The purpose and scope of this policy
- To protect children and young people who receive PHOENIX HALL CHARITY’s services. This includes the children of adults who use our services.
- To provide parents, staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.
- This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of PHOENIX HALL CHARITY, including senior managers and the board of trustees, paid staff, volunteers, sessional workers, agency staff and students.
Legal framework
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England.
A summary of the key legislation is available from nspcc.org.uk/learning.
Related policies and procedures
This policy should be read alongside NSPCC organisational policies & procedures, including:
Role of the designated safeguarding officer
- Dealing with disclosures and concerns about a child or young person
- Managing allegations against staff and volunteers
- Recording and information sharing
- Code of conduct for staff and volunteers
- Safer recruitment
- Online safety
- Anti-bullying
- Managing complaints
- Whistleblowing
- Health and safety
- Induction, training, supervision and support
- Adult to child ratios
We believe that:
- children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind.
- we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them.
We recognise that:
- the welfare of the child is paramount
- all children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse
- some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues
- working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.
We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:
- valuing, listening to and respecting them
- appointing a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) for children and young people, a deputy and a lead trustee/board member for safeguarding
- adopting child protection and safeguarding best practice through our policies, procedures and code of conduct for staff and volunteers
- developing and implementing an effective online safety policy and related procedures
- providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures
- recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
- recording and storing information professionally and securely
- sharing information about safeguarding and good practice with children, their families, staff and volunteers via leaflets, posters, group work and one-to-one discussions
- using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately
- using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately
- creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise
- ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place
- ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance.
Contact details:
| Phone / Email: | |
|---|---|
| Alan Wood | 01980 671265 |
| Phone / Email: | |
|---|---|
| Michala Mather | 07753 148456 |
| Name: | Phone / Email: | |
|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Charles Coslett | 07836 299789 |
We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.
This policy was last reviewed on: …16 January 2019………………………………(date)
Signed: CA Coslett [this should be signed by the most senior person with responsibility for safeguarding in your organisation, for example the safeguarding lead on your board of trustees].
Date: ………17/1/19…………………………………………………………………