Introduction
The IED is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people, and vulnerable adults who engage with our services. We aim to ensure that our activities are safe, supportive, and respectful, and that those who come into contact with us are protected from harm, abuse, and exploitation.
This Safeguarding Policy outlines the principles, procedures, and practices that we follow to prevent and respond to safeguarding concerns. It applies to all staff, volunteers, trustees, and anyone else working on behalf of the organisation.
Safeguarding Principles
We are guided by the following safeguarding principles:
Prevention: We will take all reasonable steps to prevent harm and abuse from occurring.
Protection: We will act to protect individuals from harm or abuse when they are at risk.
Partnership: We will work in partnership with other agencies, including statutory services, to safeguard the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.
Accountability: We will hold ourselves accountable for safeguarding decisions and actions and ensure transparency in our procedures.
Empowerment: We will empower individuals to make informed decisions and encourage them to speak up if they have concerns about theirs or others’ safety or well-being.
Definitions of Abuse
We define abuse as the violation of an individual’s human rights, which may include, but is not limited to:
Physical Abuse: Any act that causes physical harm or injury, such as hitting, shaking, burning, or other forms of violence.
Emotional/Psychological Abuse: Harm to an individual’s emotional well-being, such as verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, humiliation, or isolation.
Sexual Abuse: Any form of sexual activity without consent, including molestation, assault, or exploitation.
Neglect: The failure to provide for an individual’s basic needs, including food, shelter, clothing, and medical care.
Financial Abuse: The exploitation or theft of an individual’s financial resources.
Discriminatory Abuse: Treating someone unfairly based on characteristics such as race, gender, disability, age, religion, or sexual orientation.
Scope and Application
This policy applies to:
– All employees, volunteers, and contractors working for or on behalf of the IED
– Board members and trustees
– Any third parties or organisations working in partnership with the IED
Safeguarding Responsibilities
1. Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
The IED has appointed a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) who is responsible for overseeing safeguarding practices, managing concerns, and ensuring that staff are appropriately trained. The DSL is also the point of contact for all safeguarding issues.
Name: Libby Meyrick
Email: libby@ied.org.uk
2. Staff and Volunteer Responsibilities
All staff and volunteers have a responsibility to:
– Be vigilant and report any concerns about the welfare of individuals they come into contact with
– Follow the safeguarding procedures outlined in this policy
– Participate in relevant safeguarding training and development
– Maintain confidentiality when dealing with safeguarding concerns, but understand their duty to share information if there is a risk of harm
Reporting Safeguarding Concerns
Anyone who has a safeguarding concern about a child, young person, or vulnerable adult should report it immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). If the concern involves the DSL, reports should be made to a trustee.
Reports can be made by:
– Directing an email to libby@ied.org.uk or a member of the IED Council
– Completing a safeguarding concern form (available here)
All concerns will be taken seriously and acted upon in accordance with our safeguarding procedures.
Procedure for Handling Safeguarding Concerns
1. Immediate Action: If there is an immediate risk of harm, staff should take any necessary actions to protect the individual, such as removing them from a harmful situation or calling emergency services.
2. Recording the Concern: All safeguarding concerns must be recorded in writing, including the nature of the concern, any actions taken, and any individuals involved.
3. Referral to Authorities: If necessary, the concern will be reported to local statutory services (e.g., social services, police) or the appropriate safeguarding authority.
4. Support for the Individual: We will ensure that individuals involved in safeguarding concerns are provided with the appropriate support, which may include counselling, referrals to specialist services, or help accessing resources.
Safe Recruitment Practices
We will take all necessary steps to ensure that those we employ or engage in work with children, young people, and vulnerable adults are suitable for their roles. This includes:
– Obtaining and verifying appropriate references
– Conducting background checks, including enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks (or equivalent) where applicable
– Interviewing candidates with a focus on safeguarding responsibilities
Training and Development
All staff, volunteers, and trustees should receive safeguarding training as part of their induction and on an ongoing basis. This will include:
– An understanding of the organisation’s safeguarding policy and procedures
– How to recognise signs of abuse and neglect
– How to respond to safeguarding concerns appropriately
– An understanding of the legal and regulatory framework around safeguarding
Confidentiality and Information Sharing
We recognise that confidentiality is important, but we also acknowledge the need to share information to protect individuals from harm. We will ensure that any information about safeguarding concerns is shared on a need-to-know basis and in line with relevant legal and ethical guidelines.
Monitoring and Review
We will monitor the effectiveness of this policy regularly, review any incidents or concerns, and revise the policy and procedures as necessary. The policy will be reviewed at least annually, and updates will be shared with all relevant staff and volunteers.
Whistleblowing
We are committed to creating an environment in which staff and volunteers feel confident to speak out if they have concerns about safeguarding issues. Our whistleblowing policy provides clear guidance on how to report concerns, and we assure that individuals will be supported and protected from any adverse consequences of raising safeguarding concerns in good faith.
Conclusion
We are fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people, and vulnerable adults. This policy is designed to ensure that safeguarding is embedded throughout our organisation and that we are prepared to respond effectively to any safeguarding concerns.
Approved by Council on: 5 December 2024
Review Date: January 2026