Safeguarding Policy

INTRODUCTION

This policy sets out A.I.R requirements and commitment to ensure the safeguarding of children, young people, and adults at risk of harm or abuse. This safeguarding policy applies to anyone working on our behalf, including our staff, trustees, partner organisations and other volunteers. A.I.R often partners with other organisations. In these instances, A.I.R will ensure that all partner agencies have a safeguarding policy in place.
Our organisation’s activities include working with vulnerable people. The purpose of this policy is to protect children, vulnerable adults and provide stakeholders and the public with the overarching principles that guide our approach in doing so.
Safeguarding is the practice of ensuring that children, young people, and adults at risk have their health, wellbeing and rights protected in society. Safeguarding takes proactive steps to prevent abuse against Children and Adults at risk, including the action the organisation takes to promote the welfare of people including Children and Adults at risk to protect them from harm.
A.I.R is committed to safeguarding the well-being of children, young people, and adults at risk with whom we come into contact within our funded work. We recognise that children, young people, and adults at risk have rights as individuals and should be valued, listened to and treated with respect. A.I.R takes a zero-tolerance approach to any harm of a child, young person, or adult at risk by our staff, partners and funded organisations. All A.I.R individuals and projects that work with children and young people or adults at risk are required to have a safeguarding policy and active procedures in place.

2. DEFINITIONS

A child is defined as up to the age of 18.
An adult at risk is any person who is aged 18 years or over and at risk of abuse or neglect because of their needs for care and or support.
Abuse can take many forms, such as physical, psychological or emotional, financial, sexual or institutional abuse, including neglect and exploitation. This can include but is not limited to
• Physical harm (hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, or scalding, drowning, suffocating) includes the supply of drugs to children, the unlawful or inappropriate use of restraint or physical interventions.
• Emotional and psychological harm action or inaction by others that causes mental anguish, such as witnessing aggressive, violent or harmful behaviour towards another individual (e.g., domestic violence) serious bullying, causing a someone to feel frightened or in danger, exploitation and/ or corruption, negating the right of the vulnerable adult to make choices
• Sexual harm and exploitation forcing or enticing a child or vulnerable adult to take part in sexual activities, including prostitution, looking at, or production of, pornographic material, causing them to watch sexual activities, or encouraging them to behave in sexually inappropriate ways. child pornography, taking indecent photographs of children, and sexualised texting, are all forms of sexual harm.
Neglect and acts of omission persistent failure to meet basic physical and/or psychological needs, which is likely to result in serious impairment of their health or development, poor hygiene and ignoring medical or physical needs.
• partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other injury to female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
• Discrimination any abuse that is racist, sexist, or linked to a person’s sexuality, disability, religion, ethnic origin, gender, culture, or age, is discriminatory.
• Institutional harm disrespectful language and attitudes, lack of dignity and respect in care settings, enforcement of rigid routines.
• Financial Harm the use of a person’s property, assets, income, funds or other resources without their informed consent or authorisation

Trustees of A.I.R Director will take responsibility for the oversight of all aspects of safety, including whistleblowing and H&SW. This will include:

• Creating a culture of respect, in which everyone feels safe and able to speak up.
• An annual review of safety, and recommendations to the Board.
• Providing oversight of any lapses in safeguarding.
• Providing support to CEO and staff members on issues of safeguarding.

A.I.R’S trustees will take responsibility for day-to-day management of safety and reporting to the board any issues of concern this includes but is not limited to:
• Proper investigation of any issues to ensure they are dealt with quickly, fairly, and sensitively.
• Where necessary reporting to the Police and /or appropriate statutory authorities
• Ensuring safeguarding risk assessments are carried out and appropriate action taken to minimise these risks.
• Ensuring that all relevant checks are carried out in recruiting staff and volunteers.
• Ensuring that all appointments that require DBS clearance and safeguarding training are identified, including the level of DBS and any training required.
• Keeping an up-to-date central register of DBS clearances and training.
• Ensuring that safeguarding requirements (eg DBS) and responsibilities are reflected in job descriptions, appraisal objectives and personal development plans
• Listening and engaging with beneficiaries, staff and volunteers
• Responding to any concerns sensitively and acting quickly to address issues.
• Ensuring that personal data is stored and managed in a safe way that is compliant with data protection regulations, including valid consent to use any imagery or video.
• Making staff, volunteers, and others aware of:
• Our safeguarding procedures and their specific safeguarding responsibilities on induction, with regular updates/reminders, as necessary.
• The signs of potential abuse and how to report these.

