Child Protection Policy

As a registered charity, [Charity name] is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
This Child Protection Policy sets out the Charity’s commitment, responsibilities, and procedures to ensure that children are protected from harm, abuse, neglect, and exploitation in all activities carried out by or on behalf of the Charity.

The Trustees recognise that safeguarding children is a fundamental duty and an essential part of good governance, risk management, and ethical practice.

Purpose of the Policy

1.1 The purpose of this Policy is to:

Protect children from harm and abuse.
Provide a clear framework for safeguarding practice.
Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
Promote a safe and supportive environment for children.

1.2 This Policy supports Trustees, staff, volunteers, and others in understanding their safeguarding responsibilities.

Scope of the Policy

2.1 This Policy applies to:

All Trustees.
Employees and volunteers.
Contractors, consultants, and third parties working on behalf of the Charity.

2.2 It applies to all activities involving children, whether:

Direct or indirect.
On Charity premises, off-site, or online.

Definition of a Child

3.1 For the purposes of this Policy, a child is defined as:

Any person under the age of 18 years, in accordance with UK law.

Principles of Child Protection

4.1 The Charity is guided by the following safeguarding principles:

The welfare of the child is paramount.
All children have the right to be protected from harm.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
Children should be listened to and taken seriously.
Action must be taken promptly where concerns arise.

Types of Abuse and Harm

5.1 Abuse may take many forms, including:

Physical abuse.
Emotional abuse.
Sexual abuse.
Neglect.
Online or digital abuse.
Exploitation.

5.2 Harm may be a single incident or a pattern of behaviour over time.

Roles and Responsibilities

6.1 Board of Trustees

6.1.1 The Board of Trustees has overall responsibility for safeguarding and child protection.

6.1.2 The Trustees will:

Approve and review this Policy.
Ensure appropriate safeguarding arrangements are in place.
Ensure adequate resources for safeguarding.

6.2 Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

6.2.1 The Charity will appoint a Designated Safeguarding Lead.

6.2.2 The DSL is responsible for:

Receiving and managing safeguarding concerns.
Liaising with statutory authorities where required.
Providing advice and guidance on safeguarding matters.

6.3 Staff, Volunteers, and Others

6.3.1 All individuals must:

Act in accordance with this Policy.
Remain vigilant to safeguarding concerns.
Report concerns immediately.

Safer Recruitment and Vetting

7.1 The Charity is committed to safer recruitment practices.

7.2 Measures may include:

Appropriate references.
Role-specific safeguarding training.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks where required.

7.3 No individual will be permitted to work unsupervised with children unless appropriate checks have been completed.

Code of Behaviour

8.1 All individuals working with children must:

Treat children with dignity and respect.
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
Avoid situations that could be misinterpreted.

8.2 Unacceptable behaviour includes:

Physical punishment.
Inappropriate physical contact.
Sexualised language or behaviour.
Favouritism or discrimination.

Recognising and Responding to Safeguarding Concerns

9.1 Concerns may arise through:

Direct disclosure by a child.
Observation of behaviour or signs of abuse.
Information from third parties.

9.2 If a child discloses abuse:

Listen carefully.
Reassure the child.
Do not promise confidentiality.
Report the concern immediately.

Reporting and Managing Concerns

10.1 All safeguarding concerns must be reported immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

10.2 Where appropriate, concerns will be referred to:

Local Authority Children’s Services.
The Police.
Other relevant statutory agencies.

10.3 Records of concerns and actions taken will be:

Accurate.
Confidential.
Stored securely.

Confidentiality and Information Sharing

11.1 Information will be shared:

On a need-to-know basis.
In line with data protection and safeguarding requirements.

11.2 Confidentiality will not prevent information sharing where a child is at risk of harm.

Online Safety

12.1 The Charity recognises the risks associated with online activity.

12.2 Appropriate safeguards will be in place to:

Protect children from online harm.
Ensure safe digital engagement.

Training and Awareness

13.1 The Charity will:

Provide safeguarding training appropriate to roles.
Ensure ongoing awareness of child protection responsibilities.

13.2 Trustees will receive safeguarding training relevant to their governance role.

Allegations Against Staff or Volunteers

14.1 Any allegations against individuals working with children will be:

Taken seriously.
Managed promptly and sensitively.
Reported to appropriate authorities where required.

14.2 The Charity will follow fair and lawful procedures.

Monitoring and Review

15.1 This Policy will be reviewed:

At least annually, or
Following significant changes in law, guidance, or Charity activities.

15.2 Any amendments must be approved by the Board of Trustees.

Conclusion

By adhering to this Child Protection Policy, [Charity name] demonstrates its commitment to safeguarding children, fulfilling its legal and moral responsibilities, and ensuring that the welfare of children remains central to all of its activities.

Signed: ………………………………………
Chair of the Board of Trustees

Date: ………………………………………

Charity Policy templates

Accessibility Policy, Anti-Bribery Policy, Anti-Fraud and Corruption Policy, Anti-Harassment Policy, Board of Trustees Code of Conduct, Charitable Objectives Policy, Child Protection Policy, Code of Conduct for Employees and Volunteers, Community Development Policy, Community Engagement Policy, Complaints Handling Policy, Confidentiality Policy, Conflict of Interest Policy, Conflict Resolution Policy, Crisis Management Policy, Cultural Competence Policy, Data Protection and Privacy Policy, Digital Inclusion Policy, Emergency Preparedness Policy, Environmental and Sustainability Policy, Equality and Diversity Policy, Ethical Fundraising Policy, Exit Policy, Expenses Policy, Feedback and Evaluation Policy, Feedback Mechanism Policy, Financial Controls Policy, Foreign Receipts and Payments Policy, Fundraising Policy, Gift Acceptance and Donation Policy, Governance and Accountability Policy, Grant-Making Policy, Health and Safety Policy, Incident Reporting Policy, Information Sharing Policy, Intellectual Property Policy, Investment Policy, IT and Cybersecurity Policy, Learning and Development Policy, Media and Public Relations Policy, Membership Policy, Mentoring and Coaching Policy, Online Safety Policy, Partnership and Collaboration Policy, Peer Support Policy, Privacy Impact Assessment Policy, Procurement and Supplier Management Policy, Public Benefit Policy, Records Retention Policy, Remuneration and Compensation Policy, Reserves Policy, Risk Management Policy, Safeguarding Vulnerable Beneficiaries Policy, Service Delivery Policy, Social Media and Communications Policy, Social Responsibility Policy, Succession Planning Policy, Technology Use Policy, Transparency and Accountability Policy, Travel and Subsistence Policy, Volunteer Induction and Training Policy, Volunteer Management Policy, Volunteer Rights and Responsibilities Policy, Whistleblowing Policy

Disclaimer:

Naail & Co provides these policy templates solely as guidelines or standard templates to assist charities in developing their own policies in accordance with Charity Commission England & Wales compliance. These templates are not intended to serve as legal or professional advice, and Naail & Co cannot be held responsible or liable for any outcomes arising from their use. It is essential that each registered charity carefully tailors and customizes these policies to reflect its specific needs, structure, and legal obligations. We strongly recommend that charities seek independent legal or professional advice to ensure compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.

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