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Keep Britain Tidy Safeguarding Policy

1.         Introduction

Keep Britain Tidy has adopted the following Safeguarding Policy to provide guidelines to the Trustees, members of staff and those working on behalf of Keep Britain Tidy.

Keep Britain Tidy believes that safeguarding is about taking steps to protect everyone from harm, abuse or neglect. This includes our beneficiaries, clients, employees, workers, volunteers and contractors.

 

2.         Keep Britain Tidy Statement

Keep Britain Tidy wishes to provide a safe environment for everyone participating in Keep Britain Tidy projects.  However Keep Britain Tidy recognises that children and vulnerable adults are at a potentially greater risk from physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect and recognises its obligations to minimise these risks for participants. 

Anyone under the age of 18 years should be considered as a child for the purpose of this document. 

The core definition of “vulnerable adult” from the 1997 Consultation “Who Decides?” issued by the Lord Chancellor’s Department, is a person:
“Who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of disability, age or illness; and is or may be unable to take care of or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation”. 

 

3.         Aims

3.1      Employment

To ensure that all those employed by, or involved with, Keep Britain Tidy fully adhere to this policy for the prevention of physical, sexual and emotional abuse or neglect of the children or vulnerable adults they come into contact with.

3.2      The Law

To comply with the Children Act of 2004, the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 and the Protection of Children Act of 1999 in all legal duties affecting Keep Britain Tidy.

3.3      Projects

To assess and act on all issues of safety and well-being for children and vulnerable adults, and any other participants who may be vulnerable or at risk participating in Keep Britain Tidy’s projects and activities.

 

4.         Objectives

  • To undertake a DBS check at the appropriate level, where the staff member, volunteer or freelancer is engaged in regulated activity, as required by the new regulations.
  • To deny employment to any candidate who is prohibited or refuses to provide information
  • To conduct risk assessments that include safeguarding all projects involving children and vulnerable adults
  • To provide opportunities for training on safeguarding for those employed by or involved with Keep Britain Tidy
  • To have procedures and guidelines in place for reporting suspected abuse. (see appendix 4)

 

5.         Safeguarding and child protection in practice

  1. Employment

When recruiting staff for posts potentially working with children:

  • all job descriptions will state whether a DBS check is required
  • all interviewees will be asked about previous work with children;
  • All posts offered will be dependent on satisfactory references and a DBS check at the appropriate level.
  • All freelance and volunteer project workers should:
    • provide where available references from previous situations where they have worked with children;
    • provide a DBS check, or allow Keep Britain Tidy to obtain one, if applicable to post, ahead of starting work
  • When in employment:
    • all staff and those involved with Keep Britain Tidy will be briefed on this policy and must agree to apply it in practice;
    • It is a condition of service with Keep Britain Tidy that staff understands and operate this policy and that it also applies to vulnerable adults or those who may be at risk.
  • This policy should be reviewed, and updated if necessary, every 12 months from the date of adoption by the Trustees.

5.2       Keep Britain Tidy’s Project Work

Keep Britain Tidy’s work should be planned so as to minimise those situations where children, young people or adults could be harmed or abused.

5.2.1.   All project workers including freelancers and volunteers will, as part of their induction, be given:

  • guidelines for working with children (see appendix 1)
  • guidelines on identifying and reporting abuse (see appendices 2 & 3)
  • guidelines for school visits where appropriate (see Appendix 5)
  • opportunities to attend training in relation to good practice when working with children and vulnerable adults within 3 months of commencing employment.

5.2.2.   Risk assessments that include protection issues should be conducted for each project involving children and vulnerable adults.  The assessment should, in addition to other health and safety issues, consider:

  • how open the project venue is to non-project workers
  • how children and young people are supervised getting to and from the project venue
  • supervision during workshops and events
  • the clearance of project workers provided by Keep Britain Tidy and any partner organisations
  • safeguarding risks to Keep Britain Tidy.

