Terms & Conditions

1. To secure an offered place a fully completed booking form and deposit payment of one week’s fees is required.
2. This deposit is non-refundable and will be used towards your final month’s fees.
3. A period of two weeks’ notice, in writing, is required should you wish to withdraw your child from Blossom Day care; otherwise, your deposit will be withheld.
4. Fees are normally paid four weeks in advance. These can be paid by cash or bank transfer. Please speak to the Manager if you require to pay your fees weekly.
5. Fees will be reviewed annually or changed only under exceptional circumstances – one month’s notice of any change will be given to parents.
6. In the event that a start date is delayed, unless otherwise agreed, fees are due as from the original agreed date.
7. Any additional sessions or days must be booked and paid for in advance and are non-refundable.
8. Should a place be unavailable for your child, their name will be placed on a waiting list. We will inform you by telephone or in writing as soon as a place becomes available for them.
9. Sickness – PLEASE DO NOT bring your child into Nursery if they are unwell (e.g. heavy cough/cold). No child is allowed to attend with a contagious or infectious disease, or if they have had diarrhoea or sickness in the last 48 hours. Please see our Exclusion in case of Illness Policy.
10. If your child requires any prescribed medication whilst at Nursery, you must fill in a Medication Form and give full instructions to the Manager or a member of staff.
11. As we maintain a full-time staff team, any non-attendance (i.e. illness) will be charged for at the full rate.
12. We record any children’s accidents/incidents. Parents are notified and asked to sign the completed Accident/Incident Form.
13. Please see our non-mobile policy
14. Please see our Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy
15. Please see our Intimate Care Policy
16. Blossom will take photos of children during their every day activities. These photographs will be used for different reasons detailed on your registration form.
17. Complaints Procedure - should a parent be concerned about any aspect of our Blossom’s provision/practice they should talk to the Nursery Manager. There is a complaints policy and procedure available to parents in our Policy Folder.
18. If any person other than yourself (or the nominated person on your Registration Form) is collecting your child, please inform the Manager by telephone or in writing. They will
need to provide proof of identity and a password. We will telephone parents if this is not provided, and the child will not be allowed to leave.
19. Only persons over the age of 18 years will be permitted to collect a child unless a parent.
20. If a parent fails to collect a child then the Nursery will telephone all the contact numbers given. PLEASE KEEP THE NURSERY UP TO DATE WITH ANY CHANGES. If we have no response then we shall instigate our policy on the Non-Collection of a Child.
21. Consistently late collection will be recorded by staff in rooms, should this continue, a late charge will be added to your account and you will be required to make payment of late collection fee on collection. Please see Late Collection Policy.
22. We always operate a No Smoking Policy at Blossom. There is no smoking permitted in the nursery or the car park.
23. Parents must turn off mobile phones and digital devices whilst in the nursery.
24. All our current policies are available for parents to view in the reception area.
25. As part of our registration with the Belfast Trust we have a duty to provide your information to allow Questionnaires to be sent to you. These questionnaires allow the Trust to monitor our services.
26. We reserve the right to alter our Terms and Conditions as required and a copy of the updated Terms and Conditions is available from the Nursery Manager on request.

What is safeguarding?
Safeguarding is an umbrella term for what we do to ensure children are safe from harm. It means the protection of children within Blossom from abuse and maltreatment, including child protection, recruitment of suitable people, medication, accidents, illness and emergencies, suitability of the premises and equipment, health and safety.

What is a safeguarding officer?
Every organisation which regularly works with children needs to have a designated Safeguarding Officer in place to ensure that there is someone whose main responsibility is the safeguarding of children and child protection. While everyone who works in an organisation has the responsibility to ensure that the children in their care are safe and cared for at all times, the Safeguarding Officer has additional duties in overseeing the safety and wellbeing of any children involved in the organisation, as well as ensuring that legal responsibilities are met.


Please be aware that Blossom has a duty of care to report any untoward incidents or concerns to the relevant bodies.
Who are Blossom’s Safeguarding Officer’s?
Carolyn Greer – Owner/Manager
Donna McNulty – Deputy Manager

What should I do if I am concerned about my own or another child?
Contact named persons above on:
Blossom mobile on 07445865334 or in person in setting.

Bruising On A Non-Mobile Babies

Definition: A pre-mobile baby is a baby who not yet crawling, not actively rolling (including those only able to flip from back to front), not bottom shuffling, not pulling to stand, not cruising or walking independently. This policy should be used in line with Blossom’s Safeguarding and Child Protection policy.

This policy sets out clear principles and guidelines on safeguarding with specific reference to Non Mobile Babies.
In pre-mobile babies for whom the nature of the bruise/mark must be immediately referred to the Designated officers who will contact Gateway without delay.

Aim
The aim of the policy is to safeguard non-moving babies by putting a procedure into place to protect them if they are observed to have unexplained bruising or other injuries which may suggest they have been subjected to abuse.

