1. Child Protection Policy Statement

Mercread Youth Centre is fully committed to promoting children’s and young people’s rights, notably their right to be protected from harm, abuse and exploitation and to be involved in any decisions that directly affect them. Mercread Youth Centre has a duty of care to implement effective policies and procedures for safeguarding the welfare of children and young people.  To achieve this, we will ensure our staff and volunteers are carefully selected, screened, trained and supervised and we will endeavour to keep up to date with national developments relating to the care and protection of children and young people.

2. Principles

Mercread Youth Centre has adopted the following principles based on those outlined within the Children’s Act 2018 Guidance as well as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Child and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 Guidance:

• This policy is based on the legal and statutory definitions of a child (defined as being up to 18 years old).

• The organisation will safeguard the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk within the work we do by endeavouring to protect them from neglect, physical, sexual or emotional abuse.

• All young people, regardless of age, culture, any disability they may have, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief, gender reassignment or sexual identity have the right to protection from any kind of abuse.

• All young people have the right to participate in an enjoyable and safe environment.

• Young people have the right to expect appropriate support in accordance with their personal and social development.

• Working in partnership with young people, their parent(s)/carers and other agencies is essential for the protection of young people.

• Safeguarding children and young people is the responsibility of everyone within the organisation, regardless of their role. A timely and appropriate response will be given to all suspicions or allegations of abuse, or poor practice.

• It is the responsibility of the Designated Safeguarding Lead / Leadership Team and any external agencies involved to uphold safeguarding criteria thresholds.

• The sharing of confidential information is restricted to the necessary external agencies. All personal information about children and young people is shared and stored appropriately in accordance with the Data Protection Act, the Freedom of information Act and information sharing protocols.

3. Implementing Policies & Procedures

Mercread Youth Centre is committed to providing a safe environment for young people. This Child Protection Policy reflects this commitment and aims to ensure that all concerns about the care and protection of children and young people are effectively managed.

Mercread Youth Centre Trustees have assigned Myriam Otoide and Jason Savin as the Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL). Their role includes:

• Receiving reports of concerns or incidents and dealing with them accordingly, reporting to the local safeguarding board when deemed necessary.

• Ensuring that policies and procedures are being implemented and kept up to date.

• Attending interviews for staff (paid and unpaid) as the safeguarding representative for the committee.

• Liaising with all other members of the safeguarding team.

• Reporting to the Trustees on safeguarding matters.

• Overseeing DBS checks and updates.

• Ensuring policies are being kept up to date and procedures are being implemented by centre users and staff.

• Keeping up to date on recent guidelines and legislation for safeguarding and sharing relevant information with the Trustees and staff.

• Organising training for staff.

• Overseeing risk assessments and keeping record of them.

• Ensuring that health and safety policies and procedures are working in line with safeguarding policies and procedures.

Mercread Youth Centre also has an assigned Trustee to support the safeguarding leads in their roles. 

4. Recruitment

Mercread Youth Centre recognises that appropriate recruitment and selection procedures are a vital part in developing and maintaining a safe environment for children and young people. The following procedures are in place to ensure that only suitable applicants are accepted as volunteers or staff of Mercread Youth Centre:

• Mercread Youth Centre will draw up a role profile which highlights the key responsibilities.

• Mercread Youth Centre will draw up a person specification to define the skills and experience required for the role.

• Mercread Youth Centre will be clear about its aims and objectives in our advertising and information.

• Mercread Youth Centre will emphasise our stance on safeguarding children and young people and equal opportunities.

• All applicants (staff and volunteers) will be asked to complete an application form.

• All applicants (staff and volunteers) will be asked to complete a self-declaration form.

• More than one member of staff will look at each application form.

• Original documents confirming the identity of an applicant will be requested.

• All successful applicants (paid and unpaid positions) will be asked to provide suitable references.

• All suitable applicants (paid and unpaid positions) will be asked to attend an interview.

• All suitable applicants will be required to agree to an enhanced DBS check. Any offers of employment will be subject to the outcome of the check and employment will not commence until the DBS results have been received

5. Induction, training and on-going support for volunteers and staff

All newly appointed staff and volunteers at Mercread Youth Centre will receive training, support, information and guidance to ensure they understand their role and responsibilities regarding Child Protection. This will include:

• Details of the structure of the organisation will be provided, including the details of overall responsibility for child protection within the organisation.

