Smile for Life Children’s Charity

 Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy

Purpose

• To protect children and young people who receive Smile For Life Children’s Charity’s services and children and young people who are in our care at any time.
• To provide staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding and child protection.
• To provide staff and volunteers and any adult who comes into contact with our service users, beneficiaries or visitors, with guidance in the event that they become concerned about a child or young person in our care.

Definition of a child

In England a child is defined as anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday. Child protection guidance points out that even if a child has reached 16 years of age and is:

• living independently
• in further education
• a member of the armed forces
• in hospital; or
• in custody in the secure estate

They are still legally children and should be given the same protection and entitlements as any other child (Department for Education, 2018a).

 

Definition of a young person

 

Defined in section 579 of the Education Act 1996 and regulation 1 of the Working Time Regulations 1998 (SI 1998/1833) as someone over compulsory school age but under the age of 18 years. 

7.a.2 Policy

This policy applies to all staff, including senior managers and the board of trustees, paid staff, volunteers and sessional workers, students or anyone working on behalf of Smile For Life Children’s Charity.

Smile For Life Children’s Charity believes that a child or young person should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people and to keep them safe. We are committed to operate in a way that protects them.

The Board of Trustees retains overall responsibility for safeguarding within Smile For Life Children’s Charity, including where day-to-day safeguarding responsibilities are delegated to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Legal Framework

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of law and guidance that seeks to protect children, namely:

Children Act 1989, as amended

Children Act 2004, as amended

Children and Families Act 2014

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026 – statutory guidance

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989 (ratified by the UK in 1991)

Human Rights Act 1998

Equality Act 2010

Data Protection Act 2018 and UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)

Sexual Offences Act 2003

Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, as amended, including relevant changes made by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012

Police Act 1997 and relevant regulations relating to Disclosure and Barring Service checks

Domestic Abuse Act 2021

Modern Slavery Act 2015

Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 and current Prevent guidance, where applicable

Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003, as amended, and relevant statutory guidance

Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007, as amended, and relevant statutory guidance

Special educational needs and disability (SEND) code of practice: 0 to 25 years, where applicable

Information Sharing to Safeguard Children and Young People – current statutory guidance

Charity Commission safeguarding guidance for charities and trustees

Relevant procedures and guidance issued by local safeguarding children partnerships.

We recognise that:

• the welfare of the child or young person is paramount,
• all children and young people regardless of their age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse,
• some children and young people are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, disabilities, 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.

 

We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:

• valuing them, listening to and respecting them.
• adopting child protection and safeguarding practices through procedures for staff and volunteers
• developing and implementing an effective e-policy and related procedures
• recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made[1]
• providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support and training[2]
• recording and storing information professionally and securely and sharing information about safeguarding and good practice with children, young people, their families, staff and volunteers.
• using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately.

sharing safeguarding information lawfully, proportionately and without delay where this is necessary to protect a child. Data protection law does not prevent the sharing of information for safeguarding purposes where there is a lawful basis to do so. Decisions to share, or not to share, safeguarding information will be recorded.

• Creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise.
• ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place.
• ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance.

Staff Engagement 

Smile For Life Children’s Charity shall not knowingly allow any person who is barred from working with children to undertake regulated activity with children. Any concern or allegation about a member of staff, volunteer, sessional worker, student, trustee or anyone working on behalf of the Charity will be dealt with promptly in accordance with our safeguarding procedures and referred to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), police, children’s social care and/or the Charity Commission where the relevant reporting threshold is met.

Where an allegation or concern relates to the Designated Safeguarding Lead or CEO, it must be reported to the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and Chair of Trustees so that an appropriate independent safeguarding response can be initiated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Responding to a Disclosure

If a child or young person makes a disclosure, staff and volunteers should:

listen carefully and take what they say seriously;

remain calm and reassure them that they have done the right thing by speaking out;

not promise confidentiality and explain that information may need to be shared to keep them safe;

not investigate, interrogate or ask leading questions;

make an accurate written record as soon as possible, using the child’s own words where appropriate; and

report the concern immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead in accordance with Policy 7.d.

