SAFEGUARDING IS EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS
Safeguarding is the responsibility of everyone including statutory, independent and voluntary agencies as well as every citizen. We will work to prevent and protect children and adults from abuse and promote wellbeing. Wherever we are, we will work within the local multiagency framework as mandated by the latest government guidance (Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023)
DOING NOTHING IS NOT AN OPTION
If we suspect that a child or adult with care and support needs is being abused, we will do something about it and ensure our work is properly recorded. We will share information in a timely way and on a need to know basis.
Scope
As an organisation, we organise single day events for adults and minors. We mainly work with adults but increasingly also with young people and children. Consequently we have to be alert to the possibility or even the likelihood that they are “vulnerable” within the meaning of current legislation.
The aim of this policy is to ensure the safety of adults with care and support needs and young people/children, by outlining clear procedures and ensuring that all staff members are clear about their responsibilities.
Indicators of abuse and vulnerability
The characteristics of abuse can take a number of forms and cause victims to suffer pain, fear and distress reaching well beyond the time of the actual incident(s). Victims may be too afraid or embarrassed to raise any complaint. They may be reluctant to discuss their concerns with other people or unsure who to trust or approach with their worries. There may be some situations where victims are unaware that they are being abused or have difficulty in communicating this information to others.
This policy recognises the following principles:
Everyone, including children, have the right to live in safety and to be free from abuse or fear of abuse from others.
Everyone has the right to live an independent life based on ‘self-determination’ and personal choice.
It is the responsibility of the Jammin Committee ( Hereafter known as “The Committee”) to actively work to help prevent the abuse of adults with care and support needs and young people/children. This will be achieved by raising awareness, empowering people to make their own decisions and putting safeguards in place.
When a situation is discovered in which an adult with care and support needs and/or a young person or child reports abuse, or is thought to be at risk of abuse, then The Committee will react quickly in a co-ordinated manner to report to the relevant authorities and help them to overcome these difficulties.
Definitions
The Care Act 2014 defines an adult with care and support needs as a person who:
Has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs)
Is experiencing, or at risk of abuse or neglect
As a result of those care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of or the experience of abuse or neglect.
As some of the people we serve may be as young as ten, we should apply the same criteria to those below the age of 18.
Thus a vulnerable person may, for example, include someone who:
Is a substance mis-user
Is elderly and/or frail
Has a mental illness including dementia
Has a physical or sensory impairment/disability
Has a learning disability
Has a severe physical illness
Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by any other person or persons. It can take a number of forms including the categories set out in the Care Act Guidance detailed below.
Physical Abuse – including assault, hitting, slapping, pushing, misuse of medication, restraint or inappropriate physical sanctions
Domestic Violence – including psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional abuse and so called ‘honour’ based violence.
Sexual Abuse - including rape and any sexual acts to which the person has not consented.
Psychological Abuse - including emotional abuse, bullying and threats of harm.
Financial and/or Material Abuse - including theft, fraud, coercion in relation to an adult’s financial affairs or the misappropriation of property.
Modern Slavery - encompasses slavery, human trafficking, forced labour and domestic servitude.
Discriminatory Abuse - including harassment because of race, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.
Organisational Abuse - including neglect and poor care practice within an institution as a result of the structure, policies, processes and practices within an organisation.
Neglect and acts of omission – including ignoring medical, emotional or physical care needs.
Self-neglect – this covers a wide range of behaviour neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings.
Staff Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of each member of staff in The Committee to ensure as far as possible that the human and civil rights of our beneficiaries are supported and maintained at all times.
If a situation arises where a staff member perceives an adult or child as being abused, then our duty is to take action in accordance with the local reporting procedures for the building being used and reporting within The Committee.
Outside of any event or building used by The Committee, staff are duty bound to follow the reporting and escalating procedures set out in the next section.
Overall responsibility for ensuring compliance with this policy and these procedures lies with The Committee, who have a Designated Safeguarding Lead. (Dave Perryman 07538 237 349)
Reporting Procedures
If you come across a person who
has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs) AND
is experiencing or is at risk of abuse or neglect, AND
as a result of those care and support needs is unable to protect himself/herself from either the risk of or the experience of abuse or neglect…..
