Safeguarding Children Policy

At Handcrafted, we are committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for all children and young people who engage with our services. We recognise our responsibility to safeguard and promote their welfare, ensuring they are protected from harm, abuse, and exploitation.

This policy sets out our approach to safeguarding children, outlining the procedures staff and volunteers must follow to identify, report, and respond to concerns. It is reviewed as required and at least annually by the Safeguarding Steering Group, with final approval from the Trustees.

This policy will be reviewed as required and at least annually by the group or individual responsible for review and authorised by the Trustees as below:

Group or individual responsible for review	The Safeguarding Steering Group
Last review and approval	16/05/2024

About Handcrafted

Organisation Details

Name of Organisation	Handcrafted Projects
Address	Unit 21, Skillion Business Centre, Littleburn Industrial Estate, Langley Moor, DH7 8HG
Phone	0191 378 1562
Registered Charity No.	1146188
Registered Company No.	07884740

Our objectives

Handcrafted exists for the following purposes:

1. To promote social inclusion for the public benefit by preventing people from becoming socially excluded, relieving the needs of those people who are socially excluded and assisting them to integrate into society. For the purpose of this clause “socially excluded” means being excluded from society, or parts of society, as a result of one of the following factors: unemployed; financial hardship; old age; substance abuse or dependency including alcohol and drugs and poor education or skills attainment.
2. The relief of unemployment for the benefit of the public in such ways as may be thought fit, including assistance to find employment.
3. The relief of financial hardship by providing people with goods and services which they could not otherwise afford through lack of means.
4. The advancement of the Christian faith for the benefit of the public.

Our commitments

Handcrafted Projects is committed to:

1. Taking all reasonable measures to ensure the risks of harm to child beneficiaries of Handcrafted, in accordance with our objectives [1.1] (hereafter, 'trainees'), are minimised.
2. Working with other agencies to ensure that a joined-up approach to safeguarding children is taken. This includes working to agreed local policies and procedures in partnership with other local services.
3. Keeping a record of all safeguarding concerns that arise with respect to trainees' safety.
4. Keeping a record of all decisions that are made to minimise risks of harm to trainees.
5. Reporting safeguarding concerns when necessary, to relevant other agencies, emergency services, or local authorities.
6. Having a senior member of the organisation to take lead responsibility for dealing with safeguarding issues, providing advice and support to other staff, liaising with other staff, and working with other agencies. They will be known as the Handcrafted Safeguarding Officer (HSO).
7. Having at least two members of the Board of Trustees to take responsibility for liaising with and providing advice and support to the Nominated Person as they and other staff deal with safeguarding issues. These trustees will take lead responsibility for ensuring that this policy, other Handcrafted policies and statutory guidance are adhered to at all times, and for ensuring that this policy is kept up to date. They will be known as Nominated Trustees with Safeguarding Oversight (NOTSOs).
8. Encouraging trainees to respect and care for others and taking action to prevent any physical, verbal or other abuse from taking place.
9. Creating an environment of listening, where trainees feel able to voice their concerns about inappropriate behaviour, and where trainees are listened to and taken seriously by all staff.
10. Creating an environment of accountability, where strong sanctions are provided to deter abuse, victimisation and cover-up of serious malpractice, and where these sanctions are clearly and consistently communicated to trainees and staff.
11. Ensuring our policies and procedures are maintained and updated to comply with current local and national legal and statutory requirements and guidance.
12. Ensuring our policies and procedures apply to all staff and trainees, whatever their gender, age, ethnicity, ability, sexuality, religion.
13. Ensuring that all staff and trainees are made aware of their responsibility to ensure the wellbeing and safety of others, and ensuring that policies and procedures including this policy are clearly and consistently communicated to staff and easily accessible for reference.

The purpose and scope of this policy

This policy should be read in conjunction with:

1. Statutory guidance from the Department for Education, “Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018".
2. Statutory guidance from the Department for Education, “What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused”, 2015.
3. Advice and guidance from the Social Care Institute for Excellence.
4. Advice and guidance from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, hereafter ‘NSPCC’.
5. The Handcrafted Safeguarding Appendices.

This policy sets out how Handcrafted fulfils its statutory responsibilities for the safeguarding of children according to the Department for Education’s statutory guidance, ensuring that all Handcrafted trainees are protected, respected, listened to, and treated with dignity and empathy. It sets out how Handcrafted ensures that its safeguarding commitments are fulfilled so that safeguarding is central to the achievement of the charity’s objectives.

This policy covers the safeguarding of all people under the age of 18 who benefit from Handcrafted's work. All members of Handcrafted staff, volunteers and contractors, are expected to comply with this policy.

Contextual Safeguarding Approach

We have adopted the principles of Contextual Safeguarding in our approach to our work in safeguarding children.

Definitions

According to “Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018”, the safeguarding duties apply to all children up to the age of 18 years whether living with their families, in state care, or living independently.

According to “Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018”:

Safeguarding means:

• Protecting children from maltreatment
• Preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development
• Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
• Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

Assurance

This policy is reviewed at least once a year by the Safeguarding Steering Group and subsequently approved and endorsed by the Handcrafted Board of Trustees.

Partnerships

Where multi-agency partnerships are in place [Appendix 12], partner organisations are to be made aware of our safeguarding procedures as outlined in this policy.

SAFEGUARDING

Handcrafted’s safeguarding commitments [1.2.1] will be met by taking appropriate action to ensure that:

• Handcrafted provides a safe environment for trainees and staff [2.1]
• Staff are recruited safely [2.2]
• Safeguarding concerns are identified and reported [2.3]
• Trainees who may be affected by safeguarding concerns are supported appropriately [2.4]
• Awareness is raised among trainees and staff of the importance of safeguarding and actions that they can take to ensure Handcrafted is a safe place. [2.5]

Safe environment

Supervised environments

Measures will be taken to ensure that all environments in which an activity organised by Handcrafted takes place are safe for Handcrafted trainees.

• Staff will adhere to the Handcrafted Health & Safety Policy at all times.
• Staff will adhere to the Handcrafted Lone Working Policy at all times.
• Staff will adhere to the Handcrafted Equal Opportunities Policy at all times.
• Environments where a gathered activity is taking place with more than one trainee in attendance will, at all times, be supervised by more than one member of Handcrafted staff.

Trained & identifiable staff

All Handcrafted staff will be appropriately trained to recognise and report any safeguarding concerns [Appendix 1]. In particular, the Handcrafted Safeguarding Officer (HSO), Nominated Trustees with Safeguarding Oversight (NOTSOs) and Training Supervisors will be trained externally by thirtyone:eight on a regular basis.

Staff who have evidence of valid up-to-date safeguarding training will be issued with Handcrafted uniform. This is bright blue and bears the Handcrafted logo so that staff can be easily identified by trainees and other staff. Trainees will never be permitted to wear a Handcrafted uniform.

Staff supervision [Appendix 2]

The HSO will be responsible for supervising the actions of Handcrafted staff to minimise the risk of harm to trainees and to respond to safeguarding risks and concerns [3.2].

The chair of Trustees will be responsible for supervising the actions of the HSO [3.4].

The HSO and NOTSOs will make use of the provision of support and supervision offered on an ad-hoc basis by thirtyone:eight [3.7.5].

Safe recruitment

Measures will be taken to ensure that all Handcrafted paid staff and volunteers are appointed, trained, supported and supervised in accordance with government guidance on safe recruitment [Appendix 3].

Identifying and reporting concerns

Identifying concerns in adults

All Handcrafted workers have a duty of care and are expected to work with the organisation, statutory authorities and multidisciplinary agencies to safeguard children. Staff cannot assume it is somebody else's job to raise a concern if something comes to their attention.  To enable them to carry out their duties, all front-line staff are trained on how to recognise the signs of abuse in children [Appendix 10] and how to raise a concern. Staff receive training on the Prevent Duty and know how to implement that training.

