Safeguarding Policy
Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy
(including safe recruitment)
July 2023
Designated Person (Youth and Schools Work / Mighty Oaks):
Jessica McArdle - 07525 748728 or 01665 603644
Designated Person (Messy Church / Chaplaincy):
Caroline Friend - 07534 096120
If you can’t get hold of either Jessica or Caroline, please contact Sue Inglis-Jones.
Safeguarding Trustee: Sue Inglis-Jones - 07775 881566
The contact details for reporting all Safeguarding Concerns (Adults & Children) are via ‘One Call’
One Call (new number for Northumberland Social Services) 01670 536400
Thirtyone:eight helpline 0303 003 1111
This policy refers to all Ignite employees, trustees and volunteers.
Statement of Purpose
The charity is significantly involved with children, young people and adults with support needs and all trustees, employees and volunteers are responsible to protect and safeguard the welfare of children and young people and adults with support needs entrusted to the organisation's care.
Mission Statement
Ignite exists to enable children and young people and adults with support needs to discover their worth and potential, appreciate the place of spiritual values in their lives, become enablers themselves and contribute positively to their communities.
As part of the mission, the Trustees are committed to:
● Listening to, relating effectively with and valuing children, young people and adults with support needs whilst ensuring their protection within the organisation’s activities
● Encouraging and supporting parents/carers in their crucial role as the primary influence on the lives of children.
● Ensuring that children's/youth workers are given support and training
● Operating a system for dealing with concerns about possible risk and abuse.
● Maintaining good links with the statutory child care authorities
● Safely recruiting staff, volunteers and trustees through sound recruitment and safe programming
Activities of Ignite
Ignite is a charity delivering a range of work with children, young people and adults with support needs and families.
Areas of Policy
The Trustees recognise that many children, young people and adults with support needs today are the victims of neglect, and physical, sexual and emotional abuse regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality or religion. Accordingly, the Trustees have adopted the policy contained in this document, entitled Safeguarding Children Policy hereafter ("the policy'). The policy sets out agreed guidelines relating to the following areas:
● Definitions of abuse
● Responding to allegations of abuse, including those made against leaders or members of the organisation
● Safe recruitment of children's/youth workers and volunteers
● Supervision of activities and practice issues
The Trustees recognise the need to build constructive links with child and adult care agencies locally. Accordingly, these guidelines have been completed with reference to Northumberland Safeguarding Board procedures, ‘What to do if you are worried about a child is being abused’ guidance and Thirtyone:eight (formally CCPAS) .
Thirtyone:eight helpline: 0303 003 11 11
info@thirtyoneeight.org
www.thirtyoneeight.org/
Thirtyone:eight is an independent Christian safeguarding charity. Thirtyone:eight aims to help places of worship, faith groups, other organisations and families to create a safe environment for children and other vulnerable people and to respond appropriately to the needs of individuals who may have been abused or otherwise disadvantaged, for example through disability or social exclusion. Thirtyone:eight provides direct help, guidance, support and training to individuals, including children, affected by abuse. The 24 hour helpline is staffed by social workers and counsellors who provide advice and support regarding, for example, past abuse or reoffending, allegations of abuse and best practice management of sex offenders at places of worship and elsewhere.
Definitions of Abuse
The following categories of abuse are recognised for the purposes of this policy, and are stated in 'Working Together to Safeguard Children' (2015):
● Abuse and Neglect: Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm. Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting by those known to them or, more rarely, by a stranger.
● Physical Abuse: Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer feigns the symptoms of, or deliberately causes ill health to a child whom they are looking after. This situation is commonly described using terms such as factitious illness by proxy or Munchausen syndrome by proxy.
● Emotional Abuse: Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional ill-treatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child's emotional development. It may involve conveying to children that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may feature age or develop-mentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. It may involve causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of ill-treatment of a child, though it may occur alone.
● Sexual Abuse: Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative (e.g. rape or buggery) or non-penetrative acts. They may include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, pornographic materials or watching sexual activities, or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways. It will also include sexual exploitation and online grooming.
● Neglect: Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child's basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child's health or development. It may involve a parent or carer failing to provide adequate food, shelter or clothing, failing to protect a child from physical harm or danger, or the failure to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child's basic emotional needs.
