Choosing a Nanny

What do you think when choosing a nanny? Here at Fad Childcare Limited, we aim to make the experience much easier for you, linking you with a nanny that would be most suited to your child by making a shortlist of all nannies in the area.

When looking for a nanny, au pair, cleaner, cook or personal assistant there are a few things you should ask, such as are they suitable and whether the employee has the right qualification.

All concerns will be shared with parents and/or carers unless sharing these concerns puts the child at risk of significant or further harm. If, after speaking to parents and/or carers, I still have concerns, I will seek advice from the Specialist Assessment or out of hours.

If sexual abuse or fabricated illness is suspected, then I will contact the Specialist Assessment Team directly. If the Specialist Assessment Team agrees a referral is required, I will complete and submit the online referral form noting the unique reference number.

This must be completed and submitted within 48 hours.

Your Child’s Needs

We have an understanding of the thresholds set by the local Safeguarding Children’s Board. This says that:

• Children, young people and their families have different levels of need and these may change over time.

Low-Level Needs

Most children and young people have low level needs that can be supported through a range of general services provided by:

• Education and Early Years Providers

• Health Providers 

• Leisure Facilities

• Housing Providers and Tenants Support Organisations

• Community Groups and Organisations

Emerging or Identified Needs

Children and young people who have additional needs can be addressed by professionals working in a universal setting as they come to light through early help assessment.

Multiple or Complex Needs

Children and young people may need a more targeted support offer through targeted services such as Gateway, Restorative solutions, etc.

Complex or Serious Needs, including Child Protection Concerns

Children and young people who have more complex needs may need support from specialist services such as Social Care, the Youth Offending Team, and the Targeted Disabilities Services. We will refer to Specialist Assessment Team or out of hours. 

If we notice anything that gives me cause for concern, such as:

• Significant Changes in the Child’s Behaviour

• Deterioration in General Wellbeing

• Unexplained Bruising, Marks, or Signs of Possible Abuse or Neglect

• Any Comments Made Which Give Me Cause for Concern

• Any Reasons to Suspect Neglect or Abuse outside the Setting, for Example in the Child’s Home

• That a Girl May Have Been Subjected to, or Is at Risk of Female Genital Mutilation 

• Signs Of Radicalisation

Mobile Devices

We follow the following procedure regarding the use of mobile devices:

MOBILE DEVICES

• We have sole use of mobile phones, which are used to contact parents/carers if necessary.

• Any photographs of children recording their developmental milestones will not be shared with anyone else, unless we have received permission from parents/carers to do so.

• Photographs and information are only stored on a computer where necessary and for a reasonable timescale.

• Photographs and information are password protected and compliant with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and Data Protection Act 1998.

• Images of children are not displayed on any social media or website.

• Parents and/or carers, visitors, and children are not to use a mobile device or camera while in our setting.

Definitions

Mobile devices are defined here as; any device where individuals can access a camera and/or the internet. This includes, but is not solely restricted to, phones gaming machines, watches, tablets, mini tablets, and digital notebooks.

LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer)

The LADO manages cases where allegations are made against adults who work with children and young people.

If an allegation is made against the Childminder or any other person living or working on the premises or working directly with the children, I will:

LADO (LOCAL AUTHORITY DESIGNATED OFFICER)

• Contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) within one working day,

LADO (LOCAL AUTHORITY DESIGNATED OFFICER) 1

• If it is a serious allegation and/or includes current injury, risk of losing forensic evidence, or danger to the child, I will contact the police first, then the LADO and make a referral to the Specialist Assessment Team.

LADO (LOCAL AUTHORITY DESIGNATED OFFICER) 2

• Inform Ofsted of any allegations of serious harm or abuse by any person living, working, or looking after children at my premises (whether the allegations relate to harm or abuse committed on the premises or elsewhere). I must also notify Ofsted of the action taken in respect of the allegations. These notifications must be made as soon as is reasonably practicable, but at the latest within 14 days of the allegations being made.

I will also contact the LADO if I observe inappropriate behaviour displayed by any other person caring or working with children. For example:

• Inappropriate Sexual Comments

• Excessive One-to-One Attention beyond the Requirements of Their Usual Role and Responsibilities

• Inappropriate Sharing of Images

Protocol for Injuries in Non-Mobile Children

I will follow local procedures regarding any injuries in non-mobile children. All injuries will be referred to Specialist Assessment Team on 020 80332087 and also Paediatrician on call for child protection.

