Safeguarding Policy

• Context and purpose
  Safeguarding is about creating a safe, welcoming environment where everyone, staff and volunteers alike, is respected and valued. It is also about being prepared to respond safely and swiftly when necessary.
  
  Everyone within the organisation has a role to play in safeguarding, and the RSS has a duty to safeguard its members, volunteers and staff.
  
  The risks associated with safeguarding within the organisation are low because of the nature of most of our work; however, we do run programmes that engage with children and other charities, and some of our activities (for example our events) may also engage with young people and vulnerable adults. We have a duty of care to ensure that we operate in a way that, so far as is reasonably practical, does not harm anyone with whom we engage.
   
• Scope
  This policy applies to all RSS staff (full or part-time), trustees, volunteers and anyone working on behalf of the organisation.
   
• Principles and commitments
  Principles:

  
  
  1. Nobody should experience abuse, exploitation, harm or neglect while engaging with our work;
  2. Everybody has a responsibility for creating a culture in which people feel able to speak up if they have any concerns;
  3. Everybody has a responsibility to promote the welfare of staff, trustees and volunteers, keeping them safe and working in a way that protects them.

  
  
  Commitments
  
  The RSS will:

  1. Take all reasonably practical measures to ensure vulnerable groups impacted by any RSS activity are safe from abuse, exploitation, harm and neglect of all kinds;
  2. Ensure that all its trustees are fully cognisant of protection issues and are informed of their safeguarding responsibilities through induction and refresher training;
  3. Take appropriate and proportionate action if this policy is not complied with;
  4. Ensure that all staff are aware of their responsibility to report any concerns and who to report these to;
  5. Ensure that safeguarding concerns are properly addressed, and staff are supported when raising concerns;
  6. Report safeguarding incidents, allegations or concerns to external authorities and regulators as appropriate and in accordance with best practice;
  7. Respond to safeguarding concerns regarding its social media activity;
  8. Protect people’s personal data and comply with UK GDPR legislation.

  
  
  Implementation

  
  
  1. To champion the application of this policy within all areas of RSS activity, the CEO is nominated as the Designated Safeguarding Officer, and the President is nominated as the trustee with responsibility for leading on safeguarding issues.
  2. We will set out safeguarding identified risks, staff and / or volunteer involvement, and how risks will be managed in our risk register, which is regularly reviewed;
  3. Volunteer, trustee and staff roles within the society will be reviewed at the recruitment stage and, where possible, we will avoid including specific responsibilities that involve regular contact with vulnerable people. Where such responsibilities are required, safeguarding risks will be assessed and appropriate mitigations put in place;
  4. All RSS staff, trustees and volunteers are required to acknowledge their obligations under this policy;
  5. Breaches of this policy by staff, trustees or volunteers are a potential cause for disciplinary action;
  6. This policy will be reviewed by the Council annually, where there is a change in UK law and/or best practice, or when an incident occurs that highlights a need for change; whichever occurs first.
• Role of the Designated Safeguarding Officer
  The Designated Safeguarding Officer shall:

  • Be the primary point of contact for all safeguarding matters within the RSS;
  • Ensure that this policy is available and accessible on the RSS website;
  • Monitor the overall trend of safeguarding concerns and report to Council on the implementation of the RSS safeguarding policy and procedures;
  • Maintain records of any safeguarding concerns raised, actions taken, and follow-up required;
  • Ensure that all RSS staff are aware of their safeguarding duties and have read and adhere to this safeguarding policy;
  • Ensure that any individuals in volunteer, trustee and staff roles within the society that involve regular contact with vulnerable people receive appropriate safe guarding training;
  • Be familiar with relevant legislation and statutory guidance;
  • Utilise existing systems for risk management and performance monitoring to evaluate compliance with this policy as appropriate.
• Reporting and responding to safeguarding concerns
  All RSS staff, trustees and volunteers are required to report any concern or suspicion of possible or actual harm (including abuse, exploitation, neglect and policy non-compliance) or risk of such harm, resulting from actions or inactions by anyone covered by this policy.
  
  In the first instance, these should be reported to the CEO as Designated Safeguarding Officer – if this is not appropriate, it should instead be reported to the President as Lead Safeguarding Trustee. All reports will be treated with strict confidence and details disclosed only in accordance with this policy with due regard given to the need for anonymisation of report details.
   
  Guidance on dealing with safeguarding concerns:
  
  If a child, young person or vulnerable adult confides to someone that they are being, have been or believe that they may have been abused, then they have placed this person in a position of trust. In all cases:

  • Ensure the immediate safety of the child, young person or vulnerable adult. Stop other activity and place your focus on what you have just been told or have just seen. Responding to suspicion on abuse takes immediate priority. Consideration must be given to removing the victim from any potential harm to an environment were any emotional and/or physical needs can be cared for.
  • Do not promise confidentiality. Make it clear to the individual that the information must be passed on if you think they have been, are being or may be harmed in any way. Clearly explain about what you expect to happen next and confirm that you will only tell those who you have to tell to get the issue dealt with. You can and should state that the matter will be dealt with quickly and appropriately. Don’t promise to keep the information to yourself – all concerns and allegations of abuse must be raised.
  • Reassure the child, young person or vulnerable adult. React calmly; panic may frighten or silence them. Tell the person that they were right to tell you and make it clear that they themselves are not to blame. Take what is said seriously, recognising that there may be difficulties in interpreting what is said.
  • Avoid any actions that could harm subsequent investigations, including legal proceedings. Obtain the necessary information needed to make a referral, keeping questions to an absolute minimum to ensure a clear and accurate understanding of what is being said. Only ask questions needed to clarify what you are being told – do not ask about explicit details. It is up to Children’s Services and/or the police to investigate fully.
  • Report the concern to the Designated Safeguarding Officer (CEO) – if this is not appropriate, it should instead be reported to the President as Lead Safeguarding Trustee
  • Make a record of the incident and any action taken.
• Further information
  The Charity Commission has issued guidance on safeguarding and protecting people, as well as the 10 actions trustee boards need to take to ensure good safeguarding governance.