(A child may suffer more than one category of abuse)
Recognising and Responding to Abuse
The following signs may or may not be indicators that abuse has taken place, but the possibility should be considered. They should not be taken in isolation.
Indicators of Possible Physical Abuse or Neglect:
● Any injuries not consistent with the explanation given for them
● Injuries which occur to the body in places which are not normally exposed to falls, rough games, etc
● Injuries which have not received medical attention
● Neglect - under nourishment, failure to grow, constant hunger, stealing or gorging food, untreated illnesses, inadequate care, etc
● Instances where children are kept away from the group inappropriately
● Reluctance to change for, or participate in, games or swimming
● Repeated urinary infections or unexplained tummy pains
● Bruises, bites, bums, fractures etc, which do not have an accidental explanation.
● Cuts/scratches/ substance abuse
Indicators of Possible Sexual Abuse:
● Any allegations made by a child concerning sexual abuse
● Child with excessive preoccupation with sexual matters and detailed knowledge of adult sexual behaviour, or who regularly engages in age-inappropriate sexual play
● Sexual activity through words, play or drawing
● Child who is sexually provocative or seductive with adults.
● Inappropriate bed-sharing arrangements at home
● Severe sleep disturbances with fears, phobias, vivid dreams or nightmares, sometimes with overt or veiled sexual connotations
● Eating disorders – anorexia/bulimia
● Changes or regression in mood or behaviour, particularly where a child withdraws or becomes clinging. Also depression/aggression, extreme anxiety
● Nervousness, frozen watchfulness
● Obsessions or phobias
● Sudden under-achievement or lack of concentration
● Inappropriate relationships with peers and/or adults
● Attention-seeking behaviour
● Persistent tiredness
● Running away/stealing/lying
What to do if a volunteer suspect that abuse may have occurred
1) If there is an immediate risk ring for the police and / or ambulance on 999.
2) You must report concerns as soon as possible to the Designated Person, who is nominated by the Trustees to act on their behalf in referring allegations or suspicions of neglect or abuse to the statutory authorities. In the absence of the Designated Person the matter should be brought to the attention of the Chair of Trustees. The Chair of the trustees may also be required by conditions of the organisation's insurance policy to immediately inform the insurance company.
3) If the suspicions in any way involve the Designated Person then the report should be made to the Chair of Trustees. If the suspicions in anyway implicate both the Designated Person and the Chair of the trustees, then the report should be made in the first instance toThirtyone:eight telephone:0303 003 11 11. The matter should also be reported to Northumberland Safeguarding Unit via ‘One Call’. It is, of course, the right of any individual as a citizen to make direct referrals to the child protection agencies or seek advice from Thirtyone:eight, although we hope that members of the organisation will use this procedure. If, however, you feel that the Designated Person has not responded appropriately to your concerns, then it is open to you to contact the relevant organisation directly. We hope by making this statement that we demonstrate the commitment of the organisation to effective child protection.
Allegations or suspicion of physical injury or neglect
If a child has a physical injury or symptom of neglect, the Designated person will:
1) Contact Social Services (or Thirtyone:eight) for advice if concerned about the child's safety.
2) Where emergency medical attention is necessary it will be sought immediately. The Designated person will inform the doctor of any suspicions of abuse.
3) The parent/carer(s) must not be informed if it is considered that the child may be at risk from further abuse
4) In other circumstances speak with the parent/carer and suggest that medical help/attention is sought for the child. The doctor (or health visitor) will then initiate further action if necessary.
5) If appropriate the parent/carer will be encouraged to seek help from the Social Services Department.
6) Where the parent/carer is unwilling to seek help, if appropriate, the Designated Person will offer to go with them. If they still fail to act, the Designated Person should, in cases of real concern, contact Social Services (‘One Call’) for advice.
7) The Designated Person may confer with the second Designated Person regarding any concerns that have been raised as long as the concerns do not implicate them.
8) Where the Designated Person is unsure whether or not to refer a case to the Social Services, then advice from Thirtyone:eight will be sought. Thirtyone:eight will confirm its advice in writing in case this is needed for future reference
Allegations or suspicion of sexual abuse
In the event of allegations or suspicions of sexual abuse, the Designated Person will:
1) Contact the One Call directly. The Designated Person will NOT speak to the parent(s) or anyone else with the exception of the second Designated person where the first Designated Person wishes to discuss concerns prior to report.
