Last updated: 21 August 2023

 

 
What follows below is an overview of the key points and responsibilities, outlined in our full safeguarding policy, which can be found here.

 

POLICY PURPOSE

Our training and other activities include working with children and on occasion with vulnerable people, including vulnerable children and adults.  The purpose of this policy is to protect children and adults, vulnerable or otherwise and provide our stakeholders, staff and the public with the overarching principles that guide our approach in doing so. 

 

SAFEGUARDING PRINCIPALS

We believe that:

- Nobody who is involved in our work should ever experience abuse, harm, neglect or exploitation.
- We all have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all of our beneficiaries, staff, volunteers, students and their families, to keep      them safe and to work in a way that protects them.
- We all have a collective responsibility for creating a culture in which our people - staff, volunteers, students and their families not        only feel safe, but also able to speak up, if they have any concerns.

 

SAFEGUARDING POLICY APPLICABILITY

This safeguarding policy applies to anyone working on our behalf, including employed and freelance staff and volunteers.

Partner organisations, who from time to time work in conjunction with us, will be required to have their own safeguarding procedures that must, as a minimum, meet the standards outlined below, and include any additional legal or regulatory requirements specific to their work.  These may, but are not limited to:

- Other UK regulators such as Ofsted or the CQC.
- Other authorities such as DfES or NHS.

There may be other requirements to frameworks for those working overseas. Further information on this is available via the organisations listed, below:

- Charity Commission
- International Child Safeguarding Standards

 

TYPES OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT

Abuse can take many forms, such as physical, psychological or emotional, financial, sexual or institutional abuse, including neglect, exploitation and modern slavery.  Signs that may indicate the different types of abuse can be found in our FULL SAFEGUARDING POLICY.

 

REPORTING A SAFEGUARDING CONCERN

If a crime is in progress, or an individual in immediate danger, call the police, as you would in any other circumstances. 

If you are a volunteer, or member of the public, make your concerns known to a member of our team, who will follow our safeguarding reporting procedure and alert a safeguarding officer. 

For members of the staff, make your concerns known to your safeguarding lead.  If you feel unable to do so, speak to our managing director.   

All Carney Academy employees and freelancers are mindful of their reporting obligations in respect of serious Incident Reporting. They are aware of the government guidance on handling safeguarding allegations.

 

EMPLOYEE AND FREELANCER SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES
 

Responsibilities are made clear to anyone who works with us and all individuals are provided with any necessary training and resources to enable them to carry out their role.  Safeguarding policy and procedure is reflected in our job descriptions, annual plan and objectives,
 

This safeguarding policy will be reviewed and approved by our management team, annually. 
 

Those who work with us are aware of and will comply with the our full safeguarding policy, which can be found here.

As part of our commitment to safeguarding, we will: 
 

• Create a culture of respect, in which everyone feel safe and able to speak up.

• Providing oversight of any lapses in safeguarding.

• And ensuring that any issues are properly investigated and dealt with quickly, fairly and sensitively, and any reporting to the Police/statutory authorities is carried out, where necessary.

• Lead the organisation in way that makes everyone feels safe and able to speak up.

• Ensuring safeguarding risk assessments are carried out and appropriate action taken to minimise these risks, as part of our risk management processes.

• Ensuring that all relevant checks are carried out in recruiting staff and volunteers.

• Plan programmes/activities to take into account potential safeguarding risks, to ensure these are adequately mitigated.

• Ensuring that all appointments that require DBS clearance and safeguarding training are identified, including the level of DBS and any training required.

• Ensuring that a central register is maintained and subject to regular monitoring to ensure that DBS clearances and training are kept up-to-date.

• Ensuring that safeguarding requirements (eg DBS) and responsibilities are reflected in job descriptions, appraisal objectives and personal development plans, as appropriate.

• Listening and engage, beneficiaries, staff, volunteers and others and involving them as appropriate.

• Respond to any concerns sensitively and acting quickly to address these.

• Ensure that personal data is stored and managed in a safe way that is compliant with data protection regulations, including valid consent to use any imagery or video.

• Making staff, volunteers and others aware of:

• Our safeguarding procedures and their specific safeguarding responsibilities on induction, with regular updates/reminders, as necessary.

• The signs of potential abuse and how to report these.

Everyone. To be aware of our procedures, undertake any necessary training, be aware of the risks and signs of potential abuse and, if you have concerns, to report these immediately (see above).​

 

ONLINE SAFEGUARDING PROCEDURE
 

We will identify and manage online risks by ensuring:
 

• Volunteers, staff and freelancers understand how to keep themselves safe online.

• The services we use and/or provide are safe and in line with our code of conduct.

• Protect people’s personal data and follow GDPR legislation.

• We have permission to display any images on our website or social media accounts, including consent from an individual, parent, etc.

• We clearly explain how users can report online concerns. Concerns may be reported using this policy, or direct to a social media provider using their reporting process.  If you are unsure, you can contact one of these organisations, who will help you.

Next Review: August 2024