Child and Vulnerable Adults Safeguarding Policy

Introduction

The Bristol Bike Project (BBP) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, engaged in the breadth of its activities.

The purpose of this policy is to outline the duty and responsibility of anyone working on behalf of BBP in relation to the protection of children and vulnerable adults.

The key objectives of the policy are:

• To explain the responsibilities of BBP and its staff and directors in respect of protection of children and vulnerable adults

• To provide staff and directors with an overview of protection of children and vulnerable adults

• To provide a clear procedure that will be implemented where child or adult protection issues arise

Every child and vulnerable adult who participates in any of BBP’s activities or who volunteers should be able to participate in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from harm. This is the responsibility of everyone involved in this organization. We recognize however, that abuse of any kind is a very emotive and difficult subject. It is important to understand the feelings involved but not to allow them to interfere with our judgments about any action to be taken.

BBP recognizes its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and vulnerable adults by protecting them from physical, sexual or emotional abuse, neglect and bullying. It is determined to meet its obligation to ensure that BBP provides opportunities for children and vulnerable adults to do so, with the highest possible standard of care.

BBP will ensure that:

• The welfare of children and vulnerable adults is paramount

• All children and vulnerable adults, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs or sexual identity, have the right to protection from abuse.

• The rights, wishes, and feelings of children and vulnerable adults are respected and promoted.

• All volunteers and staff will be trained and/or supervised to adopt best practice to safeguard and protect children and vulnerable adults from abuse.

• All staff and volunteers will adopt and abide by the appropriate codes of conduct and the policies and procedures outlined within this document.

• Any strong emotions and feelings are not allowed to interfere with ensuring that appropriate action is taken.

• This policy is regularly reviewed.

Definitions

• A child is defined as a person under the age of 18 (The Children Act 1989).

• A vulnerable adult is an adult who is in receipt of a regulated activity.These regulated activities are: the provision of healthcare, personal care, and/or social work; assistance with general household matters and/or in the conduct of the adult’s own affairs; and/or an adult who is conveyed to, from, or between places, where they receive healthcare, relevant personal care or social work because of their age, illness or disability.

• Physical abuse is deliberately hurting a person causing injuries such as bruises, broken bones, burns or cuts.

• A person is sexually abused when they are forced or persuaded to take part in sexual activities. This doesn't have to be physical contact, and it can happen online

• Neglect is the ongoing failure to meet a person’s basic needs. It's dangerous and people can suffer serious and long-term harm.

• People who are emotionally abused suffer emotional maltreatment or neglect. It's sometimes called psychological abuse and can cause people serious harm

• Bullying can happen anywhere– at school, at home or online. It’s usually repeated over a long period of time and can hurt a person both physically and emotionally.

For more information on the definition of abuse you can visit ww.nspcc.org.uk and https://www.scie.org.uk/safeguarding/adults/introduction/types-and-indicators-of-abuse

What does good practice look like?

• Always work in an open environment, where possible, avoiding private or unobserved situations and encourage open communication.

• Treat all children and vulnerable adults equally with respect and dignity.

• Always put the welfare of each child and vulnerable adult first.

• Maintain a safe and appropriate distance with children and vulnerable adults during activities.

• Be an excellent role model – this includes not smoking or drinking alcohol in the company of children.

• Recognise the developmental needs and capabilities of children and vulnerable adults.

• Keep a written record of any injury or harm that occurs, along with the details of any treatment given.

• Abuse can occur within many situations including the home, school, and the sporting environment. Some individuals will actively seek employment or voluntary work with children or vulnerable adults in order to harm them. There are some people in this organization that will have regular contact with children or vulnerable adults and be an important link in identifying cases where they need protection. All suspicious cases of poor practice should be reported to the BBP Designated Safeguarding Officers and the guidelines in this policy should be followed.

• All staff or volunteers leading on a BBP community programme will have a full DBS check carried out on them before they start. No child or vulnerable adult will be left without a DBS checked lead*. (See Appendix 1)

• All staff or volunteers will be briefed on this policy, sign it to confirm they understand it and told how to report any cause for concerns during their time at BBP.

What to do if information about abuse has been disclosed to you or if you have concerns:

If you are concerned about someone at BBP, or if someone discloses that they are being abused, then upon receiving the information you should:

• React calmly.

• Reassure the individual that they were right to tell and that they are not to blame.

• Never ask questions, always allow the individual to tell you what happened and listen carefully so you can make notes after.

• Never promise to keep what they have told you a secret, always explain that you have a responsibility to them to pass the information on.

• Inform the individual what you will do next.

• Make a full and written cause for concern record** of what has been said/heard as soon as possible, and don’t delay in passing on the information to the designated safeguarding officer. (See Appendix 2)

What to include when writing a cause for concern record:

• The person’s name, age and date of birth.

• The person’s home address and telephone number.

• Whether or not the person making the report is expressing their own concerns or those of someone else.

• The nature of the allegation, including dates, times, other relevant information.

• A description of any visible bruising or other injuries. Also any indirect signs, such as behaviour.

• Details of witnesses to the incidents.

• The person’s account, if it can be given, of what has happened and how bruising or other injuries occurred

• Whether parents, guardians or support workers have been contacted and if so what was said.

• Always sign and date the cause for concern.

Contacts for reporting concerns

It is the responsibility of all staff and volunteers to report any concerns they have or have witnessed relating to another member of staff, volunteer or project user. Please be assured that unacceptable behaviour can be reported without any recrimination and will be taken seriously. Any reports of this nature will be thoroughly investigated and dealt with following our disciplinary policy. Any concerns can be reported to Seonaid Davis, Jo Hellier, Krysia Williams or Harry Cusworth.

It is not BBP’s responsibility to decide whether abuse has taken place or not. However, we will pass on the information to the relevant authority.

In the absence of a BBP staff member please raise your concern using the contacts below.

Children

If you have an urgent safeguarding concern contact the MASH (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub) on 0345 155 1071. Out of normal working hours contact Social Services – 0345 600 0388

Adults

If you see, hear or suspect that an adult may be at risk of abuse or neglect, you must tell someone about it. If they are in immediate danger contact the police on 999. Otherwise contact Care Direct on 0345 155 1007.

Care Direct is open to take calls between 8.00am and 8.00pm Monday to Friday and from 9.00am to 1.00pm on Saturdays. Outside these hours and on Sundays and Bank Holidays, in emergency only, please contact our Emergency Duty Service on 0845 6000 388 (low-call rate).

Responsibility

The director responsible for safeguarding is: Seonaid Davis

The designated Safeguarding Officers are: Jo Hellier, Krysia Williams & Harry Cusworth (young person lead)

This policy will be reviewed annually and/or when new safeguarding legislation is brought in.

Last updated: December 2019

*Appendix 1: BBP Community Programme Coordinators and DBS checks

(BBP is in the process of updating our DBS checks for coordinators following an update to our policy in December 2019)

**Appendix 2: BBP Cause for Concern log

Can be downloaded at this link.