• Holding an annual Carnival and other social activities throughout the year to promote community participation within the parish of Blackwell.
• The promotion of education, sport and music facilities within the area.
• Contributing surplus monies to other local groups, as the Management Committee see fit

Key Principles Of The Team.

• To provide a safe and enjoyable environment
• Demonstrate a model of best practice in line with NSPCC guidelines
• Promote ethics and high standards at events
• To ensure that all those involved in Managing Newton Carnival Team are aware of their responsibilities in the protection of children and young people.

Aims Of The Policy

• To establish an effective system to ensure that all children and young people are able to enjoy activities in as safe an environment as possible.
• To ensure that all involved are aware of the procedures relating to the protection of children and young people.
• To promote and ensure high standards of behaviour by all those involved with the team.
• To ensure that everyone involved is protected from physical, verbal and sexual harassment.
• To establish an effective system to ensure that those in a position of trust do not put themselves in situations where allegations of abuse can be made.

Nominated Child Protection Representative

The child protection representatives for Newton Carnival Team Are:

• Mrs Lisa Bullock
  55 Main Street
  Newton
  Alfreton
  Derbyshire
  DE55 5TE
  Tel 01773 779237
  
  
• Mr Nigel Moss
  47 Hallfield Road
  Newton
  Alfreton
  Derbyshire
  DE55 5UB
  Tel 01773 873448

The role of the child protection representative:

• To receive information from staff, volunteers, children or parents and carers who have child protection concerns and record it. (Profoma Attached)
• Assess the information promptly and carefully.
• Consult initially with a statutory child protection agency such as the local services department or health board or the NPCC, to test out any doubts or uncertainty about the concerns as soon as possible.
• Make a formal referral to a statutory child protection agency or the police without delay. It is NOT the role of Newton Carnival Team to decide whether a child has been abused or not. This is the job of the social services department who's task this is legally.
• To make sure the children and young people working with Newton Carnival team Know
• About the child protection policy and procedures
• You are the person to speak to if they have any concerns
• Who to speak to if you are not there

Code of conduct All Adults Involved Will:

• Treat all individuals equally, with respect and dignity
• Provide an example you wish to follow
• Put the welfare of individuals first before winning and achieving goals.
• Build balanced relationships based on mutual trust, which empowers children to share in the decision making process
• Respect a young persons right to personal privacy
• Plan activities where more than one other person is present, or at the very least within sight or hearing of others.
• Encourage young people and adults to feel comfortable and caring enough to point out behaviour they don't like.
• Promote fair play
• Involve parents/carers wherever possible.
• Give enthusiastic and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism.
• Secure parental consent in writing to act in loco parentis, if the need arises, to give permission for the administration emergency first aid and or other medical treatment.
• Request written parental consent if a team member is required to transport children in their cars.
• Remember that someone else might misinterpret your actions, no matter how well-intentioned
• Recognise that special caution is required when you are dealing with sensitive issues with children or young people.

You Must Not:

• Have any inappropriate physical or verbal contact with children
• Make suggestive remarks or gestures, even in fun
• Show favouritism to any individual
• Allow yourself to be drawn into inappropriate attention seeking behaviour such as tantrums or crushes
• Jump to conclusions about others without checking facts
• Rely on your good name to protect you
• Allow allegations made by a child to go unchallenged, unrecorded, or not acted upon
• Believe “it could never happen to meâ€Â

Responding To A Child Making An Allegation Of Abuse:

• Tel the child they are not to blame and that it was right to tell
• Do not show distaste, disgust or anger
• Don't ask direct questions who, what, where, when.
• Don't put words into the child's mouth by suggesting what has happened and by whom
• Take what the child says seriously, recognising the difficulties inherent in interpreting what a child who has a speech disability and/ or differences in languages says.
• Keep calm and, even if you find what they are saying difficult or painful, keep listening.
• Reassure the child but do not make promises of confidentiality, which may not be feasible in the light of subsequent developments. Explain early on that the information will need to be sated and what you will do next. Make a full record of what has been said, heard and/or seen as soon as possible using the child’s own words - take as soon as possible to the nominated child protection representative: Mrs Lisa Bullock or Mrs Nigel Moss
• Do not contact or confront the individual who is alleged to be responsible.

Keeping A Record Of Concern

When a child protection concern arises, it is essential you record what is said or seen and what action was taken.

• An accurate note should be made of:-
• Date & time of the incident or disclosure
• Parties who were involved
• What was said or done and by whom
• Any action taken by Newton Carnival Team to investigate the matter
• Any further action, e.g. suspension of a worker
• Where relevant, reasons why there is no referral to a statutory agent
• Names of person reporting and to whom reported.

