Level 5 LMSC Adult Unit 92: Safeguarding Children and Young People

This report provides a comprehensive overview of child safeguarding, specifically tailored for those working in the adult sector. It begins by explaining the essential policies, procedures, and practices necessary for ensuring a safe working environment for children and young people, referencing key legislation such as the Children Act 1989 and 2004, and the Every Child Matters Green paper. The report then delves into the identification of potential signs, symptoms, indicators, and behaviors that may raise concerns related to child abuse, including physical and emotional abuse. Furthermore, it outlines the appropriate actions to take when a child or young person alleges harm or abuse, emphasizing the importance of following established policies and procedures. Finally, the report clarifies the rights of children, young people, and their families in situations where harm or abuse is suspected or alleged, ensuring a thorough understanding of the legal and ethical framework surrounding child protection.

Understand safeguarding of
children and young people for
those working in the adult sector
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1.1 Explain the policies, procedures and practices for safe working with children and young
people
It is essential for providing safe working to children and young people as this will lead to
impact on their working capabilities and performance (Alderson and Morrow, 2020). Policies,
procedures and practices can be describe as the document or official papers that is affected by
law or senior level management of company in order to ensure that safe working with children or
young people. Different policies, procedures and practices for safe working with children and
young people is mention below in detail.
The children Act 1989
As per this act, safeguarding responsibility of children is hold by parents, local
authorities, courts and other agencies in order to promote welfare. This act was developed by
United Kingdom Act of Parliament and this act is based on the idea that best care or safety to
children is provided by their own families. The children act 1989 was introduces to protect child
as well as ensuring safety. It is duty or responsibility of parents or local authorities to identify the
risk of harm to children as well as promote their welfare. This is significant act in order to
providing services for adults to protection of children and young people for safe working
practices.
The children act 2004
According to this act, children safeguard and protection is the responsibility of
organisation that is working with children. The children act 2004 is the modification of act 1989
in order to ensure protection to children and young people for protection. It is duty or
responsibility of organisation to have proper working environment as well as all safety measures
in order to ensure the children are able to work safely in organisation (Graham, Powell and
Taylor, 2015). Through this act is specifies that services might cater the wants or necessities of
adults or young children and staff member needs to take care for protection as well as safety of
individuals.
Every child matter Green paper
Government of UK has released the original Green paper regrading Every Child matters
in year 2003. This is developed on the proposal which includes information regarding different
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ways or approaches which is help in reducing the issues of concern and promoting childcare.
Every child matter is not developed only to provide protection to children but also to increase
their live fulfil. Green paper majorly includes four areas of action which is mention below.
 Assistance for parents and carer's to ensure safety of individuals.
 Effective protection to children and correct interventions.
 Accountability of work .
 Reformation of the workforce.
Procedure and practices of organisation should have clear and step by step guidance
regarding what should be the circumstances as well as roles or responsibility for maintaining
health and safety of individuals (Beckett and Warrington, 2015). It is essential for workplace
procedure and system to includes guidelines which is mention below -
 It is important to clearly define role and responsibility of each and every employees in
order to protect child as well as describe the operation level on which child work.
 Proper information about what is child abuse and how to correctly response to its should
be provided to child worker in order to ensure safety and protection.
2.1 Describe the possible signs, symptoms, indicators and behaviours that may cause concern in
the context of safeguarding.
Child Abuse
This can be describe as the suffer from any kind of injury, emotional abuse, sexual abuse
as well as verbal abuse for any person who is under age 30. Abuse refer as any harm which
inflicts or fails to prevent it. There are different types of abuse and this can happen anywhere
such as family, workplace, community setting, institution. Child abuse can lead to have major
impact on mental health or physical health of an individual (Swist and et.al., 2015). Symptoms,
indicators as well as behaviour which is related to different types of abuse are mention below
Physical abuse – This type of abuse refer as the physical harm to child that is affect
physically. This type of abuse includes burning, biting, kicking, shaking, beating and so on.
Physical abuse consist of giving alcohol or drugs to child, poisoning or suffocation which can
have hurt or harm children physically.
Symptoms
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The major symptoms of physical abuse are bite marks, burns, bruises, marks of body and
fractures which cause child injuries. Scarring from other, vomiting, seizures, drowsiness are
consider as the effect of poisoning or other physical harms.
Behaviours of child
There will be change in individual behaviour due to physical abuse. A child will not be
comfortable to participate in more activities as well as withdraw form task. Increase in anxious,
clingy, aggression, depression are the changes in behaviours in child because of physical harm.
Habits of eating will change, sleeping problem will increase, nightmares, suicidal thoughts are
the behaviours through which physical abuse can be determine.
Emotional abuse – This can be describe as the way to control other emotion in order to
change set of action of others. Emotional abuse includes shame, blame, embarrass, criticize and
manipulate other individual (Tisdall, 2017). This type of abuse is done by consistent pattern of
using abusive words or bully behaviours which lead to have impact on self esteem or mental
health of a person. Emotional abuse in child includes when proper love and affection to child is
not given, not providing opportunities to speak their views or making fun of child is included on
emotional abuse.
Symptoms
 This includes symptoms of anxiety, withdrawal, depression, aggression in children.
 Self harming, attempts to suicide, engagement in drugs or alcohol abuse are considered as
symptoms of emotional abuse.
