Adult at Risk Safeguarding Policy Statement
Flourish will review this Adult at Risk Safeguarding Policy Statement and best practice annually. In addition, more frequent reviews will be undertaken following any major safeguarding incident, incident learning outcomes, organisational changes, as well as changes to legislation.
Policy Statement
Safeguarding – and the protection of adults at risk – is everyone’s responsibility. Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights. Abuse can take many forms; and all Flourish staff are committed to work in such a way which promotes the welfare of adults at risk and safeguards them from harm. Flourish staff and volunteers accept and recognise their responsibilities to develop awareness of the issues that cause adults at risk harm – and to establish and maintain a safe environment for them. Flourish will not tolerate any form of abuse, wherever it occurs or whoever is responsible. The safeguarding of all adults at risk will be made possible by adhering to our safeguarding policies and procedures and by working in partnership throughout the organisation – as well as with external organisations.
Purpose and Aim of Policy
Flourish is committed to promoting an atmosphere of inclusion, transparency and openness and are open to feedback from those who engage with the organisation’s services with a view to how it may continuously improve its services and activities.
Who this policy applies to
This policy applies to everyone that comes into contact with Flourish. This will include trustees, management, staff, suppliers, volunteers, students on work experience, as well as anyone working on behalf of Flourish. Safeguarding is everyones responsibility.
Safeguarding adults at risk
Flourish will endeavour to safeguard adults at risk by:
Adhering to our adults at risk safeguarding policy and ensuring it is supported by robust procedures
Carefully following the procedures laid down for the recruitment and selection of staff and volunteers
Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support and training
Implementing clear procedures for raising awareness of and responding to abuse within the organisation and for reporting concerns to statutory agencies that need to know while involving others appropriately
Ensuring general safety and risk management procedures are adhered to
Promoting full participation and having clear procedures for dealing with concerns and complaints
Managing personal information, confidentiality and information sharing
Safeguarding adults at risk by implementing a code of behaviour for all involved with the organisation
Working in partnership across Flourish – and with adults and their families as well as other external agencies and statutory bodies- is essential in promoting the effective safeguarding of adults.
Child Safeguarding Policy Statement
Policy Statement
Every child has the right to protection from abuse and exploitation. Safeguarding – and the protection of all children – is everyone’s responsibility. Flourish believes that it is always unacceptable for any child to experience abuse of any kind and recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children by a commitment to practice which protects them. The safeguarding of all children will be made possible by adhering to our safeguarding policies, procedures and processes and by working in partnership across the charity – as well as with external organisations and statutory bodies. Flourish recognises and is committed to the following principles:
The welfare of the child is paramount
All children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm, abuse and/or exploitation
Some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues surrounding disabilities
Working in partnership across Flourish – and with children, their parents, carers and other external agencies and statutory bodies – is essential in promoting children’s’ welfare.
Purpose and Aim of Policy
Flourish will always seek to provide protection for the children who receive the charities services. To this end, Flourish will provide all staff with guidance on procedures they should adopt in the event that they suspect a child may be experiencing, or be at risk of, harm. Flourish believes that a child should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and to keep them safe. We are committed to practice in a way that protects them.
Who this policy applies to
This policy applies to everyone that comes into contact with Flourish. This will include trustees, management, staff, suppliers, volunteers, students on work experience, as well as anyone working on behalf of Flourish. Safeguarding is everyones responsibility.
Child Safeguarding
Flourish will seek to safeguard children effectively through a child centred approach to its responsibilities and by doing the following:
Valuing children by listening to and respecting them
Adopting child protection guidelines through procedures and a code of conduct for staff
Recruiting staff safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
Sharing information about child protection and good practice with children, parents, carers and staff
Sharing information about concerns with agencies who need to know – and involving parents and children appropriately
Providing effective management for staff through supervision, support and training
Principles of a child-centred approach: Flourish will always seek to underpin its policy on safeguarding children by:
Being vigilant and notice when things are troubling children
Understanding what is happening – as well as hearing and understanding the child – and then acting upon that understanding.
Developing an on-going stable relationship of trust with children
Respecting children and treating them with the expectation that they are competent, rather than assume they are not
Providing information and engagement with children by keeping them informed about and involved in procedures, decisions, concerns and plans
Explaining to children the outcome of assessments and decisions – as well as the reasons if their views have not with a positive response
Support children in their own right and not just as a member of their family
Providing access to advocacy to assist children in putting forward their views