The committee of the South Hampshire Branch of the National Autistic Society (hereafter referred to as the Branch) will follow, at all times, the guidance contained in the National Autistic Society’s Safeguarding Children Policy.

The Branch accept that:

• all children have a right to be protected at all times;
• child abuse occurs in all religions, cultures and social classes;
• responsibility for a child or children working with the Branch always rests with their parents/carers and not with the members of the Branch; and
• every person involved in the Branch has a responsibility both for ensuring the safety and well-being of the children they work with and for reporting all cases of suspected child abuse.

Nevertheless, the committee of the Branch are responsible for:

• preventing the physical, sexual and emotional abuse of children while working with the Branch;
• listening to concerns expressed by the children and advising them how to report any abuse; and
• reporting abuse themselves in certain circumstances.

Where there is an allegation of or suspected child abuse the interests and safety of the child always come first. This means that if there is any conflict of interest between a member of the Branch and a child, the interests of the child must always be put first.

In view of the above, the committee of the Branch will ensure that:

• The members of the committee have a copy of the Branch Child Protection Policy and take responsibility for seeing that it is sensibly followed at all times.
• The risk of members being perpetrators of child abuse is reduced by the following procedures:
• Parents/carers of children wishing to work with the Branch must take responsibility for their own child’s welfare, for example, by bringing them to, staying with them at and taking them home from Branch activities/events.
• The committee of the Branch are not put in compromising positions at any time. For example, children will work with a minimum of two adult members at all times.
• Basic training in child protection, or evidence of such training, will be needed by all of those working directly with children and young people, appropriate to their role.
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks:
• All volunteers must complete a branch volunteer form and nominate referees.
• References for a volunteer (from former employers or other voluntary groups they have worked with) is now considered best practice in the voluntary sector.
• Volunteers who are taking part in activities for autistic adults may need to have a Disclosure and Barring Service check to ensure that it is OK for them to be part of a group with vulnerable adults. The National Autistic Society’s Senior Branch Engagement Officer- South West, will advise if this is necessary.
• The Branch Officer is the child protection representative for the Branch. The Treasurer is the deputy child protection representative.

What to do when child abuse is disclosed or alleged

The committee of the Branch will take responsibility for dealing with and following up any disclosed or alleged incident of child abuse.

All incidents of child abuse disclosed or alleged should be reported by Branch members immediately to a member of the committee.

• The committee will take whatever steps are needed to ensure the safety of the child/children involved.
• Listen carefully to what the child/adult is telling them.
• Write down what the child/adult is telling them. Only record the facts and avoid including personal opinions or judgements.
• Inform the National Autistic Society’s Senior Branch Engagement Officer- South West.
• Report what has been said along with the names and contact details of the child/adult to the local Children's Services Department and/or police immediately.

Hampshire Children Services: Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5pm; Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm, phone 0300 555 1384. At all other times, contact the out-of-hours service, phone 0300 555 1373

Southampton Children's Resource Service: 023 8083 3004 (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm and Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm) or 02380 23 3344 (weekends, Bank Holidays and outside of office hours)

In the event of a member of the Branch committee being suspected of child abuse, Branch members should report their concerns directly and in confidence to the National Autistic Society’s Senior Branch Engagement Officer- South West, the local Children's Services Department and/or police.

The child’s welfare remains paramount at all times

How to behave to a child who has disclosed some form of abuse

• Accept what they are saying.
• Be aware that they have been threatened.
• Tell them that they are not to blame.
• Reassure them that they are right to tell and that you believe them.