Safeguarding Policy
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN POLICY for True Hearts Unite
1. Introduction
True Hearts Unite is a not-for-profit organisation run by:
Louca Kousoulou
True Hearts Unite is based at: Apt/Suite 4101 Chynoweth House Trevissome Park Truro TR4 8UN
True Hearts Unite is managed by a management team (the Team). One of the management team has particular responsibility for safeguarding children.
The Team has adopted this safeguarding children policy and expects every adult working or helping at True Hearts Unite to support it and comply with it. Consequently this policy shall apply to all staff, managers, trustees, directors, volunteers, students or anyone working on behalf of True Hearts Unite.
2. Purpose of the Policy
2.1 This policy is intended to protect children and young people who receive any service from us, including those who are the children of adults who may receive services from us.
2.2 As an organisation we believe that no child or young person should experience abuse or harm and are committed to the protection of children and young people and this policy is intended to provide guidance and overarching principles to those who represent us as volunteers or staff, to guide our approach to child protection and safeguarding.
3. The Risks to Children
Nearly every child grows up in a safe and happy environment and it is important not to exaggerate or overestimate the dangers. Nevertheless, there are situations where children need protection including:
Sexual abuse
Grooming
Physical and emotional abuse and neglect
Domestic violence
Inappropriate supervision by staff or volunteers
Bullying, cyber bullying, acts of violence and aggression within our schools and campuses
Victimisation
Self-harm
Unsafe environments and activities
Crime
Exploitation
4. Universality of Protection
We recognise that:
The welfare of the child is paramount all children regardless of race, gender, religious belief, disability, age, sexual orientation or identity have a right to equal protection from harm.
some children are more vulnerable to harm as a result of their circumstances, prior experiences, communication needs or level of dependency.
working with children, young people, their parents and/or guardians, carers or other agencies is essential to protecting their wellbeing.
5. Safeguarding Children at Events/Activities
5.1 There are three kinds of events/activities:
5.2 those open to adults and children of all ages, 1.2 those for children accompanied by a ‘parent’,
5.3 those for unaccompanied children, which are sometimes run alongside other events/activities.
5.4 At events and activities open to all ages, children under 16 must be accompanied throughout by an adult over the age of 18 who not only brings the child but also takes the child home again afterwards. Young people aged 16 or 17 may attend unaccompanied if they bring the written consent and mobile telephone number of one of their parents.
5.5 At events and activities for children accompanied by a ‘parent’, children under 16 must be supervised throughout the event by an adult over the age of 18 who not only brings the child to the event but also takes the child home again afterwards. If a lone adult brings more than one child, then the children will have to stay together, so that the one adult can supervise them. Young people aged 16 or 17 may attend unaccompanied if they bring the written consent and mobile telephone number of one of their parents.
5.6 At events and activities for unaccompanied children, children under the age of 16 must be enrolled by a responsible adult before being left with the event leader. The enrolment must record the child’s name, age and address and the names and addresses of the child’s parents, plus the parents’ mobile telephone numbers. Young people aged 16 or 17 may attend unaccompanied if they bring the written consent and mobile telephone number of one of their parents.
5.7 Both event and activities are to be defined broadly to include any occasions where True Hearts Unite will be providing a service.
6 Disclosure and Barring
6.1 True Hearts Unite offers the following activities for children: Recreational activities, workshops, competitions and mentoring.
6.2 Some of our activities may therefore require adult participants or adult leaders to undergo DBS and/or police checks under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. The required level of checking (if any) will broadly reflect the degree and frequency of unsupervised access given to other people’s children.
6.3 The Team will take very seriously any allegation of impropriety on the part of any member of True Hearts Unite. A member of True Hearts Unite who discovers anything amiss should get in touch immediately with the following: Louca Kousoulou
6.4 The Team will review the allegation and the likely risk to children and, if appropriate, will consider banning the member from future events or revoking his or her membership or both, but only in full accordance with the rules and procedures of True Hearts Unite.
7. Health and Safety Aspects of Safeguarding Children
7.1 Before starting any event for unaccompanied children, the Team will carry out a risk assessment and then take steps to minimise all risks to health and safety. Parents and children will be made aware of any particular risks and of the steps to be taken to minimise those risks. The Team will keep a record of all risk assessments.
7.2 Sufficient adults must be present at any event for unaccompanied children to enable one adult to deal with any emergency while another adult supervises the children not directly affected by the emergency.
8. Adventure Activities Licensing
True Hearts Unite runs occasional adventure activities, for members, but not for non-members. Restricting participation to members means that no licence is required under the Adventure.
Activities Licensing Regulations. For clarity such activities may include but are not limited to:
Going on walks
9. Policy on the Prevention of Bullying
We will not tolerate the bullying of children either by adults or by other children. If any incident of child-on-child bullying should arise at a True Hearts Unite event, those involved will be separated immediately and the parents of the children involved will be asked to deal with the matter. The Team will review all incidents of child-on-child bullying and assess the likely future risk to children. If appropriate, the Team will consider banning a child from future events, but only in full accordance with the rules and procedures of True Hearts Unite. Allegations of adults bullying children will be dealt with under paragraph 6.3 above.
10. Photographing Children
No photos will be taken or published of any child attending an event or activity unless prior written permission is sought from a person with parental responsibility. If any person has any concerns regarding any person taking photos at an event or activity, that person should contact True Hearts Unite immediately.
11. Managing Behaviour, Discipline and Acceptable Restraint
11.1 Adults supervising children at True Hearts Unite events must never use any form of corporal punishment. If physical restraint is absolutely necessary to prevent injury to any person or to prevent serious damage to property, then the minimum necessary restraint may be used — but for that purpose only.
11.2 Unacceptable behaviour at True Hearts Unite events for unaccompanied children will generally be stopped by separating the children from each other and from the group. The miscreants will be suitably supervised and will be returned as soon as possible to the care of their parents.
11.3 True Hearts Unite may apply a further disciplinary sanction; namely the banning of the child from one or more future events over the following 18 months. Any such sanction would be determined and applied by the following officer: Louca Kousoulou
11.4 A parent who is aggrieved by this ban may appeal to True Hearts Unite who will hear the views of all relevant persons. The decision of True Hearts Unite is then final.
12. Other Policies
This safeguarding policy should be read together with the following policies and resources:
13. Legal Framework
This policy has been drawn up in accordance with the following:
Children Act 1989
United Convention of the Rights of the Child 1991
General Data Protection Regulation
Human Rights Act 1998
Sexual Offences Act 2003
Children Act 2004
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
Children and Families Act 2014
Special educational needs and disability (SEND) code of practice – Guidance on the special educational needs and disability (SEND) system for children and young people aged 0 to 25, from 1 September 2014
Information sharing: advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services
Working together to safeguard children (2017)
NOTE: This Policy was approved by the following officer on 21/02/2020 and is due for review every 1 year:
Louca Kousoulou