Safeguarding Policy

Introduction

This safeguarding policy outlines our commitment to protecting children we work with. The Digital Childhood Agency and Digital Families Agency prioritise the safety and well-being of all children involved in our activities.

Key Principles

  • Child-Centred Approach: The welfare of the child is paramount in all our activities.

  • Respect and Dignity: Every child is treated with respect and dignity.

  • Confidentiality: We take our commitment to confidentiality seriously but will share information when necessary to protect a child.

Roles and Responsibilities

  • Staff Training: all Digital Childhood Agency and Digital Families Agency staff, advisors and consultants who work with children are trained in safeguarding and child protection procedures.

  • Reporting Concerns: Any concerns or complaints must be reported immediately.

Reporting Process

  1. Immediate Reporting: Staff must report any concern or complaint about a child's safety to the Safeguarding Lead without delay.

  2. Safeguarding Lead's Role: Alexandra Evans, the Safeguarding Lead, will review the concern and, if necessary, escalate it to a child mental health professional.

  3. Professional Assessment: The child mental health professional will assess the situation and determine the appropriate action.

Escalation Procedure

  1. Identify Concern: Staff identifies and reports concern to the Safeguarding Lead.

  2. Review by Safeguarding Lead: The Safeguarding Lead reviews the concern.

  3. Escalation: If required, the Safeguarding Lead escalates the concern to a child mental health professional for further assessment and action.

  4. Safeguarding Lead's Concern: If it is the Safeguarding Lead who identifies a concern, they will escalate it directly to the child mental health professional.

Confidentiality and Record-Keeping

  • Confidential Records: All records of concerns and actions taken are kept confidential and securely stored.

  • Access Control: Access to these records is restricted to authorised personnel only.

Communication with Parents and Guardians

  • Informed Consent: Parents and guardians are informed about our safeguarding policy and procedures.

  • Incident Notification: Parents and guardians are notified promptly if a concern involving their child is raised and escalated.

Review and Updates

This policy is reviewed annually to ensure it remains effective and up-to-date with current legislation and best practices.

Contact Information

For any concerns or more information about our safeguarding policy, please contact:

The Digital Childhood Agency and Digital Families Agency are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all children we work with and will take all necessary steps to protect them from harm.