Safeguarding is Everyone’s Responsibility. This Policy is to provide staff, volunteers, trustees, and service users with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding, supporting, and promoting the welfare of children and adults with care and support needs.
2. Policy Statement
YLA’s aim is for all children and young people in Kensington & Chelsea to be happy, healthy, and safe, to enjoy their childhood, and to have great opportunities to pursue their ambitions and be part of their community. We work with partners in the voluntary, statutory, and private sectors to achieve this.
Safeguarding is fundamental to our work, and we aim to work with our members and our partners to support the highest standards in safeguarding.
YLA believes that it is always unacceptable for a child or vulnerable adult to experience abuse of any kind. We believe that everyone has a responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children, young people, and adults with care and support needs by a commitment to practice, which protects them from harm.
We believe that the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults is paramount. All children and vulnerable adults, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religious belief, sex, and sexual orientation or identity, have the right to protection from all types of harm and abuse.
We recognise that some groups of children may be more vulnerable to harm or exploitation because of disability, refugee status, looked-after status, poverty, gender, race, and other social factors. We are committed to providing additional support to children from minority ethnic groups and disabled children to overcome barriers they may face, for example, with communication or the impact of discrimination.
Principles
At YLA, we will safeguard children and adults with care and support needs by:
- Listening to children and vulnerable adults, respecting and valuing them at all times.
- Building a safeguarding culture where staff, volunteers, children, and vulnerable adults know how they are expected to behave and feel comfortable sharing concerns.
- Appointing a Designated Safeguarding Lead, Deputy, and a member of the trustee board to take lead responsibility for safeguarding at the highest level in our organisation.
- Providing written safeguarding and child protection procedures and making sure all staff and volunteers understand and implement the procedures.
- Making sure all staff and volunteers understand and follow the safeguarding and child protection policies and what to do if they have a concern, through effective induction, training, management, and supervision.
- Recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring that all necessary checks are made and safe recruitment good practice guidelines are followed.
- Challenging discrimination and promoting the right to equal protection regardless of race, ethnicity, culture, religion, faith, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, social or immigration status, or any other element of diversity.
- Adhering to our Code of Conduct for staff and volunteers at all times.
- Working in partnership with the safeguarding agencies, sharing information quickly with RBKC’s safeguarding teams, police, and the LADO.
We will safeguard adults with care and support needs by implementing the Six Principles of adult safeguarding:
- Empowerment: People being supported and encouraged to make their own decisions and informed consent.
- Prevention: It is better to take action before harm occurs.
- Proportionality: The least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented.
- Protection: Support and representation for those in greatest need.
- Partnership: Local solutions through services working with their communities. Communities have a part to play in preventing, detecting, and reporting neglect and abuse.
- Accountability: Accountability and transparency in safeguarding practice.
3. Scope of this policy
This policy applies to all YLA staff and volunteers, including trustees, sessional workers, students on work placements, and anyone working on behalf of YLA.
4. Definitions
A child is anyone under the age of 18, as set out in the Children Act.
Safeguarding concerns relate both to children at risk of abuse or neglect and to children who are at risk of not being able to thrive and meet positive outcomes in their lives.
Safeguarding and promotion of children’s welfare is defined in *Working Together 2018* as:
- protecting children from maltreatment;
- preventing impairment of children's health or development;
- ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and
- taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.
Child protection is part of safeguarding and promoting welfare. This refers to the activity that is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering, or are likely to suffer, significant harm.
Adults aged 18 and over have the potential to be vulnerable for a variety of reasons and in different situations. An adult may be vulnerable if he/she:
- Has a learning or physical disability
- Has a physical or mental illness, including addiction to alcohol or drugs
- Has a reduction in physical or mental health
- Is in receipt of any form of healthcare
- Is detained in custody
- Is receiving community services because of age, health, or disability
- Is living in a sheltered or residential care home
- Is unable, for any reason, to protect themselves against significant harm or exploitation.
5. Legislative framework and guidance
At YLA, we recognise our legal responsibility to safeguard children and adults with care and support needs and promote their welfare. We will therefore act within the framework set by the Children Acts 1989 and 2004 and the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. We will also implement guidance including:
- Local Safeguarding Children Partnership Multi-agency Safeguarding Children Arrangements guidance, Information for professionals and volunteers | lscp (rbkc.gov.uk)
- Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-safeguard-children--2
- London Safeguarding Procedures, published by the London Safeguarding Children Board, London Safeguarding Children Procedures
- Guidance on handling safeguarding allegations in a charity, DCMS, 2020, https://safeguarding.culture.gov.uk/
- Social Care Institute for Excellence guidance on safeguarding for children and vulnerable adults.
Supporting Documents
This policy statement should be read in conjunction with our related policies:
- Safeguarding Procedures
- Safer recruitment policy and procedures
- Code of conduct for staff and volunteers
- Behaviour and Anti-bullying Policies
- Photography and image sharing guidance
- Whistleblowing policy
- Health & Safety Policy and Procedures
- Privacy Policy (including GDPR)
6. YLA Designated Safeguarding Person and Deputy
Designated Safeguarding Lead for YLA: Alison Jackson, CEO, aj@alisonjackson.com
7. RBKC Safeguarding Contacts
Consultation and Advice about a child/young person resident in The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea:
Kensington and Chelsea Duty Line – Tel: 020 7361 3013 (24-hour number)
For LADO consultations and referrals please contact the duty Child Protection Adviser on:
- Telephone: 020 7361 3013
- Email: KCLADO.Enquiries@rbkc.gov.uk
Bi-borough PREVENT
- Telephone: 020 8753 5727
- Email: prevent@lbhf.gov.uk
Adult Social Care
- 020 7361 3013 – Social Services Line
- socialservices@rbkc.gov.uk
A full list of Safeguarding contacts for RBKC is available at: Useful Safeguarding Contacts for Professionals | lscp (rbkc.gov.uk)
Further information is available from the Local Safeguarding Children Partnership at: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (rbkc.gov.uk)
Signed:
Alison Jackson, CEO and Designated Safeguarding Lead
Policy Updated: January 2024. Next Review Date: April 2025