• Details of the organisations aims and objectives will be provided.

• An assessment of staffs (paid and unpaid) training and development requirements will be completed.

• The roles and responsibilities of staff and volunteers within the organisation will be clarified.

• Clear details of the expectations, roles and responsibilities of all newly appointed staff and volunteers will be provided.

• All staff and volunteers must agree and sign up to the organisations Child Protection Policy and procedures.

• Training, information and a copy of the organisations Code of Conduct will be provided.

• The contact details and roles and responsibilities of the organisations Child Protection Officer will be provided.

• On-going continuing professional development in line with the staff’s role at Mercread Youth Centre will be provided upon request.

• Staff and volunteers will be required to take regular training pertaining to their role to keep up to date with latest legislations and guidelines for youth work.

6. Staff: Expectations & Code of conduct

Ensuring the well-being and safety of the children, young people and any adult who could be potentially at risk of harm, is the responsibility of every adult who uses the Mercread Youth Centre. We therefore encourage everyone – paid staff, volunteers, Trustees to become familiar with our safeguarding policies and procedures and to adhere to and implement them both inside and out of the Centre.

• Any one to one’s with a young person should be conducted in an open space where possible. If using a closed room, ensure people know of your whereabouts and that you remain visible through the window.

• Staff/volunteers /adult visitors should use the designated toilet facilities rather than the communal ones.

• Staff/volunteers are expected to speak to and treat all young people equally and with respect and dignity.

• Staff/volunteers are expected to wear lanyards during their time at the centre to identify clearly who they are and their role.

• Staff/volunteers are expected to provide positive role modelling for young people.

• Staff/volunteers are expected to build and maintain a safe and appropriate relationship with young people and to respect their boundaries.

• Staff/volunteers are expected to encourage young people to share in the decision-making processes of the Clubs and activities they attend.

• Staff are expected to act within appropriate boundaries with young people, in relation to all forms of communication. Staff should be mindful of any physical contact and should not have intimate or sexual relationships with young people (in accordance with the Sexual Offences Act 2003).

• Staff are expected to stay within the law at all times.

• Staff are expected to provide a safe environment for children and young people ensuring equipment is used safely and for its intended purpose and that risk assessments are conducted for activities and events.

• Staff should challenge any inappropriate behaviour and report breaches of behaviour of conduct to the Senior Youth Worker or the Designated Person for safeguarding

• Staff should not use their mobile phones during sessions with children and young people apart from emergencies and should follow the policy and procedures for social media use.

7. Supervision ratios

Mercread Youth Centre will take into account the following when making appropriate staffing arrangements:

• the age and ability of the young people,

• the activity being undertaken,

• children’s growing independence,

• children’s need for privacy,

• the geography of the facility being used,

• the Risk Assessment.

8. Participation consent

Mercread Youth Centre will obtain consent from carers of children and young people under the age of 18 for attending certain events or activities. Forms will be provided for signatures.

9. Media Consent

Consent will be required for Mercread Youth Centre to use any photographic or video material for its promotions or news publications.

10. Mobile phone & social media policy

Staff use of mobile phones

Personal mobile phones belonging to members of staff are not to be used during working hours.

If a member of staff needs to make an urgent personal call, they can do so away from the children and ensuring cover is in place first. 

Alternatively, they may use the centre’s mobile. 

Personal mobile phones should not be used to take photographs at the club during working hours. Photos of activities can be taken using the centre’s camera and only if consent has been obtained by the young people and their carers. 

If staff need to communicate with children and young people who attend the clubs, wherever possible they should contact the child’s carer rather than the child or young person. Calls to a child or young person’s mobile should not be made unless under emergency circumstances and then a senior member of staff should be informed of this. If a staff member/volunteer has exceptional circumstances to this (i.e. related to an attendee / family friend etc) they should inform a senior member of staff. 

