Quality Improvement and safeguarding - Print version

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Who do I contact if I am concerned about a child?

If there is no immediate danger or you need advice or information, you should call the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/31/children_and_families/2186/coventrys_multi_agency_safeguarding_hub_mash] on 024 7678 8555. 

Social worker (out of office hours): 024 7683 2222. 

If you wish to report an emergency matter always dial 999. 

Managing allegations against adults working with children in an Early Years setting

Managing allegations procedures should be applied when there is an allegation or concerns that any person who works or volunteers with children, in connection with their employment, (including supply staff) 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; 
  • Behaved or may have behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children. 

The last bullet point above includes behaviour that may have happened outside an organisation that might make an individual unsuitable to work with children, this is known as transferable risk. 

If an allegation is made against any adult who comes into contact with children in either a paid or unpaid capacity in the setting, the childminder or any person in the childminder setting must report the allegation or concern to the Local Authority Designated Officer by completing this online reporting form [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/ladoreferral]. 

The LADO works on behalf of Coventry City Council and the Coventry Safeguarding Children Partnership [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/206/coventry_safeguarding_children_partnership/2628/local_authority_designated_officer_lado] to address, advise and manage allegations and concerns against staff, carers and volunteers by addressing matters of safety and wellbeing of children and young people. 

A model policy, including flowchart guidance, is available for all Early Years Settings, including Childminders, to follow. 

Policies, information recording and statutory documentation

These policies and documents are to support Ofsted Registered Childcare Providers in Coventry to help support practice and complement the procedures and guidance issued by the Coventry Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/cscp]

Policies

Information recording documentation

Statutory documentation

Safer recruitment documents

Childminders and providers must ensure that people looking after children are suitable, including childminding assistants. They must have the relevant qualifications, training and have passed any required checks to fulfil their roles.  

Childminders must obtain a reference for any childminding assistants they recruit. Childminders and any assistants must be cleared as ‘suitable’ by Ofsted or their CMA via the suitability letter before they can be included in child:staff ratios. It is the childminder’s responsibility to check the initial and ongoing suitability of an assistant. 

Providers must take appropriate steps to verify qualifications, including in cases where physical evidence cannot be produced.  

Childminder and providers must also ensure that any person who may have regular contact with children (for example, someone living or working on the same premises the early years provision is provided), is suitable. 

Further information can be found in the EYFS Statutory Frameworks for both Childminders and Groups Settings in Section 3 – Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements.  

For further safer recruitment documents [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/early-years-childcare/workforce-development-early-years-childcare-providers/4] please see Workforce Development for Early Years Providers. 

Retention, destruction, and transferring records

Childminders and providers must maintain records, obtain and share relevant information (with parents and carers, other professionals working with the child, the police, social services and Ofsted or their CMA) as appropriate. This is to ensure their setting is safe and efficiently managed, and the needs of all children are met.  

Guidance and forms are linked below to support Coventry Early Years Childminders and Group Settings to meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage.  

Leadership and management

Childminders, or a practitioner in an Early Years setting, must take the lead responsibility for safeguarding children. This role is sometimes called a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). Larger settings may also have a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.  

DSL training is available from the Coventry Early Years Quality, Improvement and Standards Team. Both initial training and refresher training is offered termly. This training is consistent with the criteria set out in Annex C of the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework. 

Training information can be found on our Eventbrite page [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/early-years-service-coventry-city-council-60792649413]. 

Supervision 

Supervision with staff/assistants should cover any child protection concerns. Below are links to documentation which may support you when delivering supervision. 

Safeguarding resources and links

Coventry Safeguarding Children Partnership  

The CSCP is made up of Coventry Local Authority, Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) and West Midlands Police. They provide training, guidance and resources, as well as signposting to relevant organisations. Further information can be found on the CSCP website [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/coventry-local-safeguarding-children-board]. 

For childminders and settings, there are a number of useful resources available including one minute printable guides [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/4414/one_minute_guides] which cover a variety of safeguarding topics.  

There is also a wide selection of training available [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/cscptraining], some of which is free. 

Family Hubs 

A family hub [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/familyhubs] is a place where children, young people and their families can go when in need of help and support. The people working in the family hub will work in partnership with you and your community. There will be a range of services available. There are eight Family Hubs in Coventry each providing a welcoming space where children, young people, and families can access services and help.  

Read further information including the most up-to-date Hub timetables [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/family-hubs].  

Effective support for children and families [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/coventry-local-safeguarding-children-board/right-help-right-time] 

Professionals from all agencies working with children and young people have shared responsibility to keep them safe and provide an effective, efficient and co-ordinated service to support their health and well-being. 

Promoting children’s welfare is most effective when they receive help early and at a level according to their needs. The aim is to provide early interventions for children, young people and their families who require support in order to prevent them from reaching higher levels of need once these have been identified. 

Effective support for children and families was previously known as ‘Right Help, Right Time’.  Training [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/coventry-local-safeguarding-children-board/right-help-right-time/2] and guidance [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/45177/effective-support-for-children-families] are available for Early Years practitioners working in Coventry.  

Prevent Duty 

Early years providers have a vital role to play in protecting children from the risks of extremism and radicalisation, a role which is underpinned by the legal duty in the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 “to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”.

Early years providers have a duty to protect children in their care and must be alert to any concerns in the child’s life. This includes awareness of the expression of extremist views. 

Coventry Prevent Team [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/prevent-3] are an all-age early intervention service across the city of Coventry that works to safeguard people from being radicalised, supporting extremist groups or becoming involved in terrorism. 

They offer a range of training, policy guidance and support to partner organisations and community groups. Further information can be found on the Prevent website [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/prevent]. 

Online safety for all

There is now guidance to help those who work in early years settings consider their practice and to take steps to safeguard both children and adults online. There is a guide for both managers and practitioners.  

Safeguarding children and protecting professionals in early years settings: online safety considerations [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safeguarding-children-and-protecting-professionals-in-early-years-settings-online-safety-considerations]  

Keeping children safe online 

It is important to have regular conversations about staying safe online and to encourage children to speak to you if they come across something worrying online. 

These resources provide guidance for parents and carers to keep children safe online. They will, amongst other things, support you to talk to children about a range of online safety issues, set up home filtering in a child-friendly way and set up age-appropriate parental controls on digital devices: 

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