Woking Youth Safeguarding Policy  

Introduction 

Woking Youth, as a provider of professional youth and community work related services, values all people we work with, whether they are children, young people or vulnerable adults and is committed to their development, protection and safekeeping. Woking Youth believes it is unacceptable for a young person to experience abuse of any kind and that their welfare takes precedence over any situation.  

All young people, regardless of protected characteristics as defined by the Equality Act 2010 (age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership and pregnancy and maternity) have a right to equal protection from all types of harm and abuse. We recognise our responsibility to prevent the physical, sexual, emotional, financial abuse and neglect of these groups and to report any concern discovered or suspected. We share this responsibility with others with whom we work and will seek to ensure at all times correct practices are in force.  

We will endeavour to help safeguard young people by valuing, listening and respecting them. Woking Youth commits to providing a safe and nurturing environment for all those who come into contact with our work, especially young people.  

The Policy 

This policy applies to all employees, the Board of Trustees, volunteers, sessional workers, agency staff, students and anyone working on behalf of Woking Youth. 

The purpose of this policy is: 

To protect young people who receive any service or engage with Woking Youth to prevent impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development. The welfare of young people is paramount, all young people have a right to freedom from abuse and to be treated with respect and dignity. All work with young people will be informed by equal opportunities and anti-oppressive practice and will reflect diversity of need. 

To provide staff and volunteers with the overarching principle that guide Woking Youth’s approach to safeguarding and child protection. It is the responsibility of all adults to safeguard and promote the welfare of young people and to protect children and young people from harm wherever they are in a position to do so. All employees and volunteers have the right to be treated with respect and dignity. Where concerns are raised about employees or volunteers, the adult should be treated fairly, honestly and provided with support.  

This policy is supported by Woking Youth’s safeguarding procedure, which, all Woking Youth workers whether employees or volunteers should read in conjunction with this policy. 

Legal Framework 

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

• Children Act 1989 & 2004
• United Convention of the Rights of the Child 1991
• Data Protection Act 1998
• Human Rights Act 1998
• Sexual Offences Act 2003
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
• Protection of Freedom Act 2012
• Children and Families Act 2014
• Information sharing: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers; HM Government Guidelines 2018
• Working together to Safeguard Children: HM Government Guidelines 2018
• Keeping Children Safe in Education (DfE) 2018
• Children and Social Work Act 2017
• Keeping Children Safe in Education (DfE) 2021

Woking Youth’s safeguarding commitment 

Woking Youth will seek to keep young people safe by:  

• Valuing, listening to, respecting and representing them. Woking Youth recognises that good lines of communication with a trusted adult can help prevention of abuse and other forms of harm
• Woking Youth staff will strive to establish and maintain a culture whereby young people feel secure, are encouraged to talk and are listened to in a non- judgemental manner
• Appointing a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) with a specific oversight and assurance responsibilities for safeguarding
• Adopting and implementing child protection and safeguarding practices through Woking Youth’s safeguarding procedure and code of conduct for staff working with young people

Using the safeguarding procedure to: 

• Ensure employees and volunteers understand and apply best practice in safeguarding
• Manage any allegations against employees and volunteers, as appropriate
• Share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving young people, parents, families, carer and school student support personnel and appropriate
• Ensuring that Woking Youth provides a safe physical environment for young people, staff and volunteers, through a Health and Safety Policy, in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance.
• Creating and maintaining an emotionally safe and supportive environment where young people can learn and develop. Addressing any behaviour that could harm such as bullying, harassment or discrimination and ensuring that incidents of this nature are dealt with effectively.
• Recruiting staff and volunteers using the latest safe recruitment guidance and ensuring that all necessary checks are made and updated appropriately
• Providing effective management of staff and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures
• Ensuring enhanced monitoring for those young people identifies as more vulnerable
• Recording and storing information in a professional and secure manner
• Sharing information, as appropriate, about safeguarding and good practice with young people, their families, school staff, staff and volunteers through a variety of means
• Promoting and facilitating multi-agency working with partner organisations for the benefit of young people
• Ensuring Woking Youth has effective external complaints and whistle blowing policies and procedures in place

Role and Responsibility of Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) 

The DSL must ensure that: 

• Woking Youth has an effective safeguarding policy and procedure, which are applied consistently across the organisation
• Any Safeguarding concerns are raised directly with staff and safeguarding is discussed at all staff meetings
• Escalated safeguarding concerns are efficiently received, ensuring that they are progressed according to best practice
• All safeguarding related incidents are reviewed, reports raised with action taken, as appropriate and progress monitored accordingly
• Safeguarding record keeping is adhered to and priority cases are monitored regularly
• Support is provided to anyone working with a safeguarding issue
• Safeguarding updates and reports are made available
• Appropriate training programmes are provided for all Woking Youth staff and volunteers
• A safeguarding training log is maintained and updated to track training status of all staff

Woking Youth’s safeguarding policy and procedures are reviewed annually or as guidance changes, ensuring they comply with regulations at all times.