BETHERSDEN VILLAGE HALL SAFEGUARDING POLICY

 

1. Purpose

 

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk from abuse or neglect.

 

This policy defines how Bethersden Village Hall operates to safeguard children, young people, and adults at risk of abuse or neglect.

 

We have a duty of care and are committed to the protection and safety of everyone who enters our premises , including children, young people and adults at risk involved as visitors and/or participants in all activities and events. We also have a duty to safeguard our trustees, volunteers and staff.

 

1.  Definitions

 

Children and young people are defined as those persons aged under 18 years old. This policy will apply to all volunteers, contractors and staff and will be used to support their work.

 

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people is defined as:

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# protecting children from maltreatment;

# preventing impairment of children’s health and development;

# ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent within the provision of safe and effective care; and

# taking action to enable all children to have best outcomes.

 

Adult at risk of abuse and neglect is for the purposes of this policy defined as someone over 18 years old, who, according to Section 42 of the Care Act 2014:

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# has care and support needs;

# is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect; and

# as a result of their care and support needs is unable to protect him or herself against the abuse or risk of it.

 

If someone has care and support needs but is not currently receiving care or support from a health or caring service, they may still be an adult at risk.

 

Persons affected

 

# All trustees, volunteers and staff.

# All those attending any activity, service or event that is being held or delivered from Bethersden Village Hall or grounds.

# All visitors and contractors.

 

 

1. Policy principles

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There can be no excuses for not taking all reasonable action to protect children and adults at risk from abuse or neglect. All citizens of the United Kingdom have their rights enshrined within the Human Rights Act 1998. People who are eligible to receive health and community care services may be additionally vulnerable to the violation of these rights by reason of disability, impairment, age or illness.

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Bethersden Village Hall charity has a zero- tolerance approach to abuse.

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Bethersden Village Hall charity recognises that under the Care Act 2014, it has a duty for the care and protection of adults who are at risk of abuse. It also recognises its responsibilities for the safety and care of children under the Children Act 1989 and 2004.

Bethersden Village Hall charity is committed to promoting wellbeing, harm prevention and to responding effectively if concerns are raised.

Bethersden Village Hall charity is aware of the work of other support organisations on the development and implementation of procedures for the protection of children and adults at risk. The policy is about stopping abuse where it is happening and preventing abuse where there is a risk that it might occur.

Bethersden Village Hall is committed to the following principles:

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# the welfare of the child, young person or adult at risk is paramount;

# all children, young people and adults at risk have the right to protection from abuse;

# safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility: for services to be effective each professional and organisation should play their full part; and

# all suspicions and allegations of abuse must be properly reported to the relevant authorities and dealt with swiftly and appropriately.

 

1. Procedures

1. All members of the Committee will make a declaration in the Minutes Book, accepting their roles and responsibilities as Trustees of the Bethersden Village Hall charity.

2.  All members of the Committee will familiarise themselves with this policy, their safeguarding responsibilities and undertake training where appropriate on safeguarding issues.

3. All members of the Committee will work together to promote a culture that enables issues about safeguarding and promoting welfare to be addressed.

4. All members of the Committee, helpers and other volunteers will not have unsupervised access to children or adults known to be at risk on Bethersden Village Hall premises unless appropriately vetted.

5. The Hall Committee will follow safe recruitment practices.

6. A member of the Committee will be appointed to be responsible for child and adult at risk safeguarding matters. The Committee member is Jan Guntrip ( j.guntrip1@ntltworld.com; 07866500548).

7. All suspicions, or allegations of abuse, concerns about the quality of care or practice or complaints in relation to a child or adult at risk will be dealt with seriously and appropriately. The Committee member responsible for safeguarding will contact, where necessary and as matter of urgency,  the relevant safeguarding agency and/or the police. Allegations and suspicions in relation to a person who works with children or adults at risk may include:

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# behaviour that has harmed or may have harmed, a child or an adult at risk;

# the possible commission of a criminal offence against, or related to, a child or adult at risk; or

# behaviour towards a child ( or children) are an adult at risk in a way that indicates that they may pose a risk of harm to children or adults at risk.

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1. All hirers of the Hall should read, understand and  confirming that they have read and understood and adhere to the Hall’s principles and procedures in relation to safeguarding as set out in this policy document and on the Village Hall website.

2. The Village Hall Management Committee will carry out an annual review of this policy in July each year.

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