Safeguarding Children Diogelu plant
The approaches to respond, the actions to take and the actions to avoid if harm, abuse or neglect is suspected, disclosed or alleged Y dulliau i ymateb, y camau i’w cymryd a’r camau i’w hosgoi os bydd niwed, cam-drin neu esgeulustod yn cael ei amau, ei ddatgelu neu ei honni

All early years and childcare settings should have procedures in place giving clear guidance on how to respond to suspected harm, abuse or neglect, that is disclosed or alleged. Childcare workers should possess the detailed knowledge and understanding of child development. As a result they will be able to recognise if anything is wrong with the child or if they are displaying behaviour that is different from their usual behaviour. It is essential that the childcare worker responds and ensures that they do not keep these concerns to themselves. They may worry about the consequences of sharing information but not doing so might endanger the safety of the child. Usually, concerns about children are shared with the supervisor or manager who will be responsible for the next step to take. Decisions about how best to protect the safety and welfare of the child will be taken by other professionals such as social workers, the police or the National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) in a way that considers the safety and welfare of the child.

It is possible to respond to suspicions, disclosures or allegations of harm, abuse or neglect by:

• being familiar with the setting's child safeguarding policies and procedures
• being ready and able to respond in a sensitive and sensible way to the situation at the time and later on
• adapting communication for the situation in line with the child's age and developmental state
• using active listening skills
• comforting the child
• believing the child
• taking notes - writing down exactly what the child said
• writing down exactly what was observed, e.g. signs of injury, bruising etc.
• in the case of injury, it should be noted
• ensuring that the notes are accurate and dated; referred to by certain professionals
• discussing concerns with a senior member of staff
• ensuring that the setting's staff use the same approaches when responding to concerns
• ensuring that all members of staff are clear about the rules regarding sharing information and confidentiality
• discussing with the manager if there is any uncertainty about the procedures
• if they are working in a separate location, contacting social workers, the police or the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) at once
• not attempting to deal with situation without the support of others.

If harm, abuse or neglect is suspected, disclosed or alleged it is important that the childcare workers know what actions to take and what actions to avoid. By recognising this they will be able to respond sensibly and adapt their practice for specific situations. Childcare workers may be in a situation where a child is displaying signs of abuse in their play, e.g. through sexual behaviour in role play, e.g. trying to mate dolls. There is no definite way of responding if a child discloses they are being or have been abused. This may occur when it is busy in the setting and create an awkward situation. Childcare workers may receive allegations of instances of abuse from staff, children or parents/carers. The situation needs to be taken seriously, but on the other hand, without definite proof it is not possible to come to conclusions, as there may a reasonable explanation. It will be necessary to apply professionalism and respond in a way that allows the child to trust the childcare workers.

Dylai pob lleoliad blynyddoedd cynnar a gofal plant gael gweithdrefnau yn eu lle sy’n rhoi canllawiau clir ar sut i ymateb i niwed, cam-drin neu esgeulustod a amheuir, a ddatgelir neu a honnir. Dylai fod gweithwyr gofal plant yn meddu ar wybodaeth a dealltwriaeth fanwl o ddatblygiad plant. Yn sgil hyn byddant yn medru adnabod os oes rhywbeth o’i le gyda’r plentyn neu ei fod yn arddangos ymddygiad sy’n wahanol i’r arfer. Mae’n hanfodol bod yr ymarferwr yn ymateb ac yn gofalu nad yw’n cadw’r pryderon hyn i’w hunan. Efallai bydd yn gofidio am y canlyniadau wrth rannu’r wybodaeth ond gall peidio gwneud hynny beryglu diogelwch y plentyn. Gan amlaf, bydd pryderon am blant yn cael eu rhannu gyda’r goruchwyliwr neu’r rheolwr a fydd â chyfrifoldeb am y cam nesaf i’w cymryd. Bydd penderfyniadau am yr hyn sydd orau er diogelwch a lles y plentyn yn cael eu gwneud gan bobl broffesiynol eraill megis gweithwyr cymdeithasol, yr heddlu neu’r Gymdeithas Genedlaethol er Atal Creulondeb i Blant (NSPCC) mewn modd sy’n ystyried diogelwch a lles y plentyn.

Gellir ymateb i amheuon, datgeliad neu honiadau o niwed, cam-drin neu esgeulustod drwy:

• ymgyfarwyddo â pholisïau a gweithdrefnau diogelu plant y lleoliad
• bod yn barod i fedru ymateb yn sensitif ac yn synhwyrol i’r sefyllfa ar y pryd a nes ymlaen
• addasu cyfathrebu ar gyfer y sefyllfa yn unol ag oed a cham datblygiad y plentyn
• defnyddio sgiliau gwrando gweithredol
• cysuro’r plentyn
• credu’r plentyn
• cymryd nodiadau - nodi yn union yr hyn a ddywedodd y plentyn
• nodi’n union yr hyn a sylwyd, e.e. arwyddion o anaf, cleisiau ac ati
• os oes anaf, dylid ei nodi
• sicrhau bod nodiadau yn gywir ac yn ddyddiedig; cyfeirir atynt gan weithwyr proffesiynol penodol
• trafod pryderon gydag aelod uwch o’r staff
• sicrhau bod staff y lleoliad yn defnyddio'r un dulliau wrth ymateb i bryderon
• sicrhau bod yr holl staff yn glir am y rheolau sydd ynghlwm â rhannu gwybodaeth a chyfrinachedd
• trafod gyda’r rheolwr os oes unrhyw ansicrwydd ynglŷn â’r gweithdrefnau
• os ydynt yn gweithio mewn sefyllfa ar wahân, cysylltu’n syth â’r gweithwyr cymdeithasol, yr heddlu neu’r Gymdeithas Genedlaethol er Atal Creulondeb i Blant (NSPCC)
• peidio â cheisio delio â’r sefyllfa heb gymorth eraill.

Os caiff niwed, cam-drin neu esgeulustod ei amau, ei ddatgelu neu ei honni mae’n bwysig bod yr gweithwyr gofal plant yn gwybod pa gamau i’w cymryd a pha gamau i’w hosgoi. Trwy adnabod hyn byddant yn medru ymateb yn synhwyrol ac addasu eu harfer ar gyfer sefyllfaoedd penodol. Gall gweithwyr gofal plant fod mewn sefyllfa lle mae plentyn yn dangos arwyddion o gamdriniaeth yn eu chwarae, e.e. trwy ymddygiad rhywiol wrth chwarae rôl, e.e. ceisio paru doliau. Nid oes ffordd bendant i ymateb os bydd plant yn datgelu eu bod yn cael neu wedi cael eu cam-drin. Gall hyn ddigwydd ar adegau pan mae’n brysur yn y lleoliad gan greu sefyllfa annifyr. Efallai bydd gweithwyr gofal plant yn derbyn honiadau o ddigwyddiadau camdriniaeth oddi wrth staff, plant neu rieni/gofalwyr. Mae angen cymryd y sefyllfa o ddifri, ond ar y llaw arall, ni ellir dod i gasgliadau heb dderbyn tystiolaeth bendant oherwydd gall fod eglurhad rhesymol. Bydd angen defnyddio proffesiynoldeb ac ymateb mewn ffordd sy’n caniatáu i’r plentyn ymddiried yn yr gweithwyr gofal plant.