Safeguarding
Safeguarding Policy
Libra Children Services Contact Centre
Safeguarding lead: Amelia Benson
Deputy safeguarding contact: [Add name if you wish]
Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) Birmingham:
Telephone: 0121 675 1669
Email: lado@birminghamchildrenstrust.co.uk
1. Purpose of this policy
This safeguarding policy explains how the contact centre protects children, young people and vulnerable adults who use our service. It sets out the responsibilities of our staff, our reporting expectations and the procedures we follow when concerns arise. The policy supports compliance with UK legislation including the Children Act, Working Together guidance, the UK GDPR and the National Standards for supervised family time.
2. Our commitment to safeguarding
Libra Children Services Contact Centre holds the following commitments.
• Children’s safety and wellbeing always come first.
• Children have the right to feel safe, listened to and respected during family time.
• Parents and carers are supported to understand expectations that maintain emotional and physical safety.
• Safeguarding concerns are managed quickly, calmly and in line with statutory requirements.
• Everyone working at the centre is trained to recognise risks, report concerns and follow safe practice.
• We work in partnership with families, social workers, Cafcass officers, legal representatives and other agencies to protect children.
These commitments direct all decisions, communication and supervision practice in the centre.
3. Responsibilities
Safeguarding lead: Amelia Benson
Amelia Benson holds overall responsibility for safeguarding practice and oversight at the centre. Her duties include:
• Receiving all safeguarding concerns and incident reports
• Making decisions about thresholds for referral
• Contacting social workers or the police when concerns meet statutory thresholds
• Liaising with Birmingham LADO where the concern relates to an adult working or volunteering in regulated activity
• Ensuring all staff have current safeguarding training
• Reviewing safeguarding trends, patterns and learning
• Updating internal policies and procedures in line with legislation
Deputy safeguarding contact
A deputy may act when the safeguarding lead is unavailable. The deputy must follow the same procedure, record keeping standards and escalation expectations.
All staff and volunteers
Every member of the team is responsible for:
• Monitoring children’s emotional and physical safety during family time
• Reporting concerns immediately to the safeguarding lead
• Recording all incidents factually and securely
• Following guidance, boundaries and supervision levels
• Attending safeguarding training at least every twelve months
No safeguarding concern is too small to raise.
4. Types of safeguarding concerns
Concerns may include:
• Emotional distress displayed by a child before, during or after family time
• Disclosures of harm or inappropriate behaviour
• Behaviour that poses a risk of physical harm
• Concerns linked to domestic abuse, coercive behaviour or intimidation
• Concerns relating to substance or alcohol use before or during family time
• Signs of neglect or avoidant care
• Concerning behaviour from visiting adults including hostility, threats or disregard of guidance
• Online safety worries including recording or unauthorised images
• Any behaviour that places a child or another person at risk
If staff are unsure whether something meets the safeguarding threshold, they must report it for review.
5. Immediate response procedure
Where a concern arises during family time, staff will act in the following order:
Prioritise the child’s safety and emotional stability
De escalate the situation where possible
End the session if risk remains or increases
Contact the safeguarding lead immediately
Record a factual account using clear and objective language
Ensure the child is comfortable and supported
Follow the safeguarding lead’s direction regarding next steps
No member of staff should delay reporting. Early reporting prevents harm.
6. Reporting and escalation process
Step one
Concern is identified and reported to Amelia Benson, or to the deputy in her absence.
Step two
The safeguarding lead reviews the information, assesses risk and determines the appropriate level of response.
Step three
If the concern meets statutory thresholds, the safeguarding lead will:
• Inform the allocated social worker or duty social worker
• Inform Birmingham LADO if the concern relates to a staff member or volunteer
• Contact the police where immediate risk is present
Step four
A written record is made and stored securely in line with UK GDPR. Records must be factual, dated and signed.
Step five
The safeguarding lead will decide whether additional safety measures are needed including:
• Adjusting supervision levels
• Changing venue or timing
• Increasing support for the child
• Ending family time
• Reviewing the family plan with the placing authority
7. Allegations against staff or volunteers
Any concern involving a staff member, volunteer or contractor must be referred immediately to the safeguarding lead.
Where the concern meets the threshold for a position of trust issue, the safeguarding lead will contact:
Birmingham LADO
Telephone: 0121 675 1669
Email: lado@birminghamchildrenstrust.co.uk
No internal investigation will begin until the LADO advises on next steps. Staff may be removed from duties temporarily as a safety measure.
8. Information sharing
We follow UK GDPR and safeguarding law when sharing information. We will share information without consent if:
• A child is at risk
• Another person is at risk
• A crime may have been committed
• A court or statutory body requires information
We only share information with professionals who have a lawful need to know.
9. Training
All staff and volunteers receive the following:
• Induction safeguarding training before beginning any supervised work
• Annual refresher training
• Additional training where practice or legislation changes
• Scenario based learning to support professional judgement
Training is recorded in the rolling annual training matrix.
10. Safer recruitment
We follow safer recruitment standards including:
• Full employment history checks
• Mandatory references
• Enhanced DBS checks
• Right to work checks
• Identity verification
• Ongoing supervision and probation reviews
No member of staff will supervise children before vetting is complete.
11. Review of this policy
The safeguarding lead will review this policy annually or sooner if:
• Legislation changes
• Local safeguarding procedures change
• NACCC guidance updates
• Learning from an incident indicates the need for review