‘Cherished Blossoms International School’

Cherished Blossoms International School abides by the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people and is committed to safeguarding practice that reflects statutory responsibilities and government guidance and complies with best practice requirements.

• We recognise the welfare of children is paramount in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take
• All children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation has an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse
• Some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues
• Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.

Purpose:

At Cherished Blossoms International School (CBIS) we will:

• Protect children and young people who use our services from harm.
• Provide staff and volunteers, as well as children and young people and their families, with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.

This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of CBIS including volunteers, seasonal workers, agency staff and students. Failure to comply with the policy and related procedures will be addressed without delay and may ultimately result in dismissal/exclusion from the organisation.

Safeguarding children

The Children Act 1989 definition of a child is: anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday, even if they are living independently, are a member of the armed forces or is in hospital.

It is important to be aware of more specific types of abuse, they are:

• Bullying and cyberbullying
• Child sexual exploitation
• Child Criminal exploitation
• Child trafficking
• Domestic abuse
• Female genital mutilation
• Grooming
• Historical abuse
• Online abuse
• Prevent duties as pertains to radicalisation

 Safeguarding children includes;

• Protecting children from maltreatment.
• Preventing impairment of children’s health or development.
• Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care.
• Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

Safeguarding as Part of the Deal:

In safeguarding children, CBIS is committed to the principles of Kumasi, Asante Region.

Legal Framework:

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seek to protect children in Kumasi, Ghana.

Cherished Blossoms International School has in place arrangements that reflect the importance of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people as well as vulnerable adults.

Training and Awareness:

CBIS will ensure an appropriate level of safeguarding awareness is available to its employees, volunteers and any relevant persons linked to the organisation that requires it.

Our designated safeguarding officer is committed to;

• Understanding what safeguarding is and their role in safeguarding children.
• Understand dignity and respect when working with children.
• Have knowledge of the Safeguarding Children Policy.
• Recognise a child potentially in need of safeguarding and take action.
• Understand how to report a safeguarding Alert.

Confidentiality and Information Sharing:

CBIS expects all employees, volunteers and trustees to maintain confidentiality.  Information will only be shared in line with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and Data Protection.

However, information must be shared with the Local Authority or the police if a child is deemed to be at risk of harm or contact the police if they are in immediate danger, or a crime has been committed.

The LADO (Local authority designated officer) should be alerted in all cases in which it is alleged that a person who works with children has: behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have harmed a child, possibly committed a criminal offence against children, or related to a child.

Recording and Record Keeping:

A written record must be kept about any concern regarding a child with safeguarding needs. This must include details of the person involved, the nature of the concern and the actions taken, decision made and why they were made.

All records must be signed and dated. All records must be securely and confidentially stored in line with General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).

Safe Recruitment & Selection:

Cherished Blossoms International School is committed to safe employment and safe recruitment practices that reduce the risk of harm to children from people unsuitable to work with them or have contact with them.

Important Contacts:

Senior Lead for SafeguardingName: Mrs Cynthia Jackson
Email address: info@cbinternationalschool.com
Telephone number: 05977 55452