Is it safe to leave my child with others?

Leaving your child in the care of an organisation can be a concern for parents.  However, any organisation that has regular contact with or provides services to children should have taken steps to try to prevent any abuse taking place. 

If your child becomes involved with any organisation, then you should expect that they have policies that safeguard the welfare of children with whom they have contact. 

What you should consider and ask

Questions to consider and ask the organisation could include: - 

Is the service is prepared to accept that abuse could take place within their organisation? 

If the attitude is that “it could never happen here” then appropriate steps are unlikely to have been put in place or followed through

Do they consider that is not just male strangers who commit sexual abuse? ;

Recruitment

The organisation should screen all workers and volunteers when they are recruited.  This usually involves obtaining disclosure or PVG registration in relation to previous offences. Are references checked?  Does the interview process include questions about their care of children and the person’s understanding of appropriate behaviour towards children? 

Whilst all this is vital, it is important to note that many people who were found to have abused within organisations had no previous convictions.

Supervision

Is the work of staff and volunteers supervised?  Effective supervision helps organisations to identify and deal with any problems at an early stage.  Is there any training offered to staff around issues of child sexual abuse?

Safeguarding policies

Does the organisation have a written safeguarding policy and/or codes of conduct? Is it regularly reviewed? These policies should available and familiar to everybody working there.  However good a policy is, it is ineffective if staff don’t know what’s in it.  You might be able to obtain a copy or read it on-line.

Understanding of what is appropriate behaviour

Is there a clear understanding within the organisation of what is and what is not appropriate behaviour with children?  This should be outlined in the safeguarding policy or code of conduct.  It should restrict and/or supervise 1-to-1 contact with children.  This is particularly important if staff are involved in the physical care of children.  If this is the case, these tasks should be specifically detailed. Activities outwith the building e.g. trips and holidays must also be included.  Abuse in organisations often takes place outside the service’s premises.

Contact on-line

Is there supervision of on-line contact between staff and children?  Do staff use texts or email or social media to contact children?  Would you be copied into these messages? The development of inappropriate relationships sometimes starts with phone or internet-based messaging.

Physical environment 

Has the physical environment of the building been made as safe as possible? Are there ‘out of the way’, isolated parts of the organisation’s building?  Are there arrangements to supervise these places?  Is there supervision of the environment outside the building?

What if I raise concerns?

Does the organisation welcome people who raise concerns? Larger organisations are likely to have a 'whistleblowing' policy.  You should feel confident that any concern you have will be treated seriously, fairly and consideration given to the safety and anonymity of you and your child.