The project co-ordinator will put in practice safeguards to minimise the risks highlighted by the assessment for children, young people or vulnerable adults.​

Directors, Managers and Project Co-ordinators

  • To maintain awareness and openness with regard to safeguarding and child protection issues and provides awareness training when necessary to new project workers and volunteers.
  • To ensure all project workers and volunteers are made aware of this policy (and any subsequent changes) and its implications.
  • Where a young person or a vulnerable adult makes a disclosure directly to a KBT member of staff, these disclosures should be recorded and assessed internally about the next steps required.
  • Where a decision is made that local safeguarding agencies need to be informed, the child or young person should be involved and informed of all developments wherever possible.
  • Parents should also be informed as appropriate and in keeping with Frasier Guidelines[1].

Project workers and Volunteers

  • To maintain awareness and openness with regard to child protection issues, and to this policy and its implications.
  • To act responsibly, appropriately and professionally at all times when charged with the care of children, young people and adults who may be vulnerable or otherwise at risk.
  • To respond appropriately to any suspicions of abuse and report them to the appropriate person as detailed in appendix 4.

5.4      ‘Whistle blowing’ policy

Keep Britain Tidy encourages employees and volunteers to voice any concerns they may have about abusive or unethical conduct by colleagues.  It takes courage to challenge inappropriate behaviour by colleagues.  In order to enable this policy and ensure the process in unbiased:

  • All concerns are to be reported to the Deputy Chief Executive or the Chair of the Board of Trustees, if the Chief Executive is the subject of the concern.
  • All concerns will be investigated thoroughly and may lead to disciplinary action in accordance with Keep Britain Tidy’s disciplinary policy.

Feedback on the outcome of investigation will be given to all involved (while safeguarding confidentiality for the person raising the concern and the person about whom the concern have been raised).  An appeal process will be made available to those unhappy with the outcome of the investigation.

Policy Implementation Notice

This is the policy statement of: KEEP BRITAIN TIDY

The overall and final responsibility for this policy is that of: Board of Trustees

Approved by Remuneration Committee of the Board: April 2015

Day-to-day responsibility for ensuring this policy is put into practice is delegated to:  HR

Policy reviewed: January 2019

Policy review date: January 2022

 

Keep Britain Tidy

Safeguarding Code of Practice

Appendix 1:   Guidelines for Employees, Workers, Consultants and Volunteers Working With Children, Young People and Adults (including Vulnerable Adults

Do’s and Don’ts. (Please note this list is not exhaustive.)

DO put this code into practice at all times and ensure all staff understand their obligation to share child safeguarding concerns

DO take any allegations or concerns of abuse seriously and follow the reporting protocol

DO treat everyone with dignity and respect and set an example you would wish others to follow

DO treat all young people equally.  Show no favouritism.

DO make sure that there is more than one other person present, or at least be within sight and hearing of others at all times

DO respect a young person’s right to personal privacy

DO avoid unacceptable situations within a relationship of trust. It is illegal for a person in a position of trust to engage in a sexual relationship with a young person aged between 16 and 18

DO allow young people to talk about any concerns they may have

DO encourage others to challenge any attitudes

DO make everyone aware of the child safeguarding procedures – young people, parents/carers and other helpers

DO remember this code even at sensitive moments e.g. when responding to bullying, bereavement or abuse

DO keep other officials informed of where you are and what you are doing

DO remember someone else might misinterpret your actions, no matter how well intentioned

DO NOT trivialise abuse

DO NOT form personal relationships with a young person, that is an abuse of trust

DO NOT permit abusive peer activities e.g. bullying

DO NOT engage in inappropriate behaviour or contact; physical, verbal, sexual

DO NOT make suggestive remarks or threats to a young person, even in fun

DO NOT use inappropriate language, writing, phoning, email or internet

DO NOT let allegations, suspicions, or concerns about abuse go unreported

DO NOT promise a young person or vulnerable adult confidentiality.

