Anti/Bullting Policy

Last updated: October 2025

Introduction

This policy outlines GreenLeaf Care Group unwavering commitment to the prevention, identification, and resolution of bullying. This document is meticulously designed to create a safe, supportive, and compassionate environment at Vales House, ensuring that every child and young person is protected from all forms of bullying. We recognize that children in residential care are particularly vulnerable, and this policy reflects our proactive and child-centered approach to safeguarding, in full compliance with UK legislation and OFSTED regulations.

Key Legislative and Regulatory Frameworks: This policy is underpinned by and rigorously adheres to the following critical UK legislation and guidance:

Children Act 1989 & 2004: The foundational legal framework for child welfare, which mandates that the welfare of the child is paramount.
Equality Act 2010: Prohibits discrimination and harassment, which are often at the root of bullying, on the basis of nine protected characteristics.
Protection from Harassment Act 1997: Criminalizes behaviours that cause a person to feel alarm or distress.
OFSTED Framework for Inspection of Residential Child Care: The standards against which our safeguarding practices, including our anti-bullying measures, will be judged.
Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018): The statutory guidance on inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

1. Policy Statement

In accordance with the Children Act 1989, GreenLeaf Care Group has a non-negotiable duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of the children and young people it is looking after. We unequivocally recognize that bullying behaviour can have a devastating and detrimental effect on the welfare of a child.

Many children who come into our care may have already suffered abusive or disruptive life experiences. These children may also present challenging behaviour and have difficulties with interacting positively with others. It is absolutely vital that these children are not exposed to further negative experiences by being bullied or by bullying others whilst in our residential homes.

We define bullying as the repetitive, intentional harming of one person or a group by another person or group, where there is a real or perceived imbalance of power. Bullying can be:

Physical: Hitting, kicking, pushing, taking or damaging possessions.
Verbal: Name-calling, teasing, making threats, spreading malicious rumours.
Emotional/Psychological: Social exclusion, tormenting, manipulating relationships, threats.
Cyberbullying: Using technology (e.g., social media, instant messaging) to intimidate, harass, or humiliate someone.
Identity-Based: Targeting a person’s race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristics. This is a form of hate crime and will be treated with the utmost seriousness.

2. Aims and Objectives of the Policy

The aims of this policy are to:

Safeguard Children: Ensure every child feels safe and is protected from the damaging effects of bullying.
Empower Children: Equip young people with the skills and confidence to deal with bullying situations, whether they are a target, a bystander, or a perpetrator.
Promote a Culture of Respect: Foster an environment where bullying is never acceptable and is always challenged.
Provide Clear Guidance: Give staff the skills and procedures to prevent, identify, and respond to bullying effectively.
Ensure Accountability: Implement a clear system for reporting, investigating, and documenting all bullying incidents.
Rehabilitate and Educate: Work with both the child being bullied and the child doing the bullying to provide support, address underlying issues, and promote positive behaviour change.

3. Prevention Strategies

Prevention is our first line of defence. We believe in a proactive, educational, and therapeutic approach.

Open Communication: Staff will maintain an open, trusting relationship with the children, creating an environment where they feel comfortable reporting bullying without fear of retribution.
Education and Awareness: We will conduct regular discussions and workshops with children about what bullying is, its impact, and how to get help. This will be integrated into their daily life and not just a one-off event.
Individual Support: Each child’s placement and support plan will include a section on their vulnerability to bullying and any historical experiences they have had. We will develop individual strategies to build their resilience, confidence, and social skills.
Promoting Positive Relationships: Staff will actively encourage and model respectful behaviour, helping children to build healthy, supportive friendships.

4. Roles and Responsibilities

Staff Responsibilities:

All staff at GreenLeaf Care Group have a professional and moral obligation to be vigilant for any signs of bullying.
They must respond immediately and sensitively to any concerns, whether a child reports it directly or they observe it themselves.
Staff must never ignore or dismiss a report of bullying.
All incidents of bullying must be formally and meticulously recorded in the child’s file and in the home’s incident log.
Staff will not attempt to resolve serious incidents on their own but will follow the procedures for escalation.

