Safeguarding

Scope

Our Safeguarding Statement covers all children, young people and at-risk adults. We expect all of our paid staff members, volunteers and the board of trustees to comply with it at all times and are committed to providing regular training to ensure it is understood and embedded into the culture of our organisation.

 

Context

This policy has been developed within the context of the law and guidance that seeks to protect children, young people and at-risk adults and includes but is not limited to:

• The Children Act 1989 (as amended 2004)
• The Children and Social Work Act 2017
• The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
• Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023
• Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025
• The Care Act 2014 and Statutory Guidance – revised October 2018
• Mental Capacity Act (2005)
• Human Rights Act 1998
• Equality Act 2010
• Mental Health Act 1983 and the New Code of Practice 2015
• The Health & Social Care Act 2012

 

Policy Statement

We believe that everybody has a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, young people and at-risk adults and to keep them safe and work in ways that protect them from harm.  We will give equal priority to keeping all children, young people and at-risk adults safe regardless of their age, disability, gender (or gender reassignment), race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.  We also recognise that some children, young people or at-risk adults are especially vulnerable due to the communication barriers caused by ethnic minority or disability.

We will seek to keep children, young people and at-risk adults safe by:

• Listening to and respecting them.
• Appointing a Designated Safeguarding Lead and a member of the trustee board who takes lead responsibility for safeguarding at the highest level in the organisation.
• Writing detailed policies and procedures which will be embedded in the culture of the organisation and which all staff will be regularly trained to understand and follow.
• Ensuring children, young people, at-risk adults and their families know about the organisations safeguarding policies and what to do if they have a concern.
• Building a safeguarding culture where all staff, volunteers and service users know how they are expected to behave and feel comfortable sharing their concerns.

Supporting Documents

The above strategy is underpinned by the following more detailed policies and procedures which are reviewed and updated regularly in line with current legislation:

• Safeguarding Childrens Policy V2.8
• Safeguarding Adults Policy v2.7
• Safeguarding Strategy Statement April 2026
• Easy Read – Safgeuarding Policy 
• Low Level Safeguarding concerns v1 
• Duty of Care Policy (Children) v1.4 
• Duty of Care Policy (Adults)
• Whistleblowing Policy v1.1 
• Safer Recruitment, Selection and Probation Policy v2.2 

 

Safeguarding Strategy Statement April 2026

This statement came into effect on 1st April 2026 and is reviewed annually. Last review: April 2026

Jennifer Hewitt

Head of Safeguarding / Director of Services