Safeguarding policy

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect young adults in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

We believe that:

Young vulnerable adults should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all young vulnerable adults, to keep them safe and too practise in a way that protects them.

We recognise that:

• The welfare of young vulnerable adults is paramount in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take

• Working in partnership with carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young vulnerable adults welfare

• All young vulnerable adults, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse

• Some young vulnerable adults are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues

We will seek to keep young vulnerable adults safe by:

• Valuing, listening to and respecting them

• Appointing a nominated safeguarding lead for young vulnerable adults, a lead trustee/board member for safeguarding

• Adopting young vulnerable adults and safeguarding best practice through our policies, procedures and code of conduct for staff and volunteers

• Developing and implementing an effective online safety policy and related procedures

• 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 guidance [more information about this is available from the Information Commissioner’s Office: ico.org.uk/for-organisations]

• Sharing information about safeguarding and good practice via leaflets, posters, group work and one-to-one discussions

Making sure that young vulnerable adults know where to go for help if they have a concern

• Using our safeguarding and young vulnerable adults procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and young vulnerable adults and carers appropriately

• Using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers

appropriately

• creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise

• Ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in

place

• Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our young vulnerable adults, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance

• Building a safeguarding culture where staff and volunteers, young vulnerable adults, treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns.

Contact details: safeguarding@differentthinkers.org.uk