Safeguarding Policy.

 
 

Safeguarding policy of cliffTop projects cic


Our safeguarding policy

This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of Clifftop Projects including board members, staff, freelancers or volunteers. 

Everyone will be required to read and sign that they have read this policy before beginning work with the company. If they are to work with young people they will also complete the online NSPCC course in Child Protection in Scotland. 

Our designated Child Protection Officer is: Lottie Barker. 

The purpose of this policy is:

  • To protect children, young people and vulnerable adults who receive Clifftop Projects’ services.

  • To provide overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding.

Clifftop Projects believes that people should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and vulnerable adults and to keep them safe. We are committed to practice in a way that protects them. In this policy, when referring to children or young people, this refers to anyone under 18 years of age.

Legal framework

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of law and guidance that seeks to protect children, namely:

  • Human Rights Act (1998)

  • United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

  • Children and Young People (Scotland) Act (2014)

  • Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act (2007)

  • General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (2018)

  • Equality Act (2010)

  • Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020

  • Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC)

We recognise that:

  • Everyone has the right to express their views on matters that affect them.

  • All children and vulnerable adults, regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage status, pregnancy, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse.

  • Some people are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues.

  • Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.

We will seek to keep young people and vulnerable adults safe by:

  • Valuing them, listening to and respecting them.

  • Adopting child protection policies through procedures.

  • Sharing concerns with agencies who need to know and involving parents, carers and children appropriately. 

  • Ensuring all employees/freelancers sign our Code of Conduct policy. 

  • Ensuring all employees/freelancers who work with young people complete NSPCC safeguarding training. 

  • Ensuring all employees/freelancers receive additional training if requested.

  • Making sure staff are aware of the whistleblowing policy if they feel an incident or concern cannot be reported to their manager.

  • Ensure that staff normally work alongside another unrelated member of staff (including family, dating, spouses, etc).

  • Ensuring we always have a minimum two members of staff present at activities and do not allow lone working. 

PVG Membership:

Clifftop Projects is a Registered Body with Disclosure Scotland and will always have two board members as signatories.

We will ensure that Clifftop Projects applies for PVG Scheme membership for all staff or freelancers who are working with young people (under 18) or vulnerable adults in a regulated role in accordance with Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020. We will remove their membership if they stop working for us or renew their PVG membership if they continue to work for us after the 5 years elapses. 

Process for workers if a young person tells you about abuse happening or if you witness something that concerns you:

  • If a participant has told you something, tell them you need to report their concerns. NEVER promise to keep it a secret.

  • Fill in the Accident & Concerns form with as much detail as possible including the participants’ actual words.

  • Phone Lottie (Artistic Director) on 07734324814 or Oli (Board Member) on 07739337243.

  • If action needed immediately phone social work on 0141 562 880 or out of hours 0300 3431505.

  • If the police need to be informed, phone 999 or 101.

  • If you think the participant is not safe to leave your care then tell the parent/carer picking them up that you just want them to finish something off with you and await police or social work arriving - they will give you advice over the phone also. Legally you are NOT allowed to keep a child under 18 in your care if the parent or carer wants to take them home.

Process if a complaint is made against a Clifftop worker:

  • Meeting with participant/s to discuss the complaint.

  • Meeting with worker to discuss the incident.

  • Disciplinary action taken if necessary including terminating a contract, reporting to police or informing social work.

  • All details will be reported to The Board and will be kept on file. 

Breaches of Policy

Failure to comply with our safeguarding policy or Code Of Conduct may be managed in a number of ways, depending on the nature and consequences of any incident. In some cases a combination of responses may be required.

  • Local authority co-ordinated safeguarding investigation

  • Police investigation

  • Referral to Disclosure Scotland

  • Internal review by Artistic Director and Board. 

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