Early Help

When different professionals are involved with children, young people, and families, it is important to make sure that these services work together to listen to the voice of the family and get the right support in place. The new 'Early Help' process replaces the former Common Assessment Framework.

Early Help is completed with parents to identify what additional services a child and family might need. As a registered childminder, I can complete this assessment with parents/children. Early Help will only be completed with the child’s and/or parents’ permission. I will contact the Early Intervention and Prevention referral team to establish whether Early Help already exists.

I will access relevant Early Help forms via Local Council’s website. If, at any time during the course of completing Early Help, I am concerned a child has been harmed or abused or is at risk of being harmed or abused, I will follow LSCB’s procedures.

The local Gateway in council operates a single referral point into early intervention and prevention services. As a Registered Childminder, I can make a referral into the Gateway to request support from a Gateway Worker. (A referral form is available from the local council website).

THE TEAM:

• Offer a Targeted Early Intervention Service to Children, Young People, and Families

• Work with Families to Reduce Risk of Statutory Service Involvement

• Undertake Screening and Assessment to Identify, Respond to, and Reduce Risk Factors

• Provide Systematic Approach to Offering Interventions to Children, Young People, and Their Families

• Provide Direct Support on an Individual or Group Basis to Prevent Escalation of Need and Improve Outcomes

• Provide Support to Manage Risk

• Provide Practical Help to Deal With Problems

Our Safeguarding Policy

“Providers must have and implement a policy, and procedures, to safeguard children. These should be in line with the guidance and procedures of the relevant Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB). The safeguarding policy and procedures must include an explanation of the action to be taken when there are safeguarding concerns about a child and in the event of an allegation being made against a member of staff, and cover the use of mobile phones and cameras in the setting.”

We meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and the Childcare Register by:

• Being alert to any issues for concern in the child’s life at home or elsewhere. It is therefore helpful if you share information with me that you think maybe significant (Please refer to my Confidentiality Policy and Procedure).

• Promote British Values within my everyday practice (see Department for Education’s definition of British Values - Protecting-children-from-radicalisation-the-prevent- duty - page 5).

• Being the designated person taking the lead responsibility for safeguarding children in my setting.

• Attending Safeguarding Children (Child Protection) training every 3 years, enabling me to identify, understand and respond appropriately to signs of possible abuse, whether physical, emotional, sexual (including child sexual exploitation) or neglect, at the earliest opportunity (EYFS 2017:3.5)

• Having regard to the Government’s statutory guidance ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015,’ Child sexual exploitation, definition and a guide for practitioners, local leaders and decision makers working to protect children from child sexual exploitation.’ (February 2017) and ‘Prevent duty guidance for England and Wales 2015’ (EYFS 2017:3.7)

• Notifying local Safeguarding Children’s Board of any serious accident or injury to, or the death of, any child while in my care, and I will act on any advice from LSCB.

• Ensuring that any person having unsupervised contact with children is suitable to be in regular contact with children and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check has been completed. I ensure that I have asked for personal circumstances to be disclosed (via a staff suitability declaration) that could disqualify individuals form working with children. This would usually be my assistant.

Prevent Duty

As a registered nanny I am required to meet the Prevent duties which are detailed in the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015. I will:

PREVENT DUTY

• Attend training relating to Wigan’s procedures and CHANNEL Process relating to the Prevent Duty.

• Respond by being vigilant to anyone displaying signs of radicalisation, this may be a child, young person or relatives of the children that I mind.

• Report any concerns to the Specialist Assessment Team.

• Safer Working Practice

To ensure the safety of children in my care, I will:

PREVENT DUTY 1

• Not allow children in my care to be left alone with another person, without the prior consent of the parent and/or carer, such as an assistant or my emergency backup for example.

• Have an ‘Existing Injuries Log’, which parents are required to sign to say they have made me aware of an accident or incident occurring whilst the child was not in my care.

• Maintain records of any concerns I have.

• Keep up to date with safeguarding children issues through training and regularly visiting local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB) website.

• Not ask leading questions should a child make a disclosure to me.

• Request parent’s permission for children to be photographed and ensure that children are not photographed where permission is not granted.

• Keep accurate records on each child, and keep them safe and secure (please see my Confidentiality Policy and Procedure)

• Ensure all household members over 16 have an enhanced disclosure (DBS check) in place.

• Ensure all visitors sign the visitor’s book, and do not have unsupervised access to the children (please see my Visitor’s Policy and Procedure).

• Record any accident/incident/injury in the Accident/Incident Log; and request parents to sign and date these records to confirm that they have seen the details.

• Supervise children appropriately, in accordance with their age and stage of development.