Hart & Rushmoor Branch

The committee of the Hart & Rushmoor Branch of the National Autistic Society 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 Hart and Rushmoor Branch of the National Autistic Society always rests with their parents/carers and not with the members of the Hart & Rushmoor Branch of the National Autistic Society; 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 Eastleigh and Winchester Branch of the National Autistic Society are responsible for:

• preventing the physical, sexual and emotional abuse of children while working with the Hart & Rushmoor Branch of the National Autistic Society;
• 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 Hart & Rushmoor Branch of the National Autistic Society and a child, the interests of the child must always be put first.

In view of the above, the committee of the Hart & Rushmoor Branch of the National Autistic Society will ensure that:

• The members of the committee have a copy of the Hart & Rushmoor Branch of the National Autistic Society 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 Hart & Rushmoor Branch of the National Autistic Society 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.
• Children aged ten or under must be accompanied by a parent/carer at all times.
• The committee of the Hart & Rushmoor Branch of the National Autistic Society 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.

Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks:

• Although parents/carers must take responsibility for their own child's welfare, all members of the committee and any other volunteers who will work within the Branch with children and young people must be checked by the CRB.
• For new committee members and volunteers, the checking process will commence at the earliest opportunity. However, before working within the Branch, they must sign a written statement saying that they have no relevant convictions and provide a suitable reference.
• Committee members and volunteers who have not yet been checked by the CRB will not work alone with children and young people, and will be supervised at all times by someone who has been checked by the CRB.
• 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 Hart & Rushmoor Branch of the National Autistic Society 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 Hart & Rushmoor Branch of the National Autistic Society 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 Regional Coordinator or Regional Officer.
• Report what has been said along with the names and contact details of the child/adult to the local Social Services Department and/or police immediately.

Local Social Services telephone contact details:

Hampshire - 0845 603 5620   (Out of hours number - 0845 600 4555)

Surrey - 0300 200 1006

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 Regional Coordinator or Regional Officer, the local Social 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.