Safeguarding Policy

The purpose of this safeguarding policy statement is for Chard COVID-19 Support Group to work with vulnerable adults, children and families as part of its activities. These include: shopping, dog walking, friendly supportive phone calls, collecting prescriptions, preparing hot food and delivering food parcels.

The purpose of this policy is to protect all volunteers and beneficiaries involved with the Chard COVID-19 Support group.

References to the Legal Framework:

The Care Act 2014 safeguarding vulnerable adults is defined in the care and support statutory guidance issued The Care Act 2014 as:

  • protecting the rights of adults to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect
  • people and organisations working together to prevent and stop both the risks and experience of abuse or neglect
  • people and organisations making sure that everyone’s wellbeing is promoted including, where appropriate, taking fully into account their views, wishes, feelings and beliefs in deciding on any action
  • recognising that adults sometimes have complex interpersonal relationships and may be ambivalent, unclear or unrealistic about their personal circumstances and potential risks to their safety or wellbeing

This Policy statement applies to anyone volunteering on behalf of Chard COVID-19 Support Group

The Chard Coronavirus/CV-19 Support Group is committed to:

  • Promoting a safer environment and culture.
  • Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation.
  • Caring for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other affected persons.
  • Responding to those that may pose a present risk to others.
  • Making sure all volunteers are responsible for safeguarding.

The Support group will:

  • Create a safe and caring place for all.
  • Have a named Safeguarding Officer
  • Display on the support group website the details of who to contact if there are safeguarding concerns or support needs.
  • Listen to and take seriously all those who disclose abuse.
  • Take steps to protect children and adults when a safeguarding concern of any kind arises.
  • Offer support to victims of abuse regardless of the type of abuse, when or where it occurred.
  • Ensure that health and safety policy, procedures and risk assessments are in place.
  • Make provision for whistleblowing, see Whistle blowing policy.

All volunteers within this support group will agree to abide by this policy

We recognise that abuse can take many forms including

  • Physical including Bullying in children and adults
  • Emotional and Psychological
  • Financial
  • Sexual ( including grooming and trafficking in children)
  • Neglect
  • Domestic Violence
  • Organisational
  • Discriminatory
  • Self Neglect
  • Modern Slavery

Safeguarding: Reporting a Concern

  • A concern may be expressed by anyone, volunteer or beneficiary
  • CV-19 Support Group is committed to an open door policy and supports whistleblowing for the protection of all members
  • Volunteers should all be made aware of how to deal with a concern or disclosure

DO

Stay calm.

Identify if there is a danger of immediate harm and if so refer immediately to emergency services.

If cause for concern occurs away from Guildhall a verbal report should be made to (Shift Lead) directly to Safeguarding Officer by telephone call.

In response to a telephone call:

  • Obtain consent
  • Record name, contact details, record what is said in caller’s own words
  • Inform Shift Lead
  • Sign and date record and relay (via Shift Lead) promptly to Safeguarding Officer
  • Records will be maintained by ( Safeguarding Lead) and kept securely
  • Report concerns promptly and as a priority over all other tasks
  • Understand what the signs and symptoms of abuse may look like

DO NOT

  • Promise to keep secrets
  • Discuss details with anybody else (except Shift Lead/Safeguarding Officer/Deputy)

All concerns MUST be given to the Safeguarding Officer as soon as possible, this is very important and must be actioned as a priority over all other tasks.

Further Action

Safeguarding Officer on receipt of concern will decide if further action is required.

The Safeguarding Officer is working alongside the One Team, which is a local multi-agency team and will action any cases accordingly. The Safeguarding Officer will not necessarily feed back to the initial volunteer, unless more information is required. No further action will be needed after the Safeguarding Officer has taken this responsibility.

Recording information

Safeguarding Officer will keep records securely with her safe working practices as part of the One Team. These records are only accessible by members of that secure group, not by other members of Chard COVID-19 Support Group.

Any paperwork deemed to be important enough to keep are stored centrally in The Guildhall in a locked cupboard, only accessible by two other Steering Group members and is not accessible by any others members of the Support group or general public.

Contact details

Nominated Safeguarding Lead

Name: Cath Morrison

Phone/email: 07971373831 contact here or using cathmorrison38@gmail.com

Deputy Safeguarding Lead(s)

Name(s): Andy Webb Phone/email: 07769 746 958 andywebb395@outlook.com

Steering Group Lead for Safeguarding

Name: Jason Hawkes Phone/email: 07958727121 / contact here

NSPCC Helpline

0808 800 5000

Somerset’s Children Care Services (non-emergency situation)

0300 123 2224
or email childrens@somerset.gov.uk

You can also call 101

(non-emergency situation) who will liaise with the care services

This policy statement came into force on 19.05.2020

We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.

This policy statement and accompanying procedures were last reviewed on 14.05.2020