Safeguarding Procedure

This procedure is intended to support the Carousel Safeguarding Policy.

Definitions:

Safeguarding means protecting a child or adult at risk’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. It is about people and organisations working together to prevent and stop both the risks and experience of abuse or neglect, while at the same time making sure that wellbeing is promoted.

In England, a child is a person under the age of 18.

The fact that a child has reached 16 years of age, is living independently or is in further education, is a member of the armed forces, is in hospital or in custody in the secure estate, does not change his/her status or entitlements to services or protection.

“Young person” is not a legal term and can have many different meanings.

An adult at risk of harm is a person aged 18 or over who has

  • Needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs). This includes adults with a learning disability.

  • 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 the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect

Child protection is part of safeguarding and promoting welfare. This refers to the activity that is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering, or are likely to suffer significant harm.

Roles, responsibilities and contacts:

If you suspect a child or adult at risk is in immediate danger call the relevant emergency service on 999

The Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) is to be a central point of contact in the organisation for safeguarding vulnerable individuals and to seek support and advice from other professionals where necessary.

Carousel’s DSO is:

Gareth Evans

Artistic Director

Community Base

113 Queens Road

Brighton

BN1 3XG

01273 234734

gareth.evans@carousel.org.uk

All Carousel staff, freelance staff and volunteers all have a duty of care for Safeguarding at Carousel.

Carousel Trustees have primary responsibility for Safeguarding at Carousel.

If you need to speak with someone regarding safeguarding at Carousel and it is not possible or appropriate to make contact with the DSO, then either Carousel Deputy Artistic Director or Carousel Trustees should be contacted.

Carousel’s Deputy Artistic Director is:

Lizzie Banks

Community Base

113 Queens Road

Brighton

BN1 3XG

01273 234734

lizzie.banks@carousel.org.uk

Carousel Trustees nominated safeguarding contact is:

Liz Dollin

dollinliz@gmail.com

Brighton and Hove Safeguarding Children Partnership and The Brighton & Hove Safeguarding Adult Board (SAB) include statutory, private, voluntary, and independent organisations who work together to empower and protect some of the most vulnerable members of the local community. They can be contacted if you have concerns and cannot contact any of Carousel’s contacts.

If you are concerned about a child contact Front Door For Families:

01273 290400

FrontDoorForFamilies@brighton-hove.gov.uk

If you are concerned about an adult at risk contact Brighton & Hove Adult Social Care at

the Access Point Team:

01273 295555

hascsafeguardinghub@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Concerns, Disclosures and Allegations:

A concern is when you or somebody else may have noticed indicators of abuse or neglect and feels that something is not right.

If you see or suspect abuse of a child or adult at risk you should make Carousel’s DSO aware of the problem as soon as possible. If the DSO is not available, contact Carousel’s Director or Carousel Trustees nominated safeguarding contact.

Keep a note for your own records of your suspicion and what action you have taken.

A disclosure is when somebody shares information that might indicate that themselves or somebody else is experiencing harm or neglect or at risk of harm or neglect.

If someone discloses to you

  • Remain calm but don’t delay taking action

  • Listen carefully to what is said.

  • Ask questions only for clarification. Don’t ask leading questions

  • Don’t promise to keep it a secret. Make it clear that you will only tell people who need to know and who should be able to help

  • Reassure the person that they did the right thing in telling someone

  • Tell the person what you are going to do next

  • Speak immediately to the person responsible for protection of person (e.g. head teacher, day centre manager). If unsure consult Social Care and Health

  • As soon as possible make a note of what was said, using the person’s own words. Note the date, time, any names involved or mentioned and what action you took. Make sure you sign and date the record

  • In confidence, make the DSO aware of the situation

An allegation is when somebody tells you that another person has behaved in a way that has harmed a child or adult at risk or may lead to a child or adult at risk being harmed. This includes the possibility of somebody committing a criminal offence or planning to commit a criminal offence against a child or an adult at risk of harm. It might also be an indication that somebody is unsuitable for working with a vulnerable group. An allegation should be treated in the same way as a disclosure.

