safeguarding/child protection

[theratpack]

Hi,

I would be really grateful if anyone could please tell me the difference between a safeguarding concern and a child protection concern?
And also policies relating to the sharing of information/concerns and if statutory services need to involve the parents when initiating alerts, in particular, safeguarding alerts.

Many thanks in advance

[SantosLHalper]

There is no difference, its just different use of words really. Can you be more specific?

[southeastastra]

safeguarding is just the new name for child protection

[SixtyFootDoll]

as above, just the language

[gillybonbon]

child protection means serious crimes committed against children, safeguarding issues are still serious but more minor it's very complicated for example if a child constantly had nits and parent were not treating it that would be a safeguarding issue but assalt on a child is child protection and i'm sure the only time action is not disscussed with parents is when there an allergation of sexual abuse. hope this helps.

[MadameCastafiore]

I am pretty sure that they are both the same - have to type up lots of these at work and they are all called safeguarding now I think and not child protection.

[Lucyintheskywithdiazepam]

Child protection is a statutory responsibility, i.e. any organisation that comes into contact with children in any capacity has a duty to protect them from abuse.

Safeguarding is the moral/ethical responsibility that everyone has towards children. Eg. if you suspect your neighbour of abusing their child, it is your moral responsibility to alert the authorities.

[theratpack]

Thankyou, but still a little confused.
The reason i am wanting some clarification is because a child protection alert was issued against myself re my daughter in ERROR. The NHS trust that did so have written to apologise after i enquired why i was under so much scrutiny. However, they are now really trying to cover their backs and after digging for ANYTHING they can to justfy what they did, they are now saying, but after looking at your medical records we now believe it was a safeguarding issue. The funny think is that i did have a one off social services assesment in our home after the birth of dd and they declared that there ARE ABSOLUTY NO SAFEGUARDING ISSUES and closed the file, however the child prtection alert remaind , my husband and were NEVER told about any alerts.

I am trying to take my complaint to the next level with the NHS trust and not sure about the in's and out's of the differant termanology or procudures re issuing alerts.
Hope that makes sense, its all very complicated!

[prh47bridge]

There is a difference between safeguarding and child protection, although the two are closely related. Safeguarding is about providing a safe environment for the child. Child protection is when there has been an actual incident or there is reason to believe a child is likely to suffer significant harm.

So, for example, failing to use a stair gate when there is a toddler in the house may be regarded as a safeguarding issue but pushing a child down the stairs would be a child protection issue.

[NewYearNewPants]

Safeguarding doesn't just refer to children, either. It can cover all sorts of vulnerable groups.

My understanding is that Safeguarding means having procedures/protocols in place, and actively trying to raise awareness, of issues or situations that may mean certain groups of people are vulnerable in some way + how to support them and report, if necessary, to the relevant authorities.

[theratpack]

Thankyou very much, it is a little clearer, and it does seem that there is quite abit of a difference from what the 2 previous posts have said. That said,
I do find it abit disturbing that people seem to think that it is the same thing as child protection tho.

I just hope the people that do think that, dont work in services where it could be devastating if a mistake or judgements were made due to lack of knowledge about the difference.

[tiredemma]

You can ask to see all relevant documentation about yourself. If its NHS then make a demand to see it under the Freedom of Information Act