2) If, for any reason, the Designated Person or Safeguarding Trustee is unsure whether or not to follow the above, then advice from Thirtyone:eight will be sought and followed, Thirtyone:eight will confirm its advice in writing in case this is needed for reference purposes in the future.
3) Under no circumstances will the Designated Person attempt to carry out any investigation into the allegation or suspicions of sexual abuse. The role of the Designated Person is to collect and clarify the precise details of the allegation or suspicion and to provide this information to the Social Services Department, whose task it is to investigate the matter under Section 47 of The Children Act 1989.
4) Whilst allegations or suspicions of sexual abuse will normally be reported to a Designated Person, the absence of any Designated Persons should not delay referral to the Social Services Department via ‘One Call’.
5) Exceptionally, should there be any disagreement between the person in receipt of the allegation or suspicion and the Designated Person or as to the appropriateness of a referral to the Social Services Department, that person retains a responsibility as a member of the public to report serious matters to the Social Services Department, and should do so without hesitation.
6) The Trustees will support the Designated Person in their roles, and accept that any information they may have in their possession will be shared in a strictly limited way on a need to know basis.
How to respond to a child wanting to talk about abuse
It is not easy to give precise guidance, but the following may help:
General Points:
● Accept what the child says (however unlikely the story may sound)
● Keep calm
● Look at the child directly
● Be honest
● Tell the child you will need to let someone else know - don't promise confidentiality
● Even when a child has broken a rule, they are not to blame for the abuse
● Be aware that the child may have been threatened or bribed not to tell
● Never push for information. If the child decides not to tell you after all, then accept that and let them know that you are always ready to listen.
Helpful things to tay:
● I believe you (or showing acceptance of what the child says)
● Thank you for telling me
● It's not your fault
● I will help you
Do not:
● Say "Why didn't you tell anyone before?"
● Say "I can't believe it!"
● Say "Are you sure this is true?"
● Ask "Why? How? When? Who? Where?"
● Make false promises
● Make statements such as "I am shocked, don't tell anyone else"
Concluding:
● Again reassure the child that they were right to tell you and show acceptance
● Let the child know what you are going to do next and that you will let them know what happens (you might have to consider referring to Social Services or the Police to prevent a child or young person returning home if you consider them to be seriously at risk of further abuse)
● Contact the Designated person or contact Thirtyone:eight for advice or go directly to Social Services/Police/NSPCC
● Consider your own feelings and seek pastoral support if needed
Recording
Take notes as soon as possible (preferably within one hour of the interview), writing down exactly what the individual said and when s/he said it, what you said in reply and what was happening immediately beforehand (e.g. a description of the activity). Record and securely store dates and times of these events and when you made the record. Keep all hand written notes, even if subsequently typed.
Be prepared to share these notes with Social Services and Thirtyone:eight as required.
What to do once a child has talked to you about abuse
The Procedure
1) Make notes as soon as possible (preferably within an hour of the interview), write down exactly what the individual said, write what you said in reply to the child, when he/she said it and what was happening immediately beforehand (e.g. description of activity). Record dates and times of these events and when you made the record. Keep all hand written notes, even if these have been typed subsequently.
2) Report your discussion as soon as possible to the Designated person. If the latter is implicated, report to the alternative Designated person. If both of these are implicated, report the case to the Chair, Safeguarding Trustee or Thirtyone:eight directly.
3) All information must be treated in a confidential manner. The Designated person will need to be aware of any accusations and be involved in taking appropriate steps.
Detailed procedures where there is a concern that an adult needs protection:
Suspicions or allegations of abuse or harm including; physical, sexual, organisational, financial, discriminatory, neglect, self-neglect, forced marriage, modern slavery, domestic abuse.
If there is concern about any of the above, Safeguarding Co-ordinator/Deputy will:
● Contact the Adult Social Care Team who have responsibility under the Care Act 2014 to investigate allegations of abuse. Alternatively Thirtyone:eight can be contacted for advice.
● If the adult is in immediate danger or has sustained a serious injury contact the Emergency Services, informing them of any suspicions.
