Historical abuse policy

Any information or allegations that concern the current safety or welfare of a child must be addressed in line with our Safeguarding and protecting children policy.

It's for all employees and volunteers.

• When an adult reports actual or likely abuse (physical, sexual, emotional, racial and neglect) suffered by them or another person when they were a child or young person, that is defined as historical abuse. This applies to any residential, foster care, adoption setting or any other children’s service that is provided by Barnardo’s or another organisation. 
• All criminal allegations of abuse must be fully recorded and passed on to the police. Please see the flowchart below which shows the process of referring cases to the police.
• Any allegations must be fully recorded and passed on to the senior assistant director of children services. See the flowchart below which shows the process of referral. 
• This policy also includes details of the procedures we must all follow when historical abuse is reported. 

• Employees, volunteers and as-and-when workers who receive a disclosure from an adult regarding historical child abuse allegations must follow this policy and procedure and inform their line manager or a senior manager. 
• Line managers are responsible for ensuring all staff are conversant with this policy. If a member of your staff reports an allegation of historical abuse, you must follow this policy and procedure.
• Trustees have a duty of care, which includes taking necessary steps to safeguard and protect children. They will act in children’s best interests and ensure that they take all reasonable steps to prevent any harm to them. Inherent in their duty of care is a regard for children who were formerly in the care of, adopted through or served the organisation. One of the trustees has a designated responsibility to ensure the board is aware of ongoing activity in relation to allegations and cases of historical abuse and legislation.
• Corporate director of children's services England and the corporate leadership team 2 in consultation with the company secretary are the accountable senior managers responsible for overseeing the management of serious historical abuse and litigation cases. 
• Historical abuse case management group3 has operational responsibility for the review and monitoring of all disclosures of historical abuse.
• Senior assistant director of children's services holds operational management responsibility for historical abuse; personal injury claims and has line management responsibility for the Making Connections service and historical archives. Reporting line is through the corporate director of children's services England to CLT and the trustees to ensure they are briefed on serious historical abuse investigations, cases and litigation.
• Making Connections service holds day-to-day responsibility for the management of disclosures of historical abuse and victim survivor support.
• Region/nation directors and locality assistant directors have responsibility for ensuring that all allegations of historical abuse are referred to the Making Connections service and for following this policy and procedure in relation to internal communication and escalation.
• Head of corporate safeguarding holds responsibility for ensuring that any learning from allegations and incidents of historic abuse informs current policy, practice and professional development.

Please see our Safeguarding page for more information on safeguarding policies, guidance and training.