly committed a criminal offence related to
child, behaved in a manner that depicts they pose harm risk to children, behaved in a manner that
harm the child and behavior which indicates that the staff is not suitable to work with child then
the guidance of allegations of abuse is used.
Part 5: child on child sexual harassment and sexual violence
The more detailed DFE guidance is summarized in this part on the way to manage a
report of sexual abuse of children. These are complex reports and need difficult professional
decisions which required to be made under pressure and quickly. Effective policies, pre planning
and effective training assist in making appropriate and calm responses (Rooke, 2015).
There are several policies which are developed by organisations to safeguarding the child
including policy on commitment to children, policy about sexual activity with children, policy on
accountability and confidentiality in safeguarding matters etc. (Scourfield, Smail, and Butler,
2015). The procedures involve prevention of children safeguarding incidents, reporting to these
incidents, responding to them appropriately, training to promote awareness regarding child
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safeguarding obligations, agreement with partners, communication materials, research in
monitoring, children data, children with distinct disabilities or abilities, child inclusion and
participation etc. All these policies and procedures helps organisation in safeguarding the child in
an appropriate way from any kind of neglect or abuse (Wyllie and Batley, 2019).
Critical analysis of Britain’s Safeguarding actions and policies
Children in United Kingdom come under United Nation convention on rights of children,
1989. However, these rights of children not guarantee for Asylum. On ratification of child rights
convention in year 1991, the Government of United Kingdom entered a reservation enable it to
operate its controls of immigration without regard to convention. It states that, United Kingdom
reserves the right to execute such legislation, it relates to entry, stay and departure from UK of
those individuals who do not have right under United Kingdom's law, and to possession and
acquisition of citizenship, as it may require from time to time. According to a report, it is assert
that asylum and immigration policies of United Kingdom are consistent with the United Nation
convention on rights of child.
The Equality Act 2010 is very effective in safeguarding the unaccompanied children in
United Kingdom. Execution of this act ensures that all the individuals are treated fairly with
equal respect and dignity. Apart from this, the government make sure that they have the equal
right to access education and health care services. In addition to this, Children and Families act
2014 is also effective in providing greater protection to the children who are vulnerable.
On the other hand, the child care act, 2006 simplifies as well as reform early years’
inspection arrangements and regulation, giving for new care quality framework and integrated
education for preschool children (Childcare Act 2006, 2016). Its aim is to ensure that the main
provisions this act came into effect in year 2008. On the other hand, in local child care market,
strategic lead is taken by local authorities by planning, supporting as well as commissioning
child care. it is not expected by local authorities to render child care directly, but is expected to
work along with independent, voluntary and local private sector providers to mitigate local
needs.
This act consists of some provisions. The key provisions include section 1-5 which needs
local authorities and job Centre plus partners and their National Health Services to work
collectively in order to enhance the outcomes of children up to five and decline in quality is
among them. The another provision is section 6, 8-11 and 13 which needs local authorities to
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evaluate child care market as well as secure sufficient child care for the parents who are working.
The care of child is only being deemed adequate if it mitigates the requirements of community in
general and specifically the families with lower incomes and disabled children (El-Radhi, 2015).
In local child care market, strategic lead is taken by local authorities by planning, supporting as
well as commissioning child care. it is not expected by local authorities to render child care
directly, but is expected to work along with independent, voluntary and local private sector
providers to mitigate local needs.
On the other hand, although local authorities must be supporting children, this authority
sometimes depend on home assessments over weather young individual is child prior to
rendering support. On the basis of physical appearance and demeanour, home office can
ascertain age, a highly subjective procedure that often outcomes into errors.
According to section 7, it re-eracts the local authorities’ duty to secure minimum amount for
early care and learning for children who are 3 and 4 years old for free. According to section 12, it
extents existing duty to render information to parents, to make sure prospective parents and
parents can access complete information they may require for their children right. It is needed to
ensure by local authorities that this service is accessible to all the parents. Section 39-48 supports
the providers in in rendering quality integrated early care and education and children care some
their birth to the age 5 (Green, 2019). According to section 31-38 and 49-98 which reform and
simplify the model for regulation of early education and childcare to decline bureaucracy and
emphasize on increasing standards and quality. It is required by the care providers to registered
on early years register and provide early years’ foundation stage. Section 99-101 enable for
gathering of information regarding young children to support the duties of local authorities and
inform funding under the act.
The department of education consultation and guidance related to corporate printing
principles in United Kingdom specify that unaccompanied children are to be treated similar as
other children through local authority. Therefore, instead of emphasizing on age assessment that
exclude young individuals from basic services, it is necessary that there must be an attempt to
render them access to resources for health care, safe housing as well as further education at the
age of 18 years on continuous basis. The assessment must be for vulnerabilities and requirements
of young people - instead of whether they are 18 years of age or not.