….then you should follow the reporting procedure below.
You should inform The Committee staff as soon as possible and follow this up with a written report (see below).
The Committee should then carry out a risk assessment and, if appropriate, inform one of the Key Contact numbers listed below. If you are in any doubt about whether or not to make this contact, then err on the side of caution and make it. Keep a record of the communication.
The Safe Guarding lead is responsible for recording all instances of alleged or reported abuse in the Safeguarding Log.
In emergency situations (e.g. where there is the risk or occurrence of severe physical injury), where immediate action is needed to safeguard the health or safety of the individual or anyone else who may be at risk, the emergency services must be contacted.
Where a crime is taking place, has just occurred, or is suspected, the police must be contacted immediately.
All members of The Committee staff have a responsibility to be aware of this policy and to report any suspicions that they might have concerning such abuse.
The written report you make should detail precise facts, not opinions, and give a clear account of what happened (or is happening). On completion, the report should be signed, dated and timed (or, if emailed, encrypted before sending) and sent to the office for the attention of the Safe Guarding lead of The Committee.
The report will then be entered into the Safeguarding Log detailing any actions resulting from the report.
Active Involvement
If the Safe Guarding lead decides to bring the matter to the attention of the Committee or Building Safe Guarding lead, and if The Committee proceeds to review the case, then the Owners or the building may well be involved. It is important therefore that the member(s) of staff who initiated the action kept records of their concerns and their actions, including timings and evidence. It is The Committee policy to cooperate and collaborate transparently with the other agencies active in the matter.
Ongoing Involvement
As the 2023 Guidance recognises, organisations such as The Committee are intimately connected to children and adults who may have safeguarding needs, and therefore may be the first to be confided in by the child or adult that they are suffering abuse. It will obviously be at the discretion of the institution concerned and of the local safeguarding board, if they wish to include The Committee in the formal arrangements for managing the safeguarding practices in the area. If they do so decide, then it is the policy of The Committee to accept the responsibility, allocating resources as appropriate as far as it can.
Sharing of data as appropriate, participation in reviews, contributing to Child Protection Plans and reporting are covered by this undertaking.
The Committee accepts that it is open to independent scrutiny with respect to its safeguarding role.
Suspicions concerning someone in the Organisation renting premises
Any suspicions arising from something you observe in building or are told about in the building should be reported through the buildings Reporting system. Back it up with your own record which you send to The Committee.
Cautionary notes:
suspected abuses may be perpetrated by Organisational Staff not just attendees of the event
never play the role of confidante. Before or after someone shares a confidence with you (preferably before, but certainly after), be sure to tell him/her that you are legally obliged to report suspected abuse to your line manager and thereby to the authorities
remember that hearsay is no more than hearsay and may be difficult to substantiate with evidence. Nevertheless it may still be an indicator of abuse occurring to someone (or risk of it) and so should be reported with the appropriate caveat.
Suspicions concerning someone outside the rented premises of the Event.
All the above applies also to suspicions concerning possible abuse of a person outside the building, with the obvious exception that you do not use the buildings reporting system but only The Committee management reporting system.
Allegation against The Committee Staff
Volunteers and staff themselves may also be the subject of an allegation of abuse. While support will be offered, The Committee will ensure that relevant agencies are given full support in pursuing any investigation. Suspension and/or discipline may be implemented.
If a member of The Committee is the subject of an allegation, the Allegation should be handled by a an alternative member of The Committee or third party such as Child Line, or similar agency suitable for handling cases like this and informed immediately.
Policies in conflict
Should a situation arise where the Safeguarding Policy of The Committee is in conflict with the policy of the Building or organisastion renting the premises then attempts should be made to satisfy both policies. It is important and preferable to alert more people to the disclosure or concern rather than alert none.
The Local Authority Safeguarding Adults Team in the relevant area are a useful source of advice and information if there is conflict within the organisation renting the building.
Key Contacts for Safeguarding Action
If you have an emergency, call the Police on 999.
If it isn't an emergency but you need help fast, call the Police on 101.
If the list below does not cover your particular area, look up the local authority website in the area you are looking for and search for “safeguarding”. All the websites will lead you to safeguarding adults and children (either together or separately).
Birmingham
For Adults and Children