Policy
Blossom is required to keep babies and children safe from harm. We recognise that non mobile babies are at risk of physical abuse. Evidence shows that the younger the child the higher the risk that bruising on a baby is non accidental. It is a requirement that we record and refer where applicable.

Procedure
If a non mobile baby arrives at Blossom with a bruise or other mark this is recorded on an accident at home form. If a reason for the injury is given this should be recorded also. Parents will be asked to sign the form.
Blossom staff are not qualified to investigate the cause of bruising or other indications of abuse in babies. Blossom has a duty to refer all known or suspected cases of abuse to the relevant agencies for further assessment and abuse without delay.

Safeguarding/Child Protection Blossom is committed to safeguarding the well-being of children; promoting their rights and interests.

This policy outlines the protection of children by identifying clear instructions in accordance with the legislative framework of The Children (NI) Order 1995, taking into consideration the five main principles of the Order, the first being ‘the welfare of the child is paramount’.

Policy

Everyone at Blossom who comes into contact with children and their families have a duty to safeguard and promote this well-being of children. At Blossom management/staff/volunteers will work with children, parents/carers and the community to ensure the rights and safety of children and to give them the very best start in life.

· Blossom promotes children’s right to be strong, resilient and listened to by creating an environment in our setting that encourages children to develop a positive self-image, which includes their heritage arising from their colour and ethnicity, their languages spoken at home, their religious beliefs, culture traditions and home background.

· Blossom promotes children’s right to be strong, resilient and listened to by encouraging children to develop and sense of self and autonomy and independence.

· Blossom promotes children’s right to be strong resilient and listened to by enabling children to have self-confidence and the vocabulary to resist inappropriate approaches.

· Blossom helps children establish and sustain satisfying relationships within their families, peers and with other adults.

· Blossom works with parents/carers to build an understanding of, and commitment to, the principles of safeguarding all our children.

Procedure

In accordance with Trust Guidelines, Our Duty to Care and Social Services Blossom will endeavour to safeguard children by:

Key commitment 1

· Blossom is committed to building a culture of safety in which children are protected from abuse and harm in all areas of service delivery, this includes Staff/Students/Trainees and Volunteers.

· Our Designated Child Protection Officer is: Carolyn Greer

· Our Deputy Child Protection Officer is: Donna McNulty



At Blossom we endeavour to ensure.

· All staff and parents/carers are made aware of our safeguarding policy and procedures.

· Blossom provides adequate appropriate staffing resources to meet the needs of the children.

· Candidates are informed of the need to carry out ‘enhanced disclosure’ checks with current up to date vetting procedures before posts can be confirmed. No person will be place in a position either paid or unpaid which involves contact with children without being properly and effectively vetted.

· Where applications are rejected because of information that has been disclosed, applicants have the right to know and challenge incorrect information.

· The setting adheres to the Health & Social Care Trust requirements in respect of references and criminal record checks for staff/students/trainees and volunteers, to ensure that no disqualified person or unsuitable person works at the setting or has access to the children.

· Blossom adheres to the relevant guidelines in respect of a person who is dismissed from our employment or resigns in circumstances that would have otherwise led to dismissal for reasons of a child protection concern.

· Blossom has a procedure for recording details of visitors to the setting.

· There are security steps in place to ensure that we have control over who comes into the setting so that no unauthorised person has unsupervised access to the children

Key Commitment 2

We are committed to responding promptly and appropriately to all incidents and concerns of abuse that may occur and to work with statutory agencies in accordance with the procedures that are set out.
Responding to suspicions of abuse

· All those working with children are aware that abuse of children can take different forms – physical, emotional, sexual, neglect and exploitation.

· When children are suffering from physical, emotional, sexual, neglect or may be experiencing neglect or exploitation, this may be demonstrated by things that they say (direct or indirect disclosure) or through changes in their appearance, their behaviour or their play.

· Where such evidence is apparent, the child’s key worker/staff member makes a dated record of the concern and discusses what to do with setting Manager who is acting as the designated person. The information is stored in the child’s personal file.

· Blossom will refer concerns to Gateway Team and co-operate fully in and subsequent investigation.

· Those involved will be careful not to influence the outcome either through the way they speak to the children or by asking questions of the children.

· The management team will use detailed procedures and reporting format when making a referral to Gateway.

· Contact Early Years Link Social Worker/Early Years Team.

· Where a child is already known to Social Services and has a social worker, we will contact them directly.

Contact details are;
Early Years Team
Everton Complex
585-587 Crumlin Road
BELFAST
BT14 7GB.
Tel: (028) 950 42811
By email: earlyyears@belfasttrust.hscni.ne


Recording suspicions of abuse

Where a child makes comments to a member of staff that give cause for concern (disclosure), or a member of staff observes signs or signals that give cause for concern, such as significant changes in behaviour, deteriation in general well-being, unexplained bruising, marks or signs of abuse or neglect, a member of staff will;

· Listen to the child, offer reassurance that he/she will take action.

· Not question the child.

· Make a written record that form an objective record of the observation or disclosure that includes.