This also applies to connections made over social media (for example staff should not be ‘friends’ on Facebook or Instagram etc. with young people who attend the clubs, unless there are exceptional circumstances)

Children’s use of mobile phones

Mercread Youth Centre understands that children and young people will want to use their mobile phones during club times. 

However, staff should actively discourage this and rather encourage them to participate in the activities provided. 

Children and young people should not be accessing social media platforms during their time at clubs.  

Mercread Youth Centre does not accept any responsibility for loss or damage to mobile phones brought to clubs by the children and young people.

Visitors’ use of mobile phones

In the interest of safeguarding, we ask all parents and visitors not to use their phones or other mobile devices on the premises. Taking of photographs by parents or visitors is strictly prohibited. 

11. Internet and e-safety

The Internet is significant in the distribution of indecent photographs/pseudo photographs of children and young people. Adults often use the Internet to establish contact with young people to “groom” them for inappropriate or abusive relationships.

When a worker or volunteer is discovered to have placed child pornography on the internet, or accessed child pornography, the police will normally consider whether that individual might also be involved in the active abuse of young people. In particular, the individual’s access to young people should be considered.

Any project that provides service users with direct access to the Internet must have protocols in place to ensure safe use. Many websites contain offensive, obscene or indecent material such as:

• Sexually explicit images and related material

• Advocating of illegal activities

• Advocating intolerance for others

Staff authorised to use the internet must not download pornographic or any other unsuitable material on to the Mercread Youth Centre’s technical equipment or distribute such material to others. In addition, users must not upload any material to the internet that could be considered inappropriate, offensive or disrespectful of others. Disciplinary action will be taken against staff in breach of this policy. Where this is done unintentionally, the user must exit the website and/or delete all material immediately. Breach of this will be treated as gross misconduct. Where exemption is required, because of the nature of the work of the member of staff, written permission must be given in advance with the manager.

12. Data protection and management of confidential information

Mercread Youth Centre is committed to the safe and secure management of confidential information. In line with the Data Protection Act 2018, we will ensure that any personal information taken is used fairly, lawfully and transparently. All personnel information, including volunteer information, is kept locked and can only be accessed by those that require it to carry out their role. Only relevant information is kept, and this is regularly reviewed and outdated information destroyed appropriately.

Mercread Youth Centre is also committed to the rights of children and young people to confidentiality, and this will be respected by all workers. However, where a worker feels that the information disclosed by a child or young people should be referred to their line manager for investigation by an appropriate agency, the young person should be told that confidentiality cannot be kept.

13. Responding to suspicion or allegation of abuse

Members of staff (paid and unpaid) have a duty to report any suspicions, allegations or disclosures to the Designated Safeguarding Lead, Myriam Otoide. 

However, the first concern must be the reassurance of the child or young person and their protection from any potential risk. During the reporting process the young person should be protected from further contact with the individual involved in the allegation.

As a worker or volunteer your role in child protection is not to investigate or decide if abuse has taken place. Your role is to recognise the concern, report and record, then refer to where appropriate.

4 R’s of Safeguarding:

RECOGNISE – REPORT – RECORD- REFER

The following steps should be followed in response to suspicion or allegation of abuse:

RECOGNISE:   Are you concerned about the safety of a child or young person?

For example, if:

• A child/young person has alleged that they are being abused.

• You see or suspect abuse.

• The organisation has received a third-party report that a child/young person is being abused/neglected.

• There are signs and indicators which could point to abuse/neglect.

REPORT:

Discuss your concerns with the Safeguarding Lead (Myriam Otoide: 07581783010 or Jason Savin:07769205987) as soon as possible.

If the allegation is about one of these members, contact the Chair (Ceri Robley 07903524843). These steps should be taken as soon as possible.

Discussions should focus on:

Nature of concerns; Risks to the child or young person; Action and next steps to be taken.

In following the procedures below please bear in mind:

• DO NOT INVESTIGATE – Staff and volunteers should not attempt to investigate the situation any further or interview the child or young person regarding the situation.  

• CONFIDENTIALITY – Details of suspicion, allegations or disclosures should only be passed on to the Safeguarding Lead/Coordinator. If responding to an allegation from a young person, you must not promise to keep the information they disclose confidential.  