The NSPCC have identified the following categories of abuse and neglect:

• Child neglect [Appendix 10.1]
• Child sexual abuse [Appendix 10.2]
• Child sexual exploitation [Appendix 10.3]
• Harmful sexual behaviour [Appendix 10.4]
• Bullying [Appendix 10.5]
• Online abuse [Appendix 10.6]
• Physical abuse [Appendix 10.7]
• Female genital mutilation (FGM) [Appendix 10.8]
• Domestic abuse [Appendix 10.9]
• Child trafficking and modern slavery [Appendix 10.10]
• County lines [Appendix 10.11]
• Emotional abuse [Appendix 10.12]

Reporting and record-keeping [Appendix 13]

Suspicions must not be discussed with anyone other than the HSO or their Deputy. As soon as possible, employees should make a written record of their concerns and keep it in a secure place. The HSO/Deputy is to collate and clarify the precise details of an allegation or suspicion and, if necessary, pass this information on to statutory agencies [3.7] who have a legal duty to investigate. Safeguarding concerns are recorded in the standard progress notes and 'flagged' for rapid review by the HSO/Deputy. Handcrafted keeps an online record for every trainee, including some basic personal information and a record of each engagement of that trainee with Handcrafted’s services [Appendix 6].

Confidentiality

Details of safeguarding concerns that have been recorded by a member of staff will be shared with the HSO/Deputy so that they can collaborate with the staff to determine the appropriate course of action. It may be necessary to pass information on to statutory agencies or to the Handcrafted Safeguarding Steering Group. If this is the case, information that could be used to identify the trainee(s) concerned will be anonymised wherever possible.

Supporting people

Holistic, person-centred and empowering support

Handcrafted aims to offer holistic, person-centred and empowering support to every trainee who engages with our services. When staff are dealing with a safeguarding concern, they will keep this support approach in mind and maintain the high standard of support to which Handcrafted is committed.

Staff will pay close attention to the needs of trainees who may be the victims of any form of abuse, and in their record-keeping will ascertain how Handcrafted can appropriately work to meet these needs as well as the historical details of any allegations. A holistic, person-centred and trauma-informed approach will be taken in planning how best to support victims.

Staff will treat both victims and perpetrators of safeguarding cases with dignity and respect, in line with the organisation’s ethos.

Confidentiality and disclosure guidance

Handcrafted staff will at all times adhere to the Handcrafted Confidentiality Policy and Guidance.

When a trainee makes a disclosure to a member of staff which leads the staff to suspect there may be a risk to their safety or wellbeing, the member of staff will inform the trainee that they are required by law to record the disclosure and to report it to the HSO. Wherever possible, the member of staff will anticipate a disclosure being made and warn the trainee before they disclose sensitive information that they will have to record and report it.

Raising awareness

Staff training [Appendix 1]

Handcrafted is committed to ongoing safeguarding training and development opportunities for all employed and supervised workers, developing a culture of awareness of safeguarding issues to help protect everyone for whom we are in a position of trust.  During the induction period (two weeks) for new members of staff, every employee will complete Mandatory Safeguarding Training (including familiarisation with the contents of this policy and its appendices) along with Mandatory Training on Lone Working and Confidentiality and Disclosure before they are permitted to work unsupervised with trainees or residents. This training is updated and repeated annually for all members of the team. Staff will also have dedicated time to access further safeguarding training resources appropriate to their role that are offered by partner organisations such as thirtyone:eight.

Educating & empowering trainees

Handcrafted also recognises the importance of empowering trainees to recognise and report safeguarding issues. We believe that all individuals should have the right to feel safe and protected from harm or abuse and that it is our responsibility to ensure trainees have the knowledge and skills necessary to recognise and report any concerns they may have.

We are therefore committed to raising awareness for trainees on what constitutes abuse or neglect, how to recognise the signs of abuse, and how to report any concerns they may have. This is primarily through the 1:1 support work that we do with each of our trainees. Our support workers help trainees to improve their ability to recognise early warning signs, identify when they might be in an unsafe situation, and raise the alarm themselves.

We also raise awareness through posters prominently displayed in our hubs including contact details for the safeguarding officers and information on the importance of consent, boundaries, and healthy relationships.

The safeguarding lead and deputies are responsible for ensuring that all information materials are accessible, easy to understand, and culturally appropriate.

At induction, when a trainee initially engages in using our service, it is the responsibility of the inducting staff member to explain the 'blue shirts' policy at Handcrafted, whereby members of staff with safeguarding training can be identified. They will also be advised on how to

• recognise and respond to inappropriate behaviour
• seek support if needed
• raise any concerns about another trainee or a staff member
• contact one of the charity's safeguarding officers.

Appropriate training on specific topics, such as domestic violence, will be tailored to the needs of different trainee groups and delivered in a variety of formats, including workshops, one-to-one sessions, and signposting to online resources.

Overall, our aim is to ensure that trainees are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to recognise and respond to safeguarding issues. By empowering trainees in this way, we believe we can create a safer and more supportive environment for all.

Roles and Responsibilities

All staff

All Handcrafted staff have a duty to comply with this policy. This includes taking all reasonable measures to ensure that Handcrafted is a safe environment, challenging all inappropriate behaviour among trainees or colleagues, identifying and reporting any safeguarding concerns, supporting trainees appropriately and raising awareness about safeguarding among trainees and colleagues.

Handcrafted Safeguarding Officer (HSO)

Name: Daniel Northover, CEO

Email: dan@handcraftedproject.com

Phone: 07917 037479

The Handcrafted Safeguarding Officer (HSO) has a duty to collate precise details of safeguarding concerns and allegations which are reported by staff. They will liaise with the staff who have provided the report to decide on what the appropriate course of action should be, and support staff to take the appropriate steps. They will provide advice to staff who have queries about Handcrafted’s approach to safeguarding, or about specific cases. Where a case is reported externally to another agency, the HSO will take responsibility for liaising with that agency. They will take reasonable measures to ensure that a joined-up and holistic approach is taken to supporting those affected by the case. They will attend the meetings of the Handcrafted Safeguarding Steering Group [3.6]. They will ensure that every Handcrafted staff member has a valid DBS check, and be responsible for the renewal of these checks as they approach expiry.

Handcrafted Deputy Safeguarding Officer

Name: Harry Jennings

Email: harry@handcraftedproject.com

Phone: 07501 724686

The Handcrafted Deputy Safeguarding Officer (HDSO) will assist the HSO with their duties. However, in accordance with the organisation’s Confidentiality Policy and Guidance, the HSO will not share identifying details with them of trainees who are affected by safeguarding cases. The HDSO will take a lead on raising awareness within Handcrafted of the importance of safeguarding. This will include ensuring that this policy is clearly and consistently shared with staff, and that safeguarding procedures are displayed clearly in Handcrafted premises.

Handcrafted Chair of Trustees

Name: Dr Paul Morley

The Handcrafted Chair of Trustees will work with the rest of the Trustees to ensure that Handcrafted abides at all times with this policy, in conjunction with the organisation’s other policies. They will take overall responsibility for ensuring that all safeguarding concerns, cases and decisions are recorded and the HSO carries out their role, as detailed in this policy [3.2].

Nominated Trustees with Safeguarding Oversight (NOTSOs)

Name: Eileen Brady

Email: eileenbrady63@gmail.com

Name: Dr Febrina Robinson

Email: febrina.robinson@gmail.com

The Nominated Trustees with Safeguarding Oversight (NOTSOs) will liaise with the HSO and provide them with advice and guidance on safeguarding matters. This may include advising the HSO on individual cases. However, in accordance with the organisation’s Confidentiality Policy and Guidance, the HSO will not share identifying details with them of trainees who are affected by safeguarding cases. The NOTSOs should also provide the HSO with advice and guidance on the organisation’s strategic approach to safeguarding, helping the HSO to ensure that Handcrafted fulfils all the commitments stated at the start of this policy [1.2.1]. The NOTSOs will be members of the Handcrafted Safeguarding Steering Group [3.6]. At least one NOTSO will attend each meeting of the group, to ensure quoracy.

Handcrafted Safeguarding Steering Group

The Handcrafted Safeguarding Steering Group will consist of the HSO, at least 2 NOTSOs, and at least 2 other Handcrafted staff. The group will meet at least once per month. A meeting will be quorate if the HSO, a NOTSO and another staff member are present. In the meetings, individual safeguarding cases will be discussed, without disclosure of identifying details of trainees. Members will take a collaborative approach to discuss the appropriate way to proceed with the most challenging cases. Handcrafted’s approach to safeguarding will be continually reviewed at the meetings.