Accidents and Injuries:

If a child, young person or adult at risk is injured whilst at a Carousel event or project you must record it in the accident book. See Health and Safety Policy – Arts Projects. This information must be passed on to the person responsible for the individual.

If a child, young person or adult at risk arrives at a Carousel event or workshop with an obvious injury, record it in the accident book, including the fact that the injury was sustained before arrival at the event/workshop. The entry should be countersigned by the person with responsibility for the individual.

Reporting and Record Keeping:

Detailed notes should be recorded as soon possible following a disclosure, allegation or accident.

Things to include in a record:

  • Details of those involved for example

    • Name

    • DOB

    • Address

    • Any support needs

  • What happened

  • Details of the allegation

  • Any injuries

  • The time the incident took place

  • Where the incident happened

  • What was said in the words of the child, young person or adult at risk

  • Any actions taken

  • Who is sharing this information

  • Records of any responses from other agencies such as police or social services

It is a legal requirement to get consent from adults in order to share information with other people. Always seek consent and respect an individual’s right to choose, but in certain situations it is possible to share information without consent. These are:

  • Where other people are, or may be, at risk, including children

  • Sharing could prevent a crime

  • The alleged abuser has care and support needs of their own and may also be at risk

  • A serious crime has been committed

  • Members of staff are implicated

  • The person may be being coerced

  • The risk is unreasonably high and meets the criteria for a multi-agency risk assessment conference referral

  • A court order or other legal authority has asked for information

If you do not share and don’t have consent:

  • support the person to weigh up the risks and benefits of different options

  • ensure they are aware of the level of risk and possible outcomes

  • offer to arrange for them to have an advocate or peer supporter

  • offer support for them to build confidence and self-esteem if necessary

  • agree on and record the level of risk the person is taking

  • record the reasons for not intervening or sharing information

  • regularly review the situation

  • try to build trust and use gentle persuasion to enable the person to better protect themselves

Rights and Confidentiality:

If a complaint or allegation is made against a member of staff or volunteer they should be made aware of their rights under employment law and internal disciplinary procedures.

You must not discuss the concerns or allegations directly with the staff members concerned. The alleged abuser, and the person thought to have been abused, both have the right to confidentiality.

If the allegation is against a member of staff the usual disciplinary procedure will be followed. Following the outcome of the disciplinary procedure, the senior management team will decide on any further appropriate action.

If the allegation is against a volunteer, the senior management team will decide on the most appropriate course of action and may seek guidance from Social Care and Health.

Guidance for good practice:

Interpersonal

  • Treat all children and adults with equal respect and dignity

  • Always put the welfare of the child or young person first

  • Give children and adults the opportunity to make choices and share in decision-making

  • Give supportive and constructive feedback

Physical Contact

  • Maintain an appropriate distance from participants

  • Only touch participants when it is absolutely necessary for the arts activity

  • Seek agreement from the participant before making physical contact

Publicity

  • Carousel will ensure that permission to take and use photographs of children or adults is obtained and signed off by their parent/carer or the adult themselves.

  • Carousel will provide details of the photo to be used as well as the context in which it will be used i.e. website, annual report, general project reports

Working in collaboration

  • When working in collaboration or partnership with another organisation, we will agree risk assessments in advance and ensure that we are abiding by each other’s policies including around publicity consent

Online

  • Work with participants to agree to a set of rules for working online. Refer to Carousel’s Online Etiquette

  • Ensure we have necessary contact details for children and adults in the session. These should be the same details that we would collect for physical sessions.

  • Obtain permission to record meetings from participants. If the recording features children, consent must be obtained from their parents in advance

  • As host, make sure you know how to control online meeting spaces – turning off audio, video, removing people

  • Deal with any inappropriate behaviour promptly