This record or any written record shall be kept in a specific locked cabinet. This will be located at the Carnival Teams HQ – 55 Main Street, Newton, Alfreton, Derbyshire. Access limited to only:

• The person who has completed the form
• The nominated child protection representatives
• Newton Carnival Team project leader or manager

It may be shown to the police or social services and could possibly be used in court, although this is rare. The young person concerned can be shown this document but discretion should be used. Their permission should be obtained before showing to the parent/carer.

Incident / Record of concern form attached.

The 4 Main Forms Of Abuse

Neglect
Where adults persistently or severely fail to meet a child's basic physical and/ or psychological needs.

It is likely to result in the serious impairment of the child's health or development. It may include failing to provide warm clothing or food, failure or refusal to give children love, affection and attention. Children may also be consistently left alone or unsupervised.

Physical signs may include:

• Running away
• Constant hunger, loss of weight including stealing food from other children
• Poor personal hygiene
• Inappropriate dress for the conditions
• Untreated medical problems

Change in behaviour, which can also indicate neglect may include:

• Complaining of being tired all the time
• No social relationships- unable to make friends, engage in social activities (games, Conversation)
• Low self-esteem
• Mentioning being left alone or unsupervised

Physical Abuse
Where adults physically hurt or injure children by hitting, shaking, squeezing, burning or biting, or by giving children alcohol or inappropriate drugs or poison

Most children collect cuts and bruises in their daily life!- these types of commonplace falls and rough play tend to show on bony parts of the body, like elbows knees & shins. Some children, however, will have bruising which can almost only have been caused non-accidentally. An important indicator of physical abuse is where bruising or injuries are unexplained or the explanation does not fit the injury, or when it appears on parts of the body where accidental injuries are unlikely, e.g. on the cheeks or thighs.

Bruising may be more or less noticeable on children with different skin tones or from different racial groups and specialist advice may need to be taken.

Physical Signs May Include:

• Unexplained bruising, marks or injuries
• Bruises, which reflect hand marks or fingertips.
• Cigarette burns
• Bite Marks
• Broken bones
• Scalds
• Running away

Changes in behaviour, which can also indicate physical abuse may include:

• Fear of parents being approached for an explanation
• Aggressive behaviour or severe temper outbursts
• Flinching when approached or touched
• Reluctance to get changed, for example wearing long sleeves in hot weather
• Depression
• Withdrawn behaviour

Sexual Abuse
Girls and boys are abused by adults or other young people both male and female who use children of all ages to meet their own sexual needs. Sexual abuse involves forcing or entic ng a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of, or consents to what is happening. The sexual activity may involve physical contact, including penetrative acts such as rape, buggery or oral sex or non penetrative acts such as fondling. Showing children pornographic material ( books, Videos, Pictures) is also a form of sexual abuse.

Usually in cases of sexual abuse it is the child's behaviour that may cause you to be concerned.

Physical Signs May Include:

• Pain or itching in the genital / anal areas
• Bruising and bleeding near genital / anal areas
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Vaginal discharge or infection
• Stomach pains
• Pregnancy

Changes in behaviour, which can also indicate sexual abuse may include:

• Fear on being left with a specific person or group of people
• Sexual knowledge, which is beyond their age or development level
• Sexual drawings or language
• Self harm or mutilation, sometimes leading to suicide attempts
• Substance or drug abuse
• Suddenly having unexplained source of money
• Not being allowed to have friends (particularly in adolescence)
• Acting in a sexually explicit way towards adults
• Eating problems. Such as anorexia or overeating
• Having nightmares
• Sudden or unexplained changes in behaviour

Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse is the persistent and emotional ill treatment of a child, such as to cause severe and persistent effect on the child's emotional development. For example, persistent lack of love and affection, constant shouting, threatening or taunting a child all these actions may make the child very nervous or withdrawn. It may also involve making the child feel or believe that they are worthless or inadequate. Emotional abuse may also occur when an adult places on a child's inappropriate expectations considering the child's age or development. Bullying is a typical for of emotional abuse, which is often inflicted by other young people.

Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of ill treatment of a child, though it may occur alone.

Physical Signs May include:

• A failure to thrive and grow
• Sudden speech disorders
• Development delay, either in terms of physical or emotional progress

Changes in behaviour, which can also indicate emotional abuse may include:

• Neurotic behaviour, e.g. hair twisting, rocking
• Being unable to play
• Fear of making mistakes
• Self harm

Best Practice Principles For Adults Involved With In The Team:

• Avoid spending too much time alone with one child away from others.
• Avoid taking children to their home where they will be alone with the child.
• Never take part in rough, physical or sexually provocative games, including horseplay.
• Never share a room with a child.
• Never allow or take part in any form of inappropriate touching.
• Never allow children to use inappropriate language: always challenge this behaviour
• Never make sexually suggestive comments to a child, even in fun.
• Never reduce a child to tears as a form of control
• Never allow allegations made by a child go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted upon.
• Never do things of a personal nature for children or young adults that they can do for themselves.
• Never accept bullying, rule violations or use of prohibited substances.