RECORD INFORMATION:

Detailed written records should be made of all events and what the young person or other individuals have said (where this applies). A form is supplied in Appendix 1 to help structure this. It can also be used to inform Social Work/Police of the events that have occurred. Above and beyond the facts, any opinions or personal interpretations of the facts presented can be recorded but it should be clear they are opinions, rather than facts. Records should be signed and stored in a secure place. 

REFER:   Seek advice and refer to the appropriate agency.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead should contact the Social Work Department and/or the Police and ask to speak to the Duty Officer about a child protection issue. If the report is received during an evening, then the Social Work department Emergency Duty team and/or the Police should be contacted. Any further action should only be taken in line with the advice given by the Social Work Department. This includes whether the parent or carer of the young person should be informed of the child protection concerns.    

Where an allegation is made against a worker (paid or unpaid), the above process still applies. The safeguarding Coordinator will inform the Disclosure and Barring Service if an individual harms a child or puts a child at risk of harm and as a result of this, we take the decision to remove them or they leave of their own accord, come to the end of a contract, retire or have been made redundant.

14. Responding when a child or young person discloses abuse

It is likely that a child or young person who has been abused will have given a lot of thought as to whether they should disclose the abuse.  It is highly likely that they will be nervous and afraid that they might be rejected, blamed or not believed. It is important that staff and volunteers follow the steps outlined below:

Stay calm

Remain calm and natural.  You have been approached because you are trusted, not because you are an expert counsellor. Do not promise to keep the information secret; you may have to inform an appropriate person. You must take any disclosure seriously and reassure the young person that you believe them.

Listen and take the allegation seriously

Listen to what the child or young person is saying.  Give them the time and opportunity to tell you as much as they are able and willing to. Do not pressurise them and allow them to disclose information at their own pace. You should not investigate, ask leading questions or ask specific or explicit questions. You should only clarify what they are willing to tell you in their own words. Try to do this in an appropriate place, such as a room where other people can see in through an open door or window. Whilst it’s important to respect the young person’s privacy it should not be at the expense of other child protection measures.

Reassure

Reassure them that you believe what they are saying and that you know it is not their fault. You should also give them some indication of what you will do next with the information that they have given you.

Confidentiality

Reiterate that you cannot promise to keep the information secret.  You must take any disclosure seriously. Details of the disclosure should only be passed on to the Safeguarding Lead, who should refer the case to the appropriate authorities. Wherever possible you should try not to discuss any concerns that you have about a child or young person in a way that may lead others to suspect that they are being abused.

Record

If you are able to, make brief notes during the initial disclosure, explaining to the young person why you are doing it. If it’s not possible to do so at the time, record the details as soon as possible after the disclosure with as many facts as possible (dates, times, actual words used).

Look after yourself

Being trusted with a disclosure of abuse directly from a young person can be emotionally draining, worrying and very stressful. Whilst it’s essential that confidentially is maintained at all times, it’s important that you consider your own emotional feelings and discuss any anxieties you have with a member of the safeguarding team. If appropriate, the team will arrange additional support for you.

15. Whistleblowing

Whistleblowing is the process whereby an employee raises a concern about malpractice, wrongdoing, risk, or illegal proceedings, which harms or creates a risk of harm to the people who use the service, employees, or the wider community.

Whistleblowing is not the same as making a complaint or raising a grievance. Whistleblowing is different because it involves a situation where an employee raises a concern about some form of malpractice that they have witnessed in their workplace.

A whistleblowing concern is when a person witnesses an issue or risk that affects someone other than themselves. A young person maybe directly affected by an act or decision within their organisation or that the organisation has a safeguarding issue which is not being addressed.

Mercread youth Centre endeavour to:

• Encourage an open culture where people feel comfortable raising concerns with their managers.

•  Give people the confidence that if they raise an issue that their name will not be revealed without their consent.

• Give people the option to raise concerns anonymously.

16. Malicious allegations

An allegation may be classified as malicious. Care should be taken in dealing with such an outcome, as some facts may not be wholly untrue. Some parts of an allegation may have been fabricated or exaggerated but elements may be based on truth. Where a preliminary enquiry / investigation was undertaken and the allegations were deemed to be malicious, a record should be made stating that:

• An allegation was made (but not what the allegation was).

