Safeguarding Policy

 

 

SAFEGUARDING POLICY & GUIDELINES

As amended on January 01, 2021

  1. Purpose of the Policy

SODEI recognises that violence against children and young people is prevalent throughout the world and in all societies. Violence against children includes physical or mental violence, injury and abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment, and sexual abuse. Furthermore, children and young people may be vulnerable and at risk due to, for example, reasons of gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, disability and age or illness.

This Policy is intended to protect children and young people who receive any support or service from us or with whom we are in contact, including those who are the children of adults who may receive services from us. As an organisation we believe that no child or young person should experience abuse or harm and are committed to the protection of children and young people. This policy is intended to provide guidance and overarching principles to those who represent us as volunteers or staff, to guide our approach to child protection and safeguarding.

 

  • All who work for and engage with us are skilled, confident, understand, and are well supported in meeting their responsibilities to safeguard children and young people from violence and engage positively with them in ways that enhance the achievement of our purpose;

 

  • We have in place procedures to prevent and deal with the actions/behaviour of our Staff, Associates, Visitors or us as an organisation that result in violence against a child or young person and/or places them at risk of the same; and

 

 

  • Children and young people we work with are aware our responsibilities to prevent and respond to any harm against them arising from actions and behaviours of our Staff, Associates and Visitors, and, the routes for reporting such incidents.
  1. The risks to Children

We are aware of the numerous risks children face under different circumstances. Nevertheless, the nature and extent of our work allow us to lay emphasis on the following:

  • Sexual abuse
  • Grooming
  • Physical and emotional abuse
  • Neglect
  • Domestic violence
  • Inappropriate supervision by staff or volunteers

Legal basis

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England, to include: Children Act 1989, Human Rights Act 1998, Children Act 2004, Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, and the Children and Families Act 2014

  1. Safeguarding children at events / activities

At events and activities open to all ages, children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 18 who not only brings the child but also takes the child home afterwards. Young people aged 16 or 17 may attend unaccompanied if they have the written consent and mobile telephone number of one of their parents. At events and activities for children accompanied by a ‘parent’, children under 16 must be supervised throughout the event by an adult over the age of 18 who not only brings the child to the event but also takes the home again afterwards. Young people aged 16 or 17 may attend unaccompanied if they have the written consent and mobile telephone number of one of their parents.

At events and activities for unaccompanied children, children under the age of 16 must be enrolled by a responsible adult before being left with the event leader. The enrolment must record the child’s name, age and address and the names and addresses of the child’s parents, plus the parents’ mobile telephone numbers. Young people aged 16 or 17 may attend unaccompanied if they bring the written consent and mobile number of one of their parents.

  1. Disclosure and barring
  2. SODEI offers activities to promote inclusive quality education for children and young people through supplementary support with schoolwork. Some of our activities therefore require adult participants or adult leaders to undergo relevant background checks. The required level of checking will broadly reflect the degree and frequency of unsupervised access given to other people’s children.

 

  1. The board of trustees will take very seriously any allegation of impropriety on any member of SODEI’s workforce. Any member of staff who discovers anything amiss should immediately report it to the board of trustees.

 

 

  • The board will review the allegation and likely risk to children and, if appropriate will consider banning the member from future events or revoking his or her membership or both in full accordance with the rules and procedures of SODEI.
  1. Health and safety aspects of safeguarding children
  2. Before starting any event for unaccompanied children, the board will carry out a risk assessment and then take steps to minimise all risks to health and safety. Parents and children will be made aware of any particular risks and of the steps to be taken to minimise those risks. The board will keep a record of all risk assessments.

 

  1. Sufficient adults must be present at any event for unaccompanied children to enable one adult to deal with any emergency while another adult supervises the children not directly affected by the emergency.
  2. Policy on the prevention of bullying

We will not tolerate the bullying of children either by adults or by other children. If any incident of child-on-child bullying should arise at events/activities run by SODEI, those involved will be separated immediately and the parents of the children involved will be asked to deal with the matter. A bullying incident report must be completed by supervising representatives of SODEI. The board will review all incidents of child-on-child bullying and assess the likely future risk to other children. If appropriate, the Board will consider banning a child from future events, but only in full accordance with the rules and procedures of SODEI. Allegations of adults bullying children will be dealt with under section 4.iii above.

  1. Photographing Children

We are committed to protecting children and young people who take part in our activities from abuse of any kind. We have the responsibility to take, share and use images of children safely. To do so we ensure that we stay in line with our values and the law when creating, using and sharing images of young people. Our photographing and filming policy which forms part of this safeguarding policy demands for consent from children, their parents or caregivers when taking and using photographs. It also demands for secure storage of pictures and videos among other things.

 

  1. Managing behaviour, discipline and acceptable restraint
  2. Adults supervising children at SODEI events must never use any form of corporal punishment. If physical restraint is absolutely necessary to prevent injury to any person or to prevent damage to property, then the minimum necessary restraint may be used – but for the purpose only.

 

  1. Unacceptable behaviour at SODEI events for unaccompanied children will generally be stopped by separating the children from each other and from the group. The unruly children will be suitably supervised and will be returned as soon as possible to care for their parents.

 

 

  • SODEI may apply a further disciplinary sanction, namely the banning of the child from one or more future events.

 

  1. A parent who is aggrieved by this ban may appeal to the board of trustees who will hear the views of all relevant persons. The decision of the board will be final.