Safeguarding, Whistle-blower and Child Protection Policies

This text discusses the importance of Safeguarding, Whistle-blower and Child Protection Policies in health and social care services. It covers the signs and symptoms of abuse, the rights of children, parents and guardians, and the benefits of changing policies to address abuse. The author also shares personal experiences of following and supporting these policies.

Assignment brief 1
Qualification
IAO Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care
and Children and Young People’s Services (England) (QCF)
Qualification number: 601/4259/5
Start date
Deadline
Assessor name Gemma curry
Learners name Nkechi Olivia Rabbett
Assignment
title
Safeguarding
Once you have completed the following 3 tasks you will be 10% along in your qualification.
Task 1
The policy at hand is the Safeguarding Vulnerable Adult policy that is aimed to be followed by the
entire
Members of a set of organizations and therefore promoted by those individuals that are in
leadership positions within the firm.
1) How have you followed this policy?
In most cases, I have practiced the aspect of Vulnerable Adult policy by following it to the
later especially in case an individual raises an issue concerning abuse or neglect in an
organization. One way to ensure that this policy has been followed is listening carefully to
the vulnerable adult while not questioning them directly. In this sense, there is a need for
the vulnerable adult to be granted time as well as attention (Craig & Clay, 2017).
Additionally, one might follow this policy by not stopping the vulnerable adult who is in
the process of recalling a significant event in their life. Moreover, reassuring the vulnerable
adult that they have done the right thing in revealing their situation is imperative towards
following this policy.
Some few weeks ago, I was involved in a community development project where we took
part as volunteers together with my fellow classmates. In this case, we were assigned to

carry out survey on the vulnerable adults in our community. I was then approached by an
aged adult who explained to me how she had been neglected in participating in a certain
activity in the local area due to the fact that she was old. I listened to her claims carefully
recording all the data hoping that something would be done in future regarding that
situation.
2) How have you supported staff and clients to follow this policy?
Throughout the entire operation of the organizational day to day activities, I make sure that
I have set a thorough plan of policy training the members of the staff as well as planning
for new members of the team regarding the policy at hand and how well it should be
adhered (Clough, 2017). Additionally, I ensure that all the staff members get to copy the
policy thus asking them to make sure they familiarize themselves with the policy.
Two weeks ago I was involved in planning a school seminar where I was involved in
teaching my fellow students regarding the policy and what is required of them to best
follow the policy. On this occasion, I got a chance of interacting with both my classmates
as well as other students in the college while collecting their views regarding the policy. I
realized that some of them are happy especially how the policy is being conducted in the
college.
3) What changes are you going to or have you made to this policy?
There are various changes that I have made in this policy to make sure that they work better
with the staff members (Clough, 2017). Some of the basic changes that I have made are
making a review over time regarding the policy to reflect any new or rather emerging
legislation or changes within the company’s legislation.
During the formulation of the seminar that took place two weeks ago, I had to make some
changes to the policy with an aim of making it suitable for all the students. To do this, I had
to formulate it to be in line with all the emerging changes within the class as well as college

legislation.
4) What was the benefit of the changes that you made to this policy regarding
current practice?
Making changes in the existing policy ensures that the organization’s policy is in line with
the existing legislation in the society as well as making sure that the staff understands and
follow the legislation to the later.
Making changes to various legislations in my class has always fascinated me. Apparently, I
realized that the students had some ease in following the college’s policy as a result of the
changes I made. In essence, this was possible given the fact that I was in a position of
assembling their views took various consideration, especially when making the changes to
the policy.
5) Why is it important to contribute to the development of the company’s policy?
Contributing to the development of a particular company’s policy is important as it enables
a firm to set an all-inclusive policy (Craig & Clay, 2017). Additionally, it is important to
contribute to the development of a policy as it provides consistent processes as well as
structures. Moreover, participation in the development of a policy ensures that there is a
safer working environment for all stakeholders.
In essence, my participation in the overall contribution to the development policy of our
class resulted in various improvements in daily operations in the class. For instance, I
realized that due to the fact that I collected various view from my fellow students meant
that I had included some of the important issues that had been raised in the seminar.
Notably, this act enabled the overall creation of an all-inclusive learning environment,
especially in the college.
6) What barriers/tensions could you or have you experienced in relation to this
policy?

