Safeguarding Policy

Important:

Remember it is not up to you to decide if abuse has taken place, that is the role of Leicestershire’s Social Services, BUT it is up to you to report ANY concerns to your Designated Safeguarding Lead.

We have a responsibility to respond to any issues that may concern us even if they don’t involve our staff or services.

1. Policy Statement

Green Life Innovations considers the welfare of children and vulnerable adults to be of paramount importance. Where children are deemed to be under the age of 18, and vulnerable adults over 18 who are in need of care, support, help or assistance.

The organisation aims to create an environment in which children, young people and vulnerable adults are safe from abuse, and in which suspicion of abuse is promptly and appropriately responded to.

Abuse can be defined when a person suffers from harm, physical, emotional, or social sense.

These can be:

• Physical

• Sexual

• Neglect

• Emotional

• Financial

It is a right by law for children and vulnerable adults to have protection from abuse, and such rights may require the organisation to pass on confidential information to the appropriate authorities. Disclosure in this instance must be limited to those who need to know and are in a position to offer the required protection e.g. Health or Social Care Professionals and Police.

GLI considers the welfare of children and vulnerable adults is paramount. In the event of a safeguarding incident, this will become the primary responsibility of anyone involved. Nothing can take the priority, if dealing with the incident means a qualification or funding opportunity will be lost, the safeguarding takes priority. There is nothing more important than the safety and wellbeing of young people and vulnerable adults who use our services.

2. Staff responsibilities

             2.1 What to do if a child or young person discloses information to you.

Abused children and young people are more likely to disclose details of abuse to someone they trust and with whom they feel safe. By listening and taking seriously what the child or young person is saying you are already helping the situation.

The following points are a guide to help you respond appropriately:

• React calmly

• Take what the person says seriously

•Do clarify your understanding of what the person has said but avoid asking detailed or leading questions-accept that they might not want to tell you but let them know you are always ready to listen.

• Reassure the person that they were right to tell you and do not make promises in confidentiality

• Be open and honest; explain to them that you will have to share your concerns with the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

• Immediately record in all details in writing, using the child or young person’s own words

• As soon as possible fill out the incident reporting form (appendix 1) again including all the details that you are aware of and what was said using the child or young person’s own words. Attach your original notes to the Incident Reporting Form and give these directly to an appropriate Designated Safeguarding Officer.

The process on how to respond to disclosure is detailed in the accompanying procedure to this policy, which is attached as an appendix to this document (appendix 2).

2.2 Actions to Avoid

The person receiving the disclosure should not:

•Dismiss the concern

• Panic

• Allow their shock or distaste to show

• Probe for more information than is comfortably offered- do not overpressure for a response

• Speculate or make assumptions

• Make negative comments about the alleged abuser

• Make promises or agree to keep secrets

• Say might happen as a result of the disclosure

• Say ‘are you sure this is true’? Or other doubting comments e.g. ‘why did you not tell anyone before?’ or ‘I don’t believe you’

Remember: Listen – write it down – report it

2.3 What to do if you have suspicions or see signs of abuse.

You are not expected to investigate suspicions or concerns, other agencies are trained to do this.

If you have a concern about the safety or welfare of a child or young person:

• Note the concerns and your reasons using the incident reporting form

• You may choose to see your Line Manager

• Report to an appropriate Designated Safeguarding Lead

• Maintain confidentiality

DO NOT UNDERTAKE FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS

When there are on-going concerns regarding a parent or carer in relation to the alleged abuse of a child or a young person, the parent or carer should not be contacted about the allegation of the abuse. Social Care Services and/or the police will do this at an appropriate time.

The process on how to respond to the concerns is details in the accompanying procedure document, which is listed in the appendices of this policy.

3. Safeguarding Officers Responsibilities

They have responsibility to:

• Ensure that all staff within the organisation has the relevant level of safeguarding training      for their role. GLI recognises that vulnerable adults and young people come into contact    with staff, not just designated trainers. Therefore, all staff will have a level of safeguarding training.

• Ensure that all staff has completed a DBS check at least three yearly and appropriate risk assessments are carried out where convictions are disclosed.