Statutory services and partner organisations [Appendices 14-15]

Gateshead Safeguarding Children Partnership

Gateshead Council’s Children’s Services:

• 0191 433 2653 (Mon-Fri, 8.30am-5pm)
• 0191 477 0844 (out of hours, at night, at weekends, bank holidays)

Website: https://gatesheadsafeguarding.org.uk/article/9175/Gateshead-Safeguarding-Children-Partnership

Gateshead Safeguarding Children Partnership (GSCP) has 3 statutory members: Gateshead Council, Northumbria Police, Newcastle Gateshead Clinical Commissioning Group. Handcrafted staff will at all times comply with GCSP’s policies and procedures. GCSP has a duty to act in accordance with its own policies and procedures with respect to concerns and incidents that are reported to it by Handcrafted staff, or which concern Handcrafted in any way.

Durham Safeguarding Children Partnership

First Contact:

• 03000 267 979 (Mon-Thu, 8.30am-5pm; Fri, 8.30am-4.30pm; available out of hours in emergencies)

Website: https://durham-scp.org.uk

Durham Safeguarding Children Partnership (DSCP) “supports a wide range of organisations to coordinate Early Help and safeguarding services across County Durham. By working together organisations are better able to identify and respond to the needs of children and young people. The DSCP fulfils a wide range of responsibilities to support safeguarding activity in County Durham, some of these are legal responsibilities and others are local arrangements agreed by the partnership.”

Handcrafted staff will at all times comply with DSCP’s policies and procedures. DSCP has a duty to act in accordance with its own policies and procedures with respect to concerns and incidents that are reported to it by Handcrafted staff, or which concern Handcrafted in any way.

Childline

0800 1111 (24/7, free of charge)

Childline provide advice and support to children who are concerned about their own safety or the safety of another child but don’t want to talk to the police or a social worker. Handcrafted will ensure that all child trainees are briefed on the services that Childline offer, and the number to contact them on.

Local police

Emergency: 999

Non-emergency: 101

Safeguarding concerns will be reported by Handcrafted staff to either Durham Constabulary or Northumbria Police, when necessary. Durham Constabulary and Northumbria Police have a duty to act in accordance with their own policies and procedures with respect to concerns and incidents that are reported to them by Handcrafted staff, or which concern Handcrafted in any way.

Local mental health services

Tees Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team: 0800 0516 171

Newcastle and Gateshead Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team: 0800 652 2863 / 0191 814 8899 , or by text 07919 228 548 for people who are Deaf and/or have communication difficulties.

Local mental health services including crisis teams have a duty to act in accordance with their own policies and procedures with respect to Handcrafted trainees who are referred to them, by Handcrafted staff or other agencies.

Thirtyone:eight

Thirtyone:eight are responsible for authorising DBS checks for all Handcrafted staff, when the HSO applies for authorisation for the checks.

Thirtyone:eight also provides Handcrafted with up-to-date safeguarding training and advice and support on an ad-hoc basis via their helpline and ongoing training programme.

Handcrafted Safeguarding Policy Appendices

Training staff

New staff

All new staff will receive training on Handcrafted’s policies and procedures during their two-week induction period. This will include training on the Handcrafted Safeguarding Policy and the procedures that are in place to maintain Handcrafted’s commitment to safeguarding vulnerable adults. [Appendix 3]

Regular training

Staff will receive regular training on a variety of topics. Training will take place on a fortnightly basis and will be mandatory for all staff. Staff who miss a training session will be asked to catch up with the training content using a recording of the session. The training will cover topics including the Handcrafted core values, different aspects of Handcrafted’s approach to support work, and different areas of need including mental health and addictions. Aspects of safeguarding will be addressed during any training session where they are relevant, and some training sessions will be dedicated to safeguarding. There will be at least one dedicated safeguarding training session per year. Training will be delivered by experts on the topic being discussed. In some cases, this will be someone external to Handcrafted. In other cases, this will be a member of Handcrafted staff. Safeguarding training will usually be delivered by the HSO/HDSO.

Supervising staff

The HSO will be responsible for supervising the actions of Handcrafted staff to minimise the risk of harm to trainees and to respond to safeguarding risks and concerns. This will include offering advice and guidance on specific safeguarding cases to staff. It will also include offering feedback to individual members of staff on their performance in maintaining a safe environment and responding to safeguarding risks and concerns appropriately.

The chair of Trustees will be responsible for supervising the actions of the HSO. This will include ensuring that the HSO is performing their duties as described above. It will also include taking overall responsibility for the full and consistent implementation of Handcrafted’s safeguarding record-keeping and reporting procedures, including ensuring that the HSO is responding adequately to all safeguarding concerns that are raised.

The HSO and NOTSOs will make use of the provision of support and supervision offered on an ad-hoc basis by thirtyone:eight <https://thirtyoneeight.org/>.

Safe Recruitment

Paid Workers

All paid workers will be appointed, trained, supported and supervised in accordance with government guidance on safe recruitment. This includes ensuring that:

• There is a written job description/person specification for every PAYE post
• Those applying have completed an application form and a self-declaration form
• Those shortlisted have been interviewed
• Safeguarding has been discussed at interview
• Written references have been obtained, and followed up where appropriate
• A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check bureau has been completed
• Qualifications where relevant have been verified
• Appropriate training in safeguarding suitable is provided for the successful applicant
• The applicant has completed a probationary period
• The applicant has been given a copy of our safeguarding policy and knows how to report concerns.  

Staff Induction

All staff joining Handcrafted complete an induction during their first two weeks to ensure that they are fully aware of the charity's policies and procedures and are able to provide the expected level of service. Staff are not authorised to supervise trainees or work unsupervised until DBS checks and mandatory induction training have been completed. Staff training includes training on the Handcrafted Safeguarding Policy and Handcrafted’s safeguarding procedures. On completion of the necessary checks and training, staff are provided with uniform.

Volunteers

All volunteers will be appointed, trained, supported and supervised in accordance with government guidance on safe recruitment. This includes ensuring that:  Every volunteer has a written job description Volunteers have completed a self-declaration form Written references have been obtained, and followed up where appropriate A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check bureau has been completed Qualifications where relevant have been verified Appropriate training in safeguarding is given Volunteers are given a copy of our safeguarding policy and know how to report concerns

Trainees in helping roles

Occasionally a trainee may be asked to carry out unsupervised a task on behalf of handcrafted in a strictly limited capacity (such as giving another trainee a lift to an agreed destination). On such occasions it is important that

• Direct authorisation is given to the trainee to do this by a Handcrafted member of staff
• Any variation to the plan is communicated to that member of staff as soon as possible or preferably before it takes place
• Both the helper trainee and the trainee being helped must be made aware of the limits of the arrangement
• Trainees are not allowed to pass themselves off as Handcrafted staff or volunteers because of the risk of an abuse of trust. The only people who can be considered responsible for the safeguarding of trainees and the fulfilment of our duty of care towards vulnerable individuals as outlined in this policy are Handcrafted staff members, identified by their blue shirts bearing the Handcrafted logo.

Transportation of vulnerable adults and children (giving lifts)

Sometimes it is necessary for members of Handcrafted staff to give lifts to trainees, to help them access our services or attend appointments, etc. The safety of both the trainee and the staff is paramount.

Before offering trainees a lift, staff should:

• Conduct a risk assessment to ascertain what risks each trainee faces and what risks they pose to others.
• If a trainee presents a higher risk, you should not give them a lift by yourself.
• Multiple trainees should be picked up/dropped off in such an order that means you will not end up with a higher-risk person travelling with you alone.
• You should use your judgment to determine if a particular combination of trainees being in the vehicle simultaneously will pose safeguarding risks to the trainees or yourself. If you are unsure, you should consult your line manager rather than making a snap decision.
• You should not visit a staff member’s address while there are trainees in the vehicle with you.
• You should avoid taking a person in your vehicle who is not known to Handcrafted (i.e. if we have no risk assessment for them, either generated internally or from a referrer).