DO NOT just rely on your good name to protect you

You should:

  • NEVER Engage in rough or sexually provocative games.
  • NEVER share a room with a child or vulnerable adult
  • NEVER permit or engage in any form of inappropriate touching
  • NEVER make sexually suggestive comments to a child, even in fun
  • NEVER allow allegations made by a child to go unrecorded or not acted upon
  • NEVER do things of a personal nature that a child can do for themselves.  If it is necessary to administer First Aid, this should only be carried out with the parent or carer present and with their full understanding and consent.

Appendix 2:   Guidelines for Identifying Abuse

We hope that you will never have to deal with an issue of abuse during your work with Keep Britain Tidy.  But if you are concerned about a child or vulnerable adult you are working with you have a duty to report it

DEFINITIONS

The term child abuse is used to describe ways in which children are harmed, usually by adults and often by those they know and trust.  The main   types of abuse are listed below, though a child may experience more than one kind at any time in his/her life. 

Such abuse may also be experienced by vulnerable adults, and the categories of abuse listed below can apply equally to both children and vulnerable adults.

Physical Abuse – Occasions when parents, adults or other children deliberately inflict injuries on a child or knowingly do not prevent such injuries from occurring.  This includes assault, hitting, slapping, pushing, restraining someone or only letting them do certain things at certain times, giving children alcohol, the wrong (or no) medication,  inappropriate drugs and involving them in activity which disregards the capacity of the child’s immature and growing body.

Domestic Abuse- Includes psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional abuse. It also covers so-called ‘honour’ based violence. 

Emotional Abuse – Occasions when adults fail to show children due care and attention or threaten, use sarcasm, taunt or shout at a child causing him/her to lose self-confidence or self-esteem and become nervous or withdrawn.

Psychological Abuse- This includes emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, depriving someone of contact with someone else, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, putting pressure on someone to do something, harassment, verbal abuse, cyber bulling, isolation or unreasonable and unjustified withdrawal of services or support networks.

Neglect – Occasions where adult fail to meet a child’s essential needs such as adequate clothing, food, warmth, personal hygiene and medical care.  It also includes leaving a child alone without proper supervision, or not ensuring that the child is safe.

Sexual Abuse – Occurs when adults use children to meet their own sexual needs.  Examples include forcing a child to take part in sexual activity, fondling, inappropriate touching or exposure to pornographic or other inappropriate material.  This also includes suggestions that sexual favours can help (or refusal can hinder) a career.

Abuse of trust – where young people are indoctrinated with attitudes to social, moral, political, ethical and religious views which are unacceptable to the young persons, family and community, or society at large.

Use of computers – in particular where there is Internet and email access steps should be taken to ensure that inappropriate material is not viewed, shared, accessed, downloaded, copied or printed and that young people are properly supervised whilst using the computers.  Care should be taken that young people are not revealing personal details in chatrooms and forums.

Financial or material- This includes theft, fraud, internet scamming, putting pressure on someone about their financial arrangements or the misuse or stealing of property and possessions or benefits.

Bullying – bullying can be verbal and physical, delivered by text message or through on-line messaging and via social networking sites, and is also a form of abuse and there is a requirement for all those associated with Keep Britain Tidy  to ensure that children feel able to report instances of bullying.

Discriminatory- Harassment or insults because of someone’s race, gender or gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.

Modern Slavery- This covers slavery, human trafficking and forced labour.

Organisational- This includes neglect and poor care in an institution or care setting such as a hospital or care home, or if an organisation provides care in someone’s home. The abuse can be a one-off incident or repeated, on-going ill treatment.

Identifying Abuse

In some cases a child’s disturbed behaviour, or an injury, may suggest that the child has been abused.  In many situations, however, the signs will not be clear cut and decisions about what action to take can be difficult.

Important note: it is not the responsibility of those working with a child to decide that abuse is occurring, but it is a responsibility to follow through on any concerns.

