Safeguarding Policy

[Last updated: May 5th, 2021]

Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to protect people, particularly the young adults we serve, at risk adults and beneficiaries of assistance, from any harm that may be caused due to their coming into contact with Arthur’s Place. This includes harm arising from:
• The conduct of staff or personnel associated with Arthur’s Place
• The design, publishing and implementation of Arthur’s Place information, programmes and activities

The policy lays out the commitments made by Arthur’s Place, and informs our team members and associated personnel of their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding.

What is safeguarding?
In the UK, safeguarding means protecting peoples’ health, wellbeing and human rights, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect
At Arthur’s Place, we understand it to mean protecting people from harm that arises from coming into contact with our team members, published information or programmes/activity.

Who is it for?
• All people contracted by or contributing to Arthur’s Place
• Associated personnel whilst engaged with work online related to Arthur’s Place
• All people accessing Arthur’s Place online services

Policy statement
Arthur’s Place believes that everyone we come into contact with, regardless of age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or ethnic origin has the right to be protected from all forms of harm, abuse, neglect and exploitation. Arthur’s Place will not tolerate abuse and exploitation by its team members, commissioned workers, or online participants.
Arthur’s Place commits to addressing safeguarding throughout its work and through prevention, reporting and response.

Prevention
Responsibilities
Arthur’s Place will:
• Ensure all team members and contracted freelancers have access to, are familiar with, and know their responsibilities within this policy
• Design and undertake all its programmes and activities in a way that protects people from any risk of harm that may arise from their coming into contact with Arthur’s Place.
• Implement stringent safeguarding procedures when recruiting, managing and deploying staff and associated personnel
• Ensure staff receive training on safeguarding at a level commensurate with their role in the organization
• Follow up on reports of safeguarding concerns promptly and according to due process

Staff responsibilities
Arthur’s Place team members staff and associated personnel must not:
• Engage knowingly with anyone under the age of 18 – Arthur’s Place is a service for 18–35-year-olds only.
• Sexually abuse or exploit at risk adults (the term ‘at risk adults’ is recognised as including those with long term health issues)
• Subject an adult to physical, emotional or psychological abuse, or neglect
• Exchange money, employment, goods or services for sexual activity.
• Engage in any sexual relationships with beneficiaries of assistance.
• Publish, message or share on Arthur’s Place any content that can contribute in any way to the abuse, exploitation or harm of its members and users.
• Help to facilitate any abuse or harm between its members or users

Additionally, Arthur’s Place team members and associated personnel are obliged to:
• Contribute to creating and maintaining an environment that prevents safeguarding violations and promotes the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy
• Report any concerns or suspicions regarding safeguarding violations by an Arthur’s Place team member or associated personnel to the Chief Executive in charge of Safeguarding
• Have regard for the requirements of the Privacy Policy, Equality, Diversity & Fairness Policy, Social Media Moderation Policy, Terms and Conditions, Pharma Promise and Consent Forms in order to maintain safety for all involved.

Reporting
Arthur’s Place will ensure that safe, appropriate, accessible means of reporting safeguarding concerns are made available to staff and the communities we work with.
Any staff reporting concerns or complaints through formal whistleblowing channels will be protected.
Arthur’s Place will also accept complaints from external sources such as members of the public, partners and official bodies.

How to report a safeguarding concern
Team members who have a complaint or concern relating to safeguarding should report it immediately to the Chief Executive in Charge of Safeguarding (Andrea Mc Bride). If the team member does not feel comfortable reporting to the Chief Executive in Charge (for example if they feel that the report will not be taken seriously, or if that person is implicated in the concern) they may report to any other appropriate Executive member.

Response
Arthur’s Place will follow up all safeguarding reports and concerns by thorough investigation and consultation with appropriate services (i.e the police, social services, charities or organisations supporting those who suffer abuse or harm) as required.

In the first instance depending upon its severity, further training for the person causing the harm may be provided and a Restorative Justice Meeting will take place.

Should anyone be found to have caused deliberate physical, emotional, sexual, or psychological harm to someone that could be classed as illegal then their involvement with Arthur’s Place will be immediately terminated and have their actions reported to the police.

Decisions regarding support will be led by the survivor. Arthur’s Place will offer to refer survivors of harm caused by team members or associated personnel to appropriate organization or resources, regardless of whether a formal internal response is carried out (such as an internal investigation).

Confidentiality
It is essential that confidentiality in maintained at all stages of the process when dealing with safeguarding concerns. Information relating to the concern and subsequent case management should be shared on a need-to-know basis only and should be kept secure at all times.

Review
This policy will be reviewed annually by the Director in Charge of Safeguarding and shared annually with those who are deemed to be Team Members. A copy of this policy will be made available on the website for all users and other interested parties to consult. A copy will be given to any new team member, freelance worker or volunteer.

Associated Policies and Documents
Privacy Policy
Terms and Conditions
Equality, Diversity & Fairness Policy
Pharma Promise
Consent Forms
Social Media Moderation Policy