Recognising and Reporting

If you are a member of staff, including senior managers and the board of trustees, paid staff, volunteers, sessional worker, student or anyone working on behalf of Smile For Life Children’s Charity, and you are worried about a child, it can be hard to know what to do. We’ve got information and advice on different types of child abuse, how to spot the signs and what you can do to help keep children safe.

Types of Abuse

Bullying

Definition:

• emotional abuse: threatening, intimidating or humiliating someone

• exclusion: ignoring or isolating someone
• undermining, constant criticism or spreading rumours
• controlling or manipulating someone
• making silent, hoax or abusive calls

 

Cyber Bullying

Definition:

Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place online using digital devices, social media, messaging, gaming or other online services. It can happen at any time and content can be shared quickly with a wide audience. Examples include:

• sending threatening or abusive text messages
• creating and sharing embarrassing images or videos
• trolling – the sending of menacing or upsetting messages on social networks, chat rooms or online games
• excluding children from online games, activities or friendship groups
• shaming someone online
• setting up hate sites or groups about a particular child
• encouraging young people to self-harm
• voting for or against someone in an abusive poll
• creating fake accounts, hijacking or stealing online identities to embarrass a young person or cause trouble using their name
• sending explicit messages, also known as sexting
• pressuring children into sending sexual images or engaging in sexual conversations.

 

Signs of Bullying/Cyberbullying:

• being afraid to go to school/college/work placement, being mysteriously ‘ill’ each morning, or skipping school/college/work placement
• Not doing as well at school/college/work placement
• Asking for, or stealing, money (to give to whoever’s bullying them)
• being nervous, losing confidence, or becoming distressed and withdrawn
• problems with eating or sleeping
• bullying others.

 

Child-on-Child Abuse

Definition:

Children can abuse other children. This may include bullying, physical abuse, sexual violence or harassment, harmful sexual behaviour, abuse within intimate relationships, online abuse, initiation or hazing, and exploitation. Concerns must never be dismissed as banter or an inevitable part of growing up.

County Lines, Trafficking and Modern Slavery

Definition:

Children may be groomed, coerced, controlled or exploited to transport drugs, money or other items, commit offences or provide services for the benefit of others. Exploitation can occur even where the activity appears consensual and may involve movement between areas, threats, debt, violence or abuse.

Female Genital Mutilation, Forced Marriage and Honour-Based Abuse

Definition:

These are forms of abuse and safeguarding concerns. Any concern that a child may be at risk must be reported immediately through the Charity’s safeguarding procedures and to the appropriate statutory agencies.

Radicalisation and Extremism

Definition:

Children and young people may be vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism or extremist activity. Concerns about radicalisation should be treated as safeguarding concerns and referred in accordance with current safeguarding and Prevent procedures.

Sexual Exploitation

Definition:

Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a type of sexual abuse. When a child or young person is exploited they’re given things, like gifts, drugs, money, status and affection, in exchange for performing sexual activities. Children and young people are often tricked into believing they’re in a loving and consensual relationship. This is called grooming. They may trust their abuser and not understand that they’re being abused.

 

Online Sexual Exploitation

Definition:

When a child is sexually exploited online they might be persuaded or forced to:

• send or post sexually explicit images of themselves
• film or stream sexual activities
• have sexual conversations.

Signs:

• Unhealthy or inappropriate sexual behaviour.
• Being frightened of some people, places or situations.
• Being secretive.
• Sharp changes in mood or character.
• Having money or things they can’t or won’t explain.
• Physical signs of abuse, like bruises or bleeding in their genital or anal area.
• Alcohol or drug misuse.
• Sexually transmitted infections.
•  

 

Criminal exploitation

Definition:

Criminal exploitation is child abuse where children and young people are manipulated and coerced into committing crimes.

Signs:

• Frequently absent from and doing badly in school/college/work placement
• Going missing from home, staying out late and travelling for unexplained reasons.
• In a relationship or hanging out with someone older than them.
• Being angry, aggressive or violent.
• Being isolated or withdrawn.
• Having unexplained money and buying new things.
• Wearing clothes or accessories in gang colours or getting tattoos.
• Using new slang words.
• Spending more time on social media and being secretive about time online.
• Making more calls or sending more texts, possibly on a new phone or phones.
• Self-harmingand feeling emotionally unwell.
• Taking drugsand abusing alcohol.
• Committing petty crimes like shop lifting or vandalism.
• Unexplained injuries and refusing to seek medical help.
• Carrying weapons or having a dangerous breed of dog.

