Protection policy
Protection policy for the proposed service
As a childminder I have a responsibility to ensure all children in my care are safe during care time. My service will always aim to meet the needs of each child and I will try my best to keep children happy during care hours. This policy complies with the Children & Young people (Scotland)Act, The UN convention on the rights of the child (UNCRC) and the context of the wider Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC). National guidance for child protection in Scotland 2021.
I will make sure children will be monitored by me during care time unless there is an emergency in which case emergency procedures will be applied.
No members of my family members or visitors to the business are unfit to be among those who use the service.
My protection policy includes the following points:
· As a childminder I have a duty to ensure the safety and welfare of all children in my care, and also to report any suspicious incidents or accidents to the relevant authorities i.e., Care Inspectorate, Social Services, and the Police if it is in the best interests of the children in my care.
If a suspected case of abuse comes to my attention it will be documented in line with my duty as childminder, And I will pass on my concerns as appropriate which will include gathering facts and supplementary information if necessary. I will seek confidential help and guidance from relevant authorities to decide whether to report the incident.
However, if I suspect that the child is at serious risk of harm, I will pass the information on to the relevant authorities.
Social Work office
Schoolhill Road, Ellon, AB41 9AH
01467 537743
· If a child attends my childcare services and for any reason they fail to turn up, or contact me, I will phone the parents after 15 minutes. If I cannot reach them, I will then contact their emergency numbers to find out the reason for the child’s absence . If I can reach none, then it is my duty to contact Social Services to ask for their advice and assistance.
Social Work office
Schoolhill Road, Ellon, AB41 9AH
01467 537743
· I have at least two aid kits, one of which will be inside the house and a small one in my everyday bag.
· I have fire safety equipment including two blankets.
· The parents’ phone numbers, that of the local GP and emergency service numbers are saved in my phone memory. Also, I have a hard copy in each child’s profile.
· In any emergency situations after calling relevant authorities, I may call one or both of my emergency contact to help me, as well as calling parents or their emergency contacts.
· All games and activities I do with children are useful, safe, and suitable for their age and needs.
· Every child will have a file and plan, and those files will include the child's name, address, age, emergency contact, general health, and main key notes. Additionally, any worries or concerns we have regarding the child’s safety and welfare will be logged along with what is being done to resolve the matter. All entries will be dated and timed.
· All records of any child I care about will be always private and confidential.
However, the records of any suspicions or concerns will be kept in a secure folder which will remain strictly private and confidential.
· In my business, I will never verbally abuse or discipline a child . This includes physical punishment, causing pain, discomfort, humiliation or hurting any of the children in my care in any way.
· When children misbehave, they will be sent to the “golden time” to give a child time to calm down and think about what has happened then we will discuss the best way to resolve any issue.
· Anti-bullying: I believe putting a stop to bullying starts when support is given to the bully as well as to a child who is being bullied.
· In my business after getting approval from parents I will support bullied children through books, websites, games and role play, in conjunction with advice from parents and any expert they choose.
· I shall support the bully by calling parents to an urgent meeting, and using positive behaviour techniques, using books, games and encouraging parents to ask for help from other agencies or experts.
If all attempts at stopping bullying fail, in the end I will have to put my family, myself, and other children in my care first.
Sadly, I may have to ask parents to find another childminder.
· Children need to have house rules, and those rules need to be clear to help children behave. The house rules are the following :
1- Children are not allow to swear, copy, call each other names, fight or deliberately hurt anyone else or bite. No aggressive or unruly behaviour will ever be tolerated.
2- Children should be kind to each other, other people and to pets.
3- Children must learn the importance of sharing and playing in turn.
· Children are dissuaded from doing things which:
1. are dangerous, hurtful, or offensive to someone else
2. are dangerous to themselves.
3. will make the child unacceptable to other people
4. damage other people’s property.
· I expect parents to inform me of any changes in the child’s home circumstances, care arrangements or any other change which may affect the child’s behaviour such as a new baby, parents’ separation, divorce, a new partner, or any bereavement. All information shared will be kept confidential unless there appears to be a child protection issue.
· I will work together with parents to make sure there is consistency in the way the children are cared for. A consistent approach benefits the child’s welfare and helps ensure that the child is not confused.
· I will offer regular review meetings with parents to discuss their child’s care and any issues or concerns, preferably when the child is not present.
· I will record all significant incidents, and I shall discuss these with the parents of the child concerned so that together we can work to resolve any behavioural issues.
Records of any child in my care will always be private and confidential and must updated every 6 months on January and July of each year even if the child just joined the care service.
For sun cream, nappy cream, hand cream, and body lotion: if a child requires any of these creams, the parents must provide the cream with the labeled name on it and written consent for me to apply it. They should also include any details or instructions for use. The parents should open any provided cream and use it on their child before giving it to me.
· This policy may change or be updated at any point depending on my service needs and if legislation is updated, it will also be reviewed at least once a year.
Updated 3 /July / 2024