Staple Hill & District Allotments Ltd provides the following activities:
Whilst these may not include direct services or support for children, young people and adults at risk Staple Hill & District Allotments Ltd recognises that safeguarding those members of society is everyone’s business and that all may become vulnerable at many stages in their lives.
Staple Hill & District Allotments Ltd is committed therefore to ensure that the Management Committee, volunteers and those who participate in activities run by the organisation have an understanding of Safeguarding Children, Young People and Adults at Risk and what forms abuse may take and that they know where to raise concerns if abuse is suspected or reported.
This policy therefore applies to all staff, including senior managers and the board of trustees, paid staff, volunteers and sessional workers, agency staff, students or anyone working on behalf of Staple Hill & District Allotments Ltd to safeguard children and young people and adults at risk.
Staple Hill & District Allotments Ltd has appointed the Allotment Secretary (individual name deleted) as named safeguarding lead.
This policy was adopted on : 1st May 2020
Staple Hill & District Allotments Ltd is committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.
Date for review: 1st May 2021
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of law and guidance that seeks to protect children, namely;
In addition reference is made to the documents listed:
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined for the purposes of this policy as:
(Source: Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018)
Everyone who works with children has a responsibility for keeping them safe. No single practitioner can have a full picture of a child’s needs and circumstances and, if children and families are to receive the right help at the right time, everyone who comes into contact with them has a role to play in identifying concerns, sharing information and taking prompt action.
In order that organisations, agencies and practitioners collaborate effectively, it is vital that everyone working with children and families, including those who work with parents/carers, understands the role they should play and the role of other practitioners. They should be aware of, and comply with, the published arrangements set out by the local safeguarding partners.
(Source: Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018)
Staple Hill & District Allotments Ltd believes that a child or young person should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people and adults at risk and to keep them safe. We are committed to practice in a way that protects them.
Abuse can take various forms:
(See Appendix A for further details)
All Staple Hill & District Allotments Ltd activities with children are run with the parents or carers of the children present. Volunteers and Management Committee members are not permitted at any time to be alone with children.
All Staple Hill & District Allotments Ltd volunteers and Management Committee members and those who participate in activities run by the organisation are inducted into this policy and procedure and have an understanding of what forms abuse can take and how to report any concerns.
Staple Hill & District Allotments Ltd will ensure all who are arranging events on their behalf are made aware of this policy.
Safeguarding is aimed at people with care and support needs who may be in vulnerable circumstances and at risk of abuse or neglect. In these cases, local services must work together to spot those at risk and take steps to protect them. (The Care Act 2014)
Safeguarding means protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. It is about people and organisations working together to prevent and stop both the risks and experience of abuse or neglect, while at the same time making sure that the adult’s wellbeing is promoted including, where appropriate, having regard to their views, wishes, feelings and beliefs in deciding on any action. This must recognise that adults sometimes have complex interpersonal relationships and may be ambivalent, unclear or unrealistic about their personal circumstances.
The following six key principles underpin all adult safeguarding work:
An adult who:
• has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs)
• is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect
• as a result of those care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect
(Source: The Care Act 2014)
The definition of an Adult covers all people over 18 years of age.
The Care Act also recognises the key role of Carers in relation to safeguarding. For example a carer may witness or report abuse or neglect; experience intentional or unintentional harm from the adult they are trying to support or a carer may (unintentionally or intentionally) harm or neglect the adult they support. It is important to view the situation holistically and look at the safety and well-being of both. The Act makes it clear throughout, the need for preventing abuse and neglect wherever possible. Observant professionals and other staff making early, positive interventions with individuals and families can make a huge difference to their lives, preventing the deterioration of a situation or breakdown of a support network.
Abuse is something that is done to another person, without their full understanding or consent, which harms them in some way. It may consist of a single act or repeated acts. Abuse may be carried out deliberately or unknowingly.
Abuse or neglect, can take many forms and the circumstances of the individual case should always be considered. The following is a list of the types of abuse and neglect that can occur;
People may make the choice to remain in abusive situations and if they have the mental capacity to make that decision that may be appropriate, however the decision about mental capacity is a complex one and it is important that the correct assessment of capacity is undertaken within the safeguarding process.
South Gloucestershire Council Customer Service Desk Adult Care Team can be accessed for advice or information contact 01454 868007
South Gloucestershire Safeguarding Adults Board Website: www.southglos.gov.uk/safeguarding/adults
If an adult is in immediate danger dial 999 and ask for police assistance.
South Gloucestershire Council ART Team can be accessed for advice or information contact on 01454 866000
South Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children’s Board Website: www.southglos.gov.uk/safeguarding/children
South West Child Protection Procedures:
http://www.proceduresonline.com/swcpp/southglos/index.html
If a child is in immediate danger dial 999 and ask for police assistance
If a crime may have been, or is being, committed contact the Police on 101 or 999
Volunteers and Management Committee members should report any concern that they have about a child or an adult at risk to the Named Safeguarding Lead and Chair of the Management Committee unless the concern is about the Lead or Chair where it should be reported to the Vice Chair who will contact the South Gloucestershire Council Team below.
Contact South Gloucestershire Council ART Team on 01454 866000 or the Emergency Duty Team (out of hours and weekends) on 01454 615165
Be open and honest with the individual (and/or their family where appropriate) from the outset about why, what, how and with whom information will, or could be shared, and seek their agreement, unless it is unsafe or inappropriate to do so.
To raise a concern contact South Gloucestershire Council’s Customer Adult Care Team service desk on 01454 868007.
Where possible, agreement should be obtained from the adult before sharing personal information with third parties.
If a concern is raised this should be documented and sent through to the Secretary of Staple Hill & District Allotments Ltd
Any allegation will be fully investigated and Staple Hill & District Allotments Ltd will volunteers during this process. It is important that allegations are thoroughly investigated through the Safeguarding process so that allegations can be either proved or disproved for the protection of the child(ren), adult(s) at risk and staff.
All allegations should be reported within one working day to the senior manager of Staple Hill & District Allotments Ltd
Any allegation related to staff and/or volunteers working with Children and Young People and Adults must be reported to the South Gloucestershire Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) on 01454 866000.
It is important to remember that abuse is defined by the impact on the individual not the intention of the abuser, in other words if someone does not have their needs cared for this can be just as damaging whether it is done deliberately or because a carer can no longer manage. Obviously the way of then supporting the situation would be likely to be different.
People who behave abusively come from all backgrounds and walks of life. They may be doctors, nurses, social workers, advocates, staff members, volunteers or others in a position of trust. They may also be relatives, friends, neighbours or people who use the same services as the person experiencing abuse.
Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
Tina Wilson
01454 866000
[the appendix for this document was provided to Staple Hill and District Allotments limited in an image format, we will add this when they have been written in an accessible format.]