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Child Protection Policy

Child Protection Policy Index

Community Pages

What is Child Protection?
 The Children (Scotland) Act 1995 states that each child has the right to protection from all forms of abuse, neglect or exploitation.

It also states that children should have the right to express their views on any issues or decisions affecting them.

What can my group do to ensure we give the youngsters a safe environment?
As a community group, you offer a very valuable service to children. Through your group they learn about how to take part in the activities you offer. They also learn to trust and respect the adults involved. This places your volunteers in a unique position in children’s lives. There may come a time when a child feels the need to confide in the volunteer or when the volunteer feels that all is not well in the child’s life.

Your group has a duty to ensure that volunteers are equipped with the necessary information and knowledge to give that child the support, guidance and help needed at the time. This policy has been produced to help you and your volunteers to think through the issues and develop your own child protection guidelines for your group. It will also help you to consider any training issues that you may have and point you in the right direction for help and advice in the future.

Highland Child Protection Committee recommends the following principles of good practice in child protection for all groups:

· Highland Child Protection Committee believes that all agencies working with vulnerable groups, particularly children, should have a child protection policy and statement for all volunteers (including parents and guardians) and staff;

· Highland Child Protection Committee believes that every child, regardless of age, has at all times, in all situations a right to feel safe and protected from any situation or practice which results in the child being physically or psychologically damaged;

· Above all, we should all remember that the welfare of the child is of paramount consideration and we must all work together to ensure the protection of children.

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