Maldon Road Chapel Safeguarding Policy
1. Policy statement
1.1. The Maldon Road Chapel is committed to maintaining the highest possible standards of integrity and openness as an organisation.
1.2. The Maldon Road Chapel staff, volunteers and representatives are obliged to conduct themselves in keeping with these high standards.
1.3. As Christians, we believe that every human has immeasurable value and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
2. Purpose of this policy
2.1. The Maldon Road Chapel will always use its best endeavours to support those with whom it works to safeguard the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.
2.2. This policy applies to any of our staff, volunteers or representatives.
2.3. The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance to assist in promoting the security and wellbeing of beneficiaries, volunteers, staff and representatives and to provide overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding.
3. Legal framework
This policy has been drawn up in accordance with guidance issued by the Charity Commission in England and Wales.
4. Who operates this policy?
4.1. The Designated Safeguarding Lead for the Maldon Road Chapel is the Chapel Pastor.
4.2. The Designated Safeguarding Lead for the Maldon Road Chapel may be contacted by telephone: 07876 223000 or email [email protected].
5. Code of behaviour for safeguarding
5.1. The following Code of Behaviour applies to all staff, volunteers and representatives and is in addition to our Code of Conduct.
Do:
6. Risk Assessment
6.1. Risk assessments can look different due to the nature of the event being assessed. A risk assessment will be carried out in relation to any new event.
6.2. The principle of Risk Assessment is to consider, in any project or event the response to risk which can fall into one of more of the following six options as follows:
7. Reporting
7.1. The Maldon Road Chapel ensures and emphasises that everyone in the organisation understands and knows how to share any concerns.
7.2. Concerns or allegations may be raised in the following way:
7.3. The Maldon Road Chapel will deal with concerns or allegations using the following system:
Obtaining Information
The Safeguarding Officer must make a record of the incident as soon as possible after the event.
8.1. All personal information that is collected in the course of working with beneficiaries, staff members, volunteers or representatives should be treated as confidential. All records will be securely kept;
8.2. The Designated Safeguarding Lead will have authority to determine who can access any particular records, unless the person of concern is the Designated Safeguarding Lead and then the Trustee Safeguarding Lead will be authorised to have access to such records;
8.3. Records will only be kept as necessary and in accordance with our Data Protection Policy.
9. Review
9.1. This policy will be reviewed periodically.
The policy was last reviewed on 2 July 2021
1.1. The Maldon Road Chapel is committed to maintaining the highest possible standards of integrity and openness as an organisation.
1.2. The Maldon Road Chapel staff, volunteers and representatives are obliged to conduct themselves in keeping with these high standards.
1.3. As Christians, we believe that every human has immeasurable value and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
2. Purpose of this policy
2.1. The Maldon Road Chapel will always use its best endeavours to support those with whom it works to safeguard the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.
2.2. This policy applies to any of our staff, volunteers or representatives.
2.3. The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance to assist in promoting the security and wellbeing of beneficiaries, volunteers, staff and representatives and to provide overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding.
3. Legal framework
This policy has been drawn up in accordance with guidance issued by the Charity Commission in England and Wales.
4. Who operates this policy?
4.1. The Designated Safeguarding Lead for the Maldon Road Chapel is the Chapel Pastor.
4.2. The Designated Safeguarding Lead for the Maldon Road Chapel may be contacted by telephone: 07876 223000 or email [email protected].
5. Code of behaviour for safeguarding
5.1. The following Code of Behaviour applies to all staff, volunteers and representatives and is in addition to our Code of Conduct.
Do:
- Treat everyone with dignity and respect;
- Set an example for others to follow;
- Treat people equally;
- Respect personal privacy;
- Challenge unacceptable behaviour;
- Recognise that special caution is required when discussing sensitive issues;
- Keep in mind how actions can be represented or misrepresented, however well-intentioned;
- Allow people to talk about their concerns and listen;
- Report incidents of bullying to the Safeguarding Officer;
- Take allegations or concerns about safeguarding seriously and refer them to the Safeguarding Officer;
- Ask for training or more information about safeguarding if required;
- Promote awareness of our safeguarding policy.
