Safeguarding and Child Protection
SAFEGUARDING
& Child Protection
Summary of Child Protection Information for Visitors and Volunteers
Mapledene is committed to the highest standards in protecting and safeguarding the children entrusted to our care.
Mapledene will support all children by:
- Promoting a caring, safe and positive environment 
- Encouraging self-esteem and self-assertiveness 
- Effectively tackling bullying and harassment 
We recognise that some children may be the victims of neglect, physical, sexual or emotional abuse. Staff working with children are well placed to identify such abuse.
At Mapledene in order to protect our children, we aim to:
- Create an atmosphere where all our children feel secure, valued and listened to 
- Recognise signs and symptoms of abuse 
- Respond quickly, appropriately and effectively to cases of suspected abuse 

Everyone working with our children, their parents and carers should be aware that their role is to:
- Listen and carefully note any observations which could indicate abuse 
- Not to attempt to investigate once the initial concern is raised 
- Refer to the Designated Senior Lead (DSL) immediately or a Deputy DSL if the Lead DSL is not available 
- Remember disclosures of abuse or harm from children may be made at any time 
If anything worries you or concerns you, report it straight away.
To help keep children and their families safe online, the following link provides information, helpful tips, training and online resources that can help you set-up parental controls, spot what to watch out for and more importantly, who to contact if you notice a problem.
