Safeguarding – Child & Vulnerable Adult Policy
EduSpots is committed to ensuring safe environments for children, young people and vulnerable adults and believes that it is always unacceptable for them to experience abuse of any kind. We recognise our responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children, young people and vulnerable adults by a commitment to deliver best practice which protects them.
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England but is applicable to EduSpots activities in any Country, and applies to anyone working on behalf of EduSpots, including the board of Trustees, paid staff, volunteers, consultants, contractors, students and visitors.
The purpose of this policy statement is:
- To protect children, young people and vulnerable adults who participate in our activities, projects or events, from harm.
- 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.
We recognise that:
- The welfare of the child/young person/vulnerable adult is paramount.
- Equal priority must be given to keeping all children, young people and vulnerable adults safe, regardless of their age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or identity.
- Some children and vulnerable adults may be additionally vulnerable due to previous experience, disability, additional needs, ethnicity or other issues.
- Working in partnership with children, young people, vulnerable adults, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults.
We will seek to keep children, young people and vulnerable adults safe by:
- Valuing them, listening to and respecting them.
- Appointing a safeguarding lead and nominating a lead Trustee for safeguarding .
- Adopting safeguarding protection guidelines through procedures and safe working practice for Trustees, staff and volunteers.
- Recruiting Trustees, staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made.
- Recording, storing and using information professionally and securely, in line with data protection legislation and guidance.
- Sharing information about safeguarding and good practice with children, vulnerable adults, parents, carers, staff and volunteers.
- 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
- Ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place
- Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for children, young people, adults, 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.
- Providing effective management for Trustees, staff and volunteers through supervision, support and training.
Supporting documents:
This Policy should be read alongside the following documents that support our safeguarding.
- Safeguarding Policy
- Code of Conduct
- Safeguarding Child & Vulnerable Adult Reporting Procedure
- Recruitment, Induction & Training Policy
- Complaints Policy
- Whistleblowing Policy
Nominated Child Protection Lead & Appointed Safeguarding Trustee UK:
Cat Davison Email: cdavison@eduspots.org
NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000 – 24hr Freephone Email: help@nspcc.org.uk
Childline: 0800 11 11 – 24hr Freephone Police: Non-emergency 101/ Emergency 999
Nominated Child Protection Lead & Deputy; and Appointed Safeguarding NGO Director in Ghana:
Nominated Director:
Cat Davison Email: cdavison@eduspots.org
Nominated Safeguarding Lead:
Adam Nabila: anabila@eduspots.org
Police: 112
We are committed to reviewing this policy and good practice annually in line with current legislation & best practice guidance, or sooner in light of any changes in legislation or guidance. All changes will be communicated to staff and volunteers.