Garrigill Village Hall Safeguarding Policy

1. Purpose

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk from abuse or neglect.

This policy defines how Garrigill Village Hall operates to safeguard children, young people and adults at risk of abuse and neglect.

We have a duty of care and are committed to the protection and safety of everyone who enters our premises including children, young people and adults at risk involved as visitors and/or participants in all activities and events. We also have a duty to safeguard and support our trustees, volunteers and staff.

2. Definitions

Children and young people are defined as those persons aged under 18 years old. This policy will apply to all staff, contractors and volunteers and will be used to support their work

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as;-

  • Protecting children from maltreatment

  • Preventing impairment of children's health and development

  • Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care.

  • Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes

Adult at risk of abuse or neglect:-

For the purpose of this policy adult at risk refers to someone over 18 years old who, according to section 42 of the Care Act 2014:-

  • Has care and support needs

  • Is experiencing, or is at risk of abuse or neglect

  • As a result of their care and support needs is unable to protect himself or herself against abuse or neglect or the risk of it.

Persons affected

  • All trustees, volunteers and staff

  • All those attending any activity or service that is being delivered from the village hall charity property

  • All visitors and contractors

Garrigill Village Hall is a charity committed to promoting wellbeing, harm prevention and to respond effectively if concerns are raised.

3. Policy Principles

There can be no excuses for not taking all reasonable actions to protect children and adults at risk from abuse or neglect. All citizens of the United kingdom have their rights enshrined within the Human Rights Act 1988.people who are eligible to receive health and community care services may be additionally vulnerable to the violation of these rights by reason of disability, impairment, age or illness.

Garrigill Village Hall charity has a zero tolerance approach to abuse.

Garrigill Village Hall charity recognises that under the Care Act 2014, it has a duty of care and protection of adults who are at risk of abuse. It also recognises its responsibilities for the safety and care of children under the Children Act 1989 and 2004.

Garrigill Village Hall is a charity is committed to the following principles:-

  • The welfare of the child, young person or adult is paramount

  • All children, young people and adults at risk have the right to protection from abuse

  • Safeguarding is everybody's responsibility; for services to be effective each professional and organisation should play their full part and

  • All suspicions and allegations of abuse must be properly reported to the relevant internal and external authorities and dealt with swiftly and appropriately.

4. Procedures

All Trustees will familiarise themselves with safeguarding responsibilities on safeguarding issues including whistleblowing and ensure that they understand the principles set out in this policy at 3 above

All Trustees will work together to promote a culture that enables issues about safeguarding and promoting welfare to be addressed.

All Trustees or other volunteers will not have access to children or adults at risk unless appropriately vetted.

The Trustees will follow safe recruitment practices.

A Trustee will be appointed to be responsible for child and adult at risk safeguarding matters. The person will have responsibility for reporting concerns that arise, as a matter of urgency to the relevant safeguarding agency.

All suspicions or allegations of abuse against a child or adult will be taken seriously and dealt with speedily and appropriately. The appointed person will know who to contact and where to go for support and advice in relation to an allegation, a concern about the quality of care or practice or a complaint. An allegation may relate to a person who works with children or adults at risk who has:

  • Behaved in a way that has harmed a child or adult at risk or may have harmed a child or adult at risk

  • Possibly committed a criminal offence against, or related to, a child or adult at risk or

  • Behaved towards a child or adult at risk in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children or adults at risk.

The GVH Committee will ensure that all hirers of the Hall accept the GVH terms of hire which require all hirers who wish to use the hall for activities which include children and adults at risk, other than for hire for private parties arranged for invited friends and family, to either produce a copy of their safeguarding policy and evidence that they have carried out relevant checks through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) when requested to do so or confirm that they have understood and will adhere to the Hall's principles and procedures with regard to safeguarding.

The GVH Committee will carry out a review of this policy annually or at such other intervals as the Trustees decide