1. INTRODUCTION

This document sets out the Safeguarding Policy for Focus 2024. The policy makes clear how the Focus 24 team will protect children, young people and adults at risk (adults at risk are sometimes termed ‘vulnerable adults’), seek to minimise the risk of abuse to them and the action to be taken in the event of a safeguarding concern being identified.

The policy complements and is compliant with the Church of England’s Protecting All God’s Children policy, as well as their safeguarding policy statement for children, young people and adults, ‘Promoting a Safer Church’ (2017) and its six overarching commitments:  

• Promoting a safer environment and culture  

• Safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children, young people and vulnerable adults within the Church  

• Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or incident  

• Caring pastorally for victims/survivors of abuse and other affected persons  

• Caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or reports of abuse, and other affected persons  

• Responding to those who may pose a present risk to others.  

The Focus team also recognises that staff and volunteers may be vulnerable and need to be safeguarded.

 2. SCOPE

This policy applies to:

• All staff employed by Focus 24, and

• Associated personnel whilst engaged with work related to Focus including but not limited to the following: Casual workers, volunteers, and contractors.

All staff and associated personnel have responsibility to follow the guidance laid out in this policy and related policies, and to pass on any welfare concerns using the required procedures. The scope applies both during and outside of normal work hours.

For the avoidance of doubt, Focus 24 undertakes to follow all applicable national and local safeguarding legislation and procedures.

 3. OBJECTIVES

• To provide a safe environment for all individuals at Focus.

• To ensure staff and volunteers understand their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding.

• To establish clear procedures for reporting and responding to safeguarding concerns.

Focus 24 believes that everyone with whom it has contact has the right to be protected from all forms of exploitation, harm, and abuse. Focus 24 will not tolerate abuse and exploitation by staff or associated personnel.

Focus 24 recognises the importance of organisational culture and accountability in creating a safe and supportive organisation for our staff, our associated personnel, and those with whom we work. We are committed to promoting a safe environment and culture through all our activities, by safely recruiting, and training all those with responsibility, and responding promptly to any safeguarding concerns. 

HTB Group commits to addressing safeguarding in the course of its work, through prevention, reporting and response.

 4. DEFINITIONS

Child: Anyone under the age of 18.

Vulnerable Adult: Any person aged 18 or over who is or may be unable to protect themselves against significant harm or exploitation.

Abuse: Any form of physical, emotional, sexual, or neglectful harm.

Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of all who are vulnerable (children and adults) and to protect them from exploitation, harm, and abuse.

Focus 24 recognises that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and that it has an obligation to put in place reasonable measures to ensure, as far as possible, the safety and wellbeing of those who are vulnerable.

Further definitions relating to safeguarding are provided in the glossary in Section 9.

 5. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Event Organisers: Ensure the implementation and adherence to the safeguarding policy.

Safeguarding Advisor (SA): Oversee safeguarding procedures, respond to concerns, and act as the main point of contact.

All Staff and Volunteers: Understand the policy, attend training, and report any concerns to the SA.

 6. TRAINING

In relation to each of the below, Focus 24 will:

Culture, Leadership and Responsibility

·       create, promote, and maintain a safe and caring environment for all, through an organisational culture that promotes appropriate values that are aligned with such an environment.

·       develop and maintain Focus 24’s safeguarding policy, procedures and guidelines as guidance for staff and associated personnel in understanding and fulfilling their obligations with respect to safeguarding.

·       review the implementation of the safeguarding policy, procedures and guidelines at least annually.

·       ensure accountability is enforced through the appointed safeguarding governance structures.

·       follow up on reports of safeguarding concerns promptly and according to legal and statutory obligations, as well as in accordance with the requirements of this policy, as outlined in Section 8 – Reporting.

·       implement stringent safeguarding procedures when recruiting, managing, and deploying staff and associated personnel.

·       ensure all staff and associated personnel have access to, are familiar with, and know their responsibilities within this policy, through onboarding processes and training.

·       ensure all staff and associated personnel receive training on safeguarding at a level that is commensurate with their role. This includes safely recruiting, training, and supporting all those with any responsibility for young people (including children), and adults to have the confidence and skills to recognise and respond to abuse.

·       require that staff must adhere to Staff and associated personnel Code of Conduct and other associated policies;

·       ensure that safe, appropriate, and accessible means of reporting safeguarding concerns are made available to staff and associated personnel, as outlined in Section 8 – Reporting; and

·       design and undertake, programmes and activities in a way that protects people appropriately from undue risk of harm that may arise from their contact with Focus 24.

 8. REPORTING

Receiving the Report:

• In-Person: Designated SA should be easily identifiable and approachable.

• Written: Provide reporting forms at registration desks, information points, and online.

Initial Assessment:

• The SA conducts an initial assessment to determine the severity and nature of the concern.

• Immediate action is taken if there is an imminent risk to safety.

Record the Report:

• Document all details of the report using a standardised form.

• Include information such as date, time, location, individuals involved, and nature of the concern.

Action Plan:

• Develop an action plan based on the initial assessment.

• This may include contacting local authorities, providing support to the victim, or removing a potential threat from the event.

Communication:

• Maintain clear communication with all parties involved.

• Ensure the reporter is informed about the progress and any actions taken.

Follow-Up:

• Provide ongoing support to the individual who reported the concern.

• Review the situation to ensure all issues have been addressed and resolved.

  9. PREVENTION METHODS

·       Rigorous recruitment and vetting processes for all staff and volunteers.

·       Clear identification (e.g. badges) for all authorised personnel.

·       Secure and controlled access to sensitive areas.

·       Adequate supervision ratios for activities involving children and vulnerable adults.

10. SAFEGUARDING GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES AND ASSOCIATED POLICIES

Focus 24’s safeguarding procedures and guidelines include, but are not limited to:

·       Safeguarding Reporting Process

·       Safeguarding Incident Report form

·       Guidelines for safeguarding in recruitment

All staff and associated personnel should be familiar with these guidelines and all periodic updates made to these guidelines.

The following policies are considered associated policies:

·       Whistleblowing (Public Interest Disclosure) policy.

·       Respect at work policy.

·       Equality Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy

·       Data Privacy policy

 11. REVIEW AND MONITORING

·       Regularly review and update the safeguarding policy.

·       Monitor the effectiveness of safeguarding practices and make improvements as necessary.

·       Ensure thorough debriefing post-event between the senior management team and SA.

 12. GLOSSARY

A safeguarding concern is consternation or a worry that a child (a person below the age of 18), or adult may be at risk of harm, or may have been harmed, by the organisation’s staff or associated personnel.

Generally speaking, safeguarding concerns may arise in respect of the following (but not exclusively):

·       Child abuse or maltreatment constitutes all forms of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse (N.B.: all sexual activity with a child is considered child abuse), neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power.

·       Child exploitation refers to the use of children for someone else’s advantage, gratification or profit often resulting in unjust, cruel and harmful treatment of the child. Such activities are to the detriment of the child’s physical or mental health, education, moral or social-emotional development. This includes situations of manipulation, misuse, abuse, victimisation, oppression or ill-treatment.

·       At-risk adult, sometimes also referred to as ‘vulnerable adult’. A person who is, or may be, in need of care by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation.

·       Forms of Harm may include psychological, physical and any other infringement of an individual’s rights.

·       Financial abuse covers a wide variety of activities, from mishandling finances to fraud, but may broadly be described as a violation of an individual's rights relating to their financial affairs or assets. 

By adhering to this policy, Focus aims to create a safe and enjoyable environment for all participants, ensuring the protection and well-being of the most vulnerable.

If you would like to download a copy of this policy, please click here.