The Treehouse   

Safeguarding Policy  

The Treehouse acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and is committed to ensuring our safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice and requirements. 

The Treehouse acknowledges the delicate and sensitive nature of operating its business within a building that also offers daily care to children. It understands that the presence of The Treehouse staff and the general public within the environment could present unusual circumstances and recognises the importance of all policies and procedures being followed with the utmost care and consideration. 

The policy recognises that the welfare and interests of children and vulnerable adults are paramount in all circumstances. It aims to ensure that regardless of age, ability or disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, socio-economic background, all children and vulnerable adults 

• have a positive and enjoyable experience of socialising at The Treehouse in a safe environment   
• are protected from abuse whilst in our setting. 

The Treehouse acknowledges that some children and vulnerable adults, including disabled children and young people or those from ethnic minority communities, can be particularly vulnerable to abuse and we accept the responsibility to take reasonable and appropriate steps to ensure their welfare. 

Designated officer 

Designated Officer: Lorna Becker. Lorna has had sufficient and appropriate safeguarding training and holds a current DBS certificate. Lorna will also be first point of contact. Due to the circumstances of our setting, there will be no occasion when we are in contact with a child or vulnerable adult without their ‘responsible adult’ or ‘appropriate person’ present.   

Main points of contact 

Rachel Forsyth and Lorna Becker are our main points of contact. Their contact details will be available as required. If immediate action is required, then the procedure outlined below will be immediately followed. 

Procedure in the event of a disclosure or suspected abuse 

Our approach to suspected abuse or neglect would follow the outlined format; 

• In the first instance, if abuse is suspected or witnessed or a disclosure is made in the confines of our premises (including but not limited to; our café, shop and gardens). Our designated officer would refer to the NCSB (Norfolk Safeguarding Children and vulnerable adults’ Board) to ensure the appropriate procedures are strictly adhered to. Our main contact will be North Norfolk County Council Children and vulnerable adults Services on 03448008020.   
• We will ensure that this contact information is readily available to any individual undertaking under supervision of The Treehouse.   
• We will make sure that any person we see fit to employ will have appropriate safeguarding training and a DBS certificate if deemed necessary. If a member of The Treehouse has concerns then these will be raised with the designated officer in a formal and confidential matter. 

In the event of a concern or complaint against individuals hired by The Treehouse. 

The procedure would be as follows: 

• Any person who wishes to make a complaint about a person under our commission will be directed to speak to Rachel Forsyth or Lorna Becker; the main points of contact for The Treehouse. 
• Rachel Forsyth or Lorna Becker would then contact NCSB to ensure the appropriate procedures are strictly adhered to. 
• In the event of an issue, a formal written grievance or complaint can be addressed to: 

Ms Rachel Forsyth 

13 Heydon Road, 

Corpusty, 

Norfolk 

NR11 6QL. 

As part of our safeguarding policy The Treehouse will   

• promote and prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults 
• ensure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities in respect of safeguarding and is provided with appropriate learning opportunities to recognise, identify and respond to signs of abuse, neglect and other safeguarding concerns relating to children and vulnerable adults 
• ensure appropriate action is taken in the event of incidents/concerns of abuse and support provided to the individual/s who raise or disclose the concern   
• ensure that confidential, detailed and accurate records of all safeguarding concerns are maintained and securely stored   
• prevent the employment/deployment of unsuitable individuals   
• ensure robust safeguarding arrangements and procedures are in operation.   

The policy and procedures will be widely promoted and are mandatory for everyone involved in The Treehouse.   

Failure to comply with the policy and procedures will be addressed without delay and may ultimately result in dismissal/exclusion from the organisation. 

Safe Recruitment Practices 

Our organisation is only as good as the people we choose to work with, this is exponentially important as we are working with children and adults who may be in a vulnerable position. Every person who works or volunteers for The Treehouse (in any form) will be committed to creating a setting which everyone feels welcome and safe. 

We have a moral and social obligation to demonstrate best practice and this includes, but is not limited to, all staff, volunteers and visitors being treated with dignity, respect, sensitivity and fairness. 

Any person who’s role requires a DBS assessment will be thoroughly vetted and reference checked before employment/a volunteering role is offered. Due to the nature of our services, a standard DBS check will be sufficient. Any person who refuses to undertake a DBS check will not be considered for a role in our organisation. We will regularly refer to the government guidance on regulated activity to ensure we are operating at the appropriate level for our circumstances. 

Definitions and signs of abuse   

All information on definitions and signs of abuse have been researched and collated from NSPCC.  

