Provide support and address instances where children and young people disclose abuse
Overview
This standard is about addressing instances where a child or young person reveals that they are subject to abuse, such as bullying, and taking the appropriate action.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- support children and young people who show signs of distress, or where circumstances suggest that abuse may have occurred
- communicate with children and young people at a pace and in ways that meet their needs
- support children and young people to discuss their situation, and provide them with the time and privacy to disclose what they wish
- establish the facts, circumstances and nature of abuse suffered, including those individuals involved
- verify information through corroboration against that available already and, identify and check any anomalies in the information provided
- identify and assess options available for addressing the situation, and to prevent recurrence of the abuse
- explain the options available to the child or young person and support them to consider their preferred way forward and whilst checking understanding of the action that will be taken
- agree a way forward to address the nature and severity of the abuse in line with your organisation’s procedures and the needs of the child or young person
- take action appropriate to the nature and severity of the abuse
- inform appropriate others of the disclosure, providing accurate and complete information regarding the abuse within the required timescales
- offer the child or young person support in ways appropriate to their understanding of the situation
- maintain accurate records of the abuse and actions undertaken, and check that appropriate parties are informed
- maintain appropriate confidentiality, in line with regulatory and your organisation's requirements
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
1. relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures that apply to your own organisation for the work being undertaken
2. how to communicate with children and young people and how to adapt accordingly
3. how trauma impacts on children and young people
4. how to adhere to professional codes or standards of practice
5. how to work within relevant legal requirements and organisational policies and procedures including child protection and safeguarding requirements
6. development and parenting skills including physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and communication skills
7. how to identify and respond to safeguarding concerns
8. types of additional support children and young people might require
9. how to promote diversity, equality and inclusion through work with children and young people
10. your organisation's policies relating to the disclosure of abuse and supporting those who have been abused
11. types of abuse and indicators of possible abuse in children and young people
12. the possible emotional consequences of abuse for the child or young person
13. how children and young people may falsely allege abuse as a means of drawing attention to themselves, and methods for verifying allegations
14. the importance of dealing with allegations and instances of abuse and how to do this
15. circumstances when your organisation's policy or legal requirements require confidentiality to be over-ruled
16. the importance of checking that the receiving and recording of disclosure details should not prejudice the child or young person’s rights to pursue legal action
17. the importance of allowing children and young people to communicate and disclose at their own pace, and why they may be reluctant, or choose not to disclose
18. how to create an environment that puts children and young people at ease
19. how to apply trauma informed practice in your area of work
20. how trauma impacts on children and young people and how to ensure your practice takes this into consideration
21. other organisations which support children and young people and how to access their assistance
22. sources of help and support to address the emotional consequences to you of cases involving abuse of children and young people