Cyp 3.1 Explain The Importance Of Child Protection

Child protection is one of the aspects of safeguarding children and is mainly used when there has been an incidence of suspected harm or abuse, to a child or young person. As with any area of safeguarding, factors like family circumstances, the environment, poverty and cultural practices can all result in a need for child protection.

Family circumstances can have an affect on the safety and well being of a child. A parent

who is ill, depressed, a substance user or a victim of abuse themselves may not be able to put their child's welfare first. Responsibility for decisions about their child's care: good nutrition, clean clothes and access to health services may not happen, thus neglecting their basic needs. 'Looked-after' children, those with

foster parents or in care, can also be vulnerable. Being taken away for their families and the home environment, moved around within the care system and being insecure can all be risk factors.
The environment a child is brought up in can affect their upbringing and become a factor in their safety.

A child living in an area where violence, crime and drugs are rife could be exposed to risk and make them vulnerable. Being exposed to certain behaviours could result in the children becoming involved in them themselves. Refugee or asylum seeking children can be at risk from neglect or abuse because of their background. The impact of their circumstances that leads them to being in the country can lead to social isolation, trauma, violence and a lack of access to support, making them particularly vulnerable. Access to the Internet can be harmful to children too. Accessing unsuitable websites, social media sites and chat rooms can be a risk to their safety and

welfare.
Poverty can affect the health and wellbeing of children and young people. Not having enough food, decent clothing, being warm in winter and not attending any after-school activities with their friends are consequences of being from a poorer family. Children can be affected physically and mentally from living in poverty.
Cultural practices, which are acceptable in some countries and faiths, can be considered a form of exploitation and abuse in other countries. Children and young people, from many parts of the world, can be involved in child labour, prostitution, drug dealing and armed conflicts. They don't get the chance to be children, to play, attend school and learn. Some children are forced to marry, often before puberty hits. This is considered child abuse. Female genital mutilation (FGM) is carried out in many African countries and sometimes this practice can occur in the UK. Physical harm, emotional and sexual problems can occur, therefore making it a child protection issue.
Question: Question 3
Answer: National and local guidelines, policies and procedures affect the day to day work with children and young people, as they form the basis of a schools policies and procedures.

Policies are clear, simple statements of belief, presented as a document and procedures describe how each policy will be put into action within an organisation. Safeguarding procedures in schools state how to work in a specific way, in order to protect children and look after their welfare. They are developed following guidance from the Local Safeguarding Children Boards and should promote multi-agency working, in line with Government Safeguarding Legislation. Schools will include policies and procedures for admissions and visitors, health and safety, intimate care, safeguarding, information sharing and confidentiality and empowering children and young

people.
The admissions and visitors policy states the need to keep a register twice daily of pupils attendance, this is useful in monitoring truancy and issues that could arise from this. The policy also includes knowing who is picking a child up from school and ensuring emergency contact details are recorded correctly. All visitors must be signed in and out and monitored at all times also. The health and safety policy must include procedure for carrying out regular risk assessments and safety checks in specific areas within the school. Schools must ensuring health and hygiene rules are followed to prevent infection outbreaks and that security measures are in place, including having safe access to the buildings. A school must also ensure children are supervised at all times, whilst at school and when on off-site visits.
The intimate care and toileting policy lists procedures for dressing and undressing a child, helping them with toileting and cleaning up afterwards, administering their medicine and what is an appropriate amount of physical contact to use. The safeguarding and child protection policy should include procedures for recognising and responding to abuse concerns, including who the named person responsible for safeguarding issues within the school is. It also lists the action to be taken in the event of allegations being made against a staff member and how to deal with bullying. E-safety and mobile phone and camera use is also covered in the policy, as is the need for all the adults working with the children to be DBS checked.
The information sharing and confidentiality policy gives details on data protection, including how to store and handle information the school receives. It tells someone about communication with parents and guardians, liaising with the Local Safeguarding Children Board and

the importance of observing children and keeping records of events/ incidences. Empowering children and young people with activities to assist this and educate them builds their confidence and self-esteem. Schools also need to involve them in decision making, listen to them and respect their views.
With policies and procedures schools are ensuring that in the event of an incident, everyone knows what to do and how to react, who to inform and what their responsibilities are.
Question: Question 4
Answer: Inquiries and serious case reviews are undertaken when a child's death occurs as a result of abuse and the reasons leading up to it need to be explained. Inquiries and serious case reviews happen in England only. In Wales they have child practice reviews, in Scotland, significant case reviews and in Northern Ireland, case management reviews. Local Safeguarding Children's Board's conduct the serious case reviews and bring together everyone involved in the case from schools, health services, social services and local councils.
As well as holding a serious case review for a death by abuse and neglect, one can also be considered if a child sustains an injury through neglect or abuse that is life-threatening, has been a victim of a serious sexual assault, has died in custody, died by suspected suicide or if any case gives rise to concerns about any agencies assigned to protect a child from harm. Holding a serious case review ensures that the facts about what happened become known and any failings that emerge from it can be acted upon, with changes implemented as a result. All findings are published in a final report and this always states the reasons leading up to the incident happening and what preventative measures should be put into place. Every organisation involved will look into their handling of the case, including how they work with other agencies, and look at ways to ensure improvements are made, in order to prevent the same incidence happening again.
Some of the findings from serious case reviews, in recent years, have exposed
a number of issues. These include: failure to use good practice, even though established
frameworks were available, failure to share sources of information that could have contributed to a better understanding of children and their families and not listening to the child's point of view or
taking their wishes into account. Findings have also led to the government introducing key policies, notably, the Working Together to Safeguard Children document. The document means that safeguarding is everyoneâ€TMs responsibility, with all professionals and organisations fully playing their part, also a child-centred approach must happen and this can occur by being understanding of the needs and views of children. All professionals and organisation must look at the way they work as
well to see if practices can be improved. Local Safeguarding Children's Boards develop and
oversee policy and procedure for their areas and ensures organisations and professionals are
working to the best of their ability to safeguard and protect children.