Safeguarding Policy

Last Updated: OCTOBER, 07, 2021

Introduction

CFYDC (Chance) takes seriously its responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all young people; and to work together with other agencies to ensure adequate arrangements within our programme to identify, assess, and support those young people who are suffering harm.

We recognise that all adults, including officials, staff, coaches, volunteers and parents have a full and active part to play in protecting young people in our charge from harm, and that the young people’s welfare is our paramount concern. It is also important that all reasonable steps are taken
to prevent unsuitable people from working with our young people. This applies equally to paid and unpaid, full and part time staff, coaches, volunteers and officials. All individuals working on behalf of, or otherwise representing an organisation are treated as employees whether paid or voluntary.
The management committee, trustees and all voluntary staff believe that CFYDC (Chance) should provide a caring, positive safe and stimulating environment that promotes the social, physical, psychological and development of all young people.

In implementing this Safeguarding Policy CFYDC (Chance) will:

• Ensure that all staff understand their legal and moral responsibility of young people to keep them from harm, abuse and exploitation.
• Ensure that all staff understand their responsibility to work to the standards that are detailed in the programmes safeguarding procedures and work at all times towards maintaining high standards of practice.
• Ensure that all staff are aware of LSCB interagency safeguarding procedures and are confident in how to work within these guidelines.
• Ensure that all workers understand their duty to report concerns that arise about a young person, or a staff members conduct towards a young person, to the programmes named person for child protection.
• Ensure that the named person understands his/her responsibility to refer any child protection concerns to the statutory child protection agencies (i.e. Police and/or children’s social care – duty advice team).
• Ensure that any procedures relating to the conduct of workers are implemented in a consistent and equitable manner.
• Provide opportunities for all workers to develop their skills and knowledge, Particularly in relation to the welfare and protection of young people and students.
• Ensure that young people and students are enabled to express their ideas and views on a wide range of issues and will have access to the programme’s complaints procedure.
• Ensure that parents/careers are encouraged to be involved in the work of the programme and when requested, have access to all guidelines and procedures.
• Endeavour to keep up-to-date with national developments relating to the welfare and protection of young people and students.
• To provide a systematic means of monitoring children known or thought to be at risk of harm, and ensure we contribute assessments of need and support packages for those young people.
• To develop a structured procedure and followed by all staff and coaches in cases of suspected abuse.
• To work closely with the child protection officers of the National governing body of sporting bodies that CFYDC (Chance) are affiliated to.
• To ensure that all adults who have access to young people have been through an induction process and passed the advanced DBS check to assess their suitability.
• To undertake compulsory safeguarding training.

Safeguarding Statement CFYDC (Chance):

1. Believes that young people must be protected from harm at all times.
2. Believes every young person should be valued, safe and happy. We want to make sure that young people we have contact with know this and are empowered to tell us if they are suffering harm.
3. Want young people who use or have contact with us to enjoy what we have to offer in safety.
4. Want young people and parents who use or attend our services to feel supported in caring for their children in a way that promotes their child’s health and well-being and keeps them safe.
5. Will achieve this by having effective safeguarding procedures and following national guidance (what to do if you’re worried a child is being abused) and local procedures (Leeds safeguarding children’s board).
6. If we discover or suspect a young person is suffering harm we will notify social care duty & advice team or the police in order for them to be protected if necessary.
7. This safeguarding policy and procedures apply to all staff, volunteers and users of our services and anyone carrying out any work for us or using our premises.
8. We will review these policies and procedures annually to make sure they are still relevant and effective.
9. We are committed to policies and procedures to ensure that those who are paid or work in a voluntary capacity, the people it serves are not discriminated on the basis of disability, race, age, religion or belief, sexual orientation or gender.