SAFEGUARDING
Safeguarding Policy for Northstowe Youth Hive.
Safeguarding Children Policy Statement
It will be the policy of the Northstowe Youth Hive to safeguard the welfare of all
children by protecting them from all forms of harm.
Volunteers accept and recognise their responsibilities to develop awareness of the
issues that can cause children harm.
The Northstowe Youth Hive adhere to the Statutory guidance on
Working together to safeguard children. The policy document and associated guidance can be
The Designated Person
The Designated Person is
Kerrie Tonks (07970701740)
All concerns must be reported to her immediately (or as soon as practicably possible)
The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) contact numbers are:-
• 01223 727967 – Cambridgeshire
Out of Hours Emergency Duty Team: 0345 0455203 Cambridge
The Northstowe Youth Hive will endeavour to safeguard children by:
• adopting safeguarding children guidelines through a code of behaviour for
staff and volunteers.
• sharing information about safeguarding children and good practice with
children, parents, staff and volunteers.
• sharing information about concerns with agencies who need to know, and
involving parents and children appropriately.
• following carefully the procedures for recruitment and selection of staff and
volunteers including gaining references and an enhanced DBS check for
eligible roles.
• providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision,
support and training.
We are also committed to reviewing our policy, good practice and training needs at
regular intervals, and at least Annually. A new risk assessment must be undertaken if any part of these Safeguarding procedures are changed, and the results of theserisk assessments kept on file.
Code of Behaviour
As a volunteer, we ask that you:
• Strive for the best that you can do and complete your volunteering activities with dedication and commitment.
• Attend any briefings or training that we think will help you in your role.
• Be positive about and support the work of the Northstowe Youth Hive
• Follow and operate within the policies and procedures of the Northstowe Youth Hive, including Health & Safety, Equal Opportunities and Safeguarding.
• Report all concerns about abusive behaviour, following our safeguarding and child protection procedures - this includes inappropriate behaviour displayed by an adult or child and directedat anybody of any age.
• Act responsibly and within the law.
• Value and respect those participating.
• Work in partnership with the Northstowe Youth Hive and other volunteers to make our community stronger.
• Let your Supervisor know if you are having any problems or if you have any complaints, concerns or feedback.
• Meet agreed time commitments and give reasonable notice when you are not available, so that alternative arrangements can be made.
Respecting children and young people
You should:
• listen to and respect children at all times
• value and take children’s contributions seriously, actively involving them in planning
activities wherever possible
• respect a young person’s right to personal privacy as far as possible o if you need to
break confidentiality in order to follow child protection procedures, it is important to
explain this to the child or young person at the earliest opportunity.
Diversity and inclusion
You should:
• treat children and young people fairly and without prejudice or discrimination
• understand that children and young people are individuals with individual needs
• respect differences in gender, sexual orientation, culture, race, ethnicity, disability and
religious belief systems, and appreciate that all participants bring something valuable
and different to the group/organisation
• challenge discrimination and prejudice
• encourage young people and adults to speak out about attitudes or behaviour that
makes them uncomfortable.
Appropriate relationships
You should:
• promote relationships that are based on openness, honesty, trust and respect
• avoid showing favouritism
• be patient with others
• exercise caution when you are discussing sensitive issues with children or young people
• ensure your contact with children and young people is appropriate and relevant to the nature of the activity you are involved in
• ensure that whenever possible, there is more than one adult present during activities with children and young people - if a situation arises where you are alone with a childor young person, ensure that you are within sight or can be heard by other adults
• only provide personal care in an emergency and make sure there is more than one adult present if possible unless it has been agreed that the provision of personal careis part of your role and you have been trained to do this safely.
Inappropriate behaviour
When working with children and young people, you must not:
• allow concerns or allegations to go unreported
• take unnecessary risks
• smoke, consume alcohol or use illegal substances
• develop inappropriate relationships with children and young people
• make inappropriate promises to children and young people
• engage in behaviour that is in any way abusive including having any form of sexual contact with a child or young person
• let children and young people have your personal contact details (mobile number, email or postal address) or have contact with them via a personal social media account
• act in a way that can be perceived as threatening or intrusive
• patronise or belittle children and young people
• make sarcastic, insensitive, derogatory or sexually suggestive comments or gestures to or in front of children and young people.
In return, we will:
• Introduce you to how the Northstowe Youth Hive works and your role within it.
• Give information about Northstowe Youth Hive’s policies and procedures.
• Offer training and support for your role.
• Strive to resolve any concerns fairly and reasonably.
• Respect and listen to your feedback, and keep you informed of any changes.
• Ensure your health, safety and welfare at all times.
• Apply our Equal Opportunities policy.
• Encourage a positive and supportive volunteering experience.
Upholding this code of behaviour
You should always follow this code of behaviour and never rely on your reputation or that of our organisation to protect you.
If you have behaved inappropriately, you will be subject to our disciplinary procedures.
Depending on the seriousness of the situation, you might be asked to leave the Northstowe
Youth Hive. We might also make a report to statutory agencies such as the police and/or the local authority child protection services.
