Safeguarding Policy

1. Introduction

Salisbury Repair Cafe makes a positive contribution to a strong and safe community and recognises the right of every individual to stay safe.

Salisbury Repair Cafe and its volunteers may come into contact with children and / or vulnerable adults infrequently through attending monthly repair cafes.

Salisbury Repair Cafe will hold monthly sessions on a Saturday morning in a public hall where members of the public will be invited to bring along items that are broken and they will be assisted to repair the item by specialist volunteers.

The specialist volunteers will work with the public to assist them to repair broken items

All volunteers must read and agree with this policy.

Children and vulnerable adults may attend infrequently as the majority of attendees will be adults.

The types of contact with children and / or vulnerable adults will be infrequent and controlled. Children (under 18) must be accompanied by a parent or guardian when bringing items along to be repaired. Vulnerable adults should be accompanied by a caretaker but measures will be in place in the event that this is not feasible.

This policy seeks to ensure that Salisbury Repair Cafe undertakes its responsibilities with regard to the protection of children and / or vulnerable adults and will respond to concerns appropriately. The policy establishes a framework to support unpaid volunteers in their practices and clarifies the organisation’s expectations.

2. Confirmation of reading

I confirm that I have been made fully aware of, and understand the contents of the Safeguarding Policy and Procedures for Salisbury Repair Cafe

Please complete the details below and return this completed form to Dr Jimmy Walker.

Volunteer Name :

Volunteer Signature:

Date:

The principal pieces of legislation governing this policy are:

3. Legislation

• • Working together to safeguard Children 2010

  • The Children Act 1989

  • The Adoption and Children Act 2002

  • The Children act 2004

  • Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

  • Care Standards Act 2000

  • Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998

  • The Police Act 1997

  • Mental Health Act 1983

  • NHS and Community Care Act 1990

  • Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974

4. Definitions

Safeguarding is about embedding practices throughout the organisation to ensure the protection of children and / or vulnerable adults wherever possible. In contrast, child and adult protection is about responding to circumstances that arise.

Abuse is a selfish act of oppression and injustice, exploitation and manipulation of power by those in a position of authority. This can be caused by those inflicting harm or those who fail to act to prevent harm. Abuse is not restricted to any socio-economic group, gender or culture.

It can take a number of forms, including the following:

• • Physical abuse

  • Sexual abuse

  • Emotional abuse

  • Bullying

  • Neglect

  • Financial (or material) abuse

Definition of a child

A child is under the age of 18 (as defined in the United Nations convention on the Rights of a Child).

Definition of Vulnerable Adults

A vulnerable adult is a person aged 18 years or over who may be unable to take care of themselves or protect themselves from harm or from being exploited.

This may include a person who:

• Is elderly and frail

• Has a mental illness including dementia

• Has a physical or sensory disability

• Has a learning disability

• Has a severe physical illness

• Is a substance misuser

• Is homeless

5. Responsibilities

All volunteers have a responsibility to follow the guidance provided in this policy and related policies, and to pass on any welfare concerns using the required procedures.

We expect all volunteers to promote good practice by being an excellent role model, contribute to discussions about safeguarding and to positively involve people in developing safe practices.

Additional specific responsibilities

The Designated lead volunteer is Dr Jimmy Walker. This person’s responsibilities are to act as a point of contact where volunteers have concerns about an individual who may be at risk who has attended the repair cafe.

6. Implementation

The scope of this Safeguarding Policy is broad ranging and in practice, it will be implemented via this policy and within the Salisbury Repair Cafe.

Safe recruitment

Salisbury Repair Cafe ensures safe recruitment of volunteers by explaining this Safeguarding Policy and asking volunteers to read and sign this policy.

Disclosure and Barring Service Gap Management

Salisbury Repair Cafe have discussed checks with other Repair Cafes in Southampton and Bournemouth and neither have implemented checks for volunteers. There is no specific role to deal with children or vulnerable adults in Salisbury Repair Cafe. However, Dr Jimmy Walker, who will be responsible for the Safeguarding policy is currently being assessed for Enhanced DBS.

In order to avoid DBS gaps, the Salisbury Repair Café will provide and explain this policy to volunteers who will read, sign and return the document.

