Governance
Barnet Community Projects – Safeguarding Policy
Our Safeguarding Policy
This policy applies to all staff, including managers and the Board of Trustees, paid staff,
volunteers and sessional workers, agency staff, students, and anyone else working on behalf of
Barnet Community Projects. We expect all visitors to our centre to behave according to the
policy.
We believe that a child or young person should never experience abuse or neglect. We take our
responsibility for the welfare of children and young people very seriously and we are
committed to practice at all times in a way which protects them.
We are also aware that there are some adults with particular vulnerabilities who require
safeguarding in a similar way. This policy applies to them as well.
The purpose of this policy is :
- to provide all children and young people who visit our premises and use our services
with a safe, enjoyable, and stimulating experience while ensuring that as far as possible,
they are properly safeguarded. - to set out for staff, volunteers, and visitors the overarching principles which guide our
approach to safeguarding children and young people.
Legal framework
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of law and current best practice guidance, namely: - Children Act 1989 & 2004
- UN Convention of the Rights of the Child 1991
- Data Protection Act 1998
- Sexual Offences Act 2003
- Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
supplemented where appropriate by guidance on safeguarding children issued by: - H.M.Government
- National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)
- Barnet Safeguarding Children Board
In respect of the safeguarding of vulnerable adults, the legal framework is slightly different. The
key documents are: - The National Framework for Standards for good practice and outcomes in Adult
Protection work 2005 - Care Act 2014
Each form of abuse is investigated according to a set of Pan London Procedures. These are
available at:
https://londonadass.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2019.04.23-Review-of-the-Multi-AgencyAdult-Safeguarding-policy-and-procedures-2019-final-1-1.pdf. in respect of adults and:
http://www.londoncp.co.uk/ in respect of children
We recognise that: - the welfare of the child is paramount as enshrined in the Children Act 1989
- all children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual
orientation or identity, have an equal right to protection from abuse or neglect. - some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous
experiences, disability, or other issues - working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers, and other
agencies is essential in promoting the welfare of children and young people - Some vulnerable adults need protecting in similar ways
We will seek to keep children, young people, and vulnerable adults safe by: - valuing them, respecting them, and listening to them
- setting out clear Child Protection procedures and ensuring that staff and volunteers
have regard to them at all times. The procedures can be accessed in the BCP office and
are available in BCP’s DropBox files - recruiting staff and volunteers safely ensuring that all necessary checks are made.
- providing effective management and support for staff and volunteers through
supervision and training. - where concerns arise about the actions of staff or volunteers we will take action as set
out in the Child Protection procedures. - publicising information about child protection and good practice to children, parents,
staff, and agencies who use our services. - sharing concerns in respect of individual children and vulnerable adults with the
appropriate agencies and cooperating with any subsequent investigations. - appointing a Nominated Safeguarding Officer. This is Steve Verrall.
- appointing a Trustee level safeguarding lead. This is Mike Benaim.
We will keep our policy and practice up to date by reviewing it every 2 years.
This policy was last reviewed on: July 2022
It will next be reviewed on: July 2024
