SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN TRAINING POLICY This document may be made available in alternative formats and other languages, on request, as is reasonably practicable to do so. Policy Owner: Approved by: Nurse Director Safeguarding Committee Issue Date: February 2010 Review Date: August 2010 Policy ID: HB30
Index Page 1. Introduction 3 2. Aim 3 3. Programme for Child Protection Training 4 4. Child Protection Trainers 5 5. Training Sub Group 6 6. Audit of Training 6 7. Other Relevant Policies 6 Appendix 1 Appendix 2 Child Protection Training Content 7 References 12 2
1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 In order to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people all those working with children and with adults who are parents or carers must have the knowledge and skills to carry out their own roles. This includes being able to recognise and raise safeguarding concerns about the welfare of a child. They must be able to work effectively with others, both within their own agency and across organisational boundaries. This will be best achieved by a combination of single agency and multi agency training. 1.2 Individual agencies are responsible for ensuring that their staff are competent and confident to carry out their responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting children s welfare. 1.3 All training in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children should create an ethos which values working collaboratively with others, respects diversity (including culture, race and disability), promotes equality, is child centred and promotes the participation of children and families in the processes. (Safeguarding Children Working Together under the Children Act 2004 (WAG 2006) 2. AIM The aim of the strategy is to ensure that all staff employed or contracted to ABMU Health Board develop the understanding, skills and competencies relevant to their area of practice: they should be aware of the predisposing factors, signs and indicators of child abuse be aware of their responsibilities in sharing information analyse information understand both local and national policy. The Organisation also has a responsibility for ensuring that all primary health care and other contracted professionals are appropriately trained. Training should be predominantly inter professional at a level commensurate with their roles and responsibility. Safeguarding training is mandatory for all staff working with children and families. See Appendix for levels of training appropriate to grades of staff. Multi-Agency training will be available through the Local Safeguarding Children Board Training Programme and staff at Level 3 should attend this training. 3
3. PROGRAMME FOR CHILD PROTECTION TRAINING Awareness raising information is provided at the Corporate Induction day Health Board Corporate Induction e-learning package, which is accessed via the Health Board intranet. Every new member of Health Board staff should receive child protection information provided in the induction pack. Level 2 Child Protection Awareness Training New staff to have training in the first year of employment updated every 3 years in line with their assessed requirements. The updates can be at Level 2 stage or above Level 2 training is appropriate for: staff who have contact with children and families, and/or vulnerable adults Operational Managers at all levels and staff with supervisory, advisory and recruitment responsibilities Managers with strategic and managerial responsibility and who are responsible for commissioning and delivering services for children and young people and their families staff identified by Managers following job assessment, e.g. staff who have access to sensitive information This training is also available to all independent contractors and their staff. Level 2 training can be accessed in the following ways: Health Board and LSCB training accessed by contacting the Health Board Child Protection Facilitator Tel: 01639 683170 training for specific groups where needs are identified through a training needs analysis or Serious case Review?Training packages for Primary Care and other Independent Contractors and their staff as agreed with or via direct requests to the with the Child Protection Service Public Health Wales (NPHS) Further information regarding training events can be accessed via- www2.nphs.wales.nhs.uk:8080/childprodocs.nsf 4
Level 3 New staff to have training in the first year of employment, with updates every 2 years Level 3 training is appropriate for: Health Professionals who provide direct care to children and families All staff must have completed Level 2 training prior to accessing Level 3 Level 3 Training can be accessed in the following ways: Health Board and LSCB training accessed by contacting the Child Protection Facilitator Tel: 01639 683170 local, national and international conferences/courses?training packages for Independent Contractors and their staff as agreed with the Child Protection Service Public Health Wales (NPHS) Level 4 Level 4 training is appropriate for: Staff who have specialist roles and responsibilities within child protection Level 4 Training can be accessed through: Local, national and international conferences/courses All professionals in tier 4 should access 2 days training annually. Content of training can be found at Appendix 1 and taken from Safeguarding Children and Young People: Roles and Competences for Health Care Staff Intercollegiate Document (RCPCH 2006) 4. CHILD PROTECTION TRAINERS In order to ensure that Child Protection Training is delivered effectively, it is recommended that Trainers:- - hold a professional qualification - have had relevant experience in identifying child protection concerns, making referrals and participating in interagency working to safeguard children - have knowledge and understanding of current developments including relevant legislation, guidance and inquiries 5