7. Communications training and support for volunteers

Salisbury Repair Cafe will ensure volunteers are made aware of this policy and that they understand this safeguarding policy by asking volunteers to read and sign this policy.

Induction

All volunteers who are in contact with children and /or vulnerable adults will have access to this safeguarding policy and will be asked if they are an appropriate person to deal with members of the public as well as having infrequent contact with children (accompanied by guardian) and vulnerable adults (accompanied by caretaker where appropriate).

Training

All volunteers who are in contact with children and /or vulnerable adults will have access to this safeguarding policy

Communications and discussion of safeguarding issues

All volunteers who are in contact with children and /or vulnerable adults will have access to this safeguarding policy

Support

All volunteers who are in contact with children and /or vulnerable adults will have access to this safeguarding policy.

Named safeguarding lead for Salisbury Repair Café:

Name: Dr Jimmy Walker

Contact Number: 07484749268

Email: drjimmywalker64@gmail.com

If any Salisbury Repair Cafe volunteers are worried about a vulnerable adult they should contact the Adult Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 0300 456 0111 or e-mail adviceandcontact@wiltshire.gov.uk. In an emergency always dial 999.

If any Salisbury Repair Cafe volunteers are worried that a child or young person is at risk of significant harm, or is injured, contact the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 0300 4560108, 8.45am-5pm, Monday-Thursday and 8.45am-4pm Friday; out of hours 0300 456 0100. Or if there is immediate danger, phone the police or emergency services on 999. For less urgent enquiries, email mash@wiltshire.gov.uk.

8. Professional Boundaries

Professional boundaries are what define the limits of a relationship between a support worker and a client. They are a set of standards we agree to uphold that allows this necessary and often close relationship to exist while ensuring the correct detachment is kept in place.

Salisbury Repair Cafe expects volunteers to protect the professional integrity of themselves and the organisation.

Volunteers should not accept gifts from children or vulnerable persons or have a relationship with children or vulnerable adults as part of the planned activity.

Volunteers should be cautious of personnel contact with users of the Salisbury Repair Café

Abusive language or inappropriate language will not be acceptable.

Users of the Salisbury Repair Café will be asked to make a monitory donation which must be recorded and volunteers must not accept monies as a personal gift.

If the professional boundaries and/or policies are breached this could result in disciplinary procedures or enactment of the allegation management procedures.

9. Reporting

Safeguarding concerns at Salisbury Repair Cafe should be reported to Dr Jimmy Walker (or where appropriate another volunteer) who will take action dictated by the circumstances which may involve contacting those responsible for the child/vulnerable adult or contacting the Local Authority Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups team.

10. Allegations Management

Salisbury Repair Cafe recognises its duty to report concerns or allegations against its volunteers within the organisation or by a professional from another organisation.

The process for raising and dealing with allegations is to contact Dr Jimmy Walker or where appropriate another volunteer.

Salisbury Repair Cafe recognises its legal duty to report any concerns about unsafe practice by any of its volunteers to the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA), according to the ISA referral guidance document.

11. Monitoring

The organisation will monitor the Safeguarding aspects by keeping a record in a secure (password protected) database of the volunteers who have signed the safeguarding policy and any safeguarding issues that have been raised.

12. Managing Information

Information will be gathered, recorded and stored (password protected) in accordance with the safeguarding policy.

All volunteers have a professional duty to share information with other agencies in order to safeguard children and vulnerable adults. The public interest in safeguarding children and vulnerable adults may override confidentiality interests. However, information will be shared on a need to know basis only, as judged by the Designated Senior Manager.

All volunteers must be aware that they cannot promise service users or their families/ carers that they will keep secrets.

13. Conflict Resolution and Complaints

Resolution of professional disagreements in work relating to the safety of children / Escalation Policy will be taken forward by Dr Jimmy Walker

Conflicts in respect of safety of vulnerable adults will be taken forward by Dr Jimmy Walker.

14. Communicating and Reviewing the Policy

Volunteers will be made aware of the Safeguarding Policy at their induction.

This policy will be reviewed annually and when there are changes in legislation.