• Date the allegation was made.

• The allegation was fully investigated.

• The outcome was that it was found to be malicious or unsubstantiated and that no further action was taken.

Appendix 1: Safeguarding Report Form

• A report should be made by the person who has had the initial concerns about a child’s welfare using this pro forma.

• The report should be handed to Jason Savin or Myriam Otoide in a sealed envelope.

• The Designated Safeguarding Lead should contact the appropriate Social Work Dept/Police.

Name:

Date:

Name and contact details of child/young person/s your concern relates to:

Details of the incident /concern

Outline your reasons for concern: (if the child spoke to you, please use their exact words as much as possible. Avoid adding your personal opinions)

Brief outline of any action you have already taken to protect the child/young person:

Signature:    

Date:

Follow up action taken by:

Signature:

Designation:

Date:

Appendix 2: Understanding of Abuse

Definitions of abuse

Working together to safeguard children 2018 defines abuse as:

“A form of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm. Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting by those known to them or, more rarely, by others. Abuse can take place wholly online, or technology may be used to facilitate offline abuse. Children may be abused by an adult or adults, or another child or children.”

There are four major types of abuse:

• Physical abuse.

• Emotional abuse.

• Sexual abuse.

• Neglect.

There are other types of abuse that fit into these categories and are key areas for children and young people in the UK. These include but are not restricted to Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE), Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Extremism, contextual safeguarding, mental health, domestic abuse and homelessness (Working Together guidance 2020).

Signs of abuse

Signs which may indicate abuse include: –

• Unexplained bruising and injuries.

• Sexually explicit language and actions.

• Sudden changes in behaviour, such as absences, withdrawal or having unexplained

material goods.

• Something a child has said.

• A change observed over a long period of time e.g. losing weight or becoming increasingly

dirty/unkempt.

Such signs do not necessarily mean a child or young person is being abused. Equally, there may not be any signs; you may just feel something is wrong. It is not a member of staffs’ responsibility to decide if it is abuse, but it is their responsibility to act on such concerns and report it accordingly.

The signs of abuse are not always obvious, and a young person may not tell anyone what is happening to them. Individuals are often scared that the abuser will find out, and worried that the abuse will get worse. Quite often they think that there is no-one they can tell or that they will not be believed.

Occasionally, individuals do not even realise what is happening to them is abuse. It is key for associates and volunteers to be able to recognise signs of abuse. This will be covered in-depth within annual training.

Vulnerable young people

Mercread Youth Centre has a responsibility to be aware that some children and young people who take part in our activities may experience difficulties that adversely affect their lives at home and/or within their lives outside of the organisation and therefore be at risk of harm.

Particularly vulnerable groups could include: Children and young people with a disability. 

Disability can take many forms including:

Physical disability

Sensory disability

Learning disability.

Research indicates children and young people with a disability are more likely to be abused than non-disabled children. They may find it more difficult to recognise abuse.

Disclosing abuse is difficult for any child; for a child with disabilities, it may be especially difficult, for the following reasons:

• Their life experience may be limited, therefore struggle to recognise inappropriate behaviour

•  Communication difficulties can make it hard to report abuse

•  They may not be able physically to leave an abusive situation

•  they receive intimate physical care and, therefore, the abuse may seem ‘normal’

• Their self-esteem and self-image are poor

•  They may not be aware of how or to whom they can report abuse

Children and young people at risk of sexual exploitation (CSE)

Young people at risk of, or engaged in, sexual exploitation may not see themselves as victims. Workers need to be aware of young people who may be at risk.

The sexual exploitation of children and young people is defined in government guidance documents (2017) as follows:

Child sexual exploitation is a form of child sexual abuse. It occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity (a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or (b) for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator. The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual. Child sexual exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology. Often the exploitative situation includes contexts and relationships, young people receive ‘something’ (e.g. food, accommodation, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, affection, gifts, money) as a result of their performing, and/or others performing on them, sexual activities. It can occur through the use of technology without the child’s immediate recognition e.g. being persuaded to post sexual images on the internet/mobile phones without immediate payment or gain. In all cases, those exploiting the child have power over them by virtue of their age, gender, intellect, physical strength and/or economic or other resources. Violence, coercion and intimidation are common, involvement in exploitative relationships being characterised by the child’s limited availability of choice, resulting from their social/economic and/or emotional vulnerability. There are strong links between children who go missing and the internal trafficking, between towns, of young people for the purposes of sexual exploitation. Children and young people from loving and supportive families can be at risk of exploitation and workers must be careful not to stereotype specific groups of children as potential victims.