- have formal links with Health Professionals providing Child Protection Training, or those who have expertise in Child Protection - demonstrate attendance at level 3 and level 4 Child Protection Training programmes 2 days annually - have access to Child Protection Clinical Supervision from a suitably qualified Health Professional e.g. Named or Designated professional in Child Protection. - Demonstrate good communication, presentation and training skills. 5. TRAINING SUB GROUP A Health Board Training Sub Group will be developed to devise and develop an annual training programme. Additional specific training will be arranged as required. The Group will be led by the Named professionals, with identified professionals from individual Directorates to cascade training within their Directorate. 6. AUDIT OF TRAINING 7.1 The Training Sub Group will be responsible for auditing the attendance for training and provide an annual report. 7.2 The Sub Group will assist the Directorates/Localities in identifying the level of training their staff require. 7.3 Each Directorate will record staff attendance at training and the level of training attended. Each Directorate will monitor staff attendance for Child Protection Training through the PDR process. 7.4 The Sub Group will also be responsible for auditing the quality of training delivered, and ensure multi-agency training is available for relevant staff. 7.5 Audit of content and relevance of training will be through attendees evaluation forms. 7. OTHER RELEVANT HEALTH BOARD POLICIES Safeguarding Children Strategy Safeguarding Children Policy Safeguarding Children Guidance Safeguarding Children Training Strategy Safeguarding Children Supervision Policy 6
Appendix1 Child Protection Training Content LEVEL KNOWLEDGE SKILLS Competencies DELIVERY OPTIONS Level Basic Awareness of child Be able to recognise signs of Understand what Induction 1 abuse and neglect child abuse as this relates to constitutes child abuse courses Awareness of All Wales their role Know the range of physical, including Child Protection Procedures Be able to seek advice and emotional, sexual abuse Provision of and related health policies report concerns, ensuring that and neglect written Know what to do if have they are listened to Know what to do when they information concerns are concerned that a child cards Knowing own role and its is being abused Refresher 3 limits How and where to access support and advice Basic rights of children UNCRC yearly with written updates/briefin gs by Named Nurse annually Awareness of professional abuse Level 2 Knowledge of All Wales Child Protection Procedures/Working Together 2004 and related Health policies, protocols and standards Basic understanding of relevant Legislation Children s rights UNCRC/complaints Understand which groups of children are at risk of harm and/or neglect Know who to inform, seek advice from and how to contact them Know how to share Having confidence in recognising abuse and making the appropriate referral Developing confidence in recognising and taking appropriate action when there is concern about a child s welfare. 7 Be able to recognise child abuse Be able to document their concerns Know who to inform Understand the next steps in the process Identified training facilitator with child protection experience Multidisciplinar y training Update refresher training at regular intervals minimum 3 yearly Written briefings of any changes in
LEVEL KNOWLEDGE SKILLS Competencies DELIVERY OPTIONS information- in writing, by telephone, electronically or in person legislation and practice from Named Nurse Know who to share annually information with and when, understanding the difference between sharing on individual, organisational and professional levels Know what to record, how long to keep it, how to dispose of records correctly and when to feedback or follow up Aware of own (and other s) professional roles and boundaries Understand the next steps in the child protection process An understanding of professional abuse Level Be able to undertake an Courses/Confer 3 Aware of implications of recent legislation/national/local documents Understand multi-agency frameworks and child protection assessment processes, including use of common assessment framework Understand child protection investigation and the basics of forensic procedures Aware of LSCB and its re mit Aware of resources that may be available within assessment of risk Be able to work with children, young people and their families where there are child protection concerns Be able to present child protection concerns verbally and in writing for conferences, court proceedings. Core groups, strategy meetings and family group conferences Be able to identify and outline the management of children in need Be able to instigate measures to 8 Knowledge of the implications of key local/national document/reports Understand the assessment of risk and harm Understand multi-agency framework/assessment/inv estigation working Be able to present child protection concerns in a child protection conference Demonstrate ability to work with families where there are child protection concerns ences Workshops delivered by: - Health Board -Public Health Wales (NPHS) -LSCB Other accredited organisations Multi disciplinary/mul ti-agency training: report reviews, report
LEVEL KNOWLEDGE SKILLS Competencies DELIVERY OPTIONS health and other agencies, including the voluntary reduce the risk of child abuse occurring Puts into practice knowledge of how to writing, understanding sector, to support families in need Be able to make considered decisions on whether concerns improve child resilience and reduce risks of harm roles and responsibilities Be aware of how own can be addressed by providing or Understand forensic of other beliefs, experience and signposting to sources of procedures practice agencies, signs attitudes might influence information or advice Be able to advise other and symptoms professional involvement in Be able to make considered agencies regarding the interpretation judgements about how to act to health management of child of borderline safeguard and promote a protection concerns child/young person s welfare child protection work Know what to do when there is an insufficient response from other organisations or agencies, while maintaining the focus on what is in the child/young person s best interests Ability to contribute to serious case reviews or equivalent process signs and symptoms Annual refresher update training or equivalent i.e. distance learning, reflective practice, shadowing colleague or participation in child protection quality assurance processes Level 4 National and international perspectives on child protection Specialist roles and responsibilities Advanced knowledge in legal processes, confidentiality and consent In depth knowledge of research methodology and analysis and implications Enhanced advisory skills Have an All Wales perspective for the Health Service Be able to challenge practice and support colleagues in challenging other professionals views Analyse and evaluate information and evidence to inform inter- agency decision making Monitor standards and lead improvements Be able to give sound policy advice Able to cascade information at an appropriate level throughout the Organisation Be able to teach/train and assure the competence of staff Be able to undertake/ Courses Qualifications Research Delivered by - National / Internationa l study events - Postgraduat e courses - Undertaking 9
LEVEL KNOWLEDGE SKILLS Competencies DELIVERY OPTIONS for practice Establish child protection quality contribute to the LSCB / In depth knowledge of assurance measures/processes serious case contributing National Policy and Undertake training needs review/overview to research Guidance in relation to analysis and educate other including action plans 5 sessions children and families. health professionals Be able to develop (2 1/2 3 In depth knowledge of Review, evaluate and update robust internal child days a year professional abuse local guidance in light of protection Participation research findings Participate in allegations of professional abuse policy/guidelines/protoc ols Undertake child protection training needs analysis and plan deliver and evaluate multi-agency and inhouse child protection training in partnership with others Advise and inform the in specialist professional s/support groups or peer support networks at local and national level Board, Directors, Senior Managers and practitioners regarding child protection/safeguarding (specialist/expert advise, both proactive and reactive) To be able to chair LSCB or equivalent sub groups To lead/oversee child protection quality assurance and improvement processes Undertake risk assessment of organisational ability to safeguard the welfare of children 10
LEVEL KNOWLEDGE SKILLS Competencies DELIVERY OPTIONS Give appropriate advise to external agencies/ organisations 11
a Appendix 2 REFERENCES All Wales ACPC (2002) All Wales Child Protection Procedures Cardiff: ACPC Department of Health (1989) The Children Act London The Stationery Office Department of Health (2002) The Laming Inquiry into the Death of Victoria Climbie London: The Stationery Office Department for Education and Skills (2004) The Children Act 2004 London The Stationery Office National Assembly for Wales (2002) Too Serious a Thing The Carlile Review 2002U -U review of safeguards for children and young people treated and cared for by the NHS in Wales, Cardiff NafW United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) (Ratified by the UK Government 1991) Welsh Assembly Government (2005) National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity services in Wales Cardiff WAG Welsh Assembly Government (2006) Keeping Us Safe Report of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Children Review Cardiff WAG Welsh Assembly Government (2006) Safeguarding Children Working Together under the Children Act 2006 Cardiff WAG 12