At Child First Trust we make safeguarding our highest priority.

A copy of our Safeguarding Policy, which includes the names of our designated Child Protection Officers can be found by clicking on the link above. It is provided as both a PDF and Word Document. 

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

Child First Trust Safeguarding Disclosure Form

Child First Trust Safeguarding Policy

At Child First we will 

• Ensure that our Safeguarding Policy is made available to parents and carers if requested.
• Ensure that all trustees, associates and volunteers are properly vetted to make sure they are safe to work with the students who attend our services.
• Ensure that all trustees, associates and volunteers have clear procedures for handling allegations of abuse made against members of staff, other adults or children.
• Ensure that there is a Senior Designated Person (SDP) who has lead responsibility for dealing with all safeguarding issues within the Trust.

The Senior Designated Person for Child First Trust is:

Clare French, Chair of Trustees, C/O Kendall Primary School, Recreation Road, Colchester, Essex. CO1 2HH.  01206 794634  

If she is not available the SDP Alternates are:

Carl Messer, Headteacher St. George’s Primary School, Canterbury Road, Colchester, Essex. CO2 7RU. 01206 506800. 

Sacha Brakenbury, Child First. 39 Hazel Close, Thorrington, Colchester, Essex, CO78HJ. sbrakenbury@gmail.com 07889935248.

PROCESS AND PROCEDURES

 It is the responsibility of all associated with Child First Trust to:

Ensure that all Child Protection concerns are acted up immediately and effectively. 

If a team member/trustee/associate is faced with a disclosure or is concerned that a child/young person is at risk or actually suffering abuse, they should

• Stay calm and listen carefully.
• Reassure the child/young person that they have done the right thing in telling you.
• Not investigate or ask leading questions.
• Let them know that you will need to tell someone else.
• Not promise to keep what they have been told a secret
• Report the concern to a Senior Designated Person immediately. If the concern occurs within a school, the first line of reporting is to the school’s Safeguarding Lead. This should then be immediately followed up with a report to one of the three Child First DSL’s (listed above). (The DSL at the student’s school is likely to hold additional information and ‘context’ that could be beneficial to any safeguarding disclosure). It is essential that, in the rare circumstance of not being able to reach a DSL that the associate acts independently is required to ensure the child’s safety. The Government’s Postcode Checker is a useful tool if you wish to find the number of your local Social Care Team. A link to this is given below:

https://www.gov.uk/report-child-abuse-to-local-council

• Record the concerns/observations using the Safeguarding Disclosure Form for safeguarding concerns. Link above.
• Ensure that the Disclosure Form is factual (objective, not subjective) and includes a clear explanation of the actions taken and who will take responsibility for any further actions required.
• A password protected copy of the Disclosure Form should be sent by email to sbrakenbury@gmail.com
• This will then be uploaded to the student’s secure file. It is the responsibility of the associate to ensure the safe receipt of the SD Form.

All Adults, including the SDP, have a duty to refer all known or suspected cases of abuse to Children’s social care or the police.  

If in doubt, refer. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

it is important to note that any team member can refer their concerns to children’s social care directly.

If, at any point, there is a risk of immediate serious harm to a child a referral

should be made to children’s social care immediately. Anybody can make a referral.

If the child’s situation does not appear to be improving the staff member with concerns should press for re-consideration. Concerns should always lead to help for the child at some point.

At no time should anyone associated with Child First Trust promise confidentiality to a child. They must always act in the interests of the child.

 The Essex Child and Family Hub Process Map provides a useful summary of key actions required in the event of a safeguarding concern. A direct link is provided below: