Level 1
Core competencies for safeguarding children and young people & children and young people in care – Level 1
Expectation – Recognition
Job roles – All health care professionals and staff who will have different levels of patient contact, as well as volunteers across health care services.
Introduction
Individual staff undertaking level 1 training may not all need the same knowledge to safely practise day to day duties. Training this staff group as a single audience should provide all the knowledge needed to meet the level 1 competencies for all health care staff. All staff at this level will need adequate and appropriate knowledge and skills to be aware of issues related to safeguarding children and children and young people in care, and how to report concerns.
Examples of staff
Groups of staff included in level 1 – domestic staff, caterers/kitchen staff, porters, transport staff, community pharmacist counter staff, laboratory staff, non-patient facing medical teams, e.g. pathologists.
Groups of staff whose role may span levels 1 and 2, depending on area of work, site and duties include – administrative staff, receptionists.
TBC
Competency at this level is about individuals being able to:
- demonstrate knowledge and understanding of safeguarding children and young people and what it means to be a children and young person in care, or a care leaver
- know what it means for health care staff and their role in working together with other staff to meet the needs of vulnerable children and young people (including those that are fostered, adopted, in residential care, within the youth justice service, and a child or young person seeking asylum or refuge (CYPSAR))
- recognise the indicators of possible harm and seek advice from appropriate personnel if they have concerns that a young person may be at risk.
Health care staff at this level should:
- raise awareness of and recognise child maltreatment:
- physical abuse including perplexing presentations/FII (fabricated and induced illness) and FGM (female genital mutilation)
- neglect
- emotional abuse, forced marriage (including removal from the UK for this purpose), faith-based abuse, modern slavery, and grooming
- exploitation of children and missing children, including activities that support and/or commit acts of terrorism (known as radicalisation), county lines, child trafficking into and outside of the UK
- child sexual abuse
- sexual exploitation of children, young people, and missing children
- criminal exploitation
- domestic abuse
- understand that children and young people with any disability (visible, e.g. physical impairment, or hidden, e.g. intellectual disability or neurodevelopmental condition) are at greater risk of abuse
- understand who a children and young person in care is, who are care leavers care-experienced and their vulnerabilities
- have an awareness of the potential impact of a parent’s/carer’s physical and mental health on the wellbeing and development of a child or young person (including the unborn child) and:
- the impact of parental substance use, alcohol, domestic violence, and abuse
- the risks associated with the internet and online social networking
- adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and their effects
- have an awareness that child protection and children and young people in care practices in health settings are designed and delivered to adhere to relevant legislation, policies, and protocols; each of the four nations have different legislation which has evolved over time to meet the needs of children and young people and respond to significant events; this legislation also supports and protects staff
- understand the importance of balancing children’s rights to confidentiality against the need to protect children and young people, and act in their best interests in the context of safeguarding children and young people, and children and young people in care
- have an awareness and recognise that a child, (including a children and young person in care) or unborn child, not being brought to a health appointment may be a potential indicator of neglect or other forms of abuse, and recognising the potential impact on the wellbeing of children and young people of parents/carers not attending or postponing health appointments
- take appropriate action if there are concerns, including appropriately seeking advice, documenting, and reporting concerns However, concerns should be escalated to line manager if not taken seriously
have an awareness of professional and organisational abuse by a Person in a Position of Trust (PIPOT) and have the freedom to speak up by accessing processes to raise concerns about conduct of colleagues, wherever it may occur.
The table
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Level 1 Means reception staff etc.
Level 2 Means porters, dental assistants, etc.