Child and Young Person Responsibilities:

We encourage children to tell a member of staff if they are being bullied or if they see someone else being bullied.
They should not engage in physical retaliation, as this can escalate the situation.
Children are encouraged to support one another and to stand up against bullying behaviour in a safe and appropriate manner.

5. Identification and Reporting

We understand that a child may not always feel able to speak directly about bullying. Staff are trained to be aware of the following signs:

Physical Signs: Unexplained bruises, cuts, or damaged clothing.
Emotional Signs: Anxiety, withdrawal, depression, changes in mood, loss of confidence, poor self-esteem.
Behavioural Signs: Changes in eating or sleeping patterns, reluctance to go to school or participate in activities, unexplained absconding, social isolation.
Academic Signs: A sudden drop in academic performance, difficulty concentrating.

Reporting Procedure:

Immediate Action: The staff member who first becomes aware of the bullying must intervene immediately and safely to stop the behaviour. They must separate the children involved.
Inform the Manager: The staff member must inform the Home’s Manager as soon as is practicable.
Meticulous Recording: A full report of the incident, including what was seen, who was involved, and what was said, must be completed and recorded in the appropriate incident logs.
Initial Conversations: Staff must speak to all parties involved, individually, to understand the situation fully, ensuring a non-judgmental and supportive approach.
Wider Context: The Manager will review the incident within the wider context of the children’s individual files and social dynamics within the home to identify any patterns or history.

6. Intervention and Support Strategies

Our intervention strategies are designed to be restorative and therapeutic, focusing on the well-being of all children involved.

Support for the Child Being Bullied:

Confidentiality and Reassurance: The child will be reassured that the bullying will be addressed and that they are not to blame. Their right to confidentiality will be respected, but it will be explained that we will need to take action to keep them safe.
Therapeutic Support: The child will be offered a space to talk to a trusted adult, and if appropriate, access to therapeutic services to help them process the experience.
Empowerment Strategies: We will help the child develop assertive communication techniques and coping mechanisms, such as those detailed in our Self-Help Techniques

Intervention for the Child Doing the Bullying:

Accountability: The child will be made to understand the serious nature of their actions and the negative impact they have had on others.
Restorative Justice: We will use restorative justice approaches where appropriate, helping the child to understand the harm they have caused and find a way to make amends.
Behavioural Support: We will work with the child to address the root causes of their behaviour, which may be linked to their own past trauma or a lack of social skills. This may involve a review of their Behaviour Risk Management Plan.
Consequences: Sanctions, as outlined in our Behaviour Management Policy, will be applied consistently and fairly. These are never punitive but are designed to help the child learn from their mistakes.

7. Self-Help Techniques for Children

We empower children with simple, effective techniques to manage bullying situations. Staff will regularly teach and rehearse these techniques with the children until they feel comfortable using them.

Assertive Body Language: A child should stand upright and look the other person in the eye, with hands and arms at their side, not in a defensive or aggressive position. This projects confidence and composure.
Assertive Statement: A clear, honest, and direct statement. For example: “I don’t like it when you do that. I want you to stop.” This should be delivered calmly and firmly. If the pressure continues, the child should repeat the statement in the same calm manner, a technique known as the “broken record.”
Leave the Situation: A child should be encouraged to leave the situation as soon as possible, using confident body language, and to tell an adult as quickly as they can.
Enlisting Support: Children should be aware that others can help them. We will help them identify who might be supportive (e.g., a friend, a staff member) and discuss how to approach them.

8. Review and Monitoring

This policy will be reviewed annually, or as and when changes in legislation or OFSTED guidance occur. The policy will be implemented and monitored by the Home’s Manager and the Senior Management Team of GreenLeaf Care Group. All staff training will be regularly updated to reflect best practices and any changes to this policy.