Safeguarding Policy
How we safeguard our community
Table of Contents
Details of Organisation
Name of Organisation
Address
Telephone Number
Email Address
Charity Number
Insurance Company for Public Liability
Clean Slate Solutions
The Trinity Centre
The Market Place
North Ormesby
TS3 6LD
01642 989669
admin@cleanslatesolutions.org.uk
1190630
Ansvar Insurance Co. Ltd
through Christian Insurance Services
The following is a brief description of our organisation and the type of work / activities we undertake with children / vulnerable adults:
Clean Slate Solutions is an independent charity set up for the purpose of supporting people with a past conviction into employment. Clean Slate Solutions provide a variety of services to meet this aim. This includes 1:1 support, mentoring, referrals to alternative support services and placement into employment. These services are offered to anyone to attend regardless of background, sex, disability, race or religious beliefs.
This policy therefore applies to all the activities of Clean Slate Solutions no matter the location of the work, due to flexible working approaches.
For the purposes of this document these terms have the following meaning:
A “Worker” is anyone working with any Clean Slate Solutions Candidates or their families whether in a paid or voluntary capacity.
The “Leadership team” refers to the Founder and Trustees of Clean Slate Solutions.
Our Commitment
As a Leadership team we recognise the need to provide a safe and caring environment for all candidates and their families. We acknowledge that children, young people, and vulnerable adults can be the victims of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, and neglect. We accept the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant of Human Rights, which states that everyone is entitled to “all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status”. We also concur with the Convention on the Rights of the Child which states that children should be able to develop their full potential, free from hunger and want, neglect and abuse. They have a right to be protected from “all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s), or any other person who has care of the child.” As a Leadership we have therefore adopted the procedures set out in this safeguarding policy in accordance with statutory guidance. We are committed to build constructive links with statutory and voluntary agencies involved in safeguarding.
The policy and attached practice guidelines are based on the ten Safe and Secure safeguarding standards published by Thirtyone:eight (formerly CCPAS) which is an independent Christian charity providing professional advice, training, support and resources in all areas of safeguarding children and adults at risk of harm.
The Leadership team undertakes to:
- endorse and follow all national and local safeguarding legislation and procedures, in addition to the international conventions outlined above.
- provide on-going safeguarding training for all its workers and will regularly review the operational guidelines attached.
- ensure that the premises meet the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and all other relevant legislation, and that it is welcoming and inclusive.
- support the Safeguarding Coordinator(s) in their work and in any action, they may need to take in order to protect children and adults with care and support needs.
- not to allow the document to be copied by other organisations.
Prevention
Understanding Abuse and Neglect
Defining child abuse or abuse against an adult with care and support needs is a difficult and complex issue. A person may abuse by inflicting harm or failing to prevent harm. Children and adults in need of protection may be abused within a family, an institution, or a community setting. Very often the abuser is known or in a trusted relationship with the child or vulnerable adult.
In order to safeguard those who work in and with our organisations we adhere to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and have as our starting point as a definition of abuse, Article 19 which states:
- Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social, and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other person who has the care of the child.
- Such protective measures should, as appropriate, include effective procedures for the establishment of social programmes to provide necessary support for the child and for those who have the care of the child, as well as for other forms of prevention and for identification, reporting, referral, investigation, treatment, and follow-up of instances of child maltreatment described heretofore, and, as appropriate, for judicial involvement.
Also, for adults the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, with reference to Article 5 which states:
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Detailed definitions and signs and indicators of abuse, as well as how to respond to a disclosure of abuse, are included here in our policy.
Practice Guidelines
As a charity working with young people and vulnerable adults we wish to operate and promote good working practice. This will enable workers to run activities safely, develop good relationships and minimise the risk of false accusation.
Working in Partnership
The diversity of organisations and settings means there can be great variation in practice when it comes to safeguarding young people and vulnerable adults. This can be because of cultural tradition, belief and religious practice or understanding, for example, of what constitutes abuse.
We therefore have clear guidelines regarding our expectations of those with whom we work in partnership. We will discuss with all partners our safeguarding expectations and have a partnership agreement for safeguarding.
We believe good communication is essential in promoting safeguarding, both to those we wish to protect, to everyone involved in working with vulnerable adults and to all those with whom we work in partnership. This safeguarding policy is just one means of promoting safeguarding.
Responding to Allegations of Abuse
Under no circumstances should a volunteer or worker carry out their own investigation into an allegation or suspicion of abuse. Where any allegation or suspicion of abuse is raised the procedures should be followed as described below:
Documenting a Concern
The worker or volunteer should make a report of the concern in the following way:
The person in receipt of allegations or suspicions of abuse should report concerns as soon as possible to:
Name
Telephone Number
Lorna Law
01642 989669
lorna.law@cleanslatesolutions.org.uk
The above is nominated by the Leadership team to act on their behalf in dealing with the allegation or suspicion of neglect or abuse, including referring the matter on to the statutory authorities.
