North Somerset Safeguarding Audit for Childminders
North Somerset Safeguarding audit for childminders
The Children Act 1989, the Children Act 2004 and the Childcare Act 2006 set out how individuals and organisations should work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. This audit has been designed to support you meet those statutory duties. It will help you identify any gaps in your provision; you can then plan to make improvements. This audit should be reviewed annually, and can form part of your self- evaluation processes.
Numbers refer to EYFS statutory guidance 2014 / Yes / No / Actions3.4 (must)
· Do you have a clear Safeguarding or Child Protection Policy and procedure that is in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage 2014?
(must)
· Is your procedure in line with the guidance from North Somerset Safeguarding Children’s Board?
(must)
· Does the procedure include what action should be taken if there is an allegation against yourself or a member of your family?
(must)
· Does your allegations procedure include that you must notify Ofsted within 14 days of any allegation taking place? (A registered provider who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with this requirement, commits an offence)
(must)
· Does your procedure cover the use of mobile phones and cameras in the setting?
· Does your safeguarding policy link to your other policies, ensuring policies do not contradict each other?
· Do you ensure that your parents are aware of your safeguarding policy and procedures?
· Do you ensure all records of child protection concerns are kept in a secure and confidential location? These records should be dated and indicate the outcomes of any actions taken.
(must)
· Have you attended Safeguarding training within the last 3 years?
Please note North Somerset Safeguarding board require all childminders to attend ‘Basic awareness training’ followed by ‘Inter Agency Child Protection: Introduction’ as a minimum.
· Have you attended Domestic abuse training?
Please note North Somerset Safeguarding Board require all childminders to attend Domestic abuse training that supports their understanding of the impact of Domestic abuse in the Early years.
3.6 (must)
· Do you ensure that you, and any students or volunteers understand safeguarding policy and procedures?
3.7 (must)
· Do you have regard to the Government's statutory guidance ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015’?
· Do you have regard to the document ‘Guidance For Safer Working Practice For Adults Who Work With Children And Young People?’
· Do you have up to date contact numbers of the local children's social care services and, in emergencies, the police? If providers have concerns about children's safety or welfare, they must notify agencies with statutory responsibilities without delay.
· Do you have a copy of the 2014 version of the North Somerset Safeguarding Procedure for Early Years and Play Provider handbook?
· Do you have the current publication ‘What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused’ – Summary.
· Are you aware of your responsibility under the Prevent duty to keep children safe from the risks of extremism and radicalisation? Is this reflected in your safeguarding policy?
· How do you ensure your environment achieves a balance between respect for privacy and reducing opportunities to abuse?
· What prompts and visual aids do you have in your home to remind all adults (visitors, parents) that the safety of children is of the highest priority?
Disqualification
· Are you aware of requirements 3.14-3.18 which detail disqualification
If you work with, or are considering working with an assistant, another childminder, students and volunteers then please consider the following questions.
Yes / No / Actions3.6 (must)
· Do you ensure that assistants, volunteers and students understand your safeguarding policy and procedures?
· Do they sign to confirm they have read and understood it?
· Do you ensure that they have up to date knowledge of safeguarding issues through training?
3.9/10 (must)
· Do you carry out suitability checks on:
o all staff
o bank staff
o regular volunteers
o any person who is likely to have regular contact with children (including those living or working on the premises)?
· Do these checks include:
o Identity checks
o Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau Checks (CRBs) or Enhanced Disclosure Baring Service Checks (DBS)
o Qualifications
o Written references (minimum of 2)
o Application form
o Full employment history
o Medical suitability
o Interview records
3.11 (must)
· Do you ensure that all staff, students and regular volunteers know that they are expected to disclose any convictions, cautions, court orders, reprimands and warnings which may affect their suitability to work with children (whether received before or during their employment at the setting)?
· Can you evidence this?
· Have you attended any safer recruitment training?
· Do you ensure that you include a safeguarding statement in any job adverts?
· Do you ensure that your induction procedures include information on safeguarding children?
· Do your staff meetings and supervision meetings include discussions on safeguarding which are appropriately recorded?
· Do you have a whistle blowing policy which makes it clear how assistants, other childminders, students or volunteers would report any safeguarding concerns about you or others in your setting?
(must)
· Do you ensure that people, whose suitability has not been checked, including through a criminal records check, don’t have unsupervised contact with children being cared for?
· Can you evidence this?
3.12 (must)
Do you record information about staff qualifications and the identity checks and vetting processes that have been completed?
Does this include
· the criminal records disclosure reference number?
· the date a disclosure was obtained?
· and the details of who obtained it?
3.13 For Information
· Providers must also meet their responsibilities under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, which includes a duty to make a referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service where a member of staff is dismissed (or would have been, had the person not left the setting first) because they have harmed a child or put a child at risk of harm
3.15
· A registered provider or a childcare worker may be disqualified because they live in the same household as another person who is disqualified, or because they live in the same household where a disqualified person is employed check
· How do you find this out?
HM Government (2015) Working Together to Safeguard Children A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children
Can be downloaded from
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/419595/Working_Together_to_Safeguard_Children.pdf
HM Government (2015) What to do if You’re worried a child is being abused
Can be downloaded from
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-to-do-if-youre-worried-a-child-is-being-abused--2
Guidance for Safer Working Practice for Adults who work with Children and Young People in Education settings
Can be downloaded from
http://www.childrenengland.org.uk/upload/Guidance%20.pdf
North Somerset Safeguarding procedure for Early Years and Play Providers
Can be downloaded from
http://www.northsomersetlscb.org.uk/early-years-play-providers.htm