Children's Services SmithMartin framework for children and young people’s service: SmithMartin provides project services for clients and they should involve actual and potential users (children, young people and their families) in service development and operation. These project services should be available when users need the most rather than when it is convenient to provide them. SmithMartin provision should not discriminate against anyone through work hours, for example – services should reflect the needs of working parents. These services should be provided in locations that are most convenient and acceptable to users, to include having a strategy for reaching black and ethnic minority users, traveling people, those with disabilities irrespective of their numbers in the population. SmithMartin project services should reflect the knowledge and understanding of other service providers and ensure that our own service users also share this information. SmithMartin project services should be branded in a way that is non-stigmatising and focuses on positives rather than negatives in how services are described. SmithMartin will strive to consult at all times with the children and young people in its orbit, also conducting surveys to assess satisfaction and to determine what proportion of potential users within the area the service reaches and to counterbalance provision wherever possible to accommodate the needs of under represented groups. SmithMartin will offer services to children and young people that are planned, focused and persistent, with early intervention, intensive action at key transition points, sustained follow through, and with a guided return route for those who have become misdirected or diverted. SmithMartin will ensure that all associates working directly with children and young people will hold a recent Criminal Record Bureau Enhanced Disclosure. The United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child places equal emphasis on all of the rights for children. There is no such thing as a ‘small’ right and no hierarchy of human rights. All the rights enumerated in the Convention – the civil and political rights as well as the economic, social and cultural rights – are indivisible and interrelated, with a focus on the child as a whole. ( www.unicef.org ) A position statement on SmithMartin policies and activities directed towards the well being of children, young people and adults: SmithMartin actively supports best practice.  SmithMartin will strive to be current with all initiatives for the support, development and care of children and young people. SmithMartin believes, in line with Every Child Matters that children should be... Be healthy. Emotionally secure and confident. Be able to stay safe. Live in a safe place. Be able to enjoy and achieve. Succeed  at school and in life. Be able to make a positive contribution. Offered opportunities to contribute and stay out of trouble. Be able to have economic well-being. Overcome socio-economic disadvantages. In line with the Children’s Fund Charter for Participation all children in SmithMartin projects should… Be clear about why we want to know what they think. Know why we need information and what we will do with it. Feel safe and confident enough to share information. Have as much time as they need. Be given as much opportunity as possible to let their feelings and ideas be known. Be supported and assisted in the giving of information and ideas. Be listened to carefully and be understood. Understand why some changes or developments can be done and others cannot. Be involved in service provision at all levels and be kept informed continually. Child Protection Procedure: The designated partner taking a lead on oversight and delivery of child protection issues for SmithMartin is Sue Martin The designated partner for assisting best operational co-ordination of this policy and procedure is Tim Smith We use the booklet What to do if you are worried a child is being abused (Department of Health Summary 31815 - A publication developed to assist practitioners to safeguard and promote the welfare of children). What to do if you are concerned about a child or young person, either through noticing possible signs of abuse, physically, emotionally or through comments from the child? Calmly and appropriately listen to the child and young person. Reassure the child or young person in your care appropriately. Be mindful of who else can hear your conversation. Listen carefully to what is being said, be observant. Do not seek to ask leading questions - let the child or young person know that you may have ot share what they have said to help them. Discuss the situation with the nearest ‘designated person’ as above and follow their advice. Make a record of the conversation. (Contact numbers for the designated persons are found in your SmithMartin ‘system of work’ or project papers, where appropriate.)