Young Carers

A young carer is a child or young person whose life is restricted by the need to take responsibility for another person. The person might be a parent, a brother or sister, grandparent or other relative who is disabled, has some chronic illness, mental health problem or other condition connected with a need for care, support or supervision. Young carers can become isolated, with no relief from the pressures at home, and no chance to enjoy a normal childhood. They are often afraid to ask for help as they fear letting the family down or being taken into care.

Mercread Youth Centre staff should be aware of the needs of a young carer and be able to offer support and/or signpost him/her to a charity specifically for young carers. If their needs are more serious or urgent these concerns must be shared with the Designated Person for Safeguarding.

Children and young people affected by gang activity

Young people who become involved in gangs are at risk of violent crime and are, therefore, deemed vulnerable and in need of safeguarding.

The nature and characteristics of gangs vary but generally:

• Are predominantly young males

• Begin offending early and have extensive criminal histories

• Are often territorially based or linked to a particular religion or culture

deal in drugs as a way to make money

• Girls tend to be less willing than boys to identify themselves as

gang members but are often drawn into male gangs as girlfriends of existing

members. They (and sisters of gang members) are at particular risk of being

sexually exploited or abused, but this risk can also affect male gang members.

Youth workers have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of these young people and to prevent further harm both to themselves and to other potential victims. As the young person may be both a victim and a perpetrator, it is vital that workers recognise their needs and provide support.

Children and young people missing education

The law requires all children and young people between the ages of 5 and 16 to be in full time education. Children and young people who are not attending school or not being home-educated may be particularly vulnerable. The local authority’s Children’s Services will be keen to be informed if you know about children and young people who are not either in school or receiving education at home, or if you have any concerns about children or young people who have gone missing from your area or neighbourhood, so that they can make sure that they are safe and that they receive an appropriate education. Raise your concerns with the Designated Safeguarding Contact within the organisation, who can then make a referral.

Young people who are homeless

Homeless young people are not just those who are sleeping on the streets. Young people may be ‘sofa surfing’, staying on the floors and sofas of friends or family, in temporary hostel or bed and breakfast accommodation or in unsuitable or unsafe accommodation. There are many reasons why young people are homeless but, whatever the reason, insecure housing is likely to have a debilitating impact on their lives and increase their vulnerability.

Children and young people who are experiencing domestic abuse

In a house where domestic abuse occurs, the children and young people are being abused too. Children and young people may be aware of the abuse of a parent, through hearing or seeing incidents of physical violence or verbal abuse. They may also continue to witness and/or hear abuse during post- separation contact visits.

Research shows the risks of children and young people being directly physically or sexually abused are markedly increased, in homes where domestic violence occurs. The impact on such children and young people may be demonstrated through aggression, anti-social behaviour, anxiety or depression.

Children and young people whose parents/carers misuse substances

Although there are some parents/carers who are able to care for and safeguard their children despite their dependence on drugs or alcohol, parental substance misuse can cause significant harm to children at all stages of their development. Where a parent has enduring and/or severe substance misuse problems, the children in the household are likely to be at risk of, or experiencing, significant harm primarily through emotional abuse or neglect. The child or young person’s daily life may revolve around the parent’s/carer’s substance misuse, and they may be assuming inappropriate responsibilities within the home.

Children and young people whose parents/carers have learning disabilities

Parental learning difficulties do not necessarily have an adverse impact on a child’s developmental needs. But, where it is known parents/carers do have learning disabilities, workers should be particularly aware of the developmental, social and emotional needs of the children and young people in the family. Risk of harm or to well-being could be:

• A child having caring responsibilities inappropriate to their age, such as looking after siblings

•  A child experiencing neglect

A child with a mother with learning disabilities, who may be targeted by men to gain access to children, for the purpose of sexually abusing them must also recognise that parents/carers with learning difficulties may need to have information about programmes and activities explained to them verbally and may need support when forms need to be completed.

