The 4 R’s of safeguarding

All adult volunteers should have heard of the 4 R’s of safeguarding. These explain how you recognise, respond to, report and record a safeguarding concern or allegation in relation to a child or young person (or leader).

It’s important to remember that safeguarding concerns and allegations include those that occur in BB settings, in the private lives of individual children and young people and their families, and in the private lives of leaders. There is a fifth R, which relates to referring safeguarding concerns or allegations to statutory agencies such as the police and social services. Mostly this action is undertaken by the BBHQ Safeguarding Manager or Church Safeguarding Lead/Co-ordinator. However, in an emergency leaders may need to do this themselves. 

Recognise

This is how you recognise when a child is at risk of harm or abuse. We might hear something, see something, or notice a change of behaviour. Abuse can be something that is done to a child, such as hitting them, or doing something sexual. Abuse can also be failing to do something – such as failing to seek medical care when they are ill or failing to respond to their emotional needs. Abuse can occur within the family, in the community or in an institutional setting. The abuser may be someone known to the child, a stranger, and can be an adult or a child or young person.

Historically there were four commonly recognised categories of harm: Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Emotional Abuse and Neglect. Whilst these still exist, there are many more types of abuse and harm to be aware of including Child Sexual Exploitation, Bullying & Cyber Bullying, Grooming, Child Trafficking, Criminal Exploitation & Gangs, Domestic Abuse, Female Genital Mutilation, Online Abuse, and Non-recent abuse. The NSPCC has information on the different types or abuse and harm, including how to spot the signs, who is at risk and the effects.

Respond

A child or young person could speak about harm or abuse at any time. It is important that leaders are prepared for this and can immediately make time to hear them. The way we respond may impact on what the child says or does next.

• Listen carefully to what they’re saying, giving them your full attention. Try not to express your own views and feelings. If you appear shocked or they think you don’t believe them, it could make them stop talking and retract what they have said. If a child does retract an allegation/concern, your responsibility is still to pass it on.
• Reassure them that they have done the right thing by telling you. Make sure they know the abuse is not their fault.
• Always take any allegation seriously, without making any judgements. Make sure they know they can trust you and you’ll listen and support them.
• Don’t discuss with or confront the alleged abuser. Confronting the alleged abuser could make the situation worse for the child or young person. Your role is to pass it on.
• Never promise to keep secrets. Children and young people might ask for you to keep a secret before they tell you what has happened. Explain that we cannot keep secrets when it is about keeping children and young people safe or preventing harm to them.
• Explain what you’ll do next. Let them know that you need to speak to someone else, about what they have told you, so you can keep them and any other children or young people involved safe.
• Report what the child has told you as soon as possible.

Report

This is where you pass it on to whoever is responsible for taking action. Usually this will be by immediately informing your Captain/Correspondent, Minister or Church Safeguarding Lead/Co-ordinator. You, or the Captain/Correspondent must inform the BBHQ Safeguarding Manager within 24 hours.

It is not your responsibility to investigate, decide if the child is at risk of harm, or if the family are in need of help or support. Your responsibility is to pass it on. If the concern is about the Captain/Correspondent, you must inform BB Headquarters immediately.

In non-emergency circumstances the BBHQ Safeguarding Manager will assess the information and where appropriate make referrals to Statutory Agencies for further enquiries and investigation. 

Record

This is the way we safely and confidentially keep a record of the safeguarding concern or allegation so that the information can be passed on and the appropriate action taken. This is not always the last thing you do. It may happen in parallel with reporting. You should:

• Write down what was said as soon as possible. 
• Detail who the concern is about, what the concern is and what happened.   
• Use the child’s words – include any questions that were asked, and the answers given. 
• As a leader, write down anything you have seen or heard, including details of any witnesses. Include who you have spoken to, when, and include their contact details. 
• Include any history about the child or family that could be relevant. 
• Always complete your report as soon as possible after the event. 

If you are unsure about whether to report a concern or not, seek advice either from the BBHQ Safeguarding Manager or your Church Safeguarding Lead/Co-ordinator.