Policies

1.       Definitions

·       "The Ellesmere Centre .

·       "Data Controller"- The Centre’s Data Controller for CCTV is the Office Manager.

·       "CCTV Operator"- The Centre Manager or Employees/Trustees of the Ellesmere Centre with the permission (from the Centre Manager or Chair of Trustees)to operate the CCTV and retrieve footage. CCTV footage must not be viewed by anybody other than the police, Centre Manager ,Chair of Trustees or other authorised personnel. 

2. Introduction

The purpose of this policy is to regulate the management, operation and use of the closed circuit television (CCTV) system at the Ellesmere Centre.

The system comprises a number of static cameras located around the site. All cameras can be monitored from the Main Office.

This Code follows Data Protection Act guidelines.

The CCTV system and data is owned by the Ellesmere Centre.

3. Objectives of the CCTV system

·       To protect the buildings and assets of the Ellesmere Centre.

·       To increase personal safety and reduce the fear of crime.

·       To support the Police in a bid to deter and detect crime.

·       To assist in managing the Centre.

4. Statement of intent

The Centre will treat the system and all information, documents and recordings obtained and used, as data which are protected by the Data Protection Act.

The system installed is compliant with the Data Protection Act, Human Rights Act and Regulatory Investigation Powers Act.

Cameras will be used to monitor activities within the Ellesmere Centre and its car parks and other public areas to identify criminal activity actually occurring, anticipated, or perceived, and for the purpose of securing the safety and wellbeing of the Centre and its staff and visitors.

Cameras are focused on the Centre buildings and around entrances/exits.

Materials of knowledge secured as a result of CCTV will not be used for any commercial purpose.

Information transferred to CD/DVD (or other appropriate media) will only be used for the investigation of a specific crime or incident.

Release to the media would only be allowed with the written authority of the police if this was required by them as part of a police investigation.

Warning signs, as required under the Data Protection Act, have been placed at key points in the building. Description text goes here

SAFEGUARDING/CHILD PROTECTION POLICY   2025

The aim of this document is to ensure that all individuals connected with The Ellesmere Centre (hereafter called The Centre) fully understand their responsibilities with regard to the safeguarding of children.

In the U.K a child means a person under the age of 18.

The Centre is committed to safeguarding all children involved with it from harm.

·       The welfare of the child is paramount

·       All children without exception have the right to protection from abuse* in any form

·       The Policy is approved and endorsed by the Trustees.

·       The Policy applies to everyone connected with The Centre in carrying out its work and activities

·       All concerns and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously by the Trustees, staff and other personnel and responded to appropriately - this may require a referral to children’s services and, in emergencies, the Police

·       The Trustees are committed to safe recruitment, selection and vetting of everyone in contact with unaccompanied children in order to carry out The Centre’s work and activities

·       The Policy will be reviewed annually by the Trustees

RECOGNITION AND CATEGORIES OF ABUSE

Taken from “Working Together to Safeguard Children” – HM Government (2006).

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child.  Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces illness in a child

Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional ill-treatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development.  It may involve conveying to children that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person.  It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions that are beyond the child’s developmental capability, as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the child participating in normal social interaction. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another. It may involve serious bullying causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation, or corruption of children.  Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, though it may occur alone. 

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, including prostitution, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening.  The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative (e.g. rape or buggery or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts.  They may include non-contact activities such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, pornographic material or watching sexual activities, or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways. 

Neglect

Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development. Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse. Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to provide adequate food and clothing, shelter including exclusion from home or abandonment, failing to protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger, failure to ensure adequate supervision including the use of inadequate caretakers, or the failure to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment.  It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to a child’s basic emotional needs. 

CHILD PROTECTION PROCEDURE

DBS Checks & Disclosure

It is a requirement of The Centre that all adults that might come into contact with unaccompanied children undergo a successful DBS check in order to commence work with the organisation. Where possible The Centre will aim to have two people present at all times with any unaccompanied children.

Mobile Phones are not permitted in children’s groups with the exception of receiving or making a call. Any phone call needing immediate attention should be taken outside the room where the group is held. This is to avoid potential videoing and photography of the children.