If there is a concern regarding spiritual abuse, Safeguarding Co-ordinator will:
● Identify support services for the victim i.e., counselling or other pastoral support
Contact Thirtyone:eight and in discussion with them will consider appropriate action with regards to the scale of the concern
Detailed procedures where there is a concern that an adult needs protection:
Suspicions or allegations of abuse or harm including; physical, sexual, organisational, financial, discriminatory, neglect, self-neglect, forced marriage, modern slavery, domestic abuse.
If there is concern about any of the above, Safeguarding Co-ordinator/Deputy will:
● Contact the Adult Social Care Team who have responsibility under the Care Act 2014 to investigate allegations of abuse. Alternatively Thirtyone:eight can be contacted for advice.
● If the adult is in immediate danger or has sustained a serious injury contact the Emergency Services, informing them of any suspicions.
If there is a concern regarding spiritual abuse, Safeguarding Co-ordinator will:
● Identify support services for the victim i.e., counselling or other pastoral support
Contact Thirtyone:eight and in discussion with them will consider appropriate action with regards to the scale of the concern
Helping victims of abuse
As an organisation we are committed to supporting victims of abuse. This will occur through personal care by those workers in the organisation who are able to give it, or by giving opportunity to victims to receive counselling and support elsewhere. Where counselling or advice given from an adult to a child or young person is undertaken, another worker, the group leaders and parents/carers (except in the circumstances mentioned in this policy) will be informed and consenting, and another worker will be on the premises throughout. Records will be kept of any interviews carried out.
Allegations of harm by workers, volunteers or trustees procedure
Ignite workers will come into contact with children and young people in the course of their work. The possibility that staff or volunteers might act in a way that compromises the well-being of a child is recognised by Ignite.
Where it is suspected that a member of staff may have acted in a way that compromises the well-being of a child, the member of staff with the suspicion must report it to the Designated Person immediately. If the suspicion relates to a Designated Person the Chair of Trustees should be informed.
Out of normal working hours, the Designated Person should be contacted on his/her mobile telephone or landline to inform him / her of the concern. Any subsequent action will be instigated by the Trustees.
The welfare of the child is paramount and immediate action must be taken to ensure the protection of the child and to obtain any medical attention that may be needed.
Information about the suspicion must not be shared with other staff, without the permission of the Chair of Trustees.
It is necessary to consider when a suspicion is raised whether there is any indication that other children may also have had their well-being compromised by the member of staff, agency staff, or a volunteer.
Where a concern is raised that a member of staff may have acted in a way that compromises the well-being of a child, the matter must be investigated without any presupposition that harm has or has not occurred. In most cases while investigations are being carried out it will be necessary to arrange voluntary paid leave of absence, suspension without prejudice for staff or trainees or redeployment. Agency staff contracts will be terminated and the agency informed. Volunteers will be requested not to undertake any further voluntary work.
Three separate strands of investigation will be required: -
1) The Children’s Services will carry out their Safeguarding Children procedures.
2) The circumstances may require a police investigation to ascertain whether a crime has been committed.
3) The disciplinary procedure may be involved to ascertain whether there has been misconduct or gross misconduct by staff, which may not necessarily be of a criminal nature. A similar process of investigation will be carried out in relation to a volunteer to establish whether guidelines and procedures for volunteers have been followed.
The outcomes of concerns involving members of staff will be notified to DBS, other regulatory bodies and funding partners, as appropriate.
Detailed procedures where there is a concern that an adult needs protection:
Suspicions or allegations of abuse or harm including; physical, sexual, organisational, financial, discriminatory, neglect, self-neglect, forced marriage, modern slavery, domestic abuse.
If there is concern about any of the above, Safeguarding Co-ordinator/Deputy will:
● Contact the Adult Social Care Team who have responsibility under the Care Act 2014 to investigate allegations of abuse. Alternatively Thirtyone:eight can be contacted for advice.
● If the adult is in immediate danger or has sustained a serious injury contact the Emergency Services, informing them of any suspicions.
If there is a concern regarding spiritual abuse, Safeguarding Co-ordinator will:
● Identify support services for the victim i.e., counselling or other pastoral support
Contact Thirtyone:eight and in discussion with them will consider appropriate action with regards to the scale of the concern
Safe recruitment of workers, volunteers and trustees
The safe recruitment of paid workers & volunteers is the first step to safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk. In line with recent legislation and guidance and good practice guidance, IGNITE is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk and expects all paid workers and volunteers to share this commitment.