In the absence of the Safeguarding Co-ordinator or, if the suspicions in any way involve the Safeguarding Co-ordinator, then the report should be made to:
Name
Telephone Number
Michelle D’Ambriosio
01642 989669
michelle@cleanslatesolutions.org.uk
If the suspicions implicate both the Safeguarding Co-ordinator and the Deputy, then the report should be made in the first instance to:
Name
Telephone Number
Warren Harrison
07866679212
Alternatively contact Social Services or the police.
DBS Administration
Name
Telephone Number
Michelle D’Ambriosio
01642 989669
michelle@cleanslatesolutions.org.uk
Safeguarding Co-ordinators
The Safeguarding Co-ordinator should contact the appropriate agency.
Stockton and Hartlepool Children’s Services telephone number is: 01642 130080.
The out of hours emergency number is: 08702 402994 or 01642 524552
The local Adult Social Services office telephone number (office hours) is: 01642 527764
The out of hours emergency number is: 08702 402994 or 01642 524552
Middlesbrough Children & Adults Services telephone number is: 01642 726004
The out of hours number is: 01642 524552
The Police Child Protection Team telephone number is:101
In an emergency: 999
The Safeguarding Co-ordinator may need to inform others depending on the circumstances and/or nature of the concern:
Chair or trustee responsible for safeguarding who may need to liaise with the insurance company or the charity commission to report a serious incident.
Designated officer or LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) if the allegation concerns a worker or volunteer working with someone under 18.
Suspicions must not be discussed with anyone other than those nominated above.
Whilst allegations or suspicions of abuse will normally be reported to the Safeguarding Co-ordinator, the absence of the Safeguarding Co-ordinator or Deputy should not delay referral to Social Services, the Police.
The Leadership team will support the Safeguarding Co-ordinator/Deputy in their role 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.
It is, of course, the right of any individual as a citizen to make a direct referral to the safeguarding agencies. If, however, the individual with the concern feels that the Safeguarding Co-ordinator/Deputy has not responded appropriately, or where they have a disagreement with the Safeguarding Co-ordinator(s) as to the appropriateness of a referral they are free to contact an outside agency direct. We hope by making this statement that the Leadership team demonstrate its commitment to effective safeguarding and the protection of all those who are vulnerable.
The role of the safeguarding co-ordinator/ deputy is to collate and clarify the precise details of the allegation or suspicion and pass this information on to statutory agencies who have a legal duty to investigate.
Detailed procedures where there is a concern about a vulnerable adult or a child
Allegations of physical injury, neglect, or emotional abuse
If a child or vulnerable adult has a physical injury, a symptom of neglect or where there are concerns about emotional abuse, the Safeguarding Co-ordinator/Deputy will:
Contact Children’s Social Services for advice in cases of deliberate injury, if concerned about a child’s safety or if a child is afraid to return home.
Not tell the parents or carers unless advised to do so, having contacted Children’s Social Services.
Seek medical help if needed urgently, informing the doctor of any suspicions.
For lesser concerns, (e.g., poor parenting), encourage parent/carer to seek help, but not if this places the child at risk of significant harm.
Where the parent/carer is unwilling to seek help, offer to accompany them. In cases of real concern, if they still fail to act, contact Children’s Social Services direct for advice.
Allegations of sexual abuse
In the event of allegations or suspicions of sexual abuse, the Safeguarding Co-ordinator/Deputy will:
Contact the Children’s Social Services Department Duty Social Worker for children and families or Police Child Protection Team direct. They will NOT speak to the parent/carer or anyone else.
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.
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.
Allegations of abuse against a person who works with children/young people
If an accusation is made against a worker (whether a volunteer or paid member of staff) whilst following the procedure outlined above, the Safeguarding Co-ordinator, in accordance with Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) procedures will:
Liaise with Children’s Social Services regarding the suspension of the worker.
Make a referral to a designated officer formally called a Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) whose function is to handle all allegations against adults who work with children and young people whether in a paid or voluntary capacity.
Make a referral to Disclosure and Barring Service for consideration of the person being placed on the barred list for working with children or adults with additional care and support needs. This decision should be informed by the LADO if they are involved.
Allegations of abuse against a person who works with adults with care and support needs
The safeguarding co-ordinator will:
Liaise with Adult Social Services in regards the suspension of the worker
Make a referral to the DBS following the advice of Adult Social Services
The Care Act places the duty upon Adult Services to investigate situations of harm to adults with care and support needs. This may result in a range of options including action against the person or organisation causing the harm, increasing the support for the carers or no further action if the ‘victim’ chooses for no further action and they have the capacity to communicate their decision. However, this is a decision for Adult Services to decide not Clean Slate Solutions.
Pastoral Care
Supporting those affected by abuse
The Leadership is committed to offering pastoral care, working with statutory agencies as appropriate, and support to all those who have been affected by abuse.
Working with offenders and those who may pose a risk
When someone attending CSS, activities are known to have abused children, is under investigation, or is known to be a risk to adults with care and support needs; the Leadership team will supervise the individual concerned and offer pastoral care, but in its safeguarding commitment to the protection of children and adults with care and support needs, set boundaries for that person, which they will be expected to keep. These boundaries will be based on an appropriate risk assessment and through consultation with appropriate parties.