Safeguarding Policy Statement

The Purpose and scope of this policy statement

The purpose of this policy statement is:

• To protect children, young people and vulnerable adults who receive White Gold Foundation’s services from harm
• to provide staff and volunteers, as well as children, young people and their families, and vulnerable adults with the overarching principles that guide our approach of positive action towards child protection as a front line service

This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of White Gold Cornwall Foundation, including senior managers and the board of trustees, paid staff, volunteers and sessional workers.

 

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:

• role description for the designated safeguarding officer • dealing with disclosures and concerns about a child or young person • managing allegations against staff and volunteers • recording concerns and information sharing • child protection records retention and storage • code of conduct for staff and volunteers • behaviour codes for children and young people • photography and sharing images guidance • safer recruitment • online safety • anti-bullying • managing complaints • whistleblowing • health and safety • induction, training, supervision and support • adult to child supervision ratios.

 

We believe that:

• children, young people and vulnerable adults 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 that we take
• working in partnership with vulnerable adults, children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting their welfare
• everyone, regardless of age, disability, gender, 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, young people or adults are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues and extra safeguards may be needed to keep them safe from abuse.

 

We will seek to keep children, young people and adults safe by:

• valuing, listening to and respecting them
• appointing a nominated child protection lead for children and young people, a deputy and a lead trustee/board member for safeguarding
• adopting child protection and safeguarding best practice through our policies, procedures and code of practice for staff and volunteers
• developing and implementing an effective online safety policy and giving due diligence to updated information and open communication with users
• 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
• sharing information about safeguarding and good practice with children and their families
• making sure that adults, 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 and with due diligence
• ensuring that we have thorough and effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place
• ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for staff and volunteers by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance
• ensuring that we regularly assess the environments that we work in to ensure any risks are minimised to keep everyone safe
• ensure that we continue in a safeguarding culture where we do not tolerate abuse and where staff and volunteers, children, young people and their families, treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns

 

Contact details

Nominated child protection lead

Name: Alan Milliner

Email: amilliner@whitegoldcornwall.co.uk

 

Deputy child protection lead(s)

Name(s): Theresa Fleming

Email: theresa.fleming@whitegoldcornwall.co.uk

 

Trustee/Senior lead for safeguarding and child protection

Name: Bob Crossland

Email: bob.crossland@whitegoldcornwall.co.uk

NSPCC Helpline 0808 800 5000

We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually. This policy statement was last reviewed together with our Safeguarding and Child protection Policy on 14th September 2024.