Safeguarding Policy
Children and Vulnerable Adults
This statement of policy and procedures applies to users of and activities in Marbury Village Hall, and any other activities which are the responsibility of Marbury Village Hall.
All Marbury Village Hall Trust Committee members, staff and volunteers have a duty of care to safeguard children and vulnerable adult users of The Hall and its premises. This policy is in place to protect all children and vulnerable persons regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, religion or faith.
The welfare of the child or vulnerable adult is paramount and is the
responsibility of everyone. All children and vulnerable adults, without exception, have the right to protection from abuse, whether physical, verbal, sexual, bullying, exclusion or neglect.
Bullying, shouting, physical violence, sexism and racism or any other such abuse towards children or vulnerable adults will not be permitted, accepted or tolerated.
What is the definition of safeguarding adults at What is the definition of safeguarding adults at risk?
Appendix 1
Safeguarding adults at risk is defined in the Care and support statutory guidance issued under the Care Act 2014 as:
-protecting the rights of adults to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect
-people and organisations working together to prevent and stop both the risks
and experience of abuse or neglect
-people and organisations making sure that the adult’s well-being is promoted
including, where appropriate, taking their views, wishes, feelings and beliefs
fully into account when deciding any action recognising that adults sometimes
have complex interpersonal relationships and may be ambivalent, unclear, or
unrealistic about their personal circumstances and therefore potential risks to
their safety or well-being
Definition of Abuse
Appendix 2:
The Care and support statutory guidance identifies ten types of abuse, these
are:
- Physical abuse
- Domestic violence or abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Psychological or emotional abuse
- Financial or material abuse
- Modern slavery
- Discriminatory abuse
- Organisational or institutional abuse
- Neglect or acts of omission
- Self-neglect
Definition of a Child
Appendix 3:
In England a child is defined as anyone who has not yet reached their 18th
birthday.
Child protection guidance points out that even if a child has reached 16 years of
age and is:
- living independently
- in further education
- a member of the armed forces
- in hospital; or
- in custody in the secure estate
they are still legally children and should be given the same protection and entitlements as any other child (Department for Education, 2018a).
Definition of a Vulnerable Adult
Appendix 4:
(1) In these Regulations “vulnerable adult” means a person aged 18 or over
who is receiving services of a type listed in paragraph (2) below and in
consequence of a condition of a type listed in paragraph (3) below has a
disability of a type listed in paragraph (4) below.
(2) The services are—
(a)accommodation and nursing or personal care in a care home;
(b)personal care or nursing or support to live independently in his own home;
(c)any services provided by an independent hospital, independent clinic,
independent medical agency or National Health Service body;
(d)social care services; or
(e)any services provided in an establishment catering for a person with
learning difficulties.
(3) The conditions are—
(a)a learning or physical disability; (b)a physical or mental illness, chronic or otherwise, including an addiction to
alcohol or drugs; or
(c)a reduction in physical or mental capacity.
(4) The disabilities are—
(a)a dependency upon others in the performance of, or a requirement for
assistance in the performance of, basic physical functions;
(b)severe impairment in the ability to communicate with others; or
(c)impairment in a person’s ability to protect himself from assault, abuse or
neglect.
(5) In this regulation “care home”, “independent clinic”, “independent
hospital”, “independent medical agency” and “National Health Service body”
have the same meanings as in the Care Standards Act 2000.
(The Police Act 1997 (Enhanced Criminal Record Certificates) (Protection of
Vulnerable Adults) Regulations 2002)
POLICY
- No member of The Trustees, staff or volunteers will have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults
- (a) All Trustees, staff, volunteers need to be made aware of this policy on child protection and vulnerable adult issues(b) The Trust Committee will take appropriate steps to make sure they are aware. 3. The Trust Committee will endeavour to keep the premises safe for use by children and vulnerable adults.
- The Trust Committee recognises that a higher standard of safety is required where use is made by small children, those who cannot read safety notices and physically disabled adults
- Any organisation or individuals booking The Hall will be asked to certify that their activities do not involve primarily children or vulnerable adults or if they do so, to certify that they have an appropriate policy and procedure in place.
- The Trust Committee will ensure that hirers are made aware of their obligations under The Licencing Act 2003 to ensure that alcohol is not sold to those under 18 Years Old.
- The Committee will ensure that hirers are aware that no children may be admitted to films when they are below the age classification for the film or show
The Trust Committee will review this policy annually
-A copy of the policy will be displayed for the attention of all in The Village Hall
and made available on request to hirers
Procedure
- All trustees, volunteers and staff will be made aware of this policy and
associated key procedures. The Secretary will ensure the policy statement is
displayed in The Hall
- .Organisations hiring The Hall will be asked to certify that they have a child/vulnerable adult protection policy or that their activities do not require one. Where activities are for children (and where appropriate for vulnerable adults) hirers may be asked to supply or show their child protection policy to the Bookings Secretary before the first booking commences
- Individuals hiring the Hall for activities for, and/or involving children will be made aware of this policy. Provision to this effect will be incorporated into prebooking information and hiring agreement
- Where there is damage or there are breakages or safety issues needing attention, these will be dealt with as soon as practicable, in the light of the circumstances, with provision in the meantime to prevent access by children and vulnerable adults pending repair where appropriate
- Any delegation of that hirer to other people to supervise children and/or vulnerable adults is the responsibility of the hirer and should be covered by their policy. The Village Hall Trust Committee shall not be held liable for any incidences occurring
- Appropriate clauses will be entered into for all hiring for licensable activities. The Trust Committee will ensure these provisions are observed when holding any licensable activities itself
- Contractors engaged to carry out work at the premises must not be allowed unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults
- Since the premises might be used by more than one hirer, the attention of hirers will be drawn to ensure that children and vulnerable adults are supervised when using toilets or other appropriate arrangements eg putting up a notice on the toilets to say they are for exclusive use by a specified group using the Hall
- In the event of a child or vulnerable adult not being collected after an event, the responsibility of dealing with the situation rests solely with the hirer, who if necessary must seek advice or involvement from authorities or The Police
- Any allegations of any incident that take place on The Hall site that are made to The Trust Committee will be reported to the relevant authorities. The Trust Committee will not carry out any investigation but will refer the matter to the relevant authorities and/or the Police