Overview
Yuvanis Foundation is fully committed to promoting the health, safety and wellbeing of all who attend Yuvanis Foundation. We will work closely with other agencies, Child Protection Services, Oldham Council and the Charity Commission to protect and promote children’s and vulnerable adults’ health and safety.
Our foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, vulnerable adults, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Our foundation recognises that as staff and volunteers are in regular and frequent contact with children and, sometimes, vulnerable adults, they are particularly well-placed to observe signs of abuse or neglect.
Our foundation is aware of the responsibilities which all staff and volunteers have with regard to the protection of people from abuse and from inappropriate and inadequate care. Therefore, our foundation is committed in reacting in accordance to Oldham Council’s agreed procedures in all cases where there is concern.
What is safeguarding?
Organisations have a statutory responsibility to keep children and vulnerable adults safe from harm. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) defines safeguarding as:
- Protecting children from abuse and maltreatment
- Preventing harm to children’s health or development
- Ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care
- Taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes
What does safeguarding look like at Yuvanis Foundation?
- We have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all our children. If we have concerns about the welfare of a child we have a responsibility to take action and will always act in the best interest of the child. We also have a legal duty to work alongside other agencies with any child protection inquiries
- We protect information about your child and only share it appropriately
- We respond appropriately to an unplanned absence, or to a pattern of poor attendance
- We track concerns about children confidentially
- We teach children about safeguarding issues, including how to respond to concerns, in wellbeing activities and generally whenever appropriate
- We supervise children as they enter and leave our foundation’s building or programmes at the start and end of any activities
- Any child that reports a concern will be listened to with respect and their concerns will supported and our safeguarding procedures will be followed
Key terms
Abuse
Abuse is a form of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm or by failing to act to prevent harm
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
A certificate of checks carried out on those working with children and vulnerable people. Those who work regularly with children require a more in-depth DBS check
Safer Recruitment
Recruiting staff using thorough checks on their suitability to work with children, including the right to work in the UK, and mental and physical fitness to carry out their responsibilities
If you are worried about the safety of a child then, in the first instance, you should contact the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) and ask to speak to the Duty Officer on 0161 770 7777. Please also see our section on how to report a concern.
The Role of Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
The role of the Designated Safeguarding Person was specified in the Children Act 2004 and was to ensure that every organisation had a “named person” for safeguarding children and young people. Prior to that, the role had frequently been known as the Child Protection Officer.
The Designated Safeguarding Person has a responsibility at both a strategic level within the organisation and on a day to day basis.
Key Aspects of the Designated Person role includes:
- Making sure all staff are aware how to raise safeguarding concerns
- Ensuring all staff understand the symptoms of child abuse and neglect
- Referring any concerns to social care
- Monitoring children who are the subject of child protection plans
- Maintaining accurate and secure child protection records