Working with offenders

When someone attending Handcrafted is known to have abused children the Safeguarding Officer will set appropriate boundaries for that person which they will be expected to keep. This will take place in consultation with a police officer from the Office for Public Protection.  

Public events

At public events hosted by Handcrafted, we will ensure that those with offending histories in respect of children or vulnerable adults will not put themselves or others at risk or be in breach of the conditions of their licence.  

Collecting Personal Information

For safeguarding purposes, basic personal information must wherever possible be collected from a new starter accessing our services for the first time within one hour of their arrival. We will collect:

• Full name – for identification purposes
• Date of birth – to ensure they are of an eligible age to use our services and to identify young people who may have distinct safeguarding needs
• Contact details – enabling Handcrafted to follow up if there are any safeguarding concerns
• Emergency contact – so that the nearest relative, a close friend or responsible adult can be contacted in an emergency
• Medical conditions – including allergies and medications that may affect someone’s ability to do activities safely

All personal information that we collect will be stored in line with the Handcrafted Data Privacy Notice.

PREVENT Duty

Prevent Duty

There are now duties imposed on agencies under the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015

(The Prevent Duty), to have ‘due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.’

Further advice in relation to this is within the statutory guidance – Revised Prevent Duty guidance:

for England and Wales 1 April 2021

We have ensured that Prevent Duty training is part of the safeguarding training received by all Handcrafted staff. We will work with key partners to ensure that we are aware of any tensions within our local community so that we can create safe spaces for our trainees to discuss their experiences and concerns. Where we are concerned about a trainee, we will follow our safeguarding procedures. Serious concerns should be referred to the Police Prevent Team where there is a concern that a trainee is at immediate risk.

In exercising our specific duty under Prevent we seek to protect vulnerable adults from being drawn into, and against, the messages of all violent extremism. This includes and is not restricted to Daesh, Al Qaeda, Far Right, Neo-Nazi, White Supremacist ideology, Irish Nationalist and Loyalist paramilitary groups and extremist Animal Rights movements.

Staff should be alert to changes in trainees’ behaviour, which could indicate that they may be in need of help or protection.

Recognising Extremism

Early indicators of radicalisation or extremism may include:

• Showing sympathy for external causes

• Glorifying violence, especially to other faiths or cultures

• Making remarks or comments about being at extremist events or rallies

• Evidence of possessing illegal or extremist literature

• Advocating messages similar to illegal organisations or other extremist groups

• Out of character changes in dress, behaviour and peer relationships (but there are also very powerful narratives, programmes and networks that people can come across online so involvement with particular groups may not be apparent)

• Secretive behaviour

• Online searches or sharing extremist messages or social profiles

• Intolerance of difference, including faith, culture, gender, race or sexuality

• Graffiti, art work or writing that displays extremist themes

• Attempts to impose extremist views or practices on others verbalising anti-Western or anti-British views

• Advocating violence towards others

Partnerships

We will work with local authorities in County Durham and Gateshead to collaborate in our approach to ensuring that our trainees are not drawn into terrorism.

Definitions

Extremism is the vocal or active opposition to our fundamental values, including democracy, the

rule of law, individual liberty and the mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.

This also includes calling for the death of members of the armed forces.

Radicalisation refers to the process by which a person comes to support terrorism and extremist

ideologies associated with terrorist groups.

Terrorism is an action that endangers or causes serious violence to a person/people; causes

serious damage to property; or seriously interferes with or disrupts an electronic system. The use or

threat must be designed to influence the government or to intimidate the public and is made for

the purpose of advancing a political, religious or ideological cause.

Spotting safeguarding concerns in adults

Physical abuse

What this could include:

• Assault
• Hitting
• Slapping
• Pushing
• misuse of medication
• Restraint
• Inappropriate physical sanctions

Signs to look out for:

• A history of unexplained falls, fractures, bruises, burns, minor injuries
• Signs of under or overuse of medication and/or medical problems unattended

Domestic violence or abuse

What this could include:

• Psychological
• Physical
• Sexual
• Financial
• emotional abuse
• so called ‘honour’ based violence

Signs to look out for:

• Decreasing levels of independence i.e. not leaving the house without partner; difficulty in support workers arranging to visit the trainee on their own
• See lists of signs of different types of abuse

Sexual abuse

What this could include:

• Rape
• indecent exposure
• sexual harassment
• inappropriate looking or touching
• sexual teasing or innuendo
• sexual photography
• subjection to pornography or witnessing sexual acts
• indecent exposure
• sexual assault
• sexual acts to which the adult has not consented or was pressured into consenting

Signs to look out for:

• Pregnancy in a woman who is unable to consent to sexual intercourse
• Unexplained change in behaviour or sexually implicit/explicit behaviour
• Torn, stained or bloody underwear and/or unusual difficulty in walking or sitting
• Infections or sexually transmitted diseases
• Full or partial disclosure or hints of sexual abuse
• Self-harming

Psychological or emotional abuse

What this could include:

• emotional abuse
• threats of harm or abandonment
• deprivation of contact
• humiliation
• blaming
• controlling
• intimidation
• coercion
• harassment
• verbal abuse
• cyber bullying
• isolation
• unreasonable and unjustified withdrawal of services or supportive networks

Signs to look out for:

• Alteration in psychological state e.g. withdrawn, agitated, anxious, tearful
• Intimidated or subdued in the presence of the carer
• Fearful, flinching or frightened of making choices or expressing wishes
• Unexplained paranoia

Financial or material abuse

What this could include:

• theft
• fraud
• internet scamming
• coercion in relation to an adult’s financial affairs or arrangements, including in connection with wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions
• the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits

Signs to look out for:

• The disparity between assets and living conditions
• Unexplained withdrawals from accounts or disappearance of financial documents
• Sudden inability to pay bills
• Carers or professionals fail to account for expenses incurred on a person’s behalf
• Recent changes of deeds or title to a property

Modern slavery

What this could include:

• slavery
• human trafficking
• forced labour and domestic servitude.
• traffickers and slave masters using whatever means they have at their disposal to coerce, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment

Signs to look out for:

• They’re rarely allowed to travel on their own
• Appear to be under the control of others
• Tend not to interact with other people
• Seem unfamiliar with their neighbourhood or where they work
• Have relationships which don’t seem right – for example, a young teenager appearing to be the boyfriend/ girlfriend of a much older adult.
• restricted freedom of movement
• They don’t have documents that would allow them to travel – passports, ID, etc.
• Limited opportunities to move freely
• Few personal possessions
• Wear the same clothes day-in-day-out.
• reluctance to seek help
• Avoiding eye contact
• Appearing frightened, or hesitant to talk to strangers
• Fear of law enforcers
• Fear of deportation
• Unsure who to trust or where to get help
• Fear of violence to them or their family

Discriminatory abuse

What this could include:

• harassment
• slurs or similar treatment:
  • because of race
  • gender and gender identity
  • age
  • disability
  • sexual orientation
  • religion

Signs to look out for:

• Inappropriate remarks, comments or lack of respect
• Poor quality or avoidance of care

Organisational or institutional abuse

What this could include:

Including neglect and poor care practice within an institution or specific care setting such as a hospital or care home, for example, or in relation to care provided in one’s own home. This may range from one-off incidents to ongoing ill-treatment. It can be through neglect or poor professional practice as a result of the structure, policies, processes and practices within an organisation.

Signs to look out for:

• Lack of flexibility or choice over meals, bedtimes, visitors, phone calls etc
• Inadequate medical care and misuse of medication
• Inappropriate use of restraint
• Sensory deprivation e.g. denial of use of spectacles or hearing aids
• Missing documents and/or absence of individual care plans
• Public discussion of a private matter
• Lack of opportunity for social, educational or recreational activity

Neglect or acts of omission

What this could include:

• ignoring medical, emotional or physical care needs
• failure to provide access to appropriate health, care and support or educational services
• the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating

Signs to look out for:

• Malnutrition, weight loss and /or persistent hunger
• Poor physical condition, poor hygiene, varicose ulcers, pressure sores
• Being left in wet clothing or bedding and/or clothing in a poor condition
• Failure to access appropriate health, educational services or social care
• No callers or visitors

Self-neglect

What this could include:

This covers a wide range of behaviour neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviour such as hoarding. It should be noted that self-neglect may not always prompt an enquiry under Section 42 of the Care Act. An assessment should be made on a case-by-case basis. A decision on whether a response is required under safeguarding will depend on the adult’s ability to protect themselves by controlling their own behaviour. There may come a point when they are no longer able to do this, without external support.