• Ensure that copies of all policies and procedures, and relevant incident reporting forms           are available in every premises utilised by GLI, including temporary premises.

• Receive information from staff, volunteers and others who have concerns and record   them, using appropriate forms and procedures.

• Ensure that procedures for reporting concerns are followed appropriately in consultation with Social Care Services.

• Ensure that the appropriate agencies are informed.

• Ensure that information is recorded and stored appropriately.

• Provide information to staff reporting concerns about support available to them.

• Receive appropriate training.

• Ensure that policies and procedures are up to date, in particular that outside telephone          numbers are correct, and the policies and procedures are reviewed at least annually in           the event of a major incident.

4. After the Event

The priority is to safeguard the young person or vulnerable adult. However, GLI recognises that this can be extremely stressful for the staff involved.  After any incident you will be offered an interview with a Line Manager to explore further support you may need, this may include:

• Peer support

• External counselling / supervision session

• Group support session

• Additional training

GLI fosters a culture where staff are able to recognise the serious impact dealing with a disclosure or noticing signs of abuse may have on themselves. Line managers will always encourage anyone involved in a safeguarding incident to accept support.

5. If the incident involves a colleague or the practice and procedures of GLI

The wellbeing and safety of our users is paramount. If your concerns relate to an employee or volunteer working for GLI, you must report this. If your concern relates to poor practice or procedures within the organisation, again you should give priority to the safeguarding of our users. If you do have such concerns, you should report the matter to a Designated Safeguarding Lead. If the concern relates to a colleague an investigation will be carried out. If it relates to systems or practice within the organisation, a review will be instigated.

You should not hesitate to pass on any such concerns. The organisation is keen to identify any procedures that lead to poor practice, and sometimes the people operating those procedures are best placed to see such dangers. You will be protected under the Whistle Blowers Legislation.

Should the concern involve the Director(s) or other Senior Managers of GLI and the person raising this feels it needs investigating, they should contact the Chair of Trustees, (contact details will be posted on the wall of the main office in each building GLI utilises.)

The Trustees will nominate a member of the Board with sufficient competency as a Safeguarding Lead. This person will attend relevant training unless they have sufficient background, and in the event of a concern being passed to the board, the nominated Trustee will be informed and asked to investigate/ advise on the action. That trustee will also undertake spot checks on the Safeguarding documents within GLI.

6. Internet Safety

GLI recognises the value of IT and Internet Usage in Learning. However, we also recognise that such usage can lead to Safeguarding issues.  All learner access to the internet at GLI will be in open classrooms, on machines specifically designed for training and monitored by the Tutor leading the class.  Under no circumstances should any learner be able to utilise staff machines which may have lower-level safety settings.

GLI will ensure that up to date web filters are in place.  However, these are not always sufficient and therefore young people accessing our training will be asked to sign an Acceptable Use Policy.  In the event of any trainee downloading or uploading unsuitable material, or using the internet to bully or harass other learners or staff, their place may be terminated.

In the event of staff having concerns that a young person on one of our programmes is being groomed or bullied on the internet, they should treat that like any other disclosure or concern and follow the procedures in this Safeguarding Policy.

7. Peer on Peer Abuse

GLI recognises that children sometimes display abusive behaviour themselves and that such incidents or allegations must be referred on for appropriate support and intervention.  Such abuse will not be tolerated or passed off as “banter” or “part of growing up”.  This abuse could for example include sexual violence and sexual harassment, “upskirting”, initiation/hazing type violence, all forms of bullying, aggravated sexting and physical violence experienced by both boys and girls.  There are a number of partnerships and local authority/or Safeguarding Children Partnership guidelines and/or policies to address these concerns including the student Behaviour Policy, anti-bullying Policy, E-safety, “Guidance for schools working with students who display harmful; sexual behaviour” (Leicestershire LA Guidance) and DfE guidance “sexual violence and sexual harassment between students in schools and colleges”.  Where an incident has occurred or specific risks are identified, a formal risk assessment will be undertaken in order to minimise the risk of further harm and to ensure the safety of all staff and students.  Appropriate support will be offered to both the alleged victim and the student or young person accused and a referral to any relevant outside agency will be made e.g. Police/Social Care.  Procedures are detailed in the linked partnership policies mentioned above.