Possible signs include:

  • Uncharacteristic changes in the child’s behaviour, attitude and commitment e.g. becoming quiet and withdrawn, or displaying sudden outbursts of temper.
  • Bruises and injuries not typical of, for example, taking part in a sporting event or injury for which the explanation seems inconsistent.
  • Signs of discomfort and pain.
  • The child becomes increasingly dirty or unkempt.
  • The child loses weight for no apparent reason.
  • Nervousness when approached or touched.
  • Fear of particular adults – especially those with whom a close relationship would normally be expected.
  • The child wishes not to speak with or be near a particular person without a reasonable explanation.
  • Inappropriate sexual awareness.
  • Children who are always alone and unaccompanied and/or are prevented from socializing with other children.
  • Children who are reluctant to go home.

It must be recognised that the above list is not exhaustive, and the presence of one or more indicators is not proof that abuse is actually taking place.  It may also apply to adults who are vulnerable or otherwise at risk.

Appendix 3:   Guidelines for Responding To Complaints and Alleged or Suspected Incidents

Abuse may become apparent in a number of ways:

  • A child or adult may tell you.
  • A third party may report an incident, or may have a strong suspicion.
  • You may have a suspicion.
  • You may witness abuse directly

The guidelines below apply equally to adults.

Step 1: Listen and Reassure

  • DO stay calm – do not rush into inappropriate action.
  • DO NOT make promises you cannot keep, including promising confidentiality.
  • DO reassure the child that they are not to blame and confirm that you know how difficult it must be to confide.
  • DO listen to what the child says and show that you take them seriously
  • DO keep questions to a minimum – in many cases it may be more appropriate to nod and acknowledge the child’s account.
  • DO ensure that you clearly understand what the child has said – so that you can pass it on to the appropriate agencies.
  • DO inform the school / partner organisations child protection officer or a member of their senior management team
  • DO inform the Deputy Chief Executive immediately – ensuring that you communicate all the information accurately.
  • DO NOT make the child repeat the story unnecessarily.
  • DO NOT delay.
  • DO NOT take sole responsibility for further action.

Step 2: Involve the appropriate people

  • Follow the reporting procedure

Step 3: Record

Record what the child has said and/or your concerns legibly and accurately (Complete Safeguarding Incident Report Form  Details should include:

  • The child’s name, address and date of birth.
  • Date and time of the incidents and/or nature of allegations.
  • Your observations e.g. describe the behaviour and emotional state of the child and/or bruising or other injuries.
  • The child’s account – if it can be given – of what has happened.
  • Any action that you took as a result of your concerns e.g. comments made to the child, whether the parents/carers have been contacted.
  • Record whether you are expressing their own concerns, or passing on those of someone else.
  • Sign and date the report.
  • Keep a copy of the report.

Please note that when a disclosure is made, it is the person to whom the disclosure is made that the authorities (police and/or social services) will come to for an account of what was said.This first-hand account is of primary importance.

Appendix 4:   Reporting Procedures To Safeguard And Protect Children And Vulnerable Adults Participating In Keep Britain Tidy’s Project Work

Project Worker or Volunteer identifies child as in:

Appendix 5:  Child Protection Code of Practice for School Visits Only.

Contacts

Primary Contact

Richard McIlwain, Deputy Chief Executive

Tel: 01942 612640/mobile 07532 820979

Email: Richard.McIlwain@keepbritaintidy.org

 

At all times Keep Britain Tidy Education Staff and Eco-Schools Assessors should be responsible for providing INDIRECT SUPERVISION only:

  • Keep Britain Tidy is responsible for running or assessing the activities only, other adults e.g. teachers, parents, youth workers are responsible for the group and their behaviour. Keep Britain Tidy staff must make it clear that a teacher or teaching assistant must be present during all activities. If appropriate levels of supervision are not provided by the school or other organiser the Keep Britain Tidy staff member or assessor should refuse to carry out the activity.
  • Avoid direct supervision at all times. Direct supervision for children under 16 requires parental consent. It is a criminal offence, under certain circumstances, to look after children under 8 while unregistered with the local authority. Do not take direct supervision of children under 8.
  • Keep Britain Tidy volunteers (not Eco-Schools Assessors) must not work directly with children without the relevant Keep Britain Tidy staff member present and appropriate levels of teaching supervision.

