Safeguarding Policy
NBKA Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults Policy
Version 1- April 2023
Introduction
This policy is a way of demonstrating that the Northamptonshire Beekeepers’ Association (NBKA) understands its responsibilities towards keeping individuals safe from harm and that we have measures and systems in place to maximise the effectiveness of our practice. It applies to activities arranged and managed by the NBKA.
The purpose of this policy is:
- to protect children, young people and vulnerable adults who receive the Northamptonshire Beekeepers’ Association’s services. This includes the children of adults who use our services.
- To offer support to individuals who raise or disclose a concern
- to familiarise those directly involved with children, young people, and vulnerable adults with the wider context of safeguarding and to provide parents, Trustees, members and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding.
- to ensure appropriate action is taken in the event of incidents/concerns of abuse and support provided to the individual/s who raise or disclose the concern;
- ensure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities in respect of safeguarding and is provided with appropriate learning opportunities to recognise, identify, and respond to signs of abuse, neglect and other safeguarding concerns relating to children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
The NBKA accepts it has a duty of care to safeguard the wellbeing of children, young people and vulnerable adults and protect them from physical, sexual, or emotional harm and from neglect and or bullying.
The policy recognises that the welfare and interests of children, young people and vulnerable adults are paramount in all the circumstances, regardless of age, ability or disability, gender and/or gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, socio-economic background.
Fundamental Principles
The NBKA Policy for Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults is based upon the following fundamental principles:
We believe that:
Children, young people and vulnerable adults should never experience abuse of any kind
- we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, young people and vulnerable adults, to keep them safe and to practice in a way that protects them
- We must be accountable for our safeguarding practices and be transparent as to how we implement these.
We recognise that:
- whilst dealing with children, young people and vulnerable adults, their welfare is and always must be the paramount consideration, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender or assigned gender and whatever their language, racial origin, religious beliefs and/or sexual orientation.
- the rights, dignity and worth of every child, young person and vulnerable adult must always be respected.
- all children, young people and vulnerable adults, must be listened to and have their views considered according to their age, maturity and understanding.
- all children, young people, and vulnerable adults, taking part in beekeeping with the NBKA, have a right to participate in an enjoyable and safe environment.
- all incidents/suspicions of abuse, poor practice and allegations will be taken seriously and responded to in a timely and appropriate manner.
NBKA will seek to keep children, young people, and vulnerable adults safe by:
- valuing, listening to and respecting them
- appointing a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) for children, young people and vulnerable adults
- adopting child protection and safeguarding best practice through our policies, procedures, and code of conduct for trustees, ensuring that all trustees understand their roles and responsibilities in respect of safeguarding and have the information and training to recognise, identify and respond to signs of abuse, neglect and other safeguarding concerns relating to children, young people and vulnerable adults.
- developing and implementing an effective School Visits Policy
- Trustees and NBKA members are not permitted to take photographs of children visiting the NBKA events, without the consent of their parents/guardians.
- providing effective management for trustees through supervision, support, training, and quality assurance measures. Training in safeguarding for Trustees will be updated every three years.
- recruiting trustees safely, ensuring all necessary DBS and all other required checks are made
- ensuring that confidential, detailed, and accurate records of all safeguarding concerns are maintained and securely stored. Any safeguarding concerns brought to the attention of the Designated Safeguarding Officer will be recorded and securely stored. Confidentiality will be upheld in line with the Data Protection Act (2018) and the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Human Rights Act 2000.
- using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, vulnerable adults, parents, families and carers appropriately
- using our procedures to manage any allegations against trustees appropriately
- creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise
- ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place
- ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for children, young people, vulnerable adults, trustees, and members, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance.
Implementing the Policy
The Designated Safeguarding Officer will maintain an overview of safeguarding concerns, take a lead on liaising with other agencies and shall keep informed about local developments in safeguarding. The Designated Safeguarding Officer shall ensure effective training on the contents of this policy and its procedures by all those working with and volunteering for Northamptonshire Beekeepers’ Association. The Safeguarding Policy will be reviewed annually.
Identifying a Safeguarding Concern
There are several ways in which we may become aware that an individual is being abused:
- by observing possible signs and symptoms of abuse (See Appendix)
- an individual discloses abuse or describes what appears to be an abusive act
- someone else expresses concern about the welfare of another
Acting on a safeguarding concern
It is not the responsibility of the NBKA’s Trustees or volunteers to decide whether a child, young person or vulnerable adult is being abused or might have been abused. However, safeguarding is ‘everybody’s responsibility’, therefore, there is a responsibility to act on concerns to protect children, young people, and vulnerable adults in order that appropriate agencies can then make enquires to take any necessary action for safeguarding.
What to do if an individual experiencing abuse tells you about it:
- If you have reason to believe that a child, young person, or adult is at immediate risk from harm contact the Police on 999.
- If they are not at immediate risk of harm, reassure them that you are taking them seriously, and they have done the right thing informing you
- Listen carefully to what they are saying and get a clear and factual account of the concern
- Explain what will happen next
- Immediately inform a Trustee or the Designated Safeguarding Officer
The Designated Safeguarding Officer shall then refer concerns about children to the children’s social care department (MASH (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub) Tel: 0300 126 700 option 1, or email MASH@nctrust.co.uk) of the local authority where the child lives. For adults the referral should be made to the relevant local authority adult services department. For North Northamptonshire Tel: 0300 126 3000; for West Northamptonshire Tel: 0300 126 7000.