Children and young people whose parents/carers have a mental illness

Parental mental illness does not necessarily have an adverse impact on a child or young person’s care and developmental needs. However, studies show the chance of child death through abuse or neglect where parental mental illness is present, is greatly increased. In a household where a parent has enduring and/or severe mental ill-health, children are more likely to be at risk of, or experiencing, significant harm.

Risk of harm or to well-being could be:

• parental aggression or rejection

• having caring responsibilities inappropriate to his/her age

• witnessing disturbing behaviour arising from the mental illness (e.g. self harm, suicide, uninhibited behaviour, violence)

• being neglected physically and/or emotionally by an unwell parent

Unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee children

Children who have come to the UK without parents or relatives, are some of the most vulnerable children in our society. They are alone in an unfamiliar country, at the end of what has most likely been a long, perilous and traumatic journey. They may have experienced exploitation or persecution in their home country, or on their journey to the UK. Some may have been trafficked, and many more are at risk of being trafficked or being exploited in other ways, some of which are covered here, such as becoming homeless, becoming involved in gang activity and being out of education. Such children and young people should be living in foster care or supported accommodation. Asylum seeking children also have a greater risk of going missing or experiencing mental health issues. Reasons for this could be:

• Difficulties in communication

• Frustration at not understanding the asylum-seeking process and not feeling believed/supported

• Worries for family members that they may have lost touch with since leaving their country/during the journey to the UK

• Exploitation by the traffickers, who they may now owe money to

•  Post-traumatic stress disorder

• Isolation and loneliness

The local authority should be aware of an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child’s needs and is responsible for their safety and well-being. Any safeguarding concerns should be reported to them to ensure the young person’s safety. Any concerns relating to particularly vulnerable children and young people must be raised with the Designated Safeguarding Lead as soon as possible. Do not make assumptions that another agency or local authority provision is already managing this because the young person is already known to them.

Peer-on-peer abuse

Children are vulnerable to abuse by their peers. Peer-on-peer abuse is taken seriously by Mercread Youth Centre staff and will be subject to the same child protection procedures as other forms of abuse. Staff are aware of the potential uses of information technology for bullying and abusive behaviour between young people. Staff will not dismiss abusive behaviour as normal between young people. The presence of one or more of the following in relationships between children should always trigger concern about the possibility of peer-on-peer abuse:

• Sexual activity (in primary school-aged children) of any kind, including sexting.

• One of the children is significantly more dominant than the other (e.g., much older).

• One of the children is significantly more vulnerable than the other (e.g., in terms of disability, confidence, physical strength).

• There has been some use of threats, bribes or coercion to ensure compliance or secrecy.

Extremism and radicalisation

Mercread Youth Centre has a legal duty to protect children from the risk of radicalisation and being drawn into extremism. There are many reasons why a child might be vulnerable to radicalisation, e.g.:

• feeling alienated or alone,

• seeking a sense of identity or individuality.

• suffering from mental health issues such as depression,

• desire for adventure or wanting to be part of a larger cause,

• associating with others who hold extremist beliefs. 

Signs that a child might be at risk of radicalisation include:

• changes in behaviour, for example becoming withdrawn or aggressive,

• claiming that terrorist attacks and violence are justified,

• viewing violent extremist material online,

• possessing or sharing violent extremist material.

Appendix 3: Contacts numbers

Designated Safeguarding Trustee: Ceri Robley 07903524843

Designated Safeguarding Lead: Myriam Otoide 07581783010

Designated Safeguarding Lead: Jason Savin 07769205987

East Sussex children’s safeguarding team: 01323 464222

They are open Monday to Thursday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, and Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

If you have a serious concern and cannot wait for the next working day, call the Emergency Duty Service on 01273 335905.

If child is in danger or has been left alone, phone the police on 999.

East Sussex adults safeguarding team: 0345 60 80 191

out of hours: 0345 608 0191 (menu option 2)

In an emergency call Police: 999