Despite the fact that the various guidance has emphasized on the aspect the multi-agency
approaches in an organization, such view is still a problem because differing professional
may not entirely understand individual roles as well as responsibility (Clough, 2017).
Additionally, the whole scope, as well as adult abuse, is not universally agreed.
While hosting some seminars, I realized that there were those students who agreed to the
set policies especially on the vulnerable adults. However, there were those students who
disagreed with the policy despite the fact that vulnerable adult experience challenges in the
society.
7) Provide an example of a safeguarding issue how you preserved the evidence
and maintained confidentiality
Preserving confidentiality is important especially when dealing with adult abuse. Some few
weeks ago, I had to attend an employee who had been abused by his fellows for quite a
long time. As a result, there were confidential statements that I kept confidentially.
Additionally, I maintained a secret on the information regarding referrals.
Task 2
Policy: ABC Organization Whistle-blower Policy
1) How have you followed this policy?
To follow this policy and work accordingly, I ensure that employees get to first discuss the
concerns at hand with the immediate supervisors before letting the directors and the
volunteers submit the concerns in writing to the chair particularly that of Audit Committee
(Sharma, Kanojia, & Sachdeva, 2018). What follows is handling of the reported violation
before acting in good faith.
I have in most cases involved my college mates in a direct conversation, especially with the
teachers before even letting the concerned college administrations, as well as volunteers,
submit their concerns audit to the college committee.

2) How have you supported staff and clients to follow this policy?
To ensure that the entire staff of the organization has followed the policy, I ensure that all
have the obligation to report in accordance with the set Whistle-blower policy (Moore,
Huxford, & Bethmann, 2017). Additionally, all the staff members understand the
importance of raising their concerns in the right protocols. Notably, this is done through
continuous training in the organization.
To make sure that the students follow the set policy, I have engaged them in seminars
where I get their views especially what they like and things that they dislike regarding the
standards of the policy.
3) What changes are you going to or have you made to this policy?
Some of the clear changes that are to be made regarding this policy are the fact that
employees do not mistreat the whistleblowers in an organization. Additionally, it is
important to make sure that the requirement in the policy that disclosures must be made “in
good faith” is done away with. Nonetheless, there has to be a change in the policy in that
the disclosures are protected and covered in the public interest.
I have on various occasions set a standard where I make sure that the whistleblowers are
protected from any type of harassment especially by other students. For instance, I have
held seminars where I have showed my college mates the importance of adhering to the
changes in regards to the policy of the college.
4) What was the benefit of this policy?
One benefit of this policy is the fact that it exposes unethical behaviors in an organization
thus leading to the investigation on the same. Additionally, the policy tends to protect the
employees particularly those that report violation regarding various safety in workplaces.
After implementing the changes in the current policy, I realized that there were various
benefits that were accrued to the students. One clear scenario that I remember was when

there was a controversy regarding how a particular student followed the policy. After most
of them realized that there were whistleblowers in the class and the college at large, some
of them followed the policy to the later.
5) Why might people use/need this policy?
People might want to use this policy to submit their concerns surrounding questionable
accounting or rather auditing issues done by employees, officers, directors, as well as
stakeholders of a particular organization (Moore, Huxford, & Bethmann, 2017).
Additionally, people might want to use this policy with an aim of protecting directors,
volunteers as well as employees who intend to report various concerns from rather
retaliatory actions.
I realized the importance of this policy while I was working in an intern and I overheard
one of the employees where I was working complaining about unpaid salary for three
months. Thanks to the policy the employee was given a platform to complain regarding his
issues.
6) What barriers/tensions could you or have you experienced in relation to this
policy?
Dealing with whistleblower policy is sometimes challenging as it tends to diminish career
prospects considering the fact that whistleblowers are in most cases under investigation or
even under the scrutiny by the media (Nawawi & Salin, 2018). Additionally,
whistleblowers sometimes can suffer personal complication because media outlets can
delve into their personal lives and details.
One of my friend who has been acting as a whistleblower was sometimes blasted by the
other students especially because he acted as the college trustee. While it was a secret, the
students made it public something that most people never believed it. Although it did not
have a huge impact on him, his image was in some way tainted.
7) Provide an example of a safeguarding issue how you preserved the evidence

and maintained
Being part of the organizational leaders I have come across various employees as well as
former employees who have played a role as a whistleblower. In this entire context, I have
always maintained a high level of confidentiality especially on the reports of concerns as
well as those that need more investigations (Nawawi & Salin, 2018).
Sometime last year, I had a conversation with one of the college’s whistleblowers who had
come to report on some issues of indiscipline in the school. As a student leader, I made sure
that I listened to the concerns of the person and made necessary moves. On the other hand,
I made sure that the evidence of the whistleblower is maintained at all cost. In this sense,
privacy was important.
Task 3
Policy: Policy on Commitment to Children
1) How have you followed this policy?
In most cases, I have followed this policy by preventing a particular child safeguarding
incidences to occur. Additionally, I have often reported child incidences of abuse whenever
they occur through responding to child safeguarding incidents. Nonetheless, I have often
trained to create awareness of the child safeguarding awareness.
I remember there was a time one of my neighbors was involved in beating up his child to
an extent that he threatened the child’s life. In this light, I had to report the incident to the
necessary authority.
2) How have you supported staff and clients to follow this policy?
In most occasions, I have supported the staff as well as the clients to follow the policy by
making sure that I train them sufficiently to enable them to know their rights and when to
report incidences relating to the same (Seymour, 2017).
I attended a seminar last year where I was involved in teaching me college mates on the