If you become aware of any breaches of this code, you must report them to the Chair of the
Northstowe Youth. If necessary, you should follow our complaints procedure and safeguarding and child protection procedures.
Safeguarding Children Online
The Internet
• The purpose of Internet use by youth workers during sessions is to find resources and information to improve our services or update social media (asbelow)
• Young people using their phones or personal gadgets should make sure they are viewing age appropriate content. Youth workers are to ask a young personto show them what they are viewing. If they refuse, Youth workers can call theyoung person's parent to inform them and the child may be asked to leave.
Published Content
• The only contact details on the Northstowe Youth Hive social media sites are the registered address, e-mail and, if appropriate, telephone number.
Members and volunteers personal information is not published. The Trustees will take overall editorial responsibility and ensure that content is accurate andappropriate.
• Photographs that include young people are selected carefully and do not enable individual young people to be clearly identified without writtenpermission [see consent form] Young people’s full names are not usedanywhere on the Web site, particularly in association with photographs.
Social Networking
• The Northstowe Youth Hive acknowledge that social networking sites can be hugely beneficial in recruiting new members for events and projects. They arealso used for informing active volunteers of news and reminding volunteers oftraining or project information. For young people, social media is very muchpart of being a teenager and important for them as a form of communicationwith friends. However, we are also aware that it can be hugely disruptive andupsetting if used in a negative way.
• Advice is given to Youth Workers and members about what is acceptable to put on social networking sites which have an association with The NorthstoweYouth Hive. This includes advising young people that they should not publishpictures of Northstowe Youth Hive team members unless they havepermission. They should also not “go live” as they could inadvertently recordpeople who do not want to be included.
• Northstowe Youth Hive staff must not communicate with young people through private social networking sites, but should communicate through theyoung people’s parents unless parents have given permission forcommunication directly with the young person through text message, email, ormobile phone. Email communication should come from the shared mail boxyouth@northstowe.info , managed by multiple DBS checked Hive volunteers.
• Formal complaints of Internet misuse or safeguarding children online issues are dealt with by the designated Safeguarding officer
Statement of Confidentiality
The Northstowe Youth Hive will treat all information received about any alleged abuse in the strictest confidence. Where a concern exists about the likelihood of achild being abused the local social services department will be informed immediatelyby the Designated Person.
Sharing information
The Northstowe Youth Hive will endeavour to share all information relating to child protection policy and procedures with any interested parties, i.e. children, staff,volunteers, parents, social services, police.
The Northstowe Youth Hive will however treat all information relating to any concerns regarding abuse in the strictest confidence and will only share thisinformation on a need-to-know basis.
Reporting concerns about abuse
Where any concerns regarding abuse are raised a clearly defined procedure will be followed.
• Children will be listened to and what they say treated seriously.
• Reassurance will be offered to any child who discloses any abuse.
• Staff and/or volunteers will consult with the Designated Person.
• Observations will be made and a report form completed.
• It will be explained that a report is required and that further action will follow.
• The Designated Person will be responsible for contacting parents, reporting to social services and/or police and for the safekeeping of all information tomaintain confidentiality.
• In the absence of the Designated Person, other staff will be responsible for contacting and reporting.
Where any concerns regarding inappropriate behaviour by a member of staff or volunteer are raised this will result in the suspension of that member of staff orvolunteer and a full enquiry.
TIMESCALES
• Any allegation against a person who works with children should be reported immediately to a senior manager within the organisation.
• The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) should be informed within one working day of all allegations that come to the attention of the Youth Hive
Recording allegations and/or suspicions of abuse
A clear distinction must be made between an allegation, a concern about the quality of care or practice or a complaint. This procedure relates to allegations.
It is good practice to have a checklist drawn up of details to note and/or questions to
ask when making a record.
• Name of child.
• Age.
• Any special factors.
• Parent's name(s).
• Home address and telephone number (if available).
• Is the person making the report expressing their own concerns or passing on those of somebody else?
• What has prompted the concerns?
Include dates and times of any specific incidents.
• Are there any physical signs?
Are there any behavioural signs?
Are there any indirect signs?
• Has the child been spoken to?
If so, what was said?
• Have the parents been contacted?
If so, what was said?
• Has anyone been alleged to be the abuser?
If so, record details.
• Has anyone else been consulted?
If so, record details.
Report forms can be obtained from the Designated Person.
After a concern of disclosure has been raised
A Reactive Risk Assessment must be made following a concern or disclosure of abuse being raised,
and the results of these risk assessments kept on file
Useful contact details
Designated Child Protection Officer:- Elizabeth Cope (Chair) 01954 261 181
Supporting Office on behalf of WAY: Caroline Ward: 07749738870
Local police: 101
Local authority children’s safeguarding number:- 01223 727967 – Cambridgeshire
Out of Hours Emergency Duty Team: 0345 0455203
NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000 or help@nspcc.org.uk
ChildLine: 0870 336 2920 or www.childline.org.uk