Physical abuse 

Physical abuse is deliberately hurting another person causing injuries such as bruises, broken bones, burns or cuts 

Bruises:   

• defensive wounds commonly on forearm, upper arm, back of the leg, hands or feet 
• clusters of bruises on the upper arm, outside of the thigh or on the body 
• bruises with dots of blood under the skin 
• a bruised scalp and swollen eyes from hair being pulled violently 
• bruises in the shape of a hand or object 

Burns or scalds: 

• can be from hot liquids, hot objects, flames, chemicals or electricity 
• on hands, back, shoulders or buttocks; scalds may be on lower limbs, both arms and/or both legs 
• a clear edge to a burn or scald 
• sometimes in the shape or an implement for example, a circular cigarette burn 
• multiple burns or scalds 

Bite marks: 

• usually oval or circular in shape 
• visible wounds, indentations or bruising from individual teeth 

Fractures or broken bones: 

• fractures to the ribs or the leg bones in babies 
• multiple fractures or breaks at different stages of healing 

Other injuries and health problems 

• scaring 
• effects of poisoning such as vomiting, drowsiness or seizures 
• respiratory problems from drowning, suffocation or poisoning 

Sexual abuse 

A person is sexually abused when they are forced or persuaded to take part in sexual activities. This doesn’t have to be physical contact, and it can happen online. 

Children and vulnerable adults who are sexually abused may: 

Stay away from certain people 

• they might avoid being alone with people, such as family members or friends 
• they could seem frightened of a person or reluctant to socialise with them. 

Show sexual behaviour that’s inappropriate for their age 

• a child might become sexually active at a young age 
• they might be promiscuous 
• they could use sexual language or know information that you wouldn’t expect them to. 

Have physical symptoms 

• anal or vaginal soreness 
• an unusual discharge 
• sexually transmitted infection (STI) 
• pregnancy 

Neglect 

Neglect is the ongoing failure to meet a person’s basic needs; it’s dangerous and children and vulnerable adults can suffer serious and long term harm. 

Poor appearance and hygiene They may: 

• be smelly or dirty 
• have unwashed clothes 
• have inadequate clothing e.g not having a winter coat 
• seem hungry or turn up to nursery without having breakfast 
• have frequent and untreated nappy rash in infants 

Health and development problems They may have: 

• untreated injuries, medical and dental issues 
• repeated accidental injuries caused by lack of supervision 
• recurring illnesses or infections 
• not been given appropriate medicines 
• missed medical appointments such as vaccinations 
• poor muscle tone or prominent joint 
• skin sores, rashes, flea bites, scabies or ringworm 
• thin or swollen tummy   
• anaemia 
• tiredness 
• faltering weight or growth and not reaching developmental milestones (known as failure to thrive) 

Housing and family issues They may be: 

• living in an unsuitable home environment for example dog mess being left or not having any heating 
• left alone for a long time 
• taking on the role or carer for other family members 

Emotional abuse 

Children and vulnerable adults who are emotionally abused suffer maltreatment or neglect. It’s sometimes called psychological abuse and can cause children and vulnerable adults serious harm. 

There often aren’t any obvious physical symptoms of emotional abuse or neglect but you may spot signs in a child’s actions or emotions. 

Changes in emotions are a normal part of growing up, so it can be really difficult to tell if a child is being emotionally abused. 

Babies and pre-school children and vulnerable adults who are being emotionally abused or neglected may: 

• be overly-affectionate towards strangers or people they haven’t known for very long 
• lack confidence or become wary or anxious 
• not appear to have a close relationship with their parent, e.g when being taken to or collected from nursery etc 
• be aggressive or nasty towards other children and vulnerable adults and animals 

 Domestic abuse 

Domestic abuse is defined as: 

‘Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over, who are or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. This can encompass but is not limited to the following types of abuse: 

• psychological 

   • physical 

• sexual 

• financial 

• emotional’. 

‘Controlling behaviour’ is a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/ or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour. 

‘Coercive behaviour’ is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim.1 

This definition includes so-called ‘honour’ based violence, female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage. It is made clear that victims are not confined to one gender or ethnic group. 

This definition recognises that past legal and cultural understanding of domestic abuse has been too narrowly focused on single physically violent incidents rather than complex and controlling patterns of behaviour. 

It is recognised that the desire to exert power and control in family, domestic and intimate relationships underpins the majority of domestic abuse which takes place, and that abuse is usually inflicted to achieve this end. 

Since Home Office guidance was published there has also been increased national awareness of the impact of intentional grooming. This is an aspect of some relationships where there is domestic abuse, impacting 

on people’s choices and their ability to leave relationships within which they are being abused. 

The terms ‘domestic violence’ and ‘domestic abuse’ are often used interchangeably, but in this guide ‘domestic abuse’ is used as it is felt to be a more inclusive way to describe a range of behaviours, which include violence as well as all other forms of abuse. 

Witnessing domestic abuse is child abuse, and teenagers can suffer domestic abuse in their relationships 

It is often difficult to tell if domestic abuse is happening, because it usually takes place in the family home and abusers can act very differently when other people are around. 

