Safeguarding Policy
The aim of this policy is to reflect the commitment of Bodie Hodges Foundation to work collaboratively with multi- agencies to safeguard children at risk from abuse or neglect. The policy describes the roles and responsibilities of staff to safeguard children’s young people and vulnerable adults, including identification of abuse or neglect and our referral processes.
This Policy applies to all staff, including the board of trustees, paid staff, volunteers, and anyone working on behalf of The Bodie Hodges Foundation.
The purpose of this policy is:
- To protect children, young people and vulnerable adults who access services from The Bodie Hodges Foundation. This includes the children of the adults who use our services.
- To provide trustees, staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding children, young people and adults under our care.
The Bodie Hodges Foundation believes that no child or young person or adult should ever experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults to keep them safe. We are committed to practice in a way that protects everyone.
The Bodie Hodges Foundation currently works with families, children, and young people through referrals either from other professional agencies or self-referrals from the families. Our staff and volunteers come into direct contact with children and young people and liaise with charity partners.
Our services to these families, children and young people include direct contact and include 1-1 sessions such as bereavement support within their home, school, college, or another locally agreed setting. We also, as a charity, provide a short stay at Bodie’s Boathouse.
These families are vulnerable as they have all experienced the death of a child and/or sibling. We always take the following steps to ensure their wellbeing and to safeguard them.
- All staff and volunteers with any direct contact with adults, children and young people who provided Bodie Hodges support services are DBS checked and have had a level of safeguarding training required for their role.
- If any photographs of families, children and young people are used in any literature or publication, written consent will be obtained from families before use.
- All activities and equipment provided in sessions is used under supervision to maintain safety.
- All service user feedback and any testimonies on stays at Bodies Boathouse will be used anonymously to protect their privacy and identity.
- Bodie’s Boathouse is equipped with additional features to ensure the safety and well-being of children during their stay. This includes lockable wooden gates around lake access, safety equipment for young children and fire safety.
- Bodie’s Boathouse is also disability friendly welcoming all to access the services provided.
- Our designated safeguarding officer is up to date with current training requirements and is available for support where required.
- This policy is supported by our Data Protection and GDPR policy and Health and Safety/risk assessment policy
What to do if a child discloses abuse or neglect to anyone working for The Bodie Hodges Foundation?
We are committed to protecting children/young people who may have accessed services provided by The Bodie Hodges Foundation.
If a child discloses abuse or neglect it is important to follow the below steps:
- Listen carefully to the child. Avoid expressing your own views on the matter. A reaction of shock or disbelief could cause the child to ‘shut down’, retract or stop talking
- Let them know they’ve done the right thing. Reassurance can make a big impact to the child who may have been keeping the abuse secret
- Tell them it’s not their fault. Abuse is never the child’s fault and they need to know this
- Say you will take them seriously. A child could keep abuse secret in fear they won’t be believed. They’ve told you because they want help and trust you’ll be the person who will listen to and support them.
- Don’t talk to the alleged abuser. Confronting the alleged abuser about what the child’s told you could make the situation a lot worse for the child
- Explain what you’ll do next. If age appropriate, explain to the child you’ll need to report the abuse to someone who will be able to help
- Don’t delay reporting the abuse. The sooner the abuse is reported after the child discloses the better. Report as soon as possible so details are fresh in your mind and action can be taken quickly.
- If any members of staff, employed or voluntary become aware of any abuse or neglect they are to report this immediately to the DSO.
- It is important that the member of staff or volunteer writes down exactly what the child is saying and what you said to the child. Ensure that dates and times of events are also recorded. When the conversation is over you also need to write down the date and times that this took place.
- It is important to reassure the child that you will get support to make them safe. The member of staff will also need to take down contact details for the child or find out the names of their parents so that we are able to identify them and get help.
- Under no circumstances should a member of staff directly contact parents if abuse or neglect has been reported to them.
- This policy does not negate an individual’s right to contact the police, social services or NSPCC directly before speaking to the coordinator.
- Remember to get support for yourself following this disclosure if you feel that you need to talk through what happened.
Important Number
Social Care, who should be contacted if concerns exist about a child’s welfare or safety: –
Leicester City – Tel: 0116 454 1004
Leicestershire County – Tel: 0116 305 0005
Rutland – 01572 758407 (Out of Hours 0116 3050005)
https://llrscb.proceduresonline.com/
CEOP – child exploitation and online protection Command
NSPCC Helpline help@nspcc.org.uk
These safeguarding principles also extend to the support and care of adults using our service here at The Bodie Hodges foundation, all staff and volunteers need to be aware and follow these when supporting vulnerable adults to help keep them safe.
Principles of adult safeguarding
There are six principles of adult safeguarding. The principles should inform the ways in which professionals work with adults.
They are:
- Empowerment: people being supported and encouraged to make their own decisions.
- Prevention: it is better to take action before harm occurs.
- Proportionality: the least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented.
- Protection: support and representation for those in greatest need.
- Partnership: local solutions through services working with their communities.
- Accountability: accountability and transparency in delivering safeguarding.
We must remember
- Confidentiality must not be confused with secrecy.
- Informed consent should be obtained but, if this is not possible and other adults are at risk of abuse and neglect, it may be necessary to override the requirement.
- It is inappropriate for agencies to give assurances of absolute confidentiality in cases where there are concerns about abuse, particularly in those situations when other vulnerable people may be at risk.
Principles of confidentiality designed to safeguard and promote the interests of an adult should not be confused with those designed to protect the management interests of an organisation. These have a legitimate role but must never be allowed to conflict with the interests of an adult. If it appears to an employee that such confidentiality rules may be operating against the interests of adults at risk of abuse or neglect, then a duty arise to make a full disclosure.
If you are worried about a vulnerable adult, please contact use the details below:
- Telephone: 0116 454 1004 (Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5pm, Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm)
- Emergency number: 0116 255 1606 (6pm to 8am)
- Visit: Customer Service Centre, 91 Granby Street, LE1 6FB
Contact Details
Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO)
Name: Emma Frain
Email: emma@bodiehodgesfoundation.co.uk
Senior Lead Safeguarding
Name: Nicola Rhodes
Email: Nicola@bodiehodgesfoundation.co.uk
