Safeguarding policy

Introduction

Children and vulnerable adults have the right to be protected from harm. This policy and the accompanying procedure (which is not in the public domain) explain how Youth Concern will keep children and vulnerable adults safe, and how we will respond to safeguarding concerns.

This safeguarding policy sets out Youth Concern’s commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults. It refers to our Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedure which gives more detail about how our charity will endeavour to keep children and vulnerable adults safe and respond to safeguarding concerns. Staff and volunteers should read the two documents together.

Context

Youth Concern operates a Drop-in Centre, a counselling service and a supported housing project, the Next Step. There are potential risks to children and vulnerable adults across all settings.

Youth Concern recognises that central to all its work is the principle that the welfare of the child or vulnerable adult is paramount and that every client has the right to live free from harm or any form of abuse. It is the responsibility of any person who does work or volunteers on behalf of Youth Concern to ensure that the rights of children and vulnerable adults are protected and upheld at all times. Youth Concern takes a proactive role in the protection of children and vulnerable adults whilst working in partnership with other agencies. Youth Concern will consult, co-operate and coordinate its activities with other agencies to achieve the best possible outcomes for children and vulnerable adults.

Relevant legislation

  • The Children Act 1989 (England & Wales)
  • The Children Act 2004
  • The Protection of Children Act 1999 (England & Wales)
  • Care Act 2014
  • Mental Capacity Act 2005
  • The Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 (England & Wales)
  • The Police Act 1997
  • The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018
  • The Human Rights Act 1998
  • Sex Offenders Act 1997
  • Sexual Offences Act 2000 and 2003

Relevant Sources

  • Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023
  • Every Child Matters
  • Buckinghamshire Safeguarding Children Board Children

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined within Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 as:

  • providing help and support to meet the needs of children as soon as problems emerge
  • protecting children from maltreatment, whether that is within or outside the home, including online
  • preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development
  • ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
  • promoting the upbringing of children with their birth parents, or otherwise their family network 1 through a kinship care arrangement, whenever possible and where this is in the best interests of the children
  • taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes in line with the outcomes set out in the Children’s Social Care National Framework2 .

Adults

Youth Concern recognises that adult clients may also be vulnerable. Safeguarding issues may arise during work undertaken and the relevant local authority guidance and process on safeguarding adults must be followed. Safeguarding means protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. It is about people and organisations working together to prevent and stop both the risks and experience of abuse or neglect, while at the same time making sure that the adult’s wellbeing is promoted including, where appropriate, having regard to their views, wishes, feelings and beliefs in deciding on any action. This must recognise that adults sometimes have complex interpersonal relationships and may be ambivalent, unclear or unrealistic about their personal circumstances3 .

Who does this policy apply to?

Youth Concern believes everyone has a responsibility to promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, to keep them safe and to practice in a way that protects them. This policy applies to staff, volunteers and anyone who has even occasional contact with children and vulnerable adults whilst representing the charity. The law states and we believe that ‘the welfare of the child is paramount at all times’4 .

In summary

Youth Concern will ensure all work with children is carried out in accordance with the principles established by the Children Act 1989, the Children Act 2004, the Children and Social Work Act 2017 within the framework for the care and protection of children reflected in ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ (2023). We will ensure all work with vulnerable adults is carried out in accordance with the Care Act 2014.

  1. A family network can be a blood-relative, or a non-related connected person, such as a family friend or neighbour 2 Children’s social care: national framework – GOV.UK
  2. Care Act 2014 Guidance
  3. Children Act 1989 We will meet our commitment to keeping children and vulnerable adults safe by:
  • appointing a designated Safeguarding Lead to take responsibility for safeguarding, and a member of the trustee board to take lead responsibility and be accountable for safeguarding at the highest level having detailed safeguarding and child protection procedures
  • making sure all staff and volunteers understand and follow the safeguarding and child protection procedures
  • ensuring children, vulnerable adults, and where possible, their families know about Youth Concern’s safeguarding and child protection policy and procedures and what to do if they have a concern
  • ensuring staff and some (role-specific) volunteers undertake safeguarding training at least annually
  • building a culture where staff, volunteers, children and vulnerable adults o know how they are expected to behave o and feel comfortable about sharing concerns
  • listening to and respecting children and vulnerable adults.