Everyone to be aware of our procedures, undertake any necessary training, be aware of the risks and signs of potential abuse and, if you have concerns, to report these immediately (see above).

3. PRINCIPLES

This policy is based on the legal and statutory definitions of a child (defined as being up to 18 years old) and adults at risk. As an organisation, we are committed to safeguarding the well-being of children, young people, and adults at risk who use our services. A.I.R are committed to ensuring:
• All young people and adults at risk, regardless of age, culture, any disability they may have, sex, language, racial origin, religious belief, gender reassignment or sexual identity has the right to protection from any kind of abuse.
• All young people and adults at risk have the right to participate in a safe environment.
• Young people and adults at risk have the right to expect appropriate support in accordance with their personal and social development.
• Safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk is the responsibility of everyone within A.I.R, regardless of their role.
• A timely and appropriate response will be given to all suspicions or allegations of abuse, or poor practice.
• It is the responsibility of the Designated Safeguarding Lead/Leadership Team within both internal and external agencies involved with young people and / or adult at risk to uphold safeguarding criteria thresholds.
• The sharing of confidential information is restricted to the necessary external agencies.
• All personal information about children, young people and adult at risk is processed, shared and stored appropriately in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018, the Freedom of Information Act 2000, General Data Protection Regulations and Information Sharing Protocols.

4. IMPLEMENTATION

This Safeguarding Policy shall be adopted by A.I.R and relevant projects. This applies to:
• Our organisation and our staff, partners and funded organisations, associates, volunteers, young people and trustees.
• All other bodies working in partnership with us.

5. MONITORING

Our organisation’s Safeguarding Policy will be monitored annually. The following situations may also trigger a review of the policy:
• Any changes of legislation.
• Any changes in youth governance.
• The result of a significant case.

6. SAFE RECRUITMENT

All applicants will be subject to appropriate checks required to carry out their role. This includes but is not limited to DBS checks if necessary.

7. PROMOTING GOOD PRACTICE

A.I.R is committed to ensuring that all staff, volunteers and trustees receive training and updates in safeguarding as appropriate to their job description.
Support and supervisions will be provided for all staff and volunteers where appropriate.

8. GOOD PRACTICE GUIDELINES

All staff, partners and volunteers should demonstrate exemplary behaviour in order to protect young people, adults at risk and themselves. This includes:
• Working in compliance of A.I.R safeguarding policy and procedures.
• Promoting A.I.R safeguarding policy to those they manage, their teams and any associates or volunteers they may work with.
• Treating all young people and adults at risk equally, with respect and dignity.
• Always putting the welfare of young people and adults at risk before organisational aims.
• Building and maintaining a safe and appropriate relationship with young people and adults at risk.
• Empowering young people and adults at risk to contribute to decision-making processes.
• Attending training as required.
• Positive role modelling for young people and adults at risk.
• Adhering to A.I.R Code of Conduct.

9. RELATIONSHIPS OF TRUST

A.I.R has Code of Conduct that clearly defines appropriate behaviours for all staff and volunteers.
A.I.R is aware of the power and influence a member of staff, volunteer or someone in a leadership role has over someone seeking assistance whether it be a one to one or a group activity. Staff, volunteers and Directors are expected to act within appropriate boundaries with young people and adults at risk, in relation to all forms of communication.
Staff should be mindful of any physical contact and should not have intimate or sexual relationships with young people or adults at risk. “It is an offence for a person aged 18 or over to involve a child under that age in sexual activity where he or she is in a specified position of trust in relation to that child. This includes those who care for, advise, supervise, or train children and young people.” (Sexual Offences Act 2003)

10. GUIDELINES ON PARTICPATION CONSENT

We recognise that child, young people and adults at risk need to be able to participate freely as they work with A.I.R towards their desired goals. Careful consideration will be given to working with children and young people that takes account of their capacity to give informed consent, considering whether it is appropriate to seek the consent of others who have parental responsibility for the young person, and their best interests.

