SAFE GUARDING POLICY.

SAFE GUARDING POLICY

The Senior Designated Person (SDP) for the Trust is Mrs Grace Lancaster. Email: grace@jennieschildrenstrust.org

Although many of our volunteers and committee members are already up to date with safeguarding through their work as teachers or children’s NHS staff it is essential for all volunteers to be correctly trained,  to agree to the Trusts’ policy and receive training be updated every 3 years. Our policy is based on the government document “Working together to Safeguard Children” 2006.

All our Trustees, Committee members and Volunteers have responsibility for the children looked after on holiday by the Trust even though parents are always present. This is particularly true of the activities we organise.

All the families are referred by” care” agencies and our role is to report any issues back to the referrers rather than deal with issues ourselves.

AIMS

1. Support the child in a safe environment

2. Make all Trust members aware of our policy

3. All Trust personnel must be CRB(now called DBS) checked.

4. Report any concerns to the SDP who will pass issues on to referrers.
   

SAFE TRUST, SAFE CHILDREN 

All of us must understand our policies and requirements.

All new volunteers must be given a copy of this policy.

Updates should be done on a 3 yearly cycle

RESPONSIBILITIES

Children on Trust holidays remain the responsibility of their parents. Although they are nearly always in sight of their children we are responsible for their care in any organised activity and a Volunteer must be present. This is particularly true on the beach when if a child is in the sea a volunteer must also be in close proximity in the water.
 

SDP

1. Reports of possible abuse should be referred back to the referrers who may pass on to Child and Young People Services.

2. Written records must be kept

3. If necessary attend case conferences or multiagency meetings

4. Total confidentiality

5. Ensure Trust workers are updated on a 3yrly basis
   

SUPPORTING CHILDREN

1. Many children have great difficulty in talking about problems

2. We should provide a non- threatening listening ear but should not probe or question, rather to report to SDP who will pass on concerns to referring agency . Notes taken from conversation with a child will be in the first person/verbatim form.

3. Encourage self-esteem and social interaction.

CONFIDENTIALITY 

1. All matters of concern are confidential.

2. Any discussion from SDP will be on a “need to know” basis only.

3. Written records will be kept and held securely.

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST VOLUNTEERS 

1. Volunteers should never, if at all possible, be the only adult in charge of a child

2. All allegations must be handled by SDP.

3. SDP will decide on possible suspension of volunteer whilst investigation takes place.

4. Volunteers should be encouraged to whistle blow on other volunteers
   

PHYSICAL INTERVENTION

• We recognise the need to touch a child when working or playing with them but all Volunteers should have guidance about professional behaviour.

• Games may require contact but in an appropriate way within the confines of the game. Care must be taken that any contact cannot be misunderstood or misconstrued by the child.

• Physical restraint should only be used to prevent children harming themselves or others or seriously damaging property and this must be recorded if it should happen.
  

PREVENTION OF ABUSE. 

An ethos must be maintained to allow children to talk and be listened to.

FIRST AID

Although the Trust has a full first aid kit in the Volunteers lodge most of us are not trained “first aiders” and the first aid box will be given to the parent of the injured child who with the volunteer will deal with the child or decide to refer to the local GP or the A & E Dept of the Whithybush Hospital in Haverfordwest.
 

PHOTOGRAPHY

All parents must give permission for any photo to be taken of their child and written agreement if we wish to use a photo on our website, for advertising or for brochure production.
 

TRANSPORT

1. Parents must give permission for children to be transported by Volunteers.

2. Two adults must be in the transport never only one.

3. The only place the child must be is on the back seat with a seat belt fastened and with an appropriate booster seat if required.
   

USEFUL CONTACTS

Thames Valley Police Child Abuse Investigation Unit   0845 8505505

Oxfordshire Children’s Social Care

Oxfordshire Safeguarding Board

NSPCC Child Protection Helpline 0808 8005000

Claire Salter (Chairman) Email: claire@jennieschildrenstrust.org

June 2021