If Any Of The Following Occurs, It Will Be Reported To A Colleague Immediately And Recorded Appropriately. The Child̢۪s Parents/Carers Will Be Informed:

• A member of the team accidentally hurts a child.
• A child seems distressed in any way.
• A child seems to be sexually aroused by a members actions.
• An individual misunderstands or misinterprets an action.

Training
All member of Newton Carnival Team will be informed, trained and supervised so they are less likely to become involved in actions, which can lead to harm or be misinterpreted and possibly lead to false allegations.

They will also become generally more aware of abuse and possible key signs.

Induction Training
All current and new members will be take through the policy – this may be on a one to one basis or in a group session- regular sessions will be arranged where more established members can be refreshed with any updates.

All Newton Carnival Team Members will sign a copy of the Child protection policy to ensure they have understood their moral & legal obligations.

Specific Child Protection Training
From time to time it may be beneficial for our volunteers and staff to undergo more in-depth training. These courses would be arranged on conjunction with Voluntary Action Bolsover, as well as courses offered by NSPCC, Barnardos.

Planning & appropriate Activities
Newton Carnival Team take every care when organising events

All activities have risk assessments performed prior the start of the activity

All planned events involving children are supervised by Carnival team staff at a ratio of 1to 5 in addition to this we request representation from the parents.

Breaks & rest periods are scheduled into all activities
All activities are undertaken in safe surrounding, at no time during the session would any young person be left un-supervised.

All young people require written parental consent to take part in activities. Parents are required to collect youngsters at the end of each session, under no circumstances would an individual be allowed to leave alone.

Recruitment procedures
Newton Carnival Team will endeavour to ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to ensure that unsuitable people are prevented from working with children. The following checks will be made when adults volunteer their services to Newton Carnival Team.

• All volunteers will complete an application form and a self-disclosure about their criminal record, including any spent crimes committed prior to 1974
• Consent will be obtained from an applicant to seek information from police and the criminal Records Bureau.
• Two confidential references will be take up, including one regarding previous working with children if relevant.
• Applicants must provide the team with proof of identity (passport or driving licence with photo)
• An interview preferably by two people- this can be informal chat if more fitting in with the groups running style
• Identify reasons for unsubstantiated, gaps in employment or inconsistencies. This will be addressed in the interview
• Advice is sought about recruiting someone with a criminal record.
• A supervised probationary period of 2 months for new members

Newton Carnival Team will fully support and protect anyone who, in good faith, reports concerns regarding the welfare of a child. Any allegations will be taken seriously and will be responded to quickly and in a sensitive manner.

If concern is considered to be about poor practice, the child protection officers and Carnival Team Management committee will deal with it as a misconduct issue.

Any suspicions that a child has been abused by a member of the team, a volunteer or another child should be reported to the Child protection Officers immediately, who will take such steps necessary as to ensure the safety of the child.

Advise will be sought from Social Services and the child's parents will be contacted as soon as possible.

Should one of the child protection officers be the subject of any allegations, the Carnival Teams Chairman will be informed and appropriate actions will be taken.

Newton carnival Team will not tolerate any form of bullying and in this respect all Team members and volunteers will:

• Take all signs of bullying very seriously.
• Encourage all children to speak and share their concerns with someone in authority.
• Investigate all allegations and take action to ensure the victim is safe.
• Provide reassurance to the victim.
• Keep written records of what is said and actions taken.
• Report any ongoing concerns to the child protection officers.
• Talk to the bully/ies regarding the consequences of the behaviour and seek an apology from the victim.
• Inform parents of all children involved.
• Encourage and support the bully to change his/her behaviour.
• Hold meeting with families to report on progress.
• Inform the management committee of actions taken.

Confidentiality
Every effort will be made to ensure that confidentiality is maintained for all concerned. Information will be handled and disseminated on a need to know basis only. This will include:

• The child protection officers.
• The parents of the child.
• The person making the allegations.
• Social Services and the police (if appropriate)
• The alleged abuser (and his/her parents if another child is involved)
• Information will be stored in a secure place with limited access to designated people, in line with data protection Law.

Newton carnival Team reserve the right to expel anyone, adult or child, who fails to act in accordance with this and associated policies.

Document prepared by:
Dexter Bullock CIPD, Training Practices
October 2003

Newton Carnival Team
Working for The Community