Safeguarding policy

This policy applies to all staff including senior managers, trustees, paid staff, volunteers and sessional workers, agency staff, students or anyone working on behalf or StarterMotor

The purpose of this policy:

To protect children and young people who receive StarterMotor’s services. This includes the children of adults who use the services
To provide staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding and child protection
StarterMotor believes that a child or young person should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of children and young people and keep them safe. We are committed to practise in a way that protects them.

Legal Framework
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of law and guidance that sets out to protect children, namely:

Children Act 1989
United Convention of the Rights of the Child 1991
Data Protection Act 1998
The General Data Protection Regulation 2018
Human Rights Act 1998
Sexual Offences Act 2003
Children Act 2004
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
Children and Families Act 2014
Special educational needs and disability (SEND) code of practice: 0 to 25 years - statutory guidance for organisations which work with and support children and young people who have special educational needs or disabilities; HM Government 2014
Information sharing: advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people and carers; HM Government 2015
Working together to safeguard children: a guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children; HM Government 2015

This policy should be read alongside our policies and procedures on:

Recruitment, induction and training
Role of the designated safeguarding officer
Dealing with disclosures and concerns about a child or young person
Managing allegations against staff and volunteers
Recording and information sharing
Code of conduct for staff and volunteers
Safer recruitment
E-safely
Anti-bullying
Complaints
Whistleblowing
Health and safety
Training, supervision and support
Lone working policy and procedure
Quality assurance

We Recognise That:

the welfare of the child is paramount, as enshrined in the Children Act 1989
all children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse
some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues
working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare

We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:

valuing them, listening to and respecting them
appointing a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) for children and young people
adopting child protection and safeguarding practices through procedures and a code of conduct for staff and volunteers
developing and implementing an effective e-safety policy and related procedures
providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures
recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
recording and storing information professionally and securely, and sharing information about safeguarding and good practice with children, their families, staff and volunteers via leaflets, posters, one-to one discussions
using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately.
using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately
creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise
ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place
ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance

GET IN TOUCH

Building 123
Bicester Heritage
Buckingham Road
Bicester OX26 5HA
info@startermotor.co

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