Safeguarding Policies
Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedures
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to protect people, particularly adults at risk and beneficiaries of assistance, from any harm of which the R.A.P. Charitable Foundation becomes aware.
This policy applies to all staff and volunteers and should be read alongside the “Safeguarding Policy and Procedures: Children and Young People”.
What We Mean by Safeguarding
Safeguarding means protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. It involves individuals and organisations working together to prevent and stop both the risk and experience of abuse or neglect, whilst also promoting the adult’s wellbeing, including—where appropriate—having regard to their views, wishes, feelings and beliefs in deciding any action to be taken.
The key principles underpinning adult safeguarding, as set out in the Care Act 2014 Statutory Guidance, are:
- Empowerment – Supporting and encouraging people to make their own decisions and give informed consent.
- Prevention – Taking action before harm occurs.
- Proportionality – Responding in the least intrusive way appropriate to the level of risk.
- Protection – Offering support and representation to those in greatest need.
- Partnership – Working collaboratively with local services and communities.
- Accountability – Delivering safeguarding in a transparent and accountable manner.
Making safeguarding personal means it should be person-led and outcome-focused, engaging the individual in a conversation about how best to respond to their situation in a way that enhances involvement, choice and control, whilst improving quality of life, wellbeing and safety.
Who Is Defined as an Adult at Risk?
The safeguarding duties apply to an adult who:
- has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs);
- 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.
What Is Abuse?
Abuse is a violation of a person’s human rights or dignity by another person or persons. It can happen anywhere, including in a domestic setting or online. Abuse often occurs in situations where the person should feel safe (e.g., at home, during a medical appointment, or in a public place). It may be a one-off incident, a repeated act, or involve multiple forms of abuse. All abuse is wrong and will not be tolerated by the Foundation.
Types of Abuse
- Physical abuse: assault, hitting, slapping, pushing, misuse of medication, restraint, or inappropriate physical sanctions.
- Domestic abuse: controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between individuals aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members.
- Sexual abuse: rape, indecent exposure, sexual harassment, inappropriate looking or touching, and any non-consensual sexual act.
- Psychological abuse: emotional abuse, threats, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, harassment, isolation, or verbal abuse.
- Financial or material abuse: theft, fraud, internet scams, financial coercion, or misuse of property and benefits.
- Modern slavery: slavery, human trafficking, forced labour, and domestic servitude.
- Discriminatory abuse: harassment, slurs, or unequal treatment based on race, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, age, or religion.
- Organisational abuse: abuse caused by poor practice within care services, including institutional routines or cultures.
- Neglect and acts of omission: ignoring medical, emotional, or physical care needs, withholding necessities such as food or medication.
- Self-neglect: neglecting personal hygiene, health, or surroundings, including hoarding.
What to Do if You Suspect an Adult Is Being Abused
If you are concerned that an adult is suffering, has suffered, or is likely to suffer harm from another person, you must report your concerns immediately.
It is the responsibility of the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to ensure these procedures are strictly followed. If the allegation involves the DSL, the Deputy DSL must be informed. In exceptional circumstances where both are implicated, adult social care should be contacted directly.
Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy and Procedures
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to protect young people, children, and beneficiaries of assistance from any harm of which the R.A.P. Charitable Foundation becomes aware.
This policy applies to all staff and volunteers and should be read alongside the “Safeguarding Policy and Procedures: Adults at Risk”.
What Is Safeguarding?
As defined in Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018):
- Protecting children from maltreatment.
- Preventing impairment of children’s health or development.
- Ensuring children grow up with safe and effective care.
- Taking action to enable all children to have the best possible outcomes.
What Is Child Protection?
Child protection is a component of safeguarding, focusing on protecting individual children identified as suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm. It includes procedures detailing how to respond to concerns.
The Foundation believes everyone has a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, in line with the Children Act 1989, Working Together 2018, and the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.
We commit to ensuring all children and young people receive the same level of protection, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. We also acknowledge that some children may be more vulnerable.
What We Will Do
The Foundation will:
- Listen to and respect children.
- Appoint a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and a Deputy DSL.
- Establish safeguarding and child protection procedures.
- Ensure all staff and volunteers follow these safeguarding procedures.
Who Is Defined as a Child?
In England and Wales, a child is anyone under the age of 18.
What Is Child Abuse?
Child abuse occurs when a child is harmed physically, emotionally, sexually or through neglect. It can happen within families, peer groups, professional settings, or from strangers, and in any community.
Types of Child Abuse
- Physical abuse: hitting, shaking, burning, poisoning, or causing physical harm.
- Neglect: persistent failure to meet a child’s basic needs, including supervision, health care, and emotional support.
- Sexual abuse: involving a child in sexual activities, either through contact or non-contact acts.
- Emotional abuse: ongoing emotional maltreatment, such as degrading punishment or withholding affection.
- Domestic abuse: abuse between adults in a relationship, which a child witnesses.
- Bullying and cyberbullying: behaviour that physically or emotionally harms a child over time.
- Child trafficking: the illegal movement of children for exploitation.
- Female genital mutilation (FGM): non-medical removal of external female genitalia.
What to Do if You Suspect a Child Is Being Abused
If you believe a child is being harmed, has been harmed, or is at risk, you must report your concerns immediately.
It is the responsibility of the DSL to ensure these procedures are rigorously followed. If the allegation concerns the DSL, the Deputy DSL must be informed. In exceptional cases where both are implicated, contact social care directly.
Response
In the event of a serious incident involving the Foundation, the Chief Executive must inform the Charity Commission.
Anyone concerned that safeguarding is not being appropriately managed may refer directly to the police or social care services.
Staff reporting concerns via whistleblowing channels will be protected under the Foundation’s Whistleblowing Policy.
Appropriate disciplinary measures will be applied to staff and volunteers found in breach of this policy.
Safer Recruitment
The Foundation will use appropriate procedures, checks, and safeguards for recruitment. The DSL will monitor this process.
- All roles will have a job description.
- Recruitment interviews will be conducted thoroughly and recorded.
- Two written references will be obtained for all posts prior to appointment.
- Where eligible, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks will be conducted.
- Recruitment procedures will be regularly reviewed.
- DBS checks will be renewed periodically in line with official guidance.
- Positive DBS disclosures will be risk assessed on a case-by-case basis.
- All relevant staff and volunteers will receive safeguarding training upon induction and annually thereafter.
Communication
This policy will be communicated to all staff, volunteers, service users, and their families/carers via our website and relevant correspondence.
We will promote the message that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, providing regular training and opportunities for discussion, review, and continuous improvement.
Confidentiality
The Foundation upholds the principle that an individual’s welfare takes precedence over any obligations of confidentiality. Information will be shared only on a need-to-know basis.
All safeguarding reports and records will be securely stored and handled in line with data protection regulations, as outlined in our Privacy Policy.
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Details
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Mr. Scherlock Loussakou
Deputy DSLs: Amede Mavouanda and Gerard Likibi Ngami
Telephone: 07564815311
Email: scherlock@hotmail.co.uk
(Office hours only. In emergencies or if there is an immediate risk of significant harm, contact the police.)