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POLICY STATEMENT ON CHILD PROTECTION

Nottingham Trent Twins and Multiple Births Club was founded in 1978 and covers Nottinghamshire. It is affiliated to TAMBA. The Club’s aims are to:

- Give moral support to parents of multiple birth families, from pregnancy through childhood and beyond.
- Provide information and personal visits to local maternity hospitals
- Promote public, commercial and medical awareness of the problems associated with multiple births
- To raise funds to help promote the club and further its aims

We achieve these aims by means of daytime meetings for parents (or carers) and children, evening meetings for parents (often themed discussions and talks), a quarterly newsletter, discounts at selected retail outlets, social events and a loans service for books and travel cots.

Although the Club runs regular daytime meetings and occasional social outings, these are for multiples in the care of their parents (or carers) so the children are never directly in the care of the Club. However, the Club has a duty to be aware that abuse does occur in our society. This statement of policy, and the following procedure, describes what will happen if we have reason to believe that a child attending one of our events is subject to abuse or neglect.

Daytime meeting leaders are in a position to notice any significant changes in behaviour, unexplained bruising or marks, comments which give cause for concern or any deterioration in a child’s general wellbeing. They should report any suspicions directly to the Local Authority, and notify the club’s Child Protection Officer of their action. It is a matter of judgement as to whether concerns are raised with the parents or not. The Children Act 1989 (Section 47(1)) places a duty on the Local Authority to investigate such matters. The Club will follow procedures as advised by the Local Authority Social Services team and will seek their advice on all steps taken subsequently.

The types of abuse which may be noticed include:

physical abuse, including deliberate poisoning, where there is a reasonable suspicion that the injury was inflicted or knowingly not prevented;
sexual abuse where a child indicates sexual activity through words, play, drawing, or an excessive pre-occupation with sexual matters, or an inappropriate knowledge of adult sexual behaviour;
emotional abuse which may be indicated by severe, adverse effect on the behaviour and emotional development of a child caused by persistent or severe ill treatment or rejection;
neglect, including exposure to any danger, cold or starvation which results in serious impairment of the child’s health or development, including non-organic failure to thrive.

Adopted (date) ………………………………Signed (Child Protection Officer) ………………………………………………………….

Procedure:

Daytime meeting leaders are in a position to notice any significant changes in behaviour, unexplained bruising or marks, comments which give cause for concern and any deterioration in a child’s general wellbeing. They should report significant suspicions directly to the Local Authority, and notify the club’s Child Protection Officer of their action. The Child Protection Officer is:

Mrs Kathryn McAuley (NTT&MBC Chairperson), telephone 0115 917 7361

Daytime meeting leaders must not attempt to investigate the matter themselves and must keep an accurate record of any concerns including, where appropriate, a description of the bruising, injury or other cause for concern such as a change in behaviour, and any explanation given by the child, parent or carer. Other information which Social Services may ask for include the child’s name, address, age, ethnicity, names of parent(s) and siblings, which nursery or other playgroups are attended, how long you have known the child and details of what prompted your concern.

Openness and honesty with the parent/carer is always desirable, however it is a matter of judgement as to whether concerns are raised with the parent/carer. Information can be disclosed without consent where there are thought to be well-founded reasons to do this, such as safeguarding a child, preventing a criminal act or preventing harm to other club members.

The telephone numbers for all Local Authority Social Services departments in Nottinghamshire are as follows:

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