Safeguarding Policy Statement
The purpose and scope of this policy statement
City Family CIC's objectives are:
To carry on activities which benefit the community and in particular (without limitation) to help families and their children through the provision of support, information and advice aimed at reducing the barriers they face.
To support the improvement of child development with reference to physical and mental health, learning and communication.
To develop innovative practices through evidence led learning and enable the promotion of excellence.
The purpose of this policy statement is:
- to protect children and young people who receive City Family's services from harm. This includes the children of adults who use our services
- to provide staff and volunteers, as well as children and young people and their families, with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.
This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of City Family, including senior managers, the board of Directors, paid staff, volunteers, sessional workers, contractors, agency staff and students.
Legal framework
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England. A summary of the key legislation and guidance is available from nspcc.org.uk/childprotection.
Supporting documents
This policy statement should be read alongside our organisational policies, procedures, guidance and other related documents, including;
- City Family CIC Safeguarding Procedures PR1 (and reporting forms)
- City Family CIC Whistleblowing Policy PR2
- City Family CIC Complaints and Partnership working PR3
- City Family CIC Inclusion Policy PR4
- City Family CIC Code of Conduct and Professional Boundaries PR5
- City Family CIC Complaints and Professional Working Policy PR6
- City Family Data Protection Policy PR7
- City Family CIC Professional Boundaries PR8
- Other local guidance
We believe that:
- children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind
- we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them
We recognise that:
- the welfare of children is paramount in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take
- working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people's welfare
- all children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse
- some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues
- extra safeguards may be needed to keep children who are additionally vulnerable safe from abuse.
We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:
- valuing, listening to and respecting them
- appointing a nominated child protection lead for children and young people, a deputy and a lead board member for safeguarding
- adopting child protection and safeguarding best practice through our policies, procedures and code of conduct for staff and volunteers
- developing and implementing an effective online safety policy and related procedures
- providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures so that all staff and volunteers know about and follow our policies, procedures and behaviour codes confidently and competently
- recruiting and selecting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
- recording and storing and using information professionally and securely, in line with data protection legislation and guidance [more information about this is available from the Information Commissioner's Office: ico.org.uk/for organisations]
- sharing information about safeguarding and good practice with children and their families via leaflets, posters, group work and one-to-one discussions
- making sure that children, young people and their families know where to go for help if they have a concern
- using our safeguarding and child protection procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately
- using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately
- creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise
- ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place
- ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance
- building a safeguarding culture where staff and volunteers, children, young people and their families, treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns.
Contact details
Nominated Safeguarding / Child Protection Lead
Name: Tara Poore - Chief Executive Officer
01702 844118 / [email protected]
Deputy Safeguarding / Child Protection Lead(s)
Name(s): Julie Lannon – Senior Operations Manager
01702 844118 [email protected]
