2.1 Child protection procedure
By law, all agencies, professional and public bodies, and services that deliver adult and/or child services and work with children and their families have a responsibility to recognise and actively consider potential risks to a child, irrespective of whether the child is the focus of their involvement. They are expected to identify and consider the child's needs, share information and concerns with other agencies and work collaboratively with other services (as well as the child and their family) to improve outcomes for the child.
Child protection means protecting a child or young person from child abuse or neglect. We all need to be curious about the wellbeing of children and young people. All professionals and members of the wider university communities have a role to safeguard children and young people. It is everyone’s responsibility to make sure all our children and young people are safe and protected from harm and to act if we are worried or notice something that causes concern.
Child Protection procedures are what we follow for children who have been harmed or who we suspect are at risk of abuse, harm, or neglect. Abuse or harm need not have taken place for the First Responder Team to escalate a concern.
Abuse or neglect need not have taken place for action to be taken to protect a child or young person; action can be taken when there is a likelihood or risk of significant harm from abuse or neglect, whether physical, emotional, or sexual.
All forms of child abuse and neglect have an adverse impact on a child or young person’s health and wellbeing. The impact can be immediate, or it can build up over time, leaving children and young people with vulnerabilities and challenges throughout their lives.
It is, therefore, important to try and prevent child abuse and neglect from happening at all. Where it does occur, it is best to identify it early and respond quickly to help the child or young person. This will minimise harm both immediately and in the longer term.
The university views all children under 18 as vulnerable, some more so than others. The specific response will depend upon what is known about their vulnerabilities or trauma.
Report any concern relating to a child or unborn child using Report and Support. Our relationship with the Local Authority and Social Work Services is fundamental. When there is a concern that a child or young person might be at risk of significant harm from abuse or neglect, the First Responder Network always share a concern with Social Work Services or Police.