importance of following this policy to the later. As a result, I realized that there was much
improvement in which people approved this policy.
3) What are the signs and symptoms of abuse for children including physical
signs, emotional and behavioral?
There are various signs and symptoms that a child can have indicating that they have been
abused. Some of the symptoms include withdrawal from friends, depression, and anxiety,
reluctant to school activities, and rebellious to various defiant behaviors (Landsverk, 2017).
On the other hand, signs and symptoms of physical behaviors include unexpected injuries
including bruises as well as fractures.
Although I had not heard my neighbor abusing his child, I realized that his child had some
signs and symptoms of a person who has been abused for a long time. While spending time
together, I realized that the child some anxiety as well as depression.
4) What are the rights of the child, parent, and guardian in circumstances of
abuse?
In circumstances of abuse on children in the society, children and parents have a right of
reporting the incident to the relevant authorities where they can get a fair judgment on the
same (Pillay, Reddy, & Morgan, 2017). Additionally, children and parents have a right to
know the person they are discussing the incident to is a reporter.
While discussing incidents of abuse with the concerned party or rather parents and children
during community development as a volunteer student, I have in most cases made sure that
I have revealed my identity as a volunteer. Additionally, I encourage parents and children
that it is their rights to report such incidents.
5) What was the benefit of the changes that you made to this policy regarding
current practice?
Changing a policy to suit the need of children in regard to child abuse is important as it
ensures that all abuses in the society are addressed and the victims receive justice regarding

the same.
While in a seminar last year, I raised a motion where I wanted to gain views on the aspect
of changing the existing policy to suit those children that are abused in the society. I
realized that many students were in support of my suggestion on the same.
6) What barriers/tensions could you or have you experienced in relation to this
policy?
There are various barriers that one might experience when dealing with the case of child
abuse. One apparent challenge is the unwillingness of the victims speaking out their
problems fearing that they might undergo similar experience especially if they disclose
about their abusers.
While conducting an interview with one of the people I had attended last week in a
volunteering community development project, I realized that he was not willing to reveal
some information. In the end, I realized that the client never wanted to reveal some
information on the basis that he feared the attacker may come for him again.
7) Provide an example of a safeguarding issue how you preserved the evidence
and maintained
Confidentiality? (if you cannot provide an example, give a scenario)
It is often paramount to maintain a high level of confidentiality when one is dealing with cases
of child abuse. One way one may tend to maintain this is by keeping a secret the information
regarding child abuse as they let investigations to be underway.
Last week, a client reported an issue where a child had been molested. As one of the student
volunteers I had to act on the matter, I made sure that all the information provided by the client
had been kept secret at all cost.

Sources of information
Clough, B. (2017). Disability and vulnerability: challenging the capacity/incapacity binary. Social
Policy and Society, 16(3), 469-481.
Craig, G., & Clay, S. (2017). Who is vulnerable? Adult social care and modern slavery. The
Journal of Adult Protection, 19(1), 21-32.
Landsverk, J. (2017). Beyond common sense: Child welfare, child well-being, and the evidence for
policy reform. Routledge.
Moore, M. A., Huxford, J., & Bethmann, J. B. (2017). National Security Whistleblowers and the
Journalists Who Tell Their Stories: A Dangerous Policy Dance of Truth-finding, Truth-telling, and
Consequence. In Corruption, Accountability, and Discretion (pp. 227-246). Emerald Publishing
Limited.
Nawawi, A., & Salin, A. S. A. P. (2018). Whistleblowing intentions–evidence from Malaysian
PLC. International Journal of Law and Management, (just-accepted), 00-00.
Pillay, S., Reddy, P. S., & Morgan, D. (2017). Institutional isomorphism and whistle-blowing
intentions in public sector institutions. Public Management Review, 19(4), 423-442.
Seymour, C. (2017). Introduction: Children with Parents in Prison: Child Welfare Policy, Program,
and Practice Issues. Children with parents in prison (pp. 1-26). Routledge.
Sharma, J. P., Kanojia, S., & Sachdeva, S. (2018). Comparison of the Whistle-blower Protection
Mechanism of Select Countries. Indian Journal of Corporate Governance, 11(1), 45-68.
 Handouts based on Safeguarding (Your assessor will email them to you)
 www.cqc.org.uk/what-we-do/how-we-do-our-job/safeguarding-people
 www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Topics/Safeguarding/Safeguarding.aspx
 Your own policies and procedures
Criteria reference
To achieve the criteria
the evidence must show
that
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2.3,2.4,3.2p)
2860 (1.1)
3170(2.5)
3172(2.2,2.2)
2574(1.5)
policy and how as a
manager they implement it
and monitor it.
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children policy and how
as a manager they
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