 

Domestic Abuse

Definition:

Domestic abuse is any type of controlling, bullying, threatening or violent behaviour between people in a relationship. It can seriously harm children and young people and witnessing domestic abuse is child abuse. It’s important to remember domestic abuse:

• can happen inside and outside the home
• can happen over the phone, on the internet and on social networking sites
• can happen in any relationship and can continue even after the relationship has ended
• both men and women can be abused or abusers.

 

Living in a home where domestic abuse happens can have a serious impact on a child or young person’s mental and physical wellbeing, as well as their behaviour. And this can last into adulthood.

Signs:

• attention seeking
• bed-wetting, nightmares or insomnia
• constant or regular sickness, like colds, headaches and mouth ulcers
• drug or alcohol use
• eating disorders
• problems in school/college/work placement or trouble learning
• tantrums
•  

 

Emotional Abuse

Definition:

Emotional abuse includes:

• humiliating or constantly criticising a child
• threatening, shouting at a child or calling them names
• making the child the subject of jokes, or using sarcasm to hurt a child
• blaming and scapegoating
• making a child perform degrading acts
• not recognising a child’s own individuality or trying to control their lives
• pushing a child too hard or not recognising their limitations
• exposing a child to upsetting events or situations, like domestic abuseor drug taking
• failing to promote a child’s social development
• not allowing them to have friends
• persistently ignoring them
• being absent
• manipulating a child
• never saying anything kind, expressing positive feelings or congratulating a child on successes
• never showing any emotions in interactions with a child, also known as emotional neglect.

Signs:

As children grow up, their emotions change. This means it can be difficult to tell if they’re being emotionally abused. But children who are being emotionally abused might:

• seem unconfident or lack self-assurance
• struggle to control their emotions
• have difficulty making or maintaining relationships
• act in a way that’s inappropriate for their age.

 

Grooming

Definition:

Grooming is when someone builds a relationship, trust and emotional connection with a child or young person so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them.

 

Signs:

• being very secretive about how they’re spending their time, including when online
• having an older boyfriend or girlfriend
• having money or new things like clothes and mobile phones that they can’t or won’t explain
• underage drinking or drug taking
• spending more or less time online or on their devices
• being upset, withdrawn or distressed
• sexualised behaviour, language or an understanding of sex that’s not appropriate for their age
• spending more time away from home or going missing for periods of time.

 

 

Neglect

Definition:

• Physical neglect
  A child’s basic needs, such as food, clothing or shelter, are not met or they aren’t properly supervised or kept safe.
• Educational neglect
  A parent doesn’t ensure their child is given an education.
• Emotional neglect
  A child doesn’t get the nurture and stimulation they need. This could be through ignoring, humiliating, intimidating or isolating them.
• Medical neglect
  A child isn’t given proper health care. This includes dental care and refusing or ignoring medical recommendations.

Signs:

• Poor appearance and hygiene
• Health and development problems
• Housing and family issues
• Change in behaviour

 

Physical Abuse

Definition:

Physical abuse is when someone hurts or harms a child or young person on purpose. It includes:

• hitting with hands or objects
• slapping and punching
• kicking
• shaking
• throwing

Signs:

If a child regularly has injuries, there seems to be a pattern to the injuries or the explanation doesn’t match the injuries, then this should be reported.

Physical abuse symptoms include:

• bruises
• broken or fractured bones
• burns or scalds
• bite marks.

It can also include other injuries and health problems, such as:

• scarring
• the effects of poisoning, such as vomiting, drowsiness or seizures
• breathing problems from drowning, suffocation or poisoning.

 

Sexual Abuse

Definition:

When a child or young person is sexually abused, they’re forced or tricked into sexual activities. They might not understand that what’s happening is abuse or that it’s wrong. And they might be afraid to tell someone. Sexual abuse can happen anywhere – and it can happen in person or online.