1. It is the responsibility of the other organisations (school, youth group) we are working with to provide staff in the required ratios, excluding Keep Britain Tidy Staff. However Keep Britain Tidy staff should be aware of the required child: adult ratio and ensure it is met before carrying out the activity (see guidance notes). Do not undertake the activity if the required ratio is not met.

2. A risk assessment must be carried out for all activities prior to delivery in schools, using the Keep Britain Tidy activity risk assessment form provided. These must be constantly reviewed and updated by staff using them and ensure all recommended safety procedures are carried out prior to implementing an activity.

  • Foresee potential problems and plan avoidance and contingency.
  • Remember to reflect lower concentration spans, skill levels and physical strengths of pupils within risk assessments
  •  

3. During a project planning meeting with school staff make clear that they are responsible for discipline and provision of sufficient levels of supervision. Confirm the activity programme to be undertaken by letter or e-mail, re-iterate the schools responsibilities, provide activity risk assessments if appropriate and outline our commitment to health & safety – see standard school letter provided.  Ensure that the school has acknowledged and agreed the arrangement before the visit takes place.

4. For visits taking place out of school:

  • Visit any potential site for in school visits prior to agreeing to arrange school visits. Check the age of children allowed on site under the operators insurance policy.
  • If the site is appropriate for a school visit liaise with the site manager and health & safety officer in carrying out a risk assessment for school visits. Make clear that it is the site's responsibility to undertake any necessary health & safety measures, and to impart to you any information regarding safety e.g. appropriate clothing, group size, age restrictions etc, that the school needs. It is then your responsibility to give this information to the school.
  • It is the school's responsibility to provide the necessary information to the site manager or health & safety officer; although we must check that it has been provided prior to the visit. If this information has not been provided, under no circumstances should the visit take place, as this could potentially endanger the health and safety of pupils and adults and may potentially invalidate any insurance that the site holds.
  • Make clear that the teacher is the Group leader and has overall responsibility for the supervision and conduct of the visit with regard to health & safety
  • Before the visit supply the teacher with:
  • A copy of the site risk assessment - note that there may be a number of risk assessments for different activities on a large site - all relevant assessments should be provided to the teacher.
  • Letter with health & safety notes for the site visit that they must sign & return (see standard letter)
  • Address & phone number of the visit venue and contact name
  • Travel times out and back, pick up and drop off points
  • Details of first aid provision and designated first aider. Do not go to the site if this is not available.
  • Ensure that the teacher group leader is aware of what the proposed visit involves and imparts this information to other accompanying staff, volunteers and supervisors
  • Provide the teacher with information regarding appropriate clothing and equipment.
  • Make clear any equipment they will need to take and any equipment or facilities (e.g. toilets) that will be provided at the venue.
  • Make clear that it is the school's responsibility to provide the correct ratio of pupils: adults excluding Keep Britain Tidy and site staff.
  • Before the visit make the visit code of conduct clear to pupils. Reserve the right to refuse to allow any pupil with inappropriate clothing or behaviour to take part in the visit at any point.

5. Undertake equipment safety checks prior to using any item. Ensure that all equipment provided by Keep Britain Tidy is child safe and cannot trap fingers, topple over or break. Issue safety instructions and guidelines for any equipment loaned to the schools for their activities.

6. First aid is the responsibility of the school. If first aid needs to be administered, call a qualified first aider. Do not give pills, lotions or plasters.

7. Exercise care when asking children to help you carry equipment. Do not ask a child to carry heavy items.

8. Report any incidents to the teacher on site immediately and to Keep Britain Tidy as a matter of urgency. Record any accidents on an accident sheet.

 

[1] Fraser Guidelines may be found http://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/child-protection-system/legal-definition-child-rights-law/gillick-competency-fraser-guidelines/

 

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