Keeping children safe

Safeguarding children and young people

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. Organic Fostering is committed to protecting children from abuse, neglect, exploitation and avoidable harm, listening to their wishes and acting promptly when a concern is raised. This public guidance does not replace the agency's full safeguarding, allegations, missing-child, whistleblowing or emergency procedures.

Start your enquiry Call 0161 241 1332

999Call the police if a child is in immediate danger

0161 241 1332Organic Fostering general office

0808 800 5000NSPCC Helpline for advice about a child

Emergency

If a child is in immediate danger

Call the police on 999. If urgent medical treatment is needed, call 999 or go to Accident and Emergency. Do not delay emergency action while trying to contact Organic Fostering.

Report a concern to Organic Fostering

If you are worried about a child or young person and the situation is not an emergency, contact Organic Fostering's general office on 0161 241 1332 and ask to speak to the designated safeguarding lead.

Approved foster carers must follow the emergency and reporting instructions in their Foster Carer Handbook and placement documents.

Never send detailed safeguarding information through social media.

Report outside Organic Fostering

If the situation is not an immediate emergency but a child may be at risk, you can report your concern through any of the routes below.

A child or young person can contact Childline free on 0800 1111.

What safeguarding means

Safeguarding includes action to:

protect children from abuse and maltreatment;
prevent harm to health and development;
provide safe and effective care;
respond to concerns early;
help children recover from harmful experiences;
listen to children and take their views seriously;
promote stable relationships, identity and wellbeing;
work with local authorities, police, health services and other partners.

Types of harm

Concerns may involve:

physical, emotional or sexual abuse;
neglect;
domestic abuse;
child sexual or criminal exploitation;
trafficking, modern slavery or county lines;
grooming and online abuse;
bullying or discriminatory abuse;
radicalisation;
female genital mutilation, forced marriage or so-called honour-based abuse;
financial exploitation;
self-harm or serious mental-health risk;
harmful behaviour between children;
a child going missing;
unsafe or excessive restraint;
misuse of a position of trust.

This is not exhaustive. Report a concern even if you are unsure how to categorise it.

Signs that may cause concern

One sign does not always mean abuse, but warning signs can include unexplained injuries, sudden behaviour changes, fear of a person or place, withdrawal, distress, age-inappropriate sexualised behaviour, persistent hunger, poor hygiene, missing school, going missing, unexplained gifts, secretive online contact or a marked decline in wellbeing.

Take a child seriously if they tell you that something has happened.

If a child tells you something

Listen calmly.
Take them seriously.
Do not show shock or disbelief.
Do not promise secrecy.
Reassure them that telling you was right.
Use their own words.
Ask only what is needed to clarify immediate safety.
Do not investigate or confront the person alleged to be involved.
Record what was said as soon as possible.
Report it immediately through the safeguarding procedure.

Call 999 if there is immediate danger.

What happens after a concern is reported?

Depending on the information and level of risk, Organic Fostering may:

act immediately to protect the child;
inform the designated safeguarding lead;
contact the child's social worker and placing authority;
refer to the relevant local authority;
contact police or emergency services;
notify the local authority designated officer about an allegation against an adult working with children;
notify Ofsted where required;
preserve relevant records and evidence;
support the child and household;
co-operate with child-protection enquiries;
review risk and safer-care plans.

A formal child-protection enquiry is led by the responsible statutory agency. An internal investigation must not interfere with police or local-authority work.

Allegations about carers, staff or professionals

An allegation may require action where an adult working with children has harmed or may have harmed a child, possibly committed a relevant offence, behaved in a way that indicates risk, or behaved in a way that may indicate unsuitability to work with children.

Report it immediately, even if information is incomplete. The agency will follow the appropriate local-authority allegations process and consider support and protective arrangements.

Safeguarding, employment, disciplinary and foster carer review procedures may be separate even when they relate to the same event.

Listening to children

Children and young people have the right to be listened to, understand what is happening, receive accessible information, speak to their social worker, ask for an advocate, complain, contact Ofsted and be protected from retaliation.

Information sharing and confidentiality

Safeguarding information is handled sensitively and shared only where there is a relevant lawful need. Confidentiality cannot be promised when a child or another person may be at risk.

Where safe and appropriate, children and relevant adults should be told what information will be shared, with whom, why and what may happen next.

Our Privacy Notice explains how we handle personal information.

Online safety

Foster carers and staff should help children and young people use technology safely while respecting age, privacy and developing independence. Concerns can include grooming, sexual images, coercive contact, bullying, exploitation, fraud, location sharing, unsafe adults or harmful content.

Follow the child's care plan, delegated authority, safer-care plan and Organic Fostering's online-safety procedure.

Safer recruitment and preparation

Safeguarding arrangements may include DBS and other checks, safer recruitment, carer assessment, references, learning, supervision, careful matching, risk assessment, safer-care planning, recording and oversight.

Whistleblowing

Staff, workers and foster carers should report unsafe practice through Organic Fostering's approved whistleblowing procedure.

Concerns can also be raised directly with Ofsted. The Ofsted whistleblowing hotline is 0300 123 3155 and the whistleblowing email address is whistleblowing@ofsted.gov.uk.

Report it

If you are worried about a child, report it

If a child or young person is in immediate danger, call 999. For a non-emergency police matter, call 101. Organic Fostering's general office is 0161 241 1332. The NSPCC Helpline is 0808 800 5000, and Childline is free for children and young people on 0800 1111. Concerns about a fostering service can be raised with Ofsted on 0300 123 4666.

Complaints and Concerns