Safeguarding Policy

This policy applies to all members, volunteers or anyone working on behalf of Cirencester Band

The purpose of this policy:

1. To protect children, young people and adults with care and support needs who are members of the band.
2. To provide the committee, members and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.

Cirencester Band believes that a child, young person or adult with care and support needs should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk and to keep them safe. We are committed to act in a way that protects them.

Legal Framework

This policy has been drawn up based on the law and guidance that seeks to protect children and adults at risk, namely:

• Children Act (1989)
• United Convention of the Rights of the Child (1991)
• Data Protection Act (1998) and subsequent data protection guidance
• The Human Rights Act (1998)
• Sexual Offences Act (2004)
• Children Act (2004)
• The Mental Capacity Act (2005)
• The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (2006)
• Protections of Freedoms Act (2012)
• The Children and Families Act (2014)
• The Care Act (2014)
• The Care Act (2014) Care and Support Statutory Guidance (specifically the safeguarding section of this)
• 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)
• Working together to safeguarding children: a guide to inter‐agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children: HM Government (2015)
• Information sharing: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers: HM Government (2015)
• General Data Protection Regulations: European Union (2017)

We recognise that:

• the welfare of the child is paramount, as enshrined in the Children Act (1989);
• all children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse;
• some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues; and
• working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.

In addition, we are aware that we have safeguarding responsibilities towards adult members, some of whom may be vulnerable at different times in their lives. The principles outlined above in relation to children also apply to our work with adults. In terms of a legal framework, the arrangements for those over 18 are governed by the Care Act 2014. This Act stipulates that statutory safeguarding duties apply to an adult who:

• has care and support needs, and
• is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect, and,
• as a result of those care and support needs, is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of, abuse or neglect.

Keeping children, young people and adults safe

We will seek to keep children, young people and adults safe by:

• valuing them, listening to and respecting them, ensuring that, in the case of adults, we work with their consent unless ‘vital interests,’ as defined in the Data Protection Act (1998), are at stake, or the person has been assessed as lacking mental capacity, as defined by the Mental Capacity Act (2005);
• adopting child protection and adult safeguarding practices through procedures and a code of conduct for members and volunteers;
• developing and implementing an effective e‐safety policy and related procedures;
• providing effective support for members and volunteers with responsibility;
• recruiting staff, members and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made;
• sharing information about child protection and adult safeguarding with children, parents, members and volunteers;
• sharing concerns with agencies who need to know and involving parents and children appropriately.

Useful contacts:

Monitoring and review

The Band Welfare Officer is responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of this policy.

We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.

Last reviewed: 07/04/2019, Signed: (Band Welfare Officer)