Ignite Trustees are responsible for the safe recruitment of workers both paid and voluntary. We undertake to exercise proper care in the selection, appointment, training and support of those working in a paid or voluntary position with children, young people and adults at risk including the use of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosures and making appropriate referrals to the Independent Safeguarding Authority.
The Safer Recruitment Policy is to help deter, reject or identify people who might abuse children, young people and adults at risk or are otherwise unsuited to working with them.
Aims and objectives
• to ensure that appropriate staff/volunteers are recruited based on their merits, abilities, and suitability for the role
• to ensure that all applicants are considered equally and consistently.
• to ensure that no applicant is treated unfairly on any grounds including protected characteristics such as race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, sex, or sexual orientation, marital or civil partner status, disability, or age.
• to ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, recommendations and guidance
• to ensure that IGNITE meets its commitment to safeguarding by carrying out all necessary checks.
Any adult wishing to work with children, young people and adults at risk will not be invited to do so if:
- they have at any time been placed on the Sex Offenders Register or have been convicted of any sexual offences,
- they have committed an act of violence or sexual offence against anyone at anytime.
Please see the Ignite Appointment Flowchart – Appendix A for a summary of the procedure outlined below:-
The procedure for the appointment will be:
● A volunteer expresses an interest in helping at an Ignite activity.
● The leader of the group has an informal chat with the volunteer. If they have any concerns about the person’s suitability they should speak to the Chair of Trustees.
● The volunteer may attend the group for up to 4 sessions. If after 4 sessions the group leader still considers the volunteer suited to the group the leader will inform the recruiter, giving them the contact details of the volunteer.
● Group Leader will explain the recruitment process to the volunteer using the appointment flowchart. This includes information that an enhanced plus barred list DBS check may be required. The Volunteer will be made aware that the DBS can be applied for on line or using a paper application. The level of DBS check that will be applied for will depend on the responsibilities the volunteer is likely to undertake.
● Recruiter sends 4-page Ignite application form, (including a voluntary disclosure form) together with a letter from the Chair of Trustees. The letter includes requirement for volunteer to register with DBS Online Update service.
● The volunteer then has 1 month / 4 sessions to complete the forms and send them to the recruiter. If no forms are received, volunteers must stop attending the group. Note: The whole safe recruiting process must be completed within 6 months from being given the application form or else the volunteer must stop attending the group.
● Recruiter sends for 2 references
● Once references are received the recruiter will liaise with the leader of the group and Trustees to arrange an informal interview with the leader and one Trustee. The volunteer application form will be circulated by the Recruiter to those interviewing, with a copy of the references to the trustee. The trustees will check the volunteer’s Voluntary Disclosure Form.
● Following the interview, the trustee will have responsibility to give feedback to the volunteer and recruiter, including details of the exact role/s the volunteer will fulfil. If the volunteer is being enrolled the recruiter will ask the volunteer to apply for an Enhanced DBS certificate (or use the DBS Online Update Service if the volunteer is already registered with the Update Service).
● The volunteer must show the Enhanced DBS certificate to the recruiter and complete and sign the Ignite Consent Form.
● Recruiter will confirm to the Group Leader the up-to-date status of the Enhanced DBS Certificate so that the leader knows the volunteer is/is not allowed to take responsibility for children / young people/vulnerable adults.
● Group Leader will give the recruited volunteer a copy of the volunteer handbook and ask him/her to sign a volunteer agreement.
● A 6-month probation period will start from the date when the agreement is signed.
● Recruiter will add volunteer to the Ignite volunteer list.
● Children's or Youth Workers will be given opportunities to meet together to discuss work programmes and areas of concern.
In the case of recruitment for paid staff the candidate will be subject to the same safeguarding checks before final appointment can be made however the other steps involved in the application and interview process will be detailed in the Application Pack for the role.
Those invited to work with children, young people and adults at risk will:
- be given Role Descriptions of the tasks they are to perform and a copy of Ignite’s Code of Behaviour policy
- be expected to sign an Agreement outlining that they have read and accept these arrangements
- be expected to undertake training and participate in development opportunities at least every three years
- have read, understood and documented their agreement to abide by our Safeguarding Policy and code of conduct
Blemished Disclosures and Risk Assessments
Sometimes a ‘blemished’ DBS disclosure certificate, relating to an individual applying to work or volunteer with children, young people or vulnerable adults, will be returned to the registered body or employing organisation. ‘Blemished’ disclosures provide details of offences or information that may be of relevance to Ignite when making a recruitment decision. In these circumstances the Chair of Trustees will discuss this with the Safeguarding Trustee and then make a judgement on whether the disclosure should or should not result in the person being taken on as a volunteer. At present there is no formal risk assessment form used but the Chair will place on file the reasoning/risk assessment that has been made.
