Safeguarding

Safeguarding Policy

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NBKA Safeguarding Policy

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NBKA Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults Policy

Version 2- January 2025

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.

This policy has been based on and should be read in conjunction with the BBKA ‘Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults Policy’, of 16-03-2024.

Definition of terms

Child/Children, Young person/Young people: Refers to all children/young people under the age of 18 years

Vulnerable Adult: Is any person aged 18 years or over. A vulnerable adult may be elderly, physically or mentally disabled, or have learning difficulties. A person who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of their disability, age or illness.

Safeguarding children:

The Department of Education defines safeguarding children in ‘Working Together to safeguard children’ as:

Protecting children from maltreatment, whether the risk of harm comes from within the child’s family and/or outside (from the wider community), including online;
Preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development;
Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care;
Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

Safeguarding vulnerable adults
Guidance publishes under the Care Act of 2014 defines safeguarding vulnerable adults as:

Protecting the rights of adults to live safely, free from abuse and neglect;
People and organisations working together to prevent and stop the risks and experiences of abuse and neglect;
People and organisations making sure that the adult’s wellbeing is promoted by including, where appropriate, taking fully into account their views, wishes, feelings and beliefs in deciding on any action;
Recognising that adults sometimes have complex interpersonal relationships and may be ambivalent, unclear or unrealistic about their personal circumstances and therefore potential risks to their safety or wellbeing.

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

Allegations against NBKA Trustees, or volunteers

Incidents of concern or allegations against an NBKA Trustee or NBKA member volunteer regarding welfare concerns should be reported immediately ( ie within one working day) by the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to the Local Authority Designated Officer to confirm whether they meet the threshold of harm for them to become involved.

An allegation may relate to a person who works with children who 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;
Behaved towards a child in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children; or
May have behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children

The Designated Safeguarding Lead 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.