Safeguarding Policy
Introduction
At Towcester Family Law Practice we are committed to protecting our clients and their children, young people and adults. We believe everyone has a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, young people and adults, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them.
Towcester Family Law Practice has adopted this safeguarding policy and expects every person working or helping at Towcester Family Law Practice to support it and comply with it. Consequently this policy shall apply to all staff, volunteers, students or anyone working on behalf of Towcester Family Law Practice.
This policy is intended to protect individuals who receive any service from us, including those who are the children of adults who may receive services from us. Under this policy, the term children shall mean any person who is under eighteen years of age.
Towcester Family Law Practice believes that no individual should experience abuse or harm and is committed to the protection of adults, children and young people. This policy is intended to provide guidance and overarching principles to those who represent us as volunteers or staff, to guide our approach to protection and safeguarding.
We will give equal priority to keeping all children, young people and adults safe regardless of their age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
We recognise that some people are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of discrimination, previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues.
Recognising Abuse and Harm
Adults, young people and especially children can be vulnerable to different forms of abuse and harm.
It is important to recognise that abuse and harm of children can cover a wide range of circumstances and behaviours.
For example, children can be at risk of:
physical or emotional abuse
neglect
sexual abuse
female genital mutilation (FGM)
grooming and exploitation
trafficking and modern slavery
exposure to or infliction of domestic abuse
bullying or cyber bullying
exposure to other inappropriate content or behaviour, such as violence or criminal behaviour
self-harm
physical harm when engaging with activities without adequate supervision
The causal factors of any such harm and/or abuse can also be wide-ranging. For example, adults, young people and children can be placed at risk by family members or by members of the community
Safeguarding Principles
Safeguarding adults, young people and children from harm and abuse is an essential responsibility for Towcester Family Law Practice. We are committed to ensuring that any individual who comes into contact with our services is properly safeguarded.
Every person under this policy must ensure that they play an active role in ensuring that individuals are properly safeguarded. Every person under this policy holds responsibility for remaining alert and aware of possible safeguarding risks to individuals and take positive steps to maintain the safety and wellbeing of individuals engaging with us as an organisation as follows:
- reporting concerns expeditiously and appropriately
- understanding the duty to report specific concerns (and understanding how this interplays with confidentiality)
- challenging any inappropriate or harmful behaviour of any other individual and reporting this accordingly
- acting appropriately in the presence of individuals
- being familiar with and understanding safeguarding and protection procedures
- ensuring all staff and volunteers understand and follow the safeguarding and child protection procedures
- ensuring children, young people and their families know about the organisation's safeguarding and child protection policies and what to do if they have a concern
- building a safeguarding culture where staff, volunteers and individuals know how they are expected to behave and feel comfortable about sharing concerns.
Allocated Safeguarding Officers
The management and oversight of all safeguarding matters is allocated to:
Designated Person for Safeguarding Name: Heather Rose - Contact Number: 01327 358321 mobile 07725 811892 - [email protected]
Deputy Designated Person for Safeguarding Name: Alina Schofield - Contact Number: 01327 358321, mobile 07525 900894 - [email protected]
Confidentially and Data Protection
All personal information we may process relating to adults, young people and children, shall be processed and stored in accordance with our data protection privacy policy which can be requested by emailing Helen Stockwin – [email protected]
Responding to a Safeguarding Concern
Where an individual is at immediate risk of serious harm, any responsible adult present should call 999. Thereafter, an available Allocated Safeguarding Officer should be contacted as soon as is reasonably practicable. Where there is a safeguarding concern but no immediate risk of serious harm, the adult who has heard or witnessed this concern should consult with an available Allocated Safeguarding Officer as soon as practicable and by no later than the end of that same day.
Where any child makes a disclosure relating to harm or abuse to an adult, it is important for that adult to:
- listen calmly and carefully, showing that their views are taken seriously
- provide an appropriate and honest level of reassurance
- avoid interrogating children or asking probing, intrusive and/or leading questions
- avoid making false promises regarding secrets and confidentiality with the child (because any concern of abuse/harm must be shared with an Allocated Safeguarding Officer and any subsequent safeguarding referral)
- make a confidential written record of the discussion either during the discussion or immediately afterwards. The record should include the key details of the disclosure together with any relevant times, dates, places and people concerned
- refer all relevant information to an available Allocated Safeguarding Officer as soon as practicable afterwards, and by no later than the end of the day Upon receipt of any safeguarding concern, an Allocated Safeguarding Officer shall consult with any other relevant persons and will make any appropriate referrals to the relevant authorities, such as the applicable Local Authority, Children’s Services or Police
If you feel someone is in immediate danger, call the police on 999
You can contact the NSPCC if concerns relate to a child
NSPCC Helpline 0808 800 5000
The statement was approved by the Sole Proprietor Heather Rose