8. Children Missing (including absence from school)

GLI recognises the entitlement that all children have to education and will work closely with the local authority to share information about students who may be missing out on full time education or who go missing from education.  The local authority will also be informed where children are to be removed from the school register:

a) To be educated outside the partnership system

b) For medical reasons

c) Because they have ceased to attend

d) Because they are in custody

e) Because they have been permanently excluded

We also recognise that children who go missing is a sign that they have been targeted by CSE perpetrators and drug related criminal (County Lines).

Children may also be groomed into participating in other forms of criminal exploitation including cybercrime, serious violence and violent crime.  Children who attend an alternative education provision or have an agreed reduced timetable are more likely to be vulnerable to these forms of exploitation.

9. So-called ‘honour-based’ violence

Encompasses crimes which have been committed to protect or defend the so-called “honour of the family and/or the community, including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), forced marriages and practices such as breast ironing.  All forms of so-called HBV are abuse (regardless of the motivation) and concerns will be passed to the DSL for onward referral as required.

Support for staff – As part of their duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people staff may hear information, either from the student as part of a disclosure or from another adult that will be upsetting.  Where a member of staff is distressed as a result o f dealing with a child protection concern, he/she should in the first instance speak to the DSL about the support they require.  The DSL should seek to arrange the necessary support.

10. Private Fostering Arrangements

Where a child under the age of 16 (or 18 with a disability) is living with someone who is not their family or a close relative for 28 days or more, staff must inform the DSL, so that a referral to Children’s Social Care for a safety check, can be made.  (A close relative includes step-parent, grandparents, uncle, auntie or sibling).

11. Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE)

Child Sexual Exploitation and Child Criminal Exploitation are forms of abuse and both occur where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance in power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child into sexual or criminal activity. Whilst age may be the most obvious, this power imbalance can also be due to a range of other factors including gender, sexual identity, cognitive ability, physical strength, status, and access to economic or other resources. In some cases, the abuse will be in exchange for something the victim needs or wants and/or will be to the financial benefit or other advantage (such as increased status) of the perpetrator or facilitator.

CSE and CCE can affect both males and females and can include children who have been moved (trafficked) for the purpose of exploitation. The abuse can be perpetrated by individuals or groups, males or females, and children or adults. The abuse can be a one-off occurrence or a series of incidents over time, and range from opportunistic to complex organised abuse. It can involve force and/or enticement-based methods of compliance and may, or may not, be accompanied by violence or threats of violence. Victims can be exploited even when activity appears consensual and it should be noted - exploitation, as well as being physical, can be facilitated and/or take place online. CSE can include 16 and 17 year olds who can legally consent to sex but they may not realise they are being exploited e.g. they believe they are in a genuine romantic relationship.

A significant number of children who are victims of sexual exploitation go missing from home, care and education at some point or are targeted by criminals involved in the illegal supply of drugs (County Lines) and serious violent crime. ‘County Lines’ involves drug networks or individuals exploiting children and young people into carrying drugs and money between cities, towns and villages. Serious violent crime can be associated with this form of criminal activity together with child sexual exploitation.

Children may also be exploited into committing cybercrime or money laundering offences and organised criminal groups or individuals may exploit children and young people with enhanced computer skills to access digital networks and/or data for criminal and financial gain. Children with bank accounts may be persuaded to allow criminals to use their banking facilities to launder money.

CCE can also involve working in cannabis factories, shoplifting or pickpocketing and may involve coercing children to commit vehicle crime or serious violence towards others. It is important to note that the experience of girls can be very different to that of boys but girls are also at risk.

Criminal exploitation of children is a form of harm that can affect children in both a physical environment and online. Staff training includes raising awareness of these issues and any concerns are passed to the Designated Safeguarding Lead who will make a risk assessment and refer to Local Authority First Response Children’s Duty if appropriate.

12. Recruitment and Selection of Staff (also see the Safer Recruitment Policy) 

GLI’s safer recruitment processes follow the statutory guidance: “Keeping children safe in education, Part Three: Safer recruitment.

