Safeguarding Policy and Procedure

The aim of this policy is to keep children and vulnerable adults safe by providing a framework to ensure a safe environment for them, whilst contributing to the prevention of harm or abuse and the protection of those individuals who are identified as suffering or likely to suffer harm from any such risk to their safety, health or well-being, whether at work, at home or in the wider community.

This policy applies to all staff, including senior managers and the board of trustees, paid staff, volunteers, interns, or anyone working on behalf or in the name of Cool Earth.

Cool Earth believes that a child, young person or adult should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, young people and adults and to keep them safe. We are committed to practice in a way that protects them.

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of law and guidance, namely:

• Children Act 1989
• United Convention of the Rights of the Child 1991
• Data Protection Act 1998
• 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: 0 to 25 years – Statutory guidance for organisations which work with and support children and young people who have special educational needs or disabilities; HM Government 2014
• Information sharing: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers; HM Government 2015
• Working together to safeguarding children: a guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children; HM Government 2015

Cool Earth will ensure that:

• the safety and well-being of children, young people and adults are paramount in all areas of its operations, including safeguarding our staff and raising their awareness, to safeguard themselves and others.
• all children and adults, regardless of age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief and or sexual identity can exercise their right to protection from harm or abuse when engaged in Cool Earth related activity or settings
• all suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately, with due regard to appropriate levels of privacy and the dignity of those concerned.
• all staff will be made aware of key safeguarding principles/practice through appropriate training and are required to report any disclosures, concerns or allegations in line with our procedures.
•  we work in a proactive partnership with other key statutory and voluntary sector organisations to share information and good practice to improve safeguarding within our communities.
•  we adhere to any statutory responsibilities placed upon us.

Designated Safeguarding Officer: Hannah Peck – [email protected]

Director: Matthew Owen – [email protected]

Trustee Lead: Baroness Jenkin of Kennington

If an individual is alerted to concerns or receives an allegation of abuse regarding another individual working for or with Cool Earth they should report this immediately to the designated member of staff. They should not investigate concerns or allegations of abuse, but should report them immediately to the designated member of staff.

If an individual is informed by a child or vulnerable adult about possible abuse or receives a disclosure of issues which indicated potential abuse, they should:

• Listen carefully and stay calm
• Not interview the child or adult, but question normally and without pressure, in order to be sure that they understand what the child or vulnerable adult is telling them;
• Not put words into the child’s or adult’s mouth;
• Reassure the child or adult that by telling them they have done the right thing;
• Inform the child or adult that they must pass the information on, but that only those that need to know about it will be told;
• Inform them of to whom they will report the matter;
• Note the main points carefully;
• Make a detailed note of the date, time, place, what they said, did and their questions

The designated member of staff will contact the relevant authority to establish whether the case requires further investigation and at what level.

All individuals covered by this policy must be mindful, and remain mindful, of the importance of ensuring that confidentiality is, where possible, maintained for all concerned. Information should be handled and disseminated on a need to know basis only.