Children can become victims of abuse and exploitation by those who work with them in any setting. They have been found to be vulnerable in all organisational settings including social care, education, health care, the leisure industry and in faith communities.
The procedure is based on the framework for dealing with allegations made against an adult who works with children, detailed in Working Together Chapter 6 Para 6.32 – 6.42 and in Appendix 5 of that publication, and should be followed by all organisations providing services for children and young people.
Compliance with these procedures will help to ensure that allegations are dealt with consistently and in a timely manner; that a thorough, proportionate and fair process is followed and that processes are open to challenge.
Arrangements for managing concerns or allegations of this nature should be robust and effective in keeping children safe. All allegations should be taken seriously, approached with an open mind, and not be driven by preconceived opinions about whether a child has or has not been harmed. Guidance on Safer Working Practices for Adults who Work with Children and Young People is available which will help individuals form judgements on what may constitute behaviour that is unsafe or abusive..
These procedures apply to any adult who works with children, whether a professional, staff member, foster carer or volunteer, where there is concern or an allegation that a person who works with children and young people, in connection with his/her employment or voluntary activity, has
- Behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child
- Possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child; or
- Behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates s/he is unsuitable to work with children.
The procedures will also apply where:
- There are inappropriate relationships between members of staff/volunteers and children or young people, for example:
- An adult is having a sexual relationship with a child under 18 if in a position of trust in respect of that child, even if consensual.
- An adult is ‘Grooming’ i.e. meeting a child under 16 with intent to commit a relevant offence.
- There is other ‘grooming’ behaviour giving rise to concerns of a broader child protection nature e.g. inappropriate text/e-mail messages or images, gifts, socialising, etc.
- An adult is in possession of indecent photographs/pseudo-photographs of children.
- It is discovered that a person who is or has been working with children or young people has been previously involved in child abuse
- An allegation has been made against a person working with children in a paid or voluntary capacity but the allegation does not relate to the working environment e.g. allegations by their own children.
- An allegation is made against a partner, member of the family or other household member, which gives rise to concerns about the safety of children or young people with whom the person has contact within his/her work or voluntary activity.
These procedures do not apply to matters that amount to bad or poor practice, which remain within normal line management arrangements.
Historical allegations should be responded to in the same way as contemporary concerns. It is important to establish if the person is still working with children and if so to inform the current employer or voluntary organisation.
Investigators should be alert to the signs of organised or multiple abuse and/or the involvement of other perpetrators or institutions. They should then consider whether the matter needs to be dealt with under the procedures for organised or multiple abuse, which if applicable, will take priority.