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The national transfer scheme was introduced by government in response to the situation
which is the voluntary transfer arrangement among local authorities in order to make sure a more
even distribution of key responsibilities across the nation. A robust system is followed in United
Kingdom for safeguarding children and young individuals and promoting their welfare. The
vulnerable children are benefited by Children and Social Work Act, 2017 which involves
reforms to make sure that social care workforce of children has right skills and knowledge, with
leaders who are key people to nurture and support practice excellence. The unaccompanied
children are entitled to protect under International agreements and domestic legislation including
United Nation Convention on Rights of the Children. It is universally accepted approach and
comprehensive in promoting the rights of children, informing other standards of human rights by
model of state responsibilities applied to the children within jurisdictions of signatory states.
On the other hand, in order to protect unaccompanied children in United Kingdom, common
guidelines on family tracing and age assessment, provide relevant accommodation to them,
separate minors from adults in order to protect them from smugglers or traffickers and therefore,
prevent victimization. The senior manager of border agency of United Kingdom responsible for
monitoring the activities of their employees to save guard as well as promote welfare of
unaccompanied children. The government ensures that it emphasizes on welfare needs and
immigration control when collecting information from unaccompanied children relating to
Asylum claim. On the other hand, there are several International human right treaties, involving
United nation conventions on rights of children which created rights that are entitled to children.
Through rectifying these treaties, the government of United Kingdom has taken on obligations
under the law to make sure that children enjoy these rights (Protection of Children's Rights in
Domestic Law, 2020).
However, instead of existence of all these acts and policies of government, safeguarding
children is the main concern in United Kingdom. Being aware of safeguarding practices and
policies for somebody who is working with children is very essential. Inter-agency working is
the most appropriate approach for safeguarding children as this assist in decreasing the
likelihood of abuse dramatically.
Effectiveness of current laws in protecting and safeguarding children
The current law of United Kingdom sufficiently protects the unaccompanied children in
United Kingdom by entitled them with the rights they need. There are some Safeguarding issues
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which are faced by Unaccompanied minors in United Kingdom. There are five parts into which
keep the children safe in education is organized. This includes safeguarding information for staff,
safer recruitment, child on child sexual harassment and sexual violence, management of
safeguarding and allegations of abuse made in opposition to teachers as well as other staff
(Keeping Children Safe in Education, 2020). Part 1: Safeguarding information for all members
of staff. Part 2: management of safeguarding. Part 3: safer recruitment. Part 4: allegations of
abuse made in opposition to teacher and other staff. Part 5: child on child sexual harassment and
sexual violence. It has been also found in the study that mental health issues can also be an
indicator that children have suffered or at risk of suffering exploitation, neglect or abuse. That
experience can have adverse lasting impact on the experiences of childhood (Peckover, and
Golding, 2017).
The government of United Kingdom ensure that the children seeking protection have
access to care and support services that they need. The strategies of government outline its future
commitments like research on support for unaccompanied children under Dublin regulation,
specialist training for foster carers as well as support workers to enhance their confidence and
skills in caring for unaccompanied minor children. From the overall discussion, it can be said
that the current laws of United Kingdom are somewhat effective in protecting and safeguarding
the unaccompanied children sufficiently. So, it can be said that the unaccompanied children in
the United Kingdom is protected sufficiently by the current law. By the assistance of the policies,
the unaccompanied children protected sufficiently.
However, the children face uncertainty at the age of 18 as they have fear of forced removal
from the country. Many of the people committed suicide in the age of 18. Rather than majority
age, it was the deepest despair time for them. So, it can be said that the current laws and policies
of United Kingdom regarding safeguarding children are effective, but not very much effective in
safeguarding and protecting the rights of children (Wyllie and Batley, 2019). Still, there are some
improvements needed in the policies and laws of United Kingdom so that children can be
effectively protected and they can access all their rights. For safeguarding the children, the staff
should be aware of indicators that child may be at risk by included in serious violent crime. It
may involve significant alteration in wellbeing, decline in performance, maximized absence from
school, unexplained possessions or gifts, changing friendships, signs of assault or self-harm or
unexplained injuries (Keeping Children Safe in Education, 2020). In order to manage these, the
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staff must know about the related risks and measures. The staff must know about that the
children can be at exploitation or abuse risk in circumstances outside the families.
