SAFEGUARDING POLICY SUTTON COMMUNITY WORKS 

Definitions – for this document

Adult at risk
Is a person who needs community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation 1.
Adults at risk are entitled to: privacy; be treated with dignity; lead an independent life and to be enabled to do so; be able to choose how they lead their lives; the protection of the law; have their rights upheld regardless of ethnic origin, gender, sexuality, impairment or disability, age, religion or cultural background.

Child
Describes a child aged 0-17 years old.

POLICY STATEMENT

Sutton Community Works aim to restore dignity and revive hope to people from all walks of life. We are concerned with individuals and their circumstances and actively encourage an inclusive environment throughout all our projects.

Sutton Community Works seek to ensure that all our team members are aware of what is required from them under the adult at risk and child protection policy and make sure that it is practiced always.

It is the responsibility of each one of us to prevent the physical, sexual or emotional abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults and children.

We commit ourselves to co-operate fully with the appropriate statutory services when they are conducting official investigation into physical, emotional or sexual abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults, children or young people (by an adult or young person).

This policy & procedures will be brought to the attention of all staff and volunteers when they join, as part of their induction programme. Any amendments will be brought to the attention of all team members.

DESIGNATED PERSON AND THEIR ROLE

The Sutton Foodbank has designated persons who are responsible for dealing with any concerns about the protection of adults at risk or children. Volunteers are given contact details for each project.

The designated persons for the Sutton Foodbank are:

Mark Tomlinson & Joanna Fitzgibbon.

The Sutton Street Pastors/School Pastors has designated persons who are responsible for dealing with any concerns about the protection of adults at risk or children. The designated persons for Sutton Street Pastors are:

Mark Tomlinson & Joanna Fitzgibbon

Linking Lives has designated persons who are responsible for dealing with any concerns about the protection of adults at risk or children. The designated persons for Linking Lives are:

Mark Tomlinson & Joanna Fitzgibbon

Community Foodshop has designated persons who are responsible for dealing with any concerns about the protection of adults at risk or children. The designated persons for Community Foodshop are:

Mark Tomlinson & Joanna Fitzgibbon

The designated persons will be available for adults at risk and children to speak with should they feel the need to talk with someone about an incident which has happened whilst working for or receiving assistance from a Sutton Community Works Project. Particularly if they feel they have been physically, sexually or emotionally abused or neglected by an adult or another young person.

CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS

All volunteers must complete a volunteer application form before commencing work within a Sutton Community Works project. Details of criminal convictions (except those ‘spent’ under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974) must be provided so an adequate risk assessment can be undertaken. (Any Sutton Community Works Project reserves the right to dismiss a volunteer and/or ban them from the property should they feel it is necessary.)

DBS process will be carried out for all volunteers in regular contact with clients within a regulated activity such as Street & School Pastors.

TRAINING

All volunteers will be provided with safeguarding information at the time of their induction either through the Meet and Greet training for Sutton Foodbank, the Ascension Trust Training for Sutton Street & School Pastors, in house training for Community Foodshop or the Link training for Sutton Linking Lives.

Training in the prevention of abuse and the action to take if abuse occurs is included as part of the Training Programme for all Sutton Community Works Projects. Further guidelines concerning the safeguarding policies of your Sutton Council can also be obtained from Sutton Council.

Review

This policy and its implementation will be reviewed by the Trustees at least annually and whenever there are any legislative changes or amendments to guidance issued by relevant statutory bodies.

Our full safeguarding policy is available here.