Crafty Cuppa CIC, Dorchester
1 Introduction
Th Crafty Cuppa CIC makes a positive contribution to a strong and safe community and recognises the right of every individual to be safe.
This policy has been devised to ensure the Crafty Cuppa CIC undertakes its responsibilities with regards to the protection of vulnerable adults and to comply with legal requirements for the protection and safety of young people under the age of 18. The policy establishes a framework to support volunteers in their practices and clarifies the Crafty Cuppa’s expectations.
2 Legislation
The principle pieces of legislation governing this policy are:
Safeguarding vulnerable groups Act 2006
Care Standards Act 2000
Public interest Disclosure Act 1998
The Police Act – CRB 1997
Mental Health Act – 1983
NHS and Community Care Act 1990
Rehabilitation and offenders Act 1974
The Care Act 2014
The Children Act 1989
3 Meaning of terms used in this policy:
Abuse: can include physical, sexual or emotional harm, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment radicalisation or exploitation. Abuse can take place in person or online, by any person (which could include by other Children and Adults at Risk or by people in positions of trust). This can take a number of forms such as Physical, Sexual, Emotional, Bullying, Neglect and financial
Children and Adults at Risk: Children and young people (meaning people under the age of 18 years) and adults who may be vulnerable due to, for example, their age, mental health, disability, illness, gender, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, economic status or who may be unable to take care of themselves against abuse.
Staff: volunteers
The Manager of the Crafty Cuppa CIC
The Directors of the Crafty Cuppa CIC
Safeguarding: proactive steps taken 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.
Protecting: responding to concerns and/or disclosures that a Child or Adult at Risk may be experiencing or be at risk of abuse.
4 General Statement of Intent:
The Crafty Cuppa CIC is concerned about the safety and welfare of all people and will do the upmost to protect them from physical, sexual and emotional harm.
5 Responsibilities
All volunteers including contractors, consultants, teachers and associates have responsibility to follow the guidance laid out in this policy and related policies and to pass on any welfare concerns using the required procedures.
We expect all volunteers to promote good practice but being an excellent role model, contribute to discussions about safeguarding and to positively involve people in developing safe practices.
All volunteers have a collective responsibility to ensure…
The Crafty Cuppa CIC has appropriate policies and procedures in place which are followed but all directors and volunteers.
Checks to assess whether people are suitable to act in their roles
Identification and handling concerns in a full and open manner
A clear and established system of referring ot reporting to relevant organisations as soon as concerns are suspected or identified.
Quick response to concerns and carry out appropriate investigations
Take harm seriously and to not downplay failures
Protecting people from harm
Having enough recourses, including trained volunteers for safeguarding and protecting people
The conducting or periodic reviews of safeguarding policies, procedures and practise
Any volunteers running classes with children when the parent is not present has a full DBS check
All DBS checks are renewed every three years.
Accurate records relating to individual young people are kept in a secure place.
The Manager and Directors have responsibility to ensure –
The policy is accessible
The policy is implemented
The policy is monitored and reviewed
Sufficient resources are allocated to ensure that the policy can be effectively implemented
Promote safeguarding within the organisation.
Promote the welfare of vulnerable adults and children
Ensure volunteers have access to appropriate training
Receive volunteers concerns about safeguarding and respond to all seriously, swiftly and appropriately
Take forward concerns about responses
Keep up to date with local arrangements for safeguarding and CRB
Develop and maintain effective links with relevant agencies.
6 Procedures for Staff:
If any volunteer is concerned about a young or vulnerable person, he or she must inform the Manager immediately.
The Manager will refer on as necessary (See code of behaviour)
Clear, precise and factual information about the concern must be recorded by the person raising it on the same day.
The Manager will decide, in conjunction with the member of staff raising the issue, what action to take next and which (if needed) authorities to liaise with.
If a safeguarding referral is made, a written report of the concerns will be logged with the relevant authority
The Manager will ensure that the young or vulnerable person is kept informed of any action taken.
7 Signs to look out for:
Staff should be concerned about a young person if they:
Have any injury for which there is no explanation, or for which the explanation changes or is inconsistent
Regularly have unexplained injuries or frequent injuries which may appear to have a reasonable explanation.
Exhibit significant changes in behaviour/performance or attitude.
Show signs of substance misuse
Disclose an experience in which they or another young person may have been significantly harmed.
8 Dealing with a disclosure:
All volunteers dealing with a disclosure must make sure the person/s involved are made aware that any form of abuse CANNOT be kept confidential and MUST be referred. If a person discloses that he or she has been abused in some way, volunteers should take the following action:
Do not promise confidentiality or to make other promises which it might not be possible to keep.
Allow the person to talk freely.
Accept what is being said without displaying shock or disbelief.
Use listening skills.
Ask minimal questions – keep them open not direct.
Reassure that the person is not to blame.
Stress it was the right thing to disclose.
Do not criticise the perpetrator.
Explain what must be done next and who has to be told.
9 Record Keeping:
When a person has made a disclosure of abuse, volunteers must:
Make brief notes as soon as possible after the conversation noting the date, time and place of the disclosure and any non-verbal communication by the young person.
Record accurate statements and observations not interpretations and assumptions.
Keep the notes in a locked cabinet/draw on the premises in case they are needed by a court.
Information can be shared with colleagues who come into contact with the person, where deemed necessary, but this information MUST stay confidential.
10 Support:
It is recognised that dealing with a disclosure of abuse by a person is a stressful experience and the member of volunteer should seek support from the manager, if the volunteer is the Manager then they must seek support from the directors. Further support can be arranged for volunteers supporting people if the member of staff requires it.
11 Allegations involving volunteers and teachers:
If a person makes an allegation of abuse against a volunteer/teacher, the person receiving it must take it seriously and immediately inform the manager or, in their absence, the director.
Any member of staff who has concerns that a person may have been abused by a volunteer/teacher must immediately inform the Lead worker or the nominated trustee.
The Manager and/or the directors will assess the accusation as soon as possible to decide the following:
If the accusation constitutes a criminal offence – it should be referred to the police or social services as appropriate, without delay.
During the time any accusation is being investigated, either internally or by an external agency, the volunteer will have no contact with the person making the accusation, and the person whom they are accused of abusing if this is different.
During the period of the investigation, other work duties of the volunteer concerned will be re-assessed to ensure they have no further unsupervised contact with people.
12 Review:
This policy will be reviewed annually.
13 Directors
Jen Cole jen@craftycuppacic
Andrew Bindon andrew@bindon.org
Katy Howell katyhowell@hotmail.co.uk