Spotting safeguarding concerns in children

Child neglect

Definition:

Neglect is not meeting a child’s basic physical and psychological needs (Department for Education, 2018; Department of Health, 2017; Scottish Government, 2021; Wales Safeguarding Procedures Project Board, 2020).

It is a form of child abuse that can have serious and long-lasting impacts on a child’s life - it can cause serious harm and even death.

The four main types of neglect are:

• physical neglect: not meeting a child’s basic needs, such as food, clothing or shelter; not supervising a child adequately or providing for their safety
• educational neglect: not making sure a child receives an education
• emotional neglect: not meeting a child’s needs for nurture and stimulation, for example by ignoring, humiliating, intimidating or isolating them
• medical neglect: not providing appropriate health care (including dental care), refusing care or ignoring medical recommendations (Horwath, 2007).

Neglect can happen at any age, sometimes even before a child is born. If a mother has mental health problems or misuses substances during pregnancy, for example, she may neglect her own health and this can damage a baby’s development in the womb (Haynes et al, 2015).

Signs to look out for:

Children who are neglected may:

• Live in an unsuitable home environment, for example in a house that isn’t heated throughout winter
• Be left alone for a long time
• Be smelly or dirty
• Wear clothing that hasn’t been washed and/or is inadequate (for example, not having a winter coat)
• Seem particularly hungry, seem not to have eaten breakfast or have no packed lunch/lunch money
• Suffer from poor health, including:
  • Untreated injuries
  • Medical and dental issues
  • Repeated accidental injuries due to lack of supervision
  • Untreated and/or recurring illnesses or infections
  • Long term or recurring skin sores, rashes, flea bites, scabies or ringworm
  • Anaemia
• Babies and young children may:
  • Have frequent and untreated nappy rash
  • Be failing to thrive (not reaching developmental milestones and/or not growing at an appropriate rate for their age)
• Display unusual or changed behaviour, including:
  • Poor language, communication or social skills
  • Withdrawing suddenly or seeming depressed
  • Appearing anxious
  • Becoming clingy
  • Aggression
  • Obsessive behaviour
  • Signs of self-harm
  • Being particularly tired
  • Difficulty concentrating or participating in activities
  • Changes in eating habits
  • Missing school
  • Starting using drugs or alcohol
  • Not being brought to medical appointments such as vaccinations or check-ups

Child sexual abuse (CSA)

Definition:

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is when a child is forced or persuaded to take part in sexual activities. This may involve physical contact or non-contact activities and can happen online or offline (Department for Education, 2018; Department of Health 2017; Scottish Government, 2021a; Wales Safeguarding Procedures Project Board, 2020). Children and young people may not always understand that they are being sexually abused.

Contact abuse involves activities where an abuser makes physical contact with a child. It includes:

• sexual touching of any part of the body, whether the child is wearing clothes or not
• forcing or encouraging a child to take part in sexual activity
• making a child take their clothes off or touch someone else's genitals
• rape or penetration by putting an object or body part inside a child's mouth, vagina or anus.

Non-contact abuse involves activities where there is no physical contact. It includes:

• flashing at a child
• encouraging or forcing a child to watch or hear sexual acts
• not taking proper measures to prevent a child being exposed to sexual activities by others
• making a child masturbate while others watch
• persuading a child to make, view or distribute child abuse images (such as performing sexual acts over the internet, sexting or showing pornography to a child)
• making, viewing or distributing child abuse images
• allowing someone else to make, view or distribute child abuse images
• meeting a child following grooming with the intent of abusing them (even if abuse did not take place)
• sexually exploiting a child for money, power or status (child sexual exploitation).

Signs to look out for:

Physical indicators include:

• Bruising
• Bleeding
• Discharge
• Pain or soreness in the genital or anal area
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Pregnancy at a young age

Emotional and behavioural indicators include:

• Being afraid of and/or avoiding a particular person (including a family member or friend)
• Having nightmares or bed-wetting
• Being withdrawn
• Alluding to ‘secrets’
• Self-harming
• Running away from home
• Developing eating problems
• Displaying sexualised behaviour or having sexual knowledge that’s inappropriate for their stage of development
• Misusing drugs or alcohol

Child sexual exploitation

Definition:

Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a type 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 (Department for Education, 2017; NIdirect, 2021; Scottish Government, 2018; Wales Safeguarding Procedures Project Board, 2020a).

Children and young people in sexually exploitative situations and relationships are persuaded or forced to perform sexual activities or have sexual activities performed on them in return for gifts, drugs, money or affection.

CSE can take place in person, online, or using a combination of both.

Perpetrators of CSE use a power imbalance to exploit children and young people. This may arise from a range of factors including:

• Age
• Gender
• sexual identity
• cognitive ability
• physical strength
• status
• access to economic or other resources (Department of Education, 2017).

Sexual exploitation is a hidden crime. Young people have often been groomed into trusting their abuser and may not understand that they're being abused. They may depend on their abuser and be too scared to tell anyone what's happening because they don’t want to get them in trouble or risk losing them. They may be tricked into believing they're in a loving, consensual relationship.

Some children and young people are trafficked into or within the UK for sexual exploitation.

Child sexual exploitation online

When sexual exploitation happens online, young people may be persuaded or forced to:

• have sexual conversations by text or online
• send or post sexually explicit images of themselves
• take part in sexual activities via a webcam or smartphone (Hamilton-Giachritsis et al, 2017).

Abusers may threaten to send images, video or copies of conversations to the young person's friends and family unless they take part in further sexual activity. Images or videos may continue to be shared long after the sexual abuse has stopped.

Signs to look out for:

Behavioural signs include:

• Displaying inappropriate sexualised behaviour for their age
• Being fearful of certain people and/or situations
• Displaying significant changes in emotional wellbeing
• Being isolated from peers/usual social networks
• Being increasingly secretive
• Having money or new things (such as clothes or a mobile phone) that they can’t explain
• Spending time with older individuals or groups
• Being involved with gangs and/or gang fights
• Calling an older person their ‘boyfriend’ or ‘girlfriend’
• Missing school and/or falling behind with schoolwork
• Persistently returning home late
• Returning home under the influence of drugs/alcohol
• Going missing from home or care
• Being involved in petty crime such as shoplifting
• Spending a lot of time at hotels or places of concern, such as known brothels
• Not knowing where they are, because they have been trafficked around the country

Physical signs include:

• Unexplained physical injuries and other signs of physical abuse
• Changed physical appearance – for example, weight loss
• Scars from self-harm
• Repeat sexually transmitted infections
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy terminations

Harmful sexual behaviour

Definition:

Harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) is developmentally inappropriate sexual behaviour displayed by children and young people which is harmful or abusive.

Peer-on-peer sexual abuse is a form of HSB where sexual abuse takes place between children of a similar age or stage of development. Child-on-child sexual abuse is a form of HSB that takes place between children of any age or stage of development.

Problematic sexual behaviour (PSB) is developmentally inappropriate or socially unexpected sexualised behaviour which doesn’t have an overt element of victimisation or abuse.

Bullying

Definition:

Bullying is when individuals or groups seek to harm, intimidate or coerce someone who is perceived to be vulnerable (Oxford English Dictionary, 2021).

It can involve people of any age, and can happen anywhere – at home, school or using online platforms and technologies (cyberbullying). This means it can happen at any time.

Bullying encompasses a range of behaviours which may be combined and may include the behaviours and actions we have set out below.

Verbal abuse:

• name-calling
• saying nasty things to or about a child or their family.

Physical abuse:

• hitting a child
• pushing a child
• physical assault.

Emotional abuse:

• making threats
• undermining a child
• excluding a child from a friendship group or activities.