· The date and time of the observation or disclosure;

· The exact words spoken by the child as far as possible;

· The name of the person to whom the concern was reported, with the date and time;

· The names of any other person that was present at the time.

These records are signed and dated and kept in the child’s personal file which is kept securely and confidentially.


Making a referral to Gateway
Blossom will follow any procedures that the Gateway team has in place.
Blossom will also inform our link social worker that we have made a referral to the Gateway team.
Where the child already has a social worker, Blossom will contact them directly.
Blossom will retain a copy of any forms filled in for Gateway in the child’s personal file.
All staff are aware of the referral procedures for recording and reporting.
Contact details for Gateway Team are: 02890507000


Informing parents

· Parents are normally the first point of contact.
· If a suspicion of abuse is recorded, parents are informed at the same time as the report is made, except where guidance does not allow this.
· This will usually be the case where the parent may be involved. In these cases, the investigating officer will inform parents.

Liaison with other agencies

· Blossom will work with the Health and Social Care Trust guidelines.
· All staff are familiar with what to do if they have concerns.
Blossom has procedures for contacting the Health & Social Care Trust on Child Protection issues, including maintaining a list of names, addresses and telephone numbers of social workers, to ensure that it is easy, in an emergency, for the setting and the Trust to work well together.
Blossom will notify the Health and Social Care Trust of any incident and any changes to our arrangements which may affect the well- being of children.
· If a referral is made to the Gateway team, Blossom will act within the areas of Safeguarding Children and Child Protection guidance in deciding whether we must inform the child’s parents at the same time.
Allegations against a staff member

· Blossom ensures that all parents know the complaints policy if the have concerns regarding the behaviour or actions of staff/students/trainees/volunteers within the setting.
· Blossom will follow the guidance of the Health and Social Care Trust when responding to any complaint that a parent/carer has put forward.
· Blossom will respond to any disclosure by children or staff that abuse by a member of staff, student/trainee/volunteer within the setting, by first recording the details for any such alleged incident.
· Management will refer any such complaint immediately to the Gateway team and the link social worker to investigate. Blossom is aware that it is an offence not to do this.
· The Management of Blossom will cooperate fully with any investigation carried out by the Gateway team/Early Years Team.
· Where the management team and Health and Social Care Trust agree it is appropriate in the circumstances management will suspend the member of staff/volunteers/student/trainee, for the duration of the investigation. This is not an indication of admission that the alleged incident has taken place but is to protect the staff as well as the children and families throughout the process.

Disciplinary action

Where a member of staff/student/trainee/volunteer has been dismissed due to engaging in activities that caused concern for the safeguarding of children, management will notify Gateway/Early Years and the Independent Safeguarding Authority of relevant information so that the individuals that pose a threat to children (and vulnerable adults), can be identified and barred from working with these groups.

Key Commitment 3

Blossom is committed to promoting awareness of child abuse issues throughout child protection training for staff. Blossom is also committed to empowering young children, through our curriculum, promoting their right to be strong, resilient and listened to.

Training

· Management will seek out training opportunities for all adults involved in the setting to ensure they are able to recognise the signs and signals of possible physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, exploitation and neglect and that they are aware of the Health and Social Care Trust guidelines for making a referrals.
· Management will ensure that staff /volunteers are trained in Safeguarding Children/Child Protection in line with current regulations and this will be reviewed annually at staff appraisals where training needs can be identified.

Planning

· The layout of the room allows for constant supervision. No child is left alone with staff/volunteer/students/trainees in a one-to one situation without being visible to others.

Curriculum

· Blossom introduces key elements of keeping children safe into our programme to promote the personal social and emotional development of all children, so that they can grow to be strong, resilient and listened to and that they may develop an understanding of why and how to keep them safe.
· Blossom creates a culture of value and respect for every individual within the setting, having positive regard for children’s heritage arising from their colour, ethnicity, languages spoken at home, cultural and social background.
· We ensure that this is carried out in a way that is developmentally appropriate for all children.

Confidentiality

· All suspicions and investigations are kept confidential and shared only with those who need to know. Any information is shared under the guidance of the Health and Social Care Trust.

Support to families

· Blossom believes in building trusting and supportive relationships with families, staff/students/trainees/volunteers within the setting.
· Blossom makes clear to parents our roles and responsibilities in relation to child protection, such as the reporting of concerns, providing information, monitoring of the child, and liaising at all times with the Health and Social Care Trust.
· Blossom follows protection guidelines as set out by Health and Social Care Trust in relation to the settings designated role and tasks in supporting that child and their family, subsequent to any investigation.
· Confidential records kept on a child a child are shared with the child’s parents or those who have parental responsibility for the child in accordance with Health and Social Care Trust guidelines.
Understanding the needs of children in Northern Ireland (UNOCINI)
Blossom is aware of the referral system of UNOCINI – Understanding the Needs of Children in Northern Ireland. The registering social worker and the Gateway Team will keep us informed of any changes and training available.

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