- Have inappropriate physical or verbal contact;
- Exhibit inappropriate behaviour or language;
- Exaggerate or trivialise safeguarding issues;
- Jump to conclusions about any issue without checking facts, or make any assumption based on age, ability or appearance.
6. Risk Assessment
6.1. Risk assessments can look different due to the nature of the event being assessed. A risk assessment will be carried out in relation to any new event.
6.2. The principle of Risk Assessment is to consider, in any project or event the response to risk which can fall into one of more of the following six options as follows:
- Accept the risk and just monitor it to ensure we have not miscalculated and that we notice if the risk changes;
- Avoid the risk by stopping the activity;
- Transfer the risk by taking out insurance cover or contracting out an aspect of the activity;
- Develop response plans to mitigate the effects of an adverse risk event, or to take advantage of an unplanned opportunity;
- Reduce the likelihood of an adverse risk event by putting controls in place;
- Take management action to increase the chances of success.
7. Reporting
7.1. The Maldon Road Chapel ensures and emphasises that everyone in the organisation understands and knows how to share any concerns.
7.2. Concerns or allegations may be raised in the following way:
- Your own observations and concerns;
- Being told by another person that they have concerns about a staff member, volunteer or representative;
- The beneficiary, staff member, volunteer or representative tells you;
- The person of concern tells you.
7.3. The Maldon Road Chapel will deal with concerns or allegations using the following system:
Obtaining Information
- Stay calm, listen carefully and allow the beneficiary, staff member, volunteer or representative to continue at his or her own pace;
- Make the beneficiary, staff member, volunteer or representative aware that you will probably have to share the information disclosed with others;
- Ask questions for clarification only and avoid ‘leading’ questions that will suggest a particular answer;
- Re-assure the beneficiary, staff member, volunteer or representative that they have done the right thing in telling you;
- Tell them what you will do next and with whom the information will be shared;
- Record the conversation in writing as accurately as you can using the beneficiary’s, staff member’s, volunteer’s or representative’s own words, as soon as you can. Ensure the record is signed and dated;
- Where possible note the following:
- date;
- time;
- names mentioned;
- to whom the information was given.
- Make a report to the Safeguarding Officer within 24 hours;
The Safeguarding Officer must make a record of the incident as soon as possible after the event.
- The record must where possible include the following:
- name;
- date of birth;
- address of the beneficiary, staff member, volunteer or representative;
- nature of any concerns;
- description of any injuries that have been noticed;
- an exact record of what the beneficiary, staff member, volunteer or representative has said using their own words where possible;
- any action taken so far;
- The record must be signed and dated;
- The record must be kept secure and confidential and will only be accessible to the Safeguarding Officer and others responsible for safeguarding other than where it is necessary to share the record to ensure that the matter is investigated and appropriate actions taken in response;
- If the allegation has been made by, or on behalf of, a child or adult at risk the Safeguarding Officer will refer the concern to the Children/Adult Social Care Services and/or the police within 24 hours of receiving the report;
- Incidents of bullying may be reported in line with the safeguarding procedures. However, it is important to distinguish bullying from other behaviour, such as respectfully challenging or disagreeing with someone else’s beliefs or behaviours, setting reasonable expectations with regard to work deadlines and activities or taking legitimate disciplinary action;
8.1. All personal information that is collected in the course of working with beneficiaries, staff members, volunteers or representatives should be treated as confidential. All records will be securely kept;
8.2. The Designated Safeguarding Lead will have authority to determine who can access any particular records, unless the person of concern is the Designated Safeguarding Lead and then the Trustee Safeguarding Lead will be authorised to have access to such records;
8.3. Records will only be kept as necessary and in accordance with our Data Protection Policy.
9. Review
9.1. This policy will be reviewed periodically.
The policy was last reviewed on 2 July 2021