Cyberbullying/online bullying:

• a child from online games, activities or friendship groups
• sending threatening, upsetting or abusive messages
• creating and sharing embarrassing or malicious images or videos
• 'trolling' - sending menacing or upsetting messages on social networks, chat rooms or online games
• voting for or against someone in an abusive poll
• setting up hate sites or groups about a particular child
• creating fake accounts, hijacking or stealing online identities to embarrass a young person or cause trouble using their name.

Bullying can be a form of discrimination, particularly if it is based on a child’s disability, race, religion or belief, gender identity or sexuality.

Signs to look out for:

Indicators that a child could be experiencing bullying include:

• Being reluctant to go to school
• Being distressed or anxious
• Losing confidence and becoming withdrawn
• Having problems eating and/or sleeping
• Having unexplained injuries
• Changes in appearance
• Changes in performance and/or behaviour at school
• Not spending time with their usual group of friends
• Becoming isolated
• Change in other children’s behaviour towards a child

Online abuse

Definition:

Online abuse is any type of abuse that happens on the internet, facilitated through technology like computers, tablets, mobile phones and other internet-enabled devices (Department for Education, 2018; Department of Health, 2017; Scottish Government, 2021; Welsh Assembly Government, 2018).

It can happen anywhere online that allows digital communication, such as:

• social networks
• text messages and messaging apps
• email and private messaging
• online chats
• comments on live streaming sites
• voice chat in games.

Children and young people can be revictimised (experience further abuse) when abusive content is recorded, uploaded or shared by others online. This can happen if the original abuse happened online or offline.

Children and young people may experience several types of abuse online:

• bullying/cyberbullying
• emotional abuse (this includes emotional blackmail, for example pressuring children and young people to comply with sexual requests via technology)
• sexting (pressure or coercion to create sexual images)
• sexual abuse
• sexual exploitation.

Children and young people can also be groomed online: perpetrators may use online platforms to build a trusting relationship with the child in order to abuse them. This abuse may happen online or the perpetrator may arrange to meet the child in person with the intention of abusing them.

Signs to look out for:

A child who is experiencing abuse online may:

• Spend much more or much less time than usual online, texting, gaming or using social media
• Be withdrawn, upset or outraged after using the internet or texting
• Be 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, laptop or tablet

Physical abuse

Definition:

Physical abuse is defined as deliberately hurting a child and causing physical harm (Department of Health, 2017; Department for Education, 2018; Scottish Government, 2021; Wales Safeguarding Procedures Project Board, 2020). It includes injuries such as:

• Bruises
• broken bones
• burns
• cuts.

It may involve:

• hitting
• kicking
• shaking
• throwing
• poisoning
• burning
• scalding
• drowning
• any other method of causing non-accidental harm to a child.

Physical abuse may also happen when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a child. This is known as Fabricated or Induced Illness (FII) (Department for Education, 2018; Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety, 2017; Scottish Government, 2021; Wales Safeguarding Procedures Project Board, 2020).

Breast ironing or breast flattening, a practice of using hard or heated objects to suppress or reverse the growth of breasts, is a recognised form of child abuse (Crown Prosecution Service, 2019).

Signs to look out for:

Bumps and bruises don’t necessarily mean a child is being physically abused – all children have accidents, trips and falls. These injuries tend to affect bony areas of the body such as elbows, knees and shins and aren’t usually a cause for concern. However, some injuries are more likely to indicate physical abuse.

Signs and indicators

Bruises:

• commonly on the head but also on the ear, neck or soft areas (abdomen, back and buttocks).
• defensive wounds commonly on the 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
• bruises on non-mobile babies (babies who cannot crawl, cruise, bottom shuffle or roll over).

Burns or scalds:

• can be from hot liquids, hot objects, flames, chemicals or electricity.
• these may be on the hands, back, shoulders or buttocks. Scalds in particular may be on lower limbs, both arms and/or both legs.
• a clear edge to the burn or scald
• sometimes in the shape of 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.

Signs of head injury in an infant:

• visible signs such as swelling, bruising or fractures
• unusual behaviour – being irritable, lethargic, unresponsive or not wanting to feed
• seizures
• vomiting
• respiratory problems
• being comatose.

Not all head injuries are caused by abuse. There are also other medical reasons a baby may have these symptoms.

Behavioural changes

• fear of specific individuals
• flinching when approached or touched
• reluctance to get changed in front of others or wearing long sleeves or trousers in hot weather
• depression or withdrawn behaviour.

Female genital mutilation (FGM)

Definition:

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. It's also known as female circumcision or cutting.

FGM is often performed by someone with no medical training who uses instruments such as a knife, scalpel, scissors, glass or razor blade. Children are rarely given anaesthetic or antiseptic treatment and are often forcibly restrained.

The age at which FGM is carried out varies. It may take place:

• when a female baby is newborn
• during childhood or adolescence
• just before marriage
• during pregnancy.

There are four main types of FGM:

• Type 1 (clitoridectomy) – removing part or all of the clitoris.
• Type 2 (excision) – removing part or all of the clitoris and cutting the inner and/or outer labia.
• Type 3 (infibulation) – narrowing the vaginal opening.
• Type 4 – other harmful procedures to the female genitals including pricking, piercing, cutting, scraping or burning (NHS Choices, 2021).

Labia elongation (also referred to as labia stretching or labia pulling) involves stretching the labia minora, sometimes using sticks, harnesses or weights (AFRUCA, 2016).

FGM is child abuse and is illegal in the UK. It can be extremely dangerous and can cause:

• severe pain
• shock
• bleeding
• infection such as tetanus, HIV and hepatitis B and C
• organ damage
• blood loss and infections
• death in some cases.

Sometimes religious, social and cultural reasons are given to justify FGM, however it's a dangerous practice and can cause long-lasting health problems that continue throughout a child’s life, including:

• incontinence or difficulties urinating
• frequent or chronic vaginal, pelvic or urinary infections
• menstrual problems
• kidney damage and possible kidney failure
• cysts and abscesses
• pain during sex
• infertility
• complications during pregnancy and childbirth
• emotional and mental health problems (NHS Choices, 2021).

Signs to look out for:

A child at immediate risk of FGM may ask you directly for help. But even if they don’t know what’s going to happen, there may be other signs. You may become aware of:

• A relative or ‘cutter’ visiting from abroad
• A special occasion or ceremony to ‘become a woman’ or prepare for marriage
• A female relative being cut – a sister, cousin, or an older female relative such as a mother or aunt
• A family arranging a long holiday or visit to family overseas during the summer holidays
• Unexpected, repeated or prolonged absence from school
• A girl struggling to keep up in school and the quality of her academic work declining
• A child running away from or planning to leave home.

A child or woman who’s had female genital mutilation (FGM) may:

• Have difficulty walking, standing or sitting
• Spend longer in the bathroom or toilet
• Appear withdrawn, anxious or depressed
• Display unusual behaviour after an absence from school or college
• Be particularly reluctant to have routine medical examinations
• Ask for help, but may not be explicit about the problem due to embarrassment or fear.

Domestic abuse

Definition:

Domestic abuse is any type of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between people who are, or who have been in a relationship, regardless of gender or sexuality. It can also happen between adults who are related to one another and can include physical, sexual, psychological, emotional or financial abuse.

Each UK nation has its own definition of domestic abuse for professionals who are working to prevent domestic abuse and protect those who have experienced it (Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, 2016; Home Office, 2013; Police Scotland and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, 2019; Welsh Government, 2019).

Domestic abuse can include:

• sexual abuse and rape (including within a relationship)
• punching, kicking, cutting, hitting with an object
• withholding money or preventing someone from earning money
• taking control over aspects of someone's everyday life, which can include where they go and what they wear
• not letting someone leave the house
• reading emails, text messages or letters
• threatening to kill or harm them, a partner, another family member or pet.

Domestic abuse can happen to anyone at any time. However, certain events and times of year are associated with an increased risk of abuse. For example, data shows that reports of domestic abuse increase during major football tournaments (NSPCC, 2022; Ivandic, 2022; Kirby,2013; Brimicombe, 2012).

Witnessing and experiencing domestic abuse

Domestic abuse always has an impact on children. Being exposed to domestic abuse in childhood is child abuse.