Strategies to improve safeguarding policies of Britain to protect unaccompanied children
There are some strategies which assist in improving the safeguarding policies and protecting
the unaccompanied children in Britain. In order to safeguarding the children, the staff must
consider local environment forces as well as context when evaluating safety of children. Apart
from this, it is also needed by staff to be aware that child can abuse other individuals through
physical abuse, up skirting, initiation type rituals and violence, bullying, sexting, sexual
harassment and sexual violence. In order to safeguard the children, multi-agency working is very
necessary (Green, 2019). It involves allowing access for social care of children to perform
section 17 of 47 assessments, administering coordinated offer of early assistance where needs are
determined and contributing to interagency plans in order to support child who is subject to
children protection plan.
The staff need to know about the way to maintain confidentiality through including those
who required to be involved. Apart from this, unaccompanied migrant children must be treated in
the similar way by the local authorities as any other children. Therefore, instead of emphasizing
on age assessments, there must be an attempt to deliver young refugees with continued access to
safe housing, education and health care at age 18. From the overall discussion, it can be said that
the current laws of United Kingdom are somewhat effective in protecting and safeguarding the
unaccompanied children sufficiently. However, some modifications in policies and laws should
be made to ensure unaccompanied children in the United Kingdom is protected sufficiently by
the current law. By the assistance of the policies, the unaccompanied children will have protected
sufficiently.
Conclusion
As per the above report, it has been concluded that safeguarding children is related to
protecting the children from abuse and neglect and provide them with safe environment where
they can grow and develop. The children safeguarding policies developed by organisations help
in protecting the children from abuse and neglect. The abuse can be in any form including
physical abuse, emotional abuse and behavioural abuse. The policies and procedures related to
safeguarding helps in protecting children against any kind of abuse and neglect. It is necessary
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for government of United Kingdom to being some changes in policies and procedures so that
children can be protected from any kind of vulnerabilities. The assessment must be for needs and
vulnerabilities of young refugees — instead of whether they are of 18 years of age or not.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Appleton, J.V., Harrison, J. and Mumby-Croft, K., 2020. Safeguarding children: a public health
imperative. Community Public Health in Policy and Practice E-Book: A Sourcebook,
p.263.
Coy, M., 2016. Joining the dots on sexual exploitation of children and women: A way forward
for UK policy responses. Critical social policy, 36(4), pp.572-591.
Craven, B.M. and Tooley, J.N., 2016. Safeguarding children: Ofsted and regulatory
failure. Economic Affairs, 36(1), pp.64-79.
El-Radhi, A.S., 2015. Safeguarding the welfare of children: what is the nurse's role?. British
journal of nursing, 24(15), pp.769-
Green, P., 2019. New child safeguarding arrangements for England.
Hodes, D., Armitage, A., Robinson, K. and Creighton, S.M., 2016. Female genital mutilation in
children presenting to a London safeguarding clinic: a case series. Archives of disease in
childhood, 101(3), pp.212-216.
Humphreys, C. and Bradbury-Jones, C., 2015. Domestic abuse and safeguarding children: Focus,
response and intervention. Child abuse review, 24(4), pp.231-234.
Machura, S., 2016. Inter-and intra-agency co-operation in safeguarding children: A staff
survey. The British Journal of Social Work, 46(3), pp.652-668.
Peckover, S. and Golding, B., 2017. Domestic abuse and safeguarding children: critical issues
for multiagency work. Child abuse review, 26(1), pp.40-50.
Peckover, S., Smith, S. and Wondergem, F., 2015. Doing ‘Serious Case Reviews’: the views and
experiences of NHS named and designated Safeguarding Children professionals. Child
abuse review, 24(5), pp.365-377.
Romeo, L., and et. al., 2017. Safeguarding Adults under the Care Act 2014: Understanding
Good Practice. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Rooke, J., 2015. Exploring the support mechanisms health visitors use in safeguarding and child
protection practice. Community Practitioner, 88(10).
Scourfield, J., Smail, P. and Butler, D., 2015. A systemic approach to improving the engagement
of fathers in child safeguarding. Child Abuse Review, 24(2), pp.129-139.
Wyllie, E. and Batley, K., 2019. Skills for safe practice–a qualitative study to evaluate the use of
simulation in safeguarding children teaching for pre-registration children’s nurses. Nurse
education in practice, 34, pp.85-89.
Online
Protection of Children's Rights in Domestic Law, 2020. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.crae.org.uk/our-work/protection-of-childrens-rights-in-domestic-law/ >
Keeping Children Safe in Education, 2020. [Online]. Available through:
<https://schoolgovernors.thekeysupport.com/curriculum-and-pupils/pastoral-care/
safeguarding/keeping-children-safe-in-education-summary/>
Comment: Britain’s unaccompanied migrant children should be supported, not abandoned,
2019. [Online]. Available through: <https://www.freemovement.org.uk/comment-
britains-unaccompanied-migrant-children-should-be-supported-not-abandoned/>
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