Children and vulnerable adults who witness domestic abuse may: 

• become aggressive 
• display anti-social behaviour 
• suffer from depression or anxiety 
• not do as well at school - due to difficulties at home or disruption of moving to and from refuges. 

During and following the Covid-19 pandemic, reported cases of Domestic Abuse has increased considerably. 

Child sexual exploitation 

Child sexual exploitation is a type of sexual abuse in which children and vulnerable adults are sexually exploited for money, power or status. 

Sexual exploitation can be very difficult to identify. Warning signs can easily be mistaken for ‘normal’ teenage behaviour. 

Young people who are being sexually exploited may: 

• go missing from home, care or education 
• be involved in abusive relationships, intimidated and fearful of certain people or situations 
• hang out with groups of older people, or antisocial groups, or with other vulnerable peers 
• associate with other young people involved in sexual exploitation 
• get involved in gangs, gang fights, gang membership 
• have older boyfriends or girlfriends 
• spend time at places of concern, such as hotels or known brothels 
• not know where they are, because they have been moved around the country 
• be involved in shoplifting 
• have unexplained physical injures 
• have changed physical appearance, for example lost weight 

Female genital mutilation (FGM) 

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is the partial to total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons 

A girl at immediate risk of FGM may not know what’s going to happen. But she might talk about or you may become aware of: 

• a long holiday abroad or going ‘home’ to visit family 
• relative or cutter visiting from abroad 
• a special occasion or ceremony to ‘become a woman’ or get ready for marriage 
• a female relative being cut - a sister, cousin, or an older female relative such as a mother or aunt. 

Bullying and cyberbullying 

Bullying can happen anywhere - at school, at home or online (cyberbullying). It is usually repeated over a long period of time and can hurt a child both physically and emotionally Bullying includes: 

• verbal abuse, such as name calling and gossiping 
• non-verbal abuse, such as hand signs or text messages 
• emotional abuse such as threatening, intimidating or humiliating someone 
• exclusion, such as ignoring or isolating someone 
• undermining, by constant criticism or spreading rumours 
• controlling or manipulating someone 
• racial, sexual or homophobic bullying 
• physical assaults, such as hitting or pushing 
• making silent, hoax or abusive calls 
• online or cyberbullying 

Child trafficking 

Child trafficking is a type of abuse where children and vulnerable adults are recruited, moved or transported and then exploited, forced to work or sold. 

Signs that a child has been trafficked may not be obvious but you might notice unusual behaviour or events. These include a child who: 

• spends a lot of time doing household chores 
• rarely leaves their house, has no freedom of movement and no time for playing 
• is orphaned or living apart from their family, often in unregulated private foster care 
• lives in substandard accommodation 
• isn’t sure which country, city or town they’re in 
• is unable or reluctant to give details of accommodation or personal details 
• might not be registered with a GP practice 
• has no documents or has falsified documents 
• has no access to their parents or guardians 
• is seen in inappropriate places such as brothels or factories 
• possess unaccounted for money or goods 
• is permanently deprived of a large part of their earnings, required to earn minimum amount of money every day or pay off an exorbitant debt 
• has injuries from workplace accidents 
• gives a prepared story which is very similar to stories given by other children and vulnerable adults. 

Grooming 

Children, vulnerable adults and young people can be groomed online or in the real world, by a stranger or by someone they know - a family member, friend or professional. 

The signs of grooming aren’t always obvious and groomers will often go to great lengths not to be identified. 

If a child is being groomed they may: 

• be very secretive, including about what they are doing online 
• have older boyfriends or girlfriends 
• go to unusual places to meet friends 
• have new things such as clothes or mobile phones that they can’t or won’t explain 
• have access to drugs and alcohol 

Harmful sexual behaviour 

Children, vulnerable adults and young people who develop harmful sexual behaviour harm themselves and others 

• using sexually explicit words and phrases 
• inappropriate touching 
• using sexual violence or threats 
• full penetrative sex with other children and adults 

Online abuse 

Online abuse is any type of abuse that happens on the web, whether through social networks, playing online games or using mobile phones. 

A child/vulnerable adult may be experiencing abuse online if they: 

• spend lots, much more or much less time online, texting, gaming or using social media 
• are withdrawn, upset or outraged after using the internet or texting 
• are secretive about who they’re talking to and what they’re doing online or on their mobile phone 
• have lots of new phone numbers, texts or e-mail addresses on their mobile phone or tablet 

Monitoring   

The policy will be reviewed a year after development and then every three years, or in the following circumstances: 

• changes in legislation and/or government guidance   
• as required by the Local Safeguarding Board.   
• as a result of any other significant change or event.   

(Last reviewed July 2020) 

This safeguarding policy was agreed within an administration meeting for The Treehouse on:- Date : 01/07/2020 Reviewed 01/07/202 

Name and position in group: Rachel Forsyth, co-director. 

Name and position in group: Lorna Becker, co-director