Safeguarding Statement
Introduction
Sculpt policy applies to all staff, including senior managers and the board of trustees, paid staff, volunteers and sessional workers, agency staff, students or anyone working on behalf of Sculpt.
The purpose of this policy is:
- to protect children, young people and vulnerable adults who receive Sculpt’s services. This includes the children of adults who use our services;
- to provide staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding and the protection of individuals.
Sculpt believes that a child, young person or vulnerable adult should never experience any abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, young people and vulnerable adults and to keep them safe and we are committed to practise in a way that protects them.
Legal Framework
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of law and guidance that seeks to protect children namely:
- The Children Act 1989
- The United Convention of the Rights of the Child 1991
- The Equality Act 2010
- 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
- Data Protection Act 2018
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- Mandatory Reporting of FGM (Children, Schools and Families Act 2010)
- Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018
- What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused 2015
- Special educational needs and disability code of practice: 0 to 25 years 2015
- Information sharing: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers 2018
This policy should be read alongside our policies and procedures on:
- Recruitment, induction and training
- Protection from harassment policy
- Electronic information and communications policy
- Whistleblowing policy
- Health and safety policy
- Lone worker policy
- Disciplinary and dismissal policy
- Child protection policy, which includes:
o Role of the designated safeguarding officer
o Dealing with disclosures and concerns about a vulnerable person
o Managing allegations against staff and volunteers
- Recruitment and selection policy
- Policy on the statement of the recruitment of ex-offenders
- Volunteer Policy
- Complaints Policy
We recognise that:
- The welfare of the child is paramount, as enshrined in the Children Act 1989
- All people, 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 people are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues
- Working in partnership with vulnerable adults, children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting people’s welfare
We will seek to keep children, young people and vulnerable adults safe by:
- Valuing them, listening to and respecting them
- Appointing a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) for children and young people, a deputy and a lead board member for safeguarding
- Adopting child protection and safeguarding practices through procedures and a code of conduct for staff and volunteers
- Developing and implementing an effective e-safety policy and related procedures
- Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures
- Recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
- Recording and storing information professionally and securely in line with GDPR regulations
- Sharing information about our safeguarding policy and good practice with vulnerable groups and their families or carers, staff and volunteers
- Using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately
- Creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedures to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise
- Ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place
- Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance
Contact details
Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO)
Name: Maija Linnala
Phone/email 07833 224442 / maija.linnala@sculptuk.org
Deputy DSO
Name: Dr Claire Bonham
Phone/email 07833 224442 / claire.bonham@sculptuk.org
Board member lead for safeguarding
Name: Simon Goldhill
Phone/email 07768 343949 / simon@goldhill.me
Child Exploitation and Online Protection command (CEOP)
www.ceop.police.uk
NSPCC Helpline
0808 800 5000
www.nspcc.org.uk
Review
We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.
This policy was last reviewed on: 6th April 2022