Child protection policy

Step 7: Put the policy into practice: reporting child protection incidents

The next step is developing a procedure on what to do when a child protection incident arises. All staff and volunteers should be alert to signs that may suggest a child or young person is in need of help. In many countries, such as Kenya and India, the law states that concerns, allegations or suspicions must be reported to the relevant national authorities such as local police or social services departments. However, some countries don’t have more formalised systems yet. It's very important that you take the time now to check the relevant authorities and national policies in your country.

The guiding principle is that the safety of the child is always the most important consideration. Any allegation or concern regarding the abuse of a child should be treated seriously and for this reason it is important for anyone raising a concern to strictly follow a reporting procedure.

Your procedure on your responsibility to report child abuse should be included in your Child Protection Policy. It should at least cover the following information:

• a named designated person who is responsible for making sure that the child protection policy is implemented and followed
• how to respond to a child who says they, or another child, are experiencing abuse
• how to respond to allegations against a member of staff/volunteer or another young person
• how to respond to concerns about a child’s welfare where there are concerns but no specific allegation has been made
• contact details for local child protection services – where they exist
• information on the people who are involved, i.e., which children and families and which representatives
• definitions of abuse
• how some groups of children are particularly vulnerable, including disabled children