11. GUIDELINES ON MEDIA CONSENT

If any material is going to be shared beyond A.I.R, then Media Consent needs to be obtained. Any young person under the age of 18 should have consent from a parent or guardian.
When collaborating with partners and other organisations, the primary organisation will be responsible for Media Consent, and A.I.R will be required to obtain their permission before material is shared.

12. RECOGNISING ABUSE

It is part of everyone’s role at A.I.R and those we work in partnership with to do everything possible to keep children, young people and adults at risk, safe from abuse. There is a moral responsibility to report any concerns about a child, young person or adult at risk in any context. Most suspicions of abuse come about from observation of changes in behaviour, appearance, attitude or relationship with others. Training is important to support staff, partners and funded organisations and volunteers to recognise abuse. In exceptional circumstances, the need to safeguard our clients or others from serious harm may require us to override our commitment to making our client’s wishes and confidentiality our primary concern. We may need to act in ways that will support any investigations or actions necessary to prevent serious harm to our clients or others. In such circumstances, we will do our best to respect the parts of our client’s wishes or confidences that do not need to be overridden in order to prevent serious harm.

13. DEFINITIONS OF ABUSE

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 defines abuse as: “A form of maltreatment of a child. 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 others. Abuse can take place in person – without the aid of technology, wholly online, or technology may be used to facilitate offline abuse. Children and adults at risk may be abused by an adult or adults, or another child or children. There are four major types of abuse:
• Physical Abuse.
• Emotional Abuse.
• Sexual Abuse.
• Neglect
There are other types of abuse that fit into these categories and are key areas for children and young people in the UK. These include but are not restricted to Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE), Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Extremism, Contextual Safeguarding, Mental Health, Domestic Abuse and Homelessness (Working Together guidance 2020).

14. SIGNS OF ABUSE

The indicators of abuse may not always be apparent, and a young person or vulnerable adult might choose not to disclose their experiences. Fear of retaliation and concerns about escalating abuse often prevent individuals from speaking out. Signs which may indicate abuse include:
• Unexplained bruising and injuries.
• Sexually explicit language and actions.
• Sudden changes in behaviour, such as absences, withdrawal or having unexplained material goods.
• Something a child has said.
• A change observed over a long period of time e.g. losing weight or becoming increasingly dirty/unkept.
Such signs do not necessarily mean a child, young person or adult at risk is being abused. Equally, there may not be any signs; you may just feel something is wrong. It is not a member of staff, volunteer or partners responsibility to decide if it is abuse, but it is their responsibility to act on such concerns and report them accordingly.

15. VULNERABLE PEOPLE

A.I.R has a responsibility to be aware that some people who access our service may experience difficulties that adversely affect their lives at home and/or within their lives and therefore be at risk of harm.

16. PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE GROUPS

A.I.R has a responsibility to be aware that some people who take part in our activities may experience difficulties that adversely affect their lives at home and/or within their lives outside of the organisation and therefore be at risk of harm. These include but are not limited to:
• People with a disability including physical disability, sensory disability and learning disability.
• Children and young people at risk of sexual exploitation (CSE)
• Young and adult Carers
• Children and young people affected by gang activity.
• Children and young people missing education.
• Young people and adults who are homeless.
• Children, young people and adults who are experiencing domestic abuse.
• Children, young people and adults whose parents / carers/ partners misuse substances.
• Children and young people and adults whose parents / carers/ partners have learning disabilities.
• Unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee children.

17. RESPONDING TO DISCLOSURE, SUSPICIONS AND ALLEGATIONS

• If a young person or adult at risk is in immediate danger you should contact the police on 999.
• If an employee of A.I.R suspects that a child, young person or adult is at risk of harm or abuse, they should notify A.I.R Director immediately. The Director will then take responsibility for reporting to the Police and /or appropriate statutory authorities if necessary and conduct a full and fair investigation.

18. RESPONDING TO DISCLOSURE

If a child, young person or adult discloses, they, or another young person or adult at risk, is concerned about someone’s behaviour towards them, the person receiving this information should:
• Remain calm and in control.
• Reassure the young person or adult at risk by telling them they have done the right thing.
• Take what the young person or adult at risk says seriously.
• Listen carefully to what is said.
• Keep questions to a minimum – only ask for clarification and no leading questions.