Emotional and behavioural signs:

• Avoiding being alone with or frightened of people or a person they know.
• Language or sexual behaviour you wouldn’t expect them to know.
• Having nightmares or bed-wetting.
• Alcohol or drug misuse.
• Self-harm.
• Changes in eating habits or developing an eating problem.
• Changes in their mood, feeling irritable and angry, or anything out of the ordinary.

Physical signs:

•  
• Bleeding, discharge, pains or soreness in their genital or anal area.
• Sexually transmitted infections.
•  

 

 

 

 

 

Children and Young People with Disabilities and Additional Needs

Children and young people with disabilities, learning difficulties, neurodivergent conditions or communication needs may face additional safeguarding risks. Signs of abuse may be wrongly attributed to a disability or behaviour, and some children may have greater dependency on adults or difficulty communicating concerns. Staff and volunteers must remain professionally curious, make reasonable communication adjustments and ensure the child’s voice is heard.

Online Abuse

Definition:

Online abuse is any type of abuse that happens on the internet. It can happen across any device that’s connected to the web, like computers, tablets and mobile phones. And it can happen anywhere online, including:

• social media
• text messages and messaging apps
• emails
• online chats
• online gaming
• live-streaming sites.

Children can be at risk of online abuse from people they know or from strangers. It might be part of other abuse which is taking place offline, like bullying or grooming. Or the abuse might only happen online.

Signs:

A child or young person experiencing abuse online might:

• spend a lot more or a lot less time than usual online, texting, gaming or using social media
• seem distant, upset or angry after using the internet or texting
• be secretive about who they’re talking to and what they’re doing online or on their mobile phone
• have lots of new phone numbers, texts or email addresses on their mobile phone, laptop or tablet.

PLEASE NOTE: These signs are not always an indicator that abuse has taken place. Also by no means is this an exhaustive list of signs which an abused child may display. If you are worried about a child, even if you are unsure, contact your designated safeguarding officer detailed below or the following support services:

Smile For Life Children’s Charity – Designated Safeguarding Lead:

Paula Gascoigne

paula@smileforlife.org.uk

07745 387530

 

 

Smile For Life Children’s Charity – Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead:

Tracey Gray

tracey@smileforlife.org.uk

07944484219

 

If you are worried about a child or young person, or are not sure if you are right to be worried, you can also ask for advice from:

• Local authority children’s social care services
• Northumbria Police Safeguarding Department 101
• NSPCC helpline 08088005000

 

If a child is in immediate danger or left alone, you should contact the police or an ambulance on 999.

 

If you have a concern about a child which is not an emergency contact the following, depending on where the child lives (if known):

 

Newcastle

• Initial Response Service – 0191 277 2500
• Emergency Duty Team – 0191 278 7878

Northumberland

• 24/7 Onecall telephone: 01670 536400.

North Tyneside

• Front Door Service call 0345 2000 109.

South Tyneside

Mon-Thurs 8.30am-5pm, Friday 8.30pm-4.30pm:

• Initial Response Service – 0191 4245010

Any time outside of the above hours:

• 0191 4562093

Gateshead

Mon-Fri, 8.30am-5pm:

• Gateshead Children’s Social Care 01914332653

Out of hours:

• 0191 477 0844

 

 

This policy is reviewed annually by Senior Management and the Board of Trustees.

Reviewed and Updated 09/2026

[1]Smile For Life Children’s Charity will undertake the appropriate level of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for each role in accordance with current DBS eligibility requirements. The level of check will be determined by the duties and activities undertaken within the individual role. Where a role meets the legal definition of regulated activity with children, Smile For Life will obtain an Enhanced DBS check with a Children’s Barred List check where the organisation is legally entitled to do so. Where a role does not meet the eligibility requirements for a Children’s Barred List check, the appropriate level of DBS check will be obtained in accordance with current DBS guidance. DBS eligibility will be reviewed where an individual’s role or responsibilities change. Smile For Life currently operates a three-year DBS recheck cycle as an organisational safeguarding measure.

 

[2] Smile For Life will ensure all staff and volunteers undertake regular, accredited, and appropriate safeguarding training. Staff will be trained to a minimum of Level 2 Safeguarding Children which will be renewed every 3 years. Volunteers will be trained to a minimum of Level 1 Safeguarding Children which will be renewed every 3 years.