1. Roles and Responsibilities

1.1 The Chair must ensure that:

(i)         All staff, volunteers, visitors and third party/external organisations are aware of the procedure regarding child protection referral, and that all new staff and volunteers are made aware of them on appointment;

(ii)        The agreed procedure is followed every time a child protection concern is identified;

(iii)       All staff and volunteers who are involved in activities, which involve unaccompanied children, receive appropriate training, including working with the agreed procedure within the first month of appointment.

1.2       The Safeguarding Lead has additional responsibility for:

(i)         The processing of any referral documentation and for liaising with statutory bodies administering the referral;

(ii)        Keeping up to date with any changes to child protection law and informing and advising personnel of such changes;

(iii)       Ensuring that the appropriate people attend child protection conference/reviews;

(iv)       Keeping and storing all records in a safe and confidential manner.

1.3       All staff, volunteers, third parties/external groups and visitors have responsibility for:

(i)         Reporting any safeguarding concerns to the Safeguarding Lead(Centre Manager).

2.         Staff and Volunteer Training

All staff and volunteers having contact with children will receive induction training for these procedures.

3.         The Procedure

3.1       Initial Response:

(i)         Personnel will usually come to know about instances of abuse in one of two ways

●          Disclosure

When someone who is being, or has been abused or someone who knows about the abuse, or has concerns the abuse is occurring tells you that it is happening or has happened.

●Observation
When behaviour, appearance, attitude, injury, etc, observed by you or observed by others and reported to you, give cause for concern.

(ii)        If a child discloses to you it is important to:

●          Stay calm

●          Listen

●          If you are talking directly to the child, reassure them(do not touch the child).

●          Consider who else can hear

●          Make sure that the child knows you cannot keep secrets

●          Do not ask leading questions or push the child for more information

●          Inform the child what will happen next

●          Record everything you have seen/heard as soon as possible;

●          Follow the procedure.

If there is immediate risk to the child, the emergency services should be called on 999.

(iii)       If you, or others, observe changes in behaviour, physical injury or changes in attitude or appearance you should:

●          Record everything that you observe including times and dates and the nature of your concern;

●          In cases of injury, if appropriate ask the child what happened;

●          Ask yourself if the injury matches the ‘story’;

●          Talk with your colleagues about your concerns and their observations;

●          Remember not to ask the child leading questions;

●          Follow the procedure

(iv)       Care must be taken in interpreting children’s responses to questions about, indications of, or information about, abuse.

 (v)        Asking leading questions can be interpreted as putting ideas into the child’s mind. You should not ask questions which encourage the child to change his or her version of events in any way, or which impose your own assumptions (For example say, “Tell me what happened.”. Rather than “Did they do this to you?”) Your role is to listen and not interrupt when the child is recalling significant events, and to make a record of the discussion which should include the time, date, place and people present as well as what has been said. The recording with clear facts, observations, allegations and options be signed and dates by the writer. The original record of concern whether hand written or typed must be passed to the Chair or named Committee member.

3.2           Once a disclosure has been made or observations have given cause for concern, staff/volunteer MUST take action.

3.3           You must record any conversations or observations fully and ensure that these recordings are kept safe and confidential whilst in your care.

3.4       You must share your concern with the Safeguarding Lead.

3.5       The Safeguarding Lead must make immediate contact with the Child Protection Team at Social Services.

3.6       The Safeguarding Lead will duplicate the relevant paperwork/recordings and distribute as follows:

● All original papers to the relevant Social Care team.

N.B. The Social Care team must know whether the child parents/carers have been informed of the referral. Only in exceptional circumstances should the parents/carers not be informed of the referral.

● Copy to be securely stored in an envelope markedLIn the safe).

Strictly Private and Confidential Child Protection Matter.

3.7       The Safeguarding Lead will contact personnel involved in making the referral to ensure that they have the appropriate support in dealing with any issues that arise from the referral.

3.8       If any new information becomes available after a referral has been made that should be recorded and passed to the appropriate Social Care team via the Manager.

3.9       When a child protection arises in respect of a child who is in the care of, or the responsibility of another organisation, that organisation child protection designated worker should be contacted and their relevant protection procedure initiated.

3.10     This Policy will be reviewed annually by the Trustees