Children may experience domestic abuse directly, but they can also experience it indirectly by:

• hearing the abuse from another room
• seeing someone they care about being injured and/or distressed
• finding damage to their home environment like broken furniture
• being hurt from being caught up in or trying to stop the abuse
• not getting the care and support they need from their parents or carers as a result of the abuse (Holt, Buckley and Whelan, 2008).

Signs to look out for:

Domestic abuse can happen in any relationship. It can continue even after the relationship has ended, for example during contact visits, over the phone or on social media.

People of all genders can be abused or be abusers.

Teenagers can also experience abuse in their own relationship (Barter et al, 2009).

It can be difficult to tell if domestic abuse is happening, because perpetrators can act very differently when other people are around.

You might notice changes in a child’s patterns of behaviour, for example if they aren’t doing as well in school as they used to. Or they might display behaviour that the adults around them perceive to be challenging.

Signs of anxiety

Children who experience domestic abuse might feel constantly stress or on alert. They might be afraid of what’s happening at home. This might all feel ‘normal’ to them if they have lived with domestic abuse for a long time.

You might notice children showing signs of anxiety or fear.

Child trafficking and modern slavery

Definition:

Child trafficking is child abuse. It's defined as recruiting, moving, receiving and harbouring children for the purpose of exploitation (HM Department for Education (DfE) and Home Office, 2011; Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and Police Service of Northern Ireland, 2011; Scottish Government, 2013; Wales Safeguarding Procedures Project Board, 2020).

Child trafficking is a form of modern slavery (HM Government, 2014).

Many children are trafficked into the UK from overseas, but children can also be trafficked from one part of the UK to another.

Children are trafficked for:

• child sexual exploitation
• criminal activity, including:
  • cannabis cultivation
  • street crime - such as pickpocketing, begging and bag theft
  • moving drugs
  • benefit fraud
  • immigration fraud
  • selling pirated goods, such as DVDs
• forced marriage
• domestic servitude, including:
  • cleaning
  • childcare
  • cooking
• forced labour, including working in:
  • restaurants
  • nail bars
  • factories
  • agriculture
• illegal adoption
• unreported private fostering arrangements (for any exploitative purpose).

This list is not exhaustive and children who are trafficked are often exploited in more than one way.

How child trafficking happens

Traffickers may use grooming techniques to gain the trust of a child, family or community. They may trick, force or persuade children to leave their homes.

Child trafficking can involve a network of organised criminals who recruit, transport and exploit children and young people within or across borders. Some people in the network might not be directly involved in trafficking a child but play a part in other ways – such as falsifying documents, bribery, owning or renting premises, or money laundering (Europol, 2011).

Child trafficking can also be organised by individuals and children's own families.

Signs to look out for:

Children who are trafficked are intentionally hidden and isolated from the services and communities who can identify and protect them. While identification may be difficult, there will be signs that you can watch for.

Children who have been trafficked or are at risk of being trafficked may:

• Have to do excessive housework chores
• Rarely leave the house and have limited freedom of movement
• Not have any documents (or have falsified documents)
• Give a prepared story which is very similar to stories given by other children
• Be unable or reluctant to give details of accommodation or personal details
• Not be registered with a school or a GP practice
• Have a history with missing links and unexplained moves
• Be cared for by adults who are not their parents or carers
• Not have a good quality relationship with their adult carers
• Be one among a number of unrelated children found at one address
• Receive unexplained or unidentified phone calls whilst in a care placement or temporary accommodation

Signs an adult may be trafficking a child include:

• Making multiple visa applications for different children
• Acting as a guarantor for multiple visa applications for children
• Having previously acted as the guarantor on visa applications for visitors who have not left the UK when the visa expired.

County lines

Definition:

County lines is a form of criminal exploitation where urban gangs persuade, coerce or force children and young people to store drugs and money and/or transport them to suburban areas, market towns and coastal towns (Home Office, 2018). It can happen in any part of the UK and is against the law and a form of child abuse.

Children and young people may be criminally exploited in multiple ways. Other forms of criminal exploitation include child sexual exploitation, trafficking, gang and knife crime.

County lines gangs are highly organised criminal networks that use sophisticated, frequently evolving techniques to groom young people and evade capture by the police.

Perpetrators use children and young people to maximise profits and distance themselves from the criminal act of physically dealing drugs (National Crime agency, 2019). Young people do the majority of the work and take the most risk.

Dedicated mobile phone lines or “deal lines” are used to help facilitate county lines drug deals. Phones are usually cheap, disposable and old fashioned, because they are changed frequently to avoid detection by the police.

Gangs use the phones to receive orders and contact young people to instruct them where to deliver drugs. This may be to a local dealer or drug user, or a dealer or drug user in another county.

Phrases that young people may use to refer to county lines include:

• ‘running a line’,
• ‘going OT/out there’
• ‘going country’
• ‘going cunch’.

These all refer to going out of town to deliver drugs or money (Thurrock Council, 2020).

Grooming

The grooming process involves the gang:

• seeking out a child to exploit
• observing the child for vulnerabilities
• finding out what the child’s needs and wants are
• manipulating the child into believing that being in the gang can fulfil these needs.

Once they have identified a child, the gang will make some form of contact and the grooming process will begin. This could be in person or via mobile phone. Social media profiles may also be used to glamourise gang life and entice young people.

Some children are groomed through family members, for instance if they have a sibling or relative who is already involved with a county lines gang.

County lines gangs offer money and status to attract young people. Children may also be attracted to joining a gang by the prospect of belonging to a ‘family’ that will protect them if their own family feels unstable or unsafe.

The following have been identified as key places where county lines gangs target and approach vulnerable young people:

• schools and further and higher educational institutions
• special educational needs schools
• places for alternative provision outside of mainstream education
• foster homes
• homeless shelters.

Once a child is part of a county lines gang their loyalty and commitment will be tested. The gang will begin to trap the child by making them feel powerless to leave. This might include threats of violence if they leave, making the child feel like they are betraying their new ‘family’, or telling the child they will get in trouble if they seek help because they have committed a criminal offence (Children’s Society, 2019).

Signs to look out for:

The following signs may indicate that a child is being exploited by a county lines gang:

• Frequently going missing from school, home or care
• Travelling to locations, or being found in areas they have no obvious connections with, including seaside or market towns
• Unwillingness to explain their whereabouts
• Acquiring money, clothes, accessories or mobile phone which they seem unable to account for
• Receiving excessive texts or phone calls at all hours of the day
• Having multiple mobile phone handsets or sim cards
• Withdrawing or having sudden changes in personality, behaviour or the language they use
• Having relationships with controlling or older individuals or groups
• Unexplained injuries
• Carrying weapons
• Significant decline in school results or performance
• Being isolated from peers or social networks
• Associating with or being interested in gang culture
• Self-harming or having significant changes in mental health.

Emotional abuse

Definition:

Emotional abuse is the ongoing emotional maltreatment of a child, which can have a sever and persistent negative effect on the child’s emotional health and development. It’s also known as psychological abuse.

Exposing a child to aggression, cruelty or abuse between others is also a form of emotional abuse.

Most forms of abuse include an emotional element, but emotional abuse can also happen on its own.

Children can be emotionally abused by anyone:

• Parents or carers
• Family members
• Other adults
• Other children.

There are several categories of emotional abuse. These include:

Emotional neglect

• ignoring the child
• not showing affection
• not responding to a child’s emotional needs.

Rejection

• telling a child they aren’t good enough
• physical abandonment
• excluding the child from activities
• not listening to a child or letting them express their views
• belittling a child
• not communicating with the child.

Isolating

• putting unreasonable limitations on a child’s freedom
• restricting or preventing social interaction.

Manipulation

Coercing or persuading a child to take part in activities that:

• they aren’t comfortable with
• aren’t appropriate for their age or stage of development
• are unsafe.

Gaslighting is also a form of manipulation. This is where perpetrators make someone doubt their own perception, judgment and/or memory.

Terrorising

• threatening violence
• deliberately frightening a child
• deliberately putting a child in a dangerous situation.

Bullying

• verbal humiliation
• name-calling
• undermining or mocking a child.
• Physical bullying can also have emotional effects.

