Safeguarding Policy

BEAM WELLBEING SAFEGUARDING POLICY

The purpose and scope of this policy is:

· To protect children and young people who receive Beam Wellbeing’s services from harm. This includes the children of adults who use our services.

· To provide staff and volunteers, as well as children and young people and their families with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.

This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of Beam Wellbeing.

LEGAL FRAMEWORK
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England. A summary of the key legislation and guidance is available here:

www.nspcc.org.uk/childprotectionand includes Keeping Children Safe in Education, Working Together to Safeguard Children and the Equality Act.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

This policy statement should be read alongside our Privacy Policy

All policies are available on our website www.beamwellbeing.com

WE BELIEVE THAT:

· We believe that children and young people should never experience abuse or harm of any kind.

· We have the responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to keep them safe and practice in a way that protects them and consider the best interests of the child.

· We have an ‘it can happen here’ approach to safeguarding

WE RECOGNISE THAT:

· The welfare of children is paramount in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take.

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

· All children, regardless of age, sex, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse. 

· Some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues. Extra safeguards may be needed to keep children who are additionally vulnerable safe from abuse. 

WE WILL SEEK TO KEEP CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE SAFE BY:

· Valuing, listening and respecting them.

· Appointing a nominated child protection lead of children and young people.

· Acting on concerns where we see them immediately.

· Contributing to safe, resilient and robust safeguarding culture in every setting in which we work. This is based on shared respect and dignity and the understanding that every child has a voice and are listened to, they should feel valued and safe.

· Adopting child protection and safeguarding best practise through our policies and procedures.

· Maintaining an up to date DBS record and make this available to every setting in which we work.

· Participating in regular supervision, support and safeguarding training.

· Recording, storing and using all information professionally and securely in line with data protection legislation and guidance. 

· Sharing information about safeguarding and good practice with children and their families via consultations and communication.

· Using our safeguarding and child protection procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know and involving children, young people, parents and families and carers appropriately.

· Using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff appropriately.

· Creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment.

· Ensuring we have effective complaints measures in place.

· Ensuring we provide safe, physical environments for our children, young people and staff by applying health and safety measures in accordance with law and regulatory guidance. 

· This includes ensuring the safety of practitioners, where practitioners feel unsafe, we reserve the right to suspend the delivery of further sessions.

· Building a safeguarding culture where staff, children, young people and their families treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns. 

· Developing and implementing an effective online safety policy if and when the Zoom sessions service is introduced.

DEALING WITH DISCLOSURES AND CONCERNS ABOUT A CHILD, YOUNG PERSON OR STAFF MEMBER

· Staff know how to contact the Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSL) in every setting in which they work and know how to contact their deputies or safeguarding governor if needed.

· Information or concerns and disclosures will be shared with the DSL at the earliest opportunity.

· Staff will be involved, where appropriate, with plans to further safeguard vulnerable pupils.

· Concerns will be recorded, as appropriate, and in a timely manner using the setting’s own safeguarding recording system.

· Staff are aware to raise concerns about safeguarding procedures  in the setting with the senior leadership team.

· Staff will share safeguarding concerns on a ‘need to know’ basis only.

· Staff will contact external safeguarding agencies where appropriate to do so.

· This may include contacting Brighter Futures for Children Single Point of Access to report child protection and safeguarding concerns. T: 0118 937 3641 or E: cspoa@brighterfuturesforchildren.org

· If a child is at immediate risk dial 999.

· Safeguarding and ‘individuals at risk’ is a processing condition that allows practitioners to share personal data with appropriate agencies and DSL.

· There may be times when it is necessary to share information without consent for example: when that puts a child at risk, where doing so compromises a criminal investigation, where it cannot be reasonably expected to gain consent or when it will enhance the safeguarding of a child by acting in a timely manner.

WHISTLEBLOWING POLICY

Allegations against people in a position of trust.

Adults who work or volunteer with children in the community are in a position of trust.

If an adult who is in a position of trust has:

• behaved in a way that has      harmed a child, or may have harmed a child
• possibly committed a criminal      offence against or related to a child or
• behaved towards a child or      children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children,      then allegations procedures must be followed and reported to the Local      Authority Designated Officer (LADO).

The LADO will oversee the allegations management procedure to ensure that the allegation is investigated thoroughly. The LADO will inform the police and/or children’s social care if required.

If you need to report an allegation you can contact the LADO on:

• 0118 937 2684
• LADO@brighterfuturesforchildren.org
• Via the Children’s Single Point of Access
• By filling in a referral form for the LADO (please      note this must be emailed securely.) 
• Full guidance is on the form      at https://brighterfuturesforchildren.org/for-parents-carers/schools/allegations-against-people-in-a-position-of-trust/

MOBILE PHONE & SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY

· Pictures of children will not be taken or held without parental or carer consent.

· Pictures of children’s work will not be taken except where needed to be printed off for their folders (as in the case of sand play). In this case, the pictures will be deleted as soon as possible after they are printed.

· Mobile phones will remain on silent and out of sight for the duration of sessions except when a sand play picture is taken at the end of sessions.

· Children will never be contacted directly via mobile phone or social media.

· Children will never be named on social media.

· All testimonials from staff, pupils and families and carers will remain anonymous except where explicit consent is sought and received.

NOMINATED CHILD PROTECTION LEAD: 

Sarah Vugler

Email: Beam@btinternet.com

Document last reviewed: 02/08/23