Safeguarding Policy

Safeguarding Policy

Purpose of this policy

The purpose of this policy is to fulfil FCCT’s commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. As an organisation that works regularly with these client groups, we acknowledge we must have:

Clear priorities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults which are explicitly stated in the policy.

A clear commitment by trustees and senior management, in relation to the importance of safeguarding.
A clear line of accountability and defined roles and responsibilities, within the organisation for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.
Recruitment and human resources procedures that take account for the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, including arrangements for Disclosure and Barring checks on new trustees, staff and volunteers.
Safe working practice guidance, which staff and volunteers have read and understood.
Procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse against members of staff and volunteers, including a Named Senior Officer, to whom allegations and concerns are reported.
Arrangements to ensure that all members of staff and volunteers, undertake appropriate training, to equip them to carry out their responsibilities, effectively and keep this up to date with refresher training at regular intervals.
A culture of openness and of listening to and engaging in dialogue with clients, so that the views of children and vulnerable adults are heard and considered, in individual decisions and in planning and developing services.
Appropriate whistle blowing procedures and a culture that enables issues about safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults to be addressed.
A Lone Working Policy that outlines safeguarding, which promotes an active safety culture and adoption of good practice in the context of lone working.

Volunteer mentors must undertake 2 days of training, whereby they are given advice on reducing risk to themselves from abuse or manipulation by clients, e.g., meeting in public places away from home, not divulging home addresses etc

Introduction

Safeguarding means protecting a citizen’s health, wellbeing and human rights; enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. Safeguarding children, young people and adults is a collective responsibility.

Those most in need of protection include:

Children and young people
Adults at risk, such as people with physical, sensory and mental impairments, and those with learning disabilities.

We know that the client group we work with are made up of children and vulnerable adults. Members of our organisation may come into contact with vulnerable prisoners, during their custodial period and may have contact with vulnerable adult partners, family members and children through their work with clients in the community.

The purpose of this policy is to make sure that the actions of any adult, in the context of the work carried out by this organisation, are transparent and safeguard and promote the welfare of our client group and any children or vulnerable adults, outside of the client group with whom we have contact.

The 6 Principles of Safeguarding as defined by The Care Act 2014 are:

Accountability: Transparency and accountability are important when it comes to safeguarding.

Empowerment: It’s important for any individual who has been a victim of abuse, neglect, or maltreatment to feel that they have control over their situation.

Partnership: It is important to work in partnership with your local authority and all services or organisations in your community, who might be able to assist in detecting and reporting abuse or neglect.

Prevention: It is sometimes possible to act before harm has come to an individual. If you know the signs and indicators of abuse and neglect, you will understand when something is not quite right and will be better placed to report any concerns for an individual’s wellbeing

Proportionality: When a safeguarding incident occurs, you should report your concerns in a manner that is appropriate for the risk presented.

Protection: It is important to support individuals who have experienced abuse or neglect, or any individual who you suspect might be at risk of abuse or neglect.

Actions required ensuring safety in an emergency situation

Immediate action may be required at any stage in involvement with children and vulnerable adults. In all cases it is vital to take whatever action is needed, to safeguard the child or vulnerable adult immediately. This may include:

In the case of a child or vulnerable adult; if the danger is immediate Police should be contacted (by dialling 999) as only they have the power to remove a child or vulnerable adult immediately, if protection is necessary.

In the case of a prisoner, notifying prison authorities, so that medical attention can be called, or protective action taken. This is especially important when there are allegations of extreme bullying, violence, intimidation or threats from other prisoners or staff.
This should be followed up by reporting to line management, within the organisation.

Recognition of Abuse or Neglect

Abuse and neglect are forms of maltreatment of a child or a vulnerable adult. Someone may abuse or neglect a child or a vulnerable adult by inflicting harm or by failing to prevent harm. Children and vulnerable adults may be abused in a family or by an institution, by those known to them or by a stranger. They may be abused by an adult or adults or by another child or vulnerable adult. Abuse may be categorised as any of/or including:

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child or vulnerable adult. Physical harm may also be caused, when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of or deliberately induces harm in a child or vulnerable adult.

Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional ill treatment of a child or vulnerable adult, such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on their emotional development or well-being. It may involve conveying to children or vulnerable adults that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate or valued only in so far, as they meet the needs of another person.

It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations, being imposed on children or vulnerable adults. These may include interactions that are beyond their developmental capability, as well as over protection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the child/vulnerable adult participating, in normal social interaction. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill treatment of another. It may involve serious bullying, causing children or vulnerable adults to frequently feel frightened or in danger or the exploitation or corruption of children. Some level of emotional abuse is involved, in all types of ill treatment of a child or vulnerable adult.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or vulnerable adult to take part in sexual activities, whether or not they are aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative or non-penetrative acts. They may include non-contact acts, such as involving children or vulnerable adults, in looking at or in the production of sexual images, watching sexual activities or encouraging children or vulnerable adults to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.

Neglect

Neglect is the failure to meet the basic physical or psychological needs of a child or vulnerable adult in a way that is likely to result in the serious impairment of health or development. Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse. Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer, failing to provide adequate food, clothing or shelter (including abandonment or exclusion from the home), failing to protect a child, failing to ensure adequate supervision and failing to ensure necessary medical care.

Individuals within the organisation, need to be alert to the potential abuse of children or vulnerable adults, both within the prison and within the families, in the community and also from other sources, including abuse by members of this organisation. There is an expected responsibility on the part of the members of this organisation, to act in accordance with this policy, if they suspect any abuse. It is good practice to be open and as honest as possible, with parents and carers about any concerns.

However, you must not discuss your concerns with them in the following circumstances. If the following should arise, you should consult your line manager. Decisions about these matters should not be taken in isolation; consult with your line manager:

Where sexual abuse or exploitation is suspected.

Where organised or multiple abuse is suspected.
Where there are concerns a child may be at risk of female genital mutilation.
Where fabricated or induced illness is suspected.
Where contacting parents or carers would put a child or vulnerable adult or yourself at risk.

What to do if children or vulnerable adults talk to you about abuse or neglect

If a child or vulnerable adult seeks you out, to share information about abuse or neglect, you must:

Listen carefully to the individual but do not directly question them.
Give them time and attention.
Allow them to give a spontaneous account; do not stop them freely recalling significant events.
Make an accurate record of the information you have been given, including taking care to record the timing, setting and people present and the individual’s presentation, as well as what was said. Do not throw away this original record.
Explain that you cannot promise not to speak to others about the information you have been given – do not falsely promise confidentiality.
Reassure the child or vulnerable adult that they have done the right thing by speaking out.
Tell the child or vulnerable adult what you are going to do next and explain that you will need assistance to keep him/her safe.
Do not ask the child or vulnerable adult to repeat his or her account of events to anyone.

Consult about your concerns

In the above circumstances, where a disclosure has been made to you, or where you become concerned due to your own observations, you should talk to the person within your organisation that is designated, as responsible for safeguarding.

Adrian Jones - Trustee/Senior Safeguarding Officer

Tel: 0207 793 9797

Mob: 07888 829 738

Email: adrian.jones@yourstory.org.uk

You should consult with the local Social Services Duty Team, in the area where the child or vulnerable adult lives, if you feel that your concerns have not been dealt with appropriately.

Consultation is not the same as a referral but should enable a decision to be made, as to whether a referral to Social Services and/or the Police should progress.

Make a referral

A referral involves giving Social Services or the Police information about concerns, relating to an individual or family, in order that enquiries can be undertaken by the appropriate agency.

Parents or carers should be informed of the referral, except in the circumstances outlined in Section 3 above. If you do not inform the parents or carers, you should tell the Social Services or Police that they are not aware of the referral. Social Services and or Police, will then make decisions about disclosing to parents or carers.

