Introduction
This safeguarding policy sets out the roles and responsibilities of all staff and sub-contractors who are involved in the delivery of our activities, to help them to work in a preventative manner and ensure the safety of young people and vulnerable adults with whom we come into contact. This policy applies to all staff and sub-contractors who work with or near young people and vulnerable adults and seeks to offer assurances to staff, partners and subcontractors that we will protect young people and vulnerable adults and keep them safe from harm when engaging in our work.
Policy Statement
We are committed to promoting the safeguarding of young people (aged 16 to 19) and vulnerable adults (as defined under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 and individuals aged over 18 who by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness are unable to protect themselves against significant harm or exploitation). We aspire to the highest possible standards and take all reasonable steps in relation to the safety and welfare of young people and vulnerable adults. To ensure effective operation of this Policy and related procedures we will promote and raise awareness of safeguarding and this policy among our staff and subcontractors.
This will require:
- knowledge and understanding of safeguarding
- recognition of the risk of abuse and neglect
- knowledge of the six strands of diversity and equal opportunities (age, disability, gender, race and ethnicity, religion or belief and sexual orientation)
- the ability to respond to the risk of and observation of abuse and neglect.
- staff to be trained to an appropriate level
- working together with our partners in order to take a preventative approach to keep young people and vulnerable adults safe during our activities
- a specific risk assessment to be conducted where an individual in whose home we are working is identified as being vulnerable
The policy will be monitored to ensure that:
- preventative strategies and robust procedures are in place for dealing with incidents
- our staff, partners and sub-contractors take a preventative approach and work together to continuously improve the quality of our service delivery where young people and vulnerable adults are concerned
- appropriate action is taken, and the correct investigative procedure followed when an individual feels unsafe/vulnerable
- staff, partners, and sub-contractors respond sensitively and coherently to reported incidents in a consistent manner, in accordance with this policy and related procedures
While it is impossible to ensure that a young person or vulnerable adult would never come to any harm, the adoption of this policy and associated guidelines aims to facilitate the management of the risk associated with the duty to protect such individuals.
Risk Assessment
All staff, partners and sub-contractors who come into contact with young people or vulnerable adults should ensure that they understand the implications of this policy before commencing any activity. An activity risk assessment is to be completed before any new or changed activity involving young people or vulnerable adults, or before employing any person under the age of 18 (includes young people admitted for work experience) – within our risk assessment procedure and must be carried out by our Managing Director. All those involved in the risk assessment process should understand that the risk assessment is not only a way to mitigate or remove any potential risks but may also be a prompt to consider alternative working practices.
Recruitment, Selection, and Employment
Where it is identified that staff, partners, and sub-contractors are likely to have regular contact with young people or vulnerable adults, rigorous checks into their eligibility will be required. Such processes will be compliant with our Equality and Diversity policies. We will ensure that any member of staff who will have substantial contact with young people or vulnerable adults will be checked for relevant criminal convictions. Our sub-contractors are also required to conduct these checks. Any member of staff, partners or sub contractors’ staff who participate in regulated activity will be checked under the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Our staff and sub-contractors participating in activity related to delivery of services to young people and vulnerable adults will agree to this Safeguarding policy statement and sign to this effect.