Child Protection Plan & Referral Pathway
Applicable across Scotland, England & Wales. Every child's welfare is paramount.
Purpose & Scope
Protecting every young person in our care.
Vector Wild is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every child and young person we work with. This plan sets out how we recognise, respond to and refer concerns about a child's safety or wellbeing.
It applies to all staff, volunteers, contractors and anyone working on behalf of Vector Wild, across all settings and all nations in which we operate — Scotland, England and Wales. Where terminology or legal frameworks differ between nations, the more protective approach applies.
The welfare of the child is paramount. Every concern, however small, is taken seriously and acted upon.
Legal Framework
Legislation & Guidance
This plan reflects the statutory guidance and legislation of each nation. While approaches differ, our commitment to protecting children is absolute across all three.
Scotland
- Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014
- Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC)
- National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland (2021)
- Named Person service (where available)
Key Agencies
Local Authority Social Work Department · Police Scotland · NHS · SCRA
England
- Children Act 1989 & 2004
- Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023)
- Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE)
- Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
Key Agencies
Local Authority Children's Social Care · LADO · Police · MASH
Wales
- Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014
- All Wales Child Protection Procedures
- Children (Wales) Measure 2010
- Wales Safeguarding Procedures (2020)
Key Agencies
Local Authority Children's Services · Police · Regional Safeguarding Board
Recognition
Categories of Abuse
Abuse can take many forms. Staff should remain alert to signs across these four recognised categories — while remembering that this list is not exhaustive and concerns may present differently in each child.
Physical
Hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or otherwise causing physical harm.
Emotional
Persistent ill-treatment causing severe and adverse effects on emotional development.
Sexual
Forcing or persuading a child to take part in sexual activities, including online.
Neglect
Persistent failure to meet a child's basic physical and/or psychological needs.
Roles & Responsibilities
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Vector Wild has a named Designated Safeguarding Lead who holds responsibility for safeguarding across the organisation. The DSL's duties include:
Act as the first point of contact for all safeguarding concerns.
Refer concerns to statutory agencies without delay.
Maintain secure, confidential records of all concerns and referrals.
Liaise with social care, police and other agencies as required.
Provide advice and support to staff and volunteers.
Ensure all staff receive appropriate child protection training.
Review and update this policy at least annually.
Named DSL
Richard Moses — Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Viv Boyd — Co-Founder & Deputy DSL.
Contact via hello@vectorwild.com or the emergency contact number provided to families.
Referral Pathway
How a concern becomes a referral.
Every member of staff follows the same six-step pathway. The principle is simple: recognise, respond, record, and refer. Never investigate internally.
Recognise
A concern arises — through disclosure, observation, or third-party information. Recognise the signs and take every disclosure seriously.
Respond
Stay calm. Listen without probing or investigating. Reassure the child. Do not promise secrecy. Record exactly what was said using the child's own words.
Record
Complete a written record immediately — factually, signed and dated. Include time, date, persons present and verbatim account. Do not delay.
Report to DSL
Report to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) without delay — the same working day. The DSL holds responsibility for next steps.
Refer
The DSL refers to the relevant statutory agency. Do not investigate internally. In immediate danger, call 999.
Review & Record
Maintain confidential records. Follow up referrals within 24 hours to confirm receipt and decisions. Inform parents/carers unless doing so places the child at risk.
If a child is in immediate danger
Call 999 immediately. Do not wait to contact the DSL. Do not leave the child alone. This applies in Scotland, England and Wales.
Where to Refer
Referral Contacts by Nation
The DSL is responsible for making referrals to the relevant statutory agency. The contacts below outline where concerns are referred in each nation.
Scotland
Immediate danger
999 (Police Scotland)
Non-emergency concern
Local Authority Social Work Department
Police non-emergency
101
Out of hours
Local Authority Social Work Standby Service
England
Immediate danger
999 (Police)
Non-emergency concern
Local Authority Children's Social Care / MASH
Police non-emergency
101
Allegations against staff
Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
Wales
Immediate danger
999 (Police)
Non-emergency concern
Local Authority Children's Services
Police non-emergency
101
Regional safeguarding
Regional Safeguarding Children Board
Information Sharing
Sharing information to protect.
Fears about sharing information must never stand in the way of protecting a child. When in doubt, share.
- Share information on a 'need to know' basis, with those who need it to safeguard the child.
- Consent should be obtained where possible and appropriate — but the child's welfare is paramount and overrides confidentiality.
- Record what information was shared, with whom, when and why.
- Follow the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018 — safeguarding is a lawful basis for sharing.
- Never promise a child or family absolute secrecy.
Allegations Against Staff
Managing allegations responsibly.
Vector Wild treats any allegation against staff or volunteers with the utmost seriousness and follows statutory procedures.
- Any allegation against a member of staff, volunteer or contractor must be reported to the DSL immediately.
- The DSL contacts the LADO (England) / equivalent officer (Wales) / Local Authority (Scotland) without delay.
- The accused person will be removed from contact with children pending investigation — this is a neutral, not disciplinary, act.
- Investigations are conducted by statutory agencies, not Vector Wild internally.
- Support will be provided to the child, the person making the allegation, and the accused.
Recording & Review
Records are kept. Policies are reviewed.
All safeguarding concerns, referrals and outcomes are recorded confidentially and stored securely, in line with data protection legislation. Records are retained for the period required by each nation's guidance.
This Child Protection Plan is reviewed at least annually — and sooner if there are changes to legislation, guidance, or following any significant safeguarding incident. All staff receive updated training when the plan is revised.
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.
If you have a safeguarding concern about a child, contact the DSL immediately. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.