If your concern is about harm or risk of harm from someone, not known to the child or vulnerable adult you should make a telephone referral directly to the Police. If your concern is about harm or risk of harm to a child or vulnerable adult from an adult in a position of trust, see Section 8 below.

Information required when making a referral

Be prepared to give as much of the following information as possible. If the information is not available, you should not delay, in making the referral.

Your name, contact details, position (also ensure you gather the same information from the person to whom you make the referral).

Full name and address, current location, telephone number of family and date of birth of an individual you are referring.
Gender, ethnicity, first language and any special needs or circumstances of the individual.
Names, dates of birth and relationship of household members and any significant others, e.g. GP, school.
The nature of the concern and the reasons for your concerns.
An opinion on whether the child or vulnerable adult, needs urgent action to keep them safe.
Your view on what appears to be the needs of the child or vulnerable adult.
Whether the consent of the parent or carer, has been given to the referral being made.
Consent is best practice; however, a lack of consent will not prevent actions being taken to protect children and vulnerable adults.

Ensure that you keep a record of your referral and that you discuss it with your Line Manager or Safeguarding Contact. Ensure that you confirm in writing to Social Services or Police the details of the referral. Accurately record the action agreed or that no further action is to be taken and the reasons behind this decision.

Allegations against those who work with children or vulnerable adults

If you have information, which suggests an adult, who works with these client groups, in a paid or unpaid capacity, has behaved in a way that has harmed a child or vulnerable adult or possibly committed a criminal offence against them or behaved towards them in a way that concerns you; you should speak immediately to your Line Manager or Safeguarding Contact.

Mental Capacity Act 2005

Follow good practice under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, when speaking to the adult. Assume the adult has capacity unless proven otherwise. If the person is proven to lack capacity, speak to the person’s representative/s and always act in their best interests.

Principle 1

Assume a person has capacity unless proved otherwise.

Principle 2

Do not treat people as incapable of making a decision, unless all practicable steps have been tried to help them.

Principle 3

A person should not be treated as incapable of making a decision because their decision may seem unwise.

Principle 4

Always do things or take decisions for people without capacity in their best interests.

Principle 5

Before doing something to someone or making a decision on their behalf, consider whether the outcome could be achieved in a less restrictive way.

Confidentiality

The organisation should ensure that any records, made in relation to a referral are kept confidentially and in a secure place.

Child Protection concerns should be shared on a ‘need to know’ basis, however, sharing information appropriately is vital to ensure the safety of vulnerable clients and therefore the issue of confidentiality, is secondary to the need for protection and safeguarding.

Useful Telephone Numbers

HMP/YOI Main Switchboard (Ask for the Chaplaincy Department): 0208 844 5000

Disclosure & Barring Service: 03000 200 190

Metropolitan Police Service: Emergency 999/Non-Emergency 101

Hounslow Borough – Safeguarding Children at Risk

Team Number: 0208 583 6600 (option 2, then option 3)
Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Out of Hours: 0208 583 2222 -
After 5pm weekdays or weekends and ask to speak to the duty social worker.

Complete an online form - https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/child-protection/report-concern-child-professional

Hounslow Borough – Safeguarding Adults at Risk

Telephone: 0208 583 3100
Monday to Thursday from 9am to 5pm. Friday 9am to 4.45pm.

Out of Hours: 0208 583 2222
After 5pm weekdays or weekends and ask to speak to the duty social worker

Email: adultsocialcare@hounslow.gov.uk

For general advice about Safeguarding telephone: 0208 583 3068

Distribution

This policy is to be brought to the attention of Trustees, staff and volunteers on appointment, and relevant elements included in policies, staff handbook, as appropriate.

Version Control - Approval and Review

Last Updated - 19th November 2025

Approved By - the Board

Approval Date - 21st November 2025

Main Changes - Added Version Control to aide monitoring and updates and checked safeguarding contact numbers are still up to date and accurate.

Review Period - Annually