Safeguarding Policy.
Aims
Leigh Folk Arts Association is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children & vulnerable adults if in its care. It recognises the responsibility to promote safe practice and to protect them from harm, abuse, and exploitation. For the purposes of this policy and associated procedures a child is recognised as someone under the age of 18 years and vulnerable adults as over the age of 18 years and who is, or may be, in need of community services due to age, illness or a mental or physical disability and who is, or may be, unable to take care of himself/herself, or unable to protect himself/herself against significant harm or exploitation.
Vulnerable adults may fall in one or more of these groups: older people; people with mental health problems; disabled people; people with learning difficulties; people with acquired brain damage, people who misuse substances.
Trustees, members and volunteers will work together to embrace difference and diversity and respect the rights of all.
This document outlines Leigh Folk Arts commitment to protecting children & vulnerable adults.
Leigh Folk Arts Association follows the 6 principles of Safeguarding throughout its community-based activities:
Empowerment
Prevention
Proportionality
Protection
Partnership
Accountability
Leigh Folk Arts Association will:
Promote the health and welfare of children & vulnerable adults by providing opportunities for them to take part in activities safely.
Respect and promote the rights, wishes and feelings of children & vulnerable adults.
Promote and implement appropriate procedures to safeguard the well-being of children & vulnerable adults and protect them from abuse.
Recruit, train, support and supervise its members and volunteers to adopt best practice to safeguard and protect children & vulnerable adults from abuse and to prevent risk to themselves.
Require Trustees Members and volunteers to adopt and abide by this Safeguarding Policy.
Respond to any allegations of misconduct or abuse of children & vulnerable adults in line with this Policy as well as implementing, where appropriate, the relevant disciplinary and appeals procedures.
Observe guidelines issued by local Safeguarding bodies for the protection of children & vulnerable adults.
Regularly monitor and evaluate the implementation of this Policy.
Responding to a Disclosure
If an under18/vulnerable adult makes a disclosure to you of alleged abuse, the key is the ‘3 Rs’: reassure, report and record.
Reassure: stay calm, listen and show empathy. Reassure them that it will be taken seriously and explain that the issues will be reported internally and what may happen next.
Report: report to a Trustee or the person in charge immediately. Consider notifying external agencies, including social services or the police if necessary (see more detail on reporting below).
Record: write up notes of the conversation clearly and factually as soon as possible and pass them onto the Chair, or a Trustee if this person is not available or involved.
Reporting a Disclosure
Making a record
A full record shall be made as soon as possible of the nature of the allegation and any other relevant information This should include information in relation to the date, the time, the place where the alleged abuse happened, your name and the names of others present, the name of the complainant and, where different, the name of the under18/vulnerable adult who has allegedly been abused, the nature of the alleged abuse, a description of any injuries observed, the account which has been given of the allegation.
Referring to outside agencies
A referral should be made to relevant outside agencies including (a) Social Services and (b) if there has been a potentially criminal act, the police. If you are not sure about the seriousness of the allegation or whether it should be reported to outside agencies or the police, contact the Chair, or a Trustee if this person is not available or involved, for safeguarding advice as soon as possible. It is not for you to decide whether something is criminal or abusive for sure – only that it might be, in which case the relevant agencies and/or police should be informed to make this decision. When submitting a report to the relevant authorities such as the police or social services a written record of the date and time of the report shall be made and the report must include the name and position of the person to whom the matter is reported. The telephone report must be confirmed in writing to the relevant local authority Social Services department within 24 hours . You can find information about the local area social services teams on your local council’s website.
The police can also offer advice regarding safety at home and in the community and may refer people who have experienced violence, abuse or crimes to the Victim Support helpline - 0845 303 0900.
Reporting within the Charity
Any disclosure of suspected abuse must be reported without delay, to the Chairman unless this person is not available or involved in which case another Trustee. It is important that children and vulnerable adults are protected from harm therefore all complaints, allegations or suspicions must be taken seriously.
Making a Complaint
If you wish to make a complaint whether or not about suspected abuse, but is nevertheless discriminatory and/or relates to behaviour by a Trustee, Member or volunteer of the Charity which is likely to bring the Charity into disrepute, please contact the Chair, or a Trustee if this person is not available or involved
Review
This Policy will be regularly reviewed:
In accordance with changes in legislation and guidance on the protection of children & vulnerable adults or following any changes within Leigh Folk Arts Association.
Following any issues or concerns raised about the protection of children & vulnerable adults within Leigh Folk Arts Association.