If for any reason the Chair of Trustees is uncertain of the appropriate course of action, we will refer to Thirtyone:eight who are qualified to offer expert advice in these situations. Ignite would work with Thirtyone:eight to understand the risks and implications of the information contained on the disclosure for either their paid employees or their volunteers. Often this may require undertaking a comprehensive risk assessment of such individuals and the context within which they have applied to work.
If the Chairpersons decision is appealed by the applicant, then other Trustees will become involved.
The criteria for NOT appointing children's workers are:-
● That the individual has previously abused a child.
● Where the individual has a record of violent or criminal sexual behaviour.
● Where they are unsuitable for the role.
Supervision of Children's Activities
The following measures will be taken at all times to ensure safe supervision of all children's activities. Workers here are defined as those who have been recruited as described in the section 'Appointment of Workers' above.
● All children will be treated with dignity and respect.
● Adequate ratios of workers to children will be practised under all circumstances, the minimum being:
o 0 to 2 years 1:3 workers to children
o 2 to 3 years 1:4 workers to children
o 3 to 8 years 1:8 workers to children
o 8 to 15 years 1:12 workers to children/young people
● A minimum of two workers must be on duty at all times.
● Workers will be discouraged from being alone with a child. Where confidentiality is important, another worker will be informed of the interview before it occurs, and will remain on the premises until the interview is ended. This will be strictly adhered to.
● No person under 16 years of age will be left in sole charge of any children of any age.
● A register of all activities will be kept including the names of those who attended including workers and volunteers.
● A log will be kept of all activities recording the activities undertaken and any significant incidents. An accident and incident form will be used.
● Rough or sexually provocative games will never be played.
● Workers will never use sexually provocative or aggressive language.
● Personal touch of a child by an adult will not occur when they are alone.
● All touching of children must be public, age-appropriate, and related to the child's needs and not the worker's. The child should at all times remain in control of how much physical contact they have with others, except in extreme medical circumstances.
● No personal touch that is or could be thought to be either sexually provocative or aggressive will ever occur from a worker.
● With the exception of an emergency situation, Volunteers or workers should not transport children or young people in their own cars unless a full risk assessment has been carried out. This risk assessment should include parental permission, emergency contact numbers, insurance, ratios etc
● All transport arrangements for children will be undertaken with the full knowledge of both the group leaders and parents/carers.
● Discussions or interviews of any nature will not occur in a car with a child at the end of a journey.
● Where a leader is a personal friend of a parent/carer who asks that leader to transport their child, this private arrangement comes outside the scope of this policy
● Where groups of children or young people are being transported by minibus, a driver and one worker must be present.
● Personal care (especially regarding toiletting) of children and those with special needs must be appropriate and related to the age of the child. Any worker involved in this will inform another worker beforehand and afterwards, and another worker will be nearby throughout. Only a worker of the same sex as the child may administer such care.
Training
The Trustees are committed to ensuring volunteers / workers complete one of the following within 3 months, and then repeat the training every three years.
● E learning – Awareness of Child Abuse and Neglect or
● Introduction to safeguarding in the VCS training or
● Safeguarding Adults and Children
Endorsed by Northumberland Safeguarding Children’s Board.
Informing users of the policy
Each group / activity of Ignite will have a copy of this policy and it will be available to be viewed by young people, parents, carers and our partners.
Abuse of Trust
As a Trust we undertake to follow the principles found within the Abuse of Trust guidance issued by the Home Office. It will therefore be unacceptable for any employee, trustee or volunteer to engage in any behaviour which might allow sexual relationships to develop with a young person aged 16-18 years whilst ever the relationship of trust continues.
This policy links with other Ignite policies – Speaking up policy
Safeguarding Reports
As part of the annual review Trustees will receive a safeguarding report.
Policy Review
This policy will be reviewed annually by the Trustees.
Next Review Date May 2024