GLI will provide all the relevant information in references for a member of staff about whom there have been safeguarding concerns i.e. about child protection/inappropriate conduct. Cases in which the conclusion of an allegation has been unsubstantiated, unfounded, false or malicious will not be included in employer references. A history of repeated safeguarding concerns or allegations which have all been found to be unsubstantiated, malicious etc. will also not be included in a reference.

GLI has an open safeguarding ethos regularly addressing safeguarding responsibilities during staff meetings and fostering an ongoing culture of vigilance. All new staff and volunteers receive a safeguarding induction and are briefed on the code of conduct for adults working with children.

In line with statutory requirements, every recruitment process for GLI staff will have at least one staff member who has undertaken safer recruitment training.

Staff and volunteers who provide early years or later years childcare and any managers of such childcare are covered by the disqualification regulations of the Childcare Act 2006 and are required to declare relevant information - see statutory guidance: Disqualification under the Childcare Act 2006 (last updated August 2018).

13. Working Together in Safeguarding Children

Nothing is more important than children’s welfare. Children who need help and protection deserve high quality and effective support as soon as a need is identified.

GLI wants a system that responds to the needs and interests of children and families and not the other way around. In such a system, staff will be clear about what is required of them individually, and how they need to work together in partnership with others.

Whilst it is parents and carers who have primary care for students, local authorities, working with partner organisations and agencies, have specific duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children in their area. The Children Acts of 1989 and 2004 set out specific duties: section 17 of the Children Act 1989 puts a duty on the local authority to provide services to children in need in their area, regardless of where they are found; section 47 of the same Act requires local authorities to undertake enquiries if they believe a child has suffered or is likely to suffer significant harm. The Director of Children’s Services and Lead Member for Children’s Services in local authorities are the key points of professional and political accountability, with responsibility for the effective delivery of these functions.

These duties placed on the local authority can only be discharged with the full co-operation of other partners, many of whom have individual duties when carrying out their functions under section 11 of the Children Act 2004 (see chapter 2). Under section 10 of the same Act, the local authority is under a duty to make arrangements to promote co-operation between itself and organisations and agencies to improve the wellbeing of local children. This co-operation should exist and be effective at all levels of an organisation, from strategic level through to operational delivery.

The Children Act 2004, as amended by the Children and Social Work Act 2017, strengthens this already important relationship by placing new duties on key agencies in a local area. Specifically, the police, clinical commissioning groups and the local authority are under a duty to make arrangements to work together, and with other partners locally, to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children in their area. Everyone who comes into contact with children and families has a role to play. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined for the purposes of this guidance as:

● Protecting children from maltreatment

● 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

● Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes

Please refer to the following link for more information: Working together to safeguard children - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Appendix 1 – Incident Reporting Form

SAFEGUARDING INCIDENT REPORTING FORM

This form is used for reporting both suspicions and disclosures of possible abuse; therefore, not all sections may be appropriate. Please complete with as much information as possible, using verbatim reports from people involved where possible. This information will be treated in the strictest confidence.

The form can be downloaded below. 

The Designated Safeguarding Leads is TONY SMITH

Do not forget, the first priority is the safety of the young person or vulnerable adult.  If you cannot contact the Safeguarding Lead, please contact one of the agencies below. Keep notes and pass these on to the Safeguarding Leads as soon as possible.

IF YOU FEEL THERE IS IMMEDIATE DANGER – DON’T HESITATE – DIAL 999

If you cannot contact the Safeguarding Leads, and you feel urgent intervention is needed, phone of the following agencies. YOU DO NOT NEED PERMISSION FROM ANYONE TO DO THIS.

Social Care Services emergency out of hour’s service for adults:   0116 255 1606

Monday – Thursday 8:30am – 5.00pm

Outside office hours: Telephone the Emergency Duty Team:  0116 255 1606

Social Care Services – First Response Team Local Children’s Duty Access Team: 0116 305 0005

Local Adults Duty Access Team (office hours):   0116 305 0004

First Response Children’s Duty (Tier 4 same day):   0116 305 0005

Email:  childrensduty@leics.gov.uk

Address:  First Response Children’s Duty, Room 100b, County Hall, Championship Way, Leicester, LE3 8RF