Signs to look out for:

Children who have been emotionally abused may:

• Lack confidence and have low self-esteem
• Be withdrawn and very quiet
• Experience mental health issues
• Have a language delay
• Struggle to focus and concentrate on tasks
• Struggle to make or maintain relationships
• Display behaviour perceived to be aggressive or hostile
• Seem isolated from their parents, carers and peers
• Lack social skills or have few, if any, friends.

Low-level concerns

All Handcrafted staff are subjected to thorough checks at their induction, and receive frequent training, including regular safeguarding training.

However, there remains a very low likelihood that circumstances could arise where a member of Handcrafted staff poses a risk to the safety or wellbeing of a trainee, or where a safeguarding allegation could be made against a member of staff.

Handcrafted is committed to creating an environment of honesty, trust and accountability. Trainees and staff should be made to feel comfortable in challenging inappropriate behaviour and identifying risks, including among other Handcrafted staff.

• If somebody is in immediate danger, you should always call 999 straight away and ask for the police.

• Otherwise:

Concerns should in the first instance be reported in line with the standard procedure, to the HSO/HDSO. However, in some cases, this may not be possible, either if the HSO/HDSO are implicated in the case, or if the person reporting the concern does not feel comfortable reporting this internally to Handcrafted. In such a case, the person should report the concern using the standard multi-agency procedures of the Durham or Gateshead local authority.

A concern reported to the HSO/HDSO will be marked as a low-level concern if it is decided that the member of staff acted in a way that was not consistent with the staff handbook, but it is not necessary to escalate the situation by reporting it externally. A note will be made of the concern and the member of staff who was implicated, and any action taken. This will be kept securely in accordance with the Handcrafted Data Privacy Notice.

A concern will be marked as an allegation if it is deemed necessary to escalate the situation by reporting the concern externally, or if the concern was reported externally in the first instance. An allegation must be reported to the local authority safeguarding board. Handcrafted is committed to actively cooperating with any investigations that arise from such a report.

If a staff member is found to have acted in a way that is inconsistent with the staff handbook, then disciplinary action will be taken against them as stipulated in their contract.

Multi-agency partnerships

Handcrafted is committed to working with other agencies who are seeking to safeguard vulnerable adults and children. Contact details for such agencies can be found in the Handcrafted Safeguarding Policy, 3.7, or in Appendices 12-13.

Where a multi-agency approach is taken in a particular safeguarding case, Handcrafted is committed to cooperating with the other agencies which are involved. Handcrafted and other agencies will work together to ensure that all agencies can at all times adhere to their own policies and procedures while acting in the best interests of beneficiaries. Handcrafted will not intentionally or knowingly impede the progress of any investigation into a safeguarding case that is deemed necessary by a statutory body.

What to do if you have a safeguarding concern

Reporting internally

If you have a safeguarding concern about somebody, or they make a disclosure to you, you should:

1. Call 999 and ask for the police, if there is immediate danger of harm to the trainee.
2. Support the trainee as far as you are able to within the bounds of Handcrafted’s services and your job description. Your support should be person-centred, holistic and empowering, as far as possible.
3. Make a written record of the concern straight away and keep it in a secure place.
4. Write a Contact Record on Airtable, giving an account of your contact with the trainee. You should tick the ‘Safeguarding’ box near the end of the form, and in the written section explain why there is a safeguarding concern and any decision/action you have taken.
5. The Contact Record will automatically be flagged for immediate review by the HSO/HDSO. It will appear in the Safeguarding Database on Airtable.
6. If the HSO/HDSO believes that further action should be taken to minimise the risk of harm to the trainee, they will contact you to discuss this. They will offer advice and guidance so that you can collaboratively determine the next steps and incorporate them into a support plan for the trainee.
7. Once the next steps have been determined, or if a further discussion was not necessary, the HSO/HDSO will fill in the ‘Safeguarding Review’ textbox for that Contact Record, which they have access to via the Safeguarding Database.

1. Raising a concern externally

If:

• You have discussed a safeguarding concern with the HSO/HDSO, and you agreed that this should be reported externally to another agency;

Or:

• You decide independently, with good reason, that a safeguarding concern should be reported externally to another agency;

You should:

1. Support the trainee as far as you are able to within the bounds of Handcrafted’s services and your job description. Your support should be person-centred, holistic and empowering, as far as possible.
2. Contact the relevant agency or authority, using the contacts found in the Handcrafted Safeguarding Policy, 3.7, or Appendices 12-13.
3. Maintain the confidentiality of all trainees involved in the incident and, as much as is reasonably possible, anybody else who has requested to remain anonymous, in accordance with the Handcrafted Data Privacy Notice and Handcrafted Confidentiality Policy and Guidance
4. Cooperate with other agencies who are involved in the case. You should set clear expectations with them about what level of support Handcrafted can and cannot offer to trainees involved in the incident. You should take on board the advice of representatives of other agencies and discuss this with the HSO if you have queries about it.

Record-keeping

Handcrafted keeps an online record for every trainee, which includes some basic personal information, referral reasons and a regularly updated risk assessment. Handcrafted also keeps a Contact Record of each engagement that a trainee makes with its services. Records of safeguarding concerns are made within the Contact Record online form. They are stored on the Airtable online system, in that trainee’s Contact Records, and a shortcut is linked to the Safeguarding Database on Airtable.

External contacts for support and advice

Gateshead Safeguarding Adults Board

Adult Social Care Direct: 0191 433 7033

Website: gatesheadsafeguarding.org.uk

Gateshead Safeguarding Children Partnership

Gateshead Council’s Children’s Services:

• 0191 433 2653 (Mon-Fri, 8.30am-5pm)
• 0191 477 0844 (out of hours, at night, at weekends, bank holidays)

Website: https://gatesheadsafeguarding.org.uk/article/9175/Gateshead-Safeguarding-Children-Partnership

Durham Safeguarding Adults Partnership

Social Care Direct: 03000 26 79 79

Website: safeguardingdurhamadults.info

Durham Safeguarding Children Partnership

First Contact:

• 03000 267 979 (Mon-Thu, 8.30am-5pm; Fri, 8.30am-4.30pm; available out of hours in emergencies)

Website: https://durham-scp.org.uk

NSPCC

https://nspcc.org.uk

Thirtyone:eight

Safeguarding helpline: 0303 003 1111

Website: thirtyoneeight.org

External contacts for reporting incidents

Gateshead Safeguarding Adults Board

Adult Social Care Direct: 0191 433 7033

Website: gatesheadsafeguarding.org.uk

Gateshead Safeguarding Children Partnership

Gateshead Council’s Children’s Services:

• 0191 433 2653 (Mon-Fri, 8.30am-5pm)
• 0191 477 0844 (out of hours, at night, at weekends, bank holidays)

Website: https://gatesheadsafeguarding.org.uk/article/9175/Gateshead-Safeguarding-Children-Partnership

Durham Safeguarding Adults Partnership

Social Care Direct: 03000 26 79 79

Website: safeguardingdurhamadults.info

Durham Safeguarding Children Partnership

First Contact:

• 03000 267 979 (Mon-Thu, 8.30am-5pm; Fri, 8.30am-4.30pm; available out of hours in emergencies)

Website: https://durham-scp.org.uk

Police

Emergency: 999

Non-emergency: 101

If somebody is in immediate danger, you should always call 999 straight away and ask for the police.

Mental Health Services

Tees Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team: 0800 0516 171

Newcastle and Gateshead Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team: 0800 652 2863 / 0191 814 8899, or by text 07919 228 548 for people who are Deaf and/or have communication difficulties.

Practice Guidelines

As an organisation working with vulnerable adults and children, we wish to operate and promote good working practices. This will enable us to support trainees and residents, develop good relationships and minimise the risk of false accusations.   Practice guidelines and related policies are available to all workers in the Policies and Guidelines folder on the shared drive. These include:

• Record Keeping Guidelines - How to make sure that your written records are accurate and relevant
• Lone Working Policy - How to protect yourself and others from risk of harm or false allegations in the context of lone working
• Confidentiality Guidance - How to handle confidentiality issues and what to do in cases where a trainee or resident discloses something that you will need to act upon.