 It consist of attention seeking behaviour of child or extreme inhibition in play are
symptoms of abuse. Use of negative language and inappropriate behaviour of child at home is includes in
emotional abuse symptoms.
Behaviours of child
There are some behaviours through which emotional abuse in child can be analysed. This
includes calling names constantly to other children, publicly humiliating the child or affecting
self esteem. Giving casual threats to child for physical harm or forcing other child to witness
physical harm. Increase in involvement of child in adult issues is the change in behaviour which
will lead to identify emotional abuse to child. Keeping child at home for the role of subservient
or surrogate parent is the behaviours of emotional child.
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2.2 Describe the actions to take if a child or young person alleges harm or abuse in line with
policies and procedures of own setting
It is important to analyse and evaluate the action which should be taken if a child or
young person alleges harm or abuse with in the line of policies and procedures of own setting.
Actions will lead to have major impact on resolving the issue of child and young person abuse.
Actions will lead to help in identifying the main issues or cause of harm to individual and
significantly impact on determining the plan which will be supportive in resolving the issues as
well as taking better steps.
It is essential to listen properly as well as respect what an individual is trying to telling. It
is crucial to pay complete attention and focus on what a person is trying to say. This will help in
gaining trust of child and they will be able to share proper information about the abuse.
When child is explaining about the case or issues it is crucial to support them and
reassure them that they have done right thing. This will help in boosting their confidence as well
as they will be able to explain things correctly (Livingstone and Third, 2017).
It is signifiant to tell child to be more safe and happy as well as motivating child and
young people to protect themselves.
While listening to child it is essential to clarify what child has told you as well as ensure
that you are paying full attention to what a child or young person in saying. It is crucial to be
careful and do not ask too much questions as it can irritate child and they will not be interested to
share the experience.
It is essential not to be condemn any one or showing prejudice or dismissing
information. Through this abuse case can be analysed and evaluated properly so that correct
action could be taken for resolving the problem.
Once child or young person has provided information it is crucial to consult with the
manager or top authority of organisation in order to identify and analyse the different approaches
which will be effective for resolving the issues of child.
It is important to record data and information in adequate manner so that proof form
longer term can be used. It is essential to record the complete incident which include name,
addresses, dates, time and other information. Recording of data needs to includes each and every
point that child has explained with the information of when and why.
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It is crucial to follow the instruction properly which is given by safeguarding in order to ensure
safety and security of child from any type of abuse.
2.3 Explain the rights that children, young people and their families have in situations where
harm or abuse is suspected or alleged
It is essential that child or their family member have proper understanding about different
right which will be signifiant for handling the situation of abuse or harm. There are different
rights that is developed by government and these right provide the guidelines for dealing
particular situations and reporting the child or young abuse. It is essential for individual to have
complete information or understanding of rights as this will help in dealing with the situation
correctly and accurately. There are several rights which will be significant in protecting the best
interest of child and take correct step for dealing with the issues of child.
Article 3 – Best interests of the child
As per the article it is right of individual child or their family to take step which is
according to the best interest. This right indicates that child interest is the top most priority in
those actions which is concerning to children.
Article 4 – Protection of right
It is right of individual that their all rights are timely fulfilled and it is responsibility of
government to take right and accurate actions in order to protect the rights of child. As per this
article government needs to take necessary steps for fulfil the rights of every child.
Article 6 – Survival and development
It is basic or human right to survive and develop (Morrow and Crivello, 2015). As per
this article living an health life is the right of child and government needs to take necessary steps
for providing the necessary arrangement to make sure that child is living a healthy life.
Article 9 – Separation form parents
Child have right to take decision on the separation form their parents. It is right of
individual child to be with their parents and a child can be only separated from his or her family
as per their best interest. For example in the case of abuse and neglect through family member
child has right to be separated form their parents.
Article 12 – Respect for the views of child
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According to this article it is right of child to say or express their views regarding all
matters which is affecting them. It is right to child that they get respect to their views and clearly
express what is affecting them.
Article 16 – Right to privacy
As per this act it is right of child that their privacy is completed protected and safe. Right
to privacy provide them protection form any kind of abuse and endure that child private, family
and home life is competed protected.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Alderson, P. and Morrow, V., 2020. The ethics of research with children and young people: A
practical handbook. SAGE Publications Limited.
Graham, A., Powell, M.A. and Taylor, N., 2015. Ethical research involving children:
Encouraging reflexive engagement in research with children and young
people. Children & Society, 29(5), pp.331-343.
Beckett, H. and Warrington, C., 2015. Making justice work: Experiences of criminal justice for
children and young people affected by sexual exploitation as victims and witnesses.
Swist, T., and et.al., 2015. Social media and the wellbeing of children and young people: A
literature review.
Tisdall, E.K.M., 2017. Conceptualising children and young people’s participation: Examining
vulnerability, social accountability and co-production. The International Journal of
Human Rights, 21(1), pp.59-75.
Morrow, V. and Crivello, G., 2015. What is the value of qualitative longitudinal research with
children and young people for international development?. International Journal of
Social Research Methodology, 18(3), pp.267-280.
Livingstone, S. and Third, A., 2017. Children and young people’s rights in the digital age: An
emerging agenda.
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