CROGGI CIC – Safeguarding Policy

Community • Creativity • Circular Innovation

Policy status: Approved policy
Organisation: CROGGI CIC
Company number: 16662666
Policy owner: Directors of CROGGI CIC
Review: Annually, or sooner if legislation, guidance or our activities change

1. Our commitment

CROGGI CIC is committed to providing a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone who takes part in our activities, projects and community work.

We recognise that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. We take reasonable steps to protect children, young people and adults who may be at risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation or harm.

Our approach is based on prevention, awareness, appropriate boundaries, listening, recording and reporting concerns promptly.

We will work with appropriate statutory and community organisations where a safeguarding concern requires specialist intervention.

2. Who this policy applies to

This policy applies to:

• Directors and trustees/board members

• Employees and contractors

• Volunteers and sessional workers

• Instructors, facilitators and project partners

• Anyone representing CROGGI CIC in a community setting

It applies to CROGGI CIC activities delivered in community venues, public spaces, online environments and, where appropriate, one-to-one community support.

3. Who we seek to safeguard

CROGGI CIC works with people of different ages and backgrounds.

Particular attention will be given to:

• Children and young people

• Older people

• People with disabilities or sensory impairments

• People experiencing isolation or social vulnerability

• People who may have difficulty communicating concerns

• Anyone who may be experiencing abuse, neglect, exploitation or other forms of harm

A person's age, disability, circumstances or background will never be assumed to make them vulnerable. We will consider individual circumstances and respond appropriately.

4. Types of abuse and harm

Safeguarding concerns can take many forms, including:

• Physical abuse

• Emotional or psychological abuse

• Sexual abuse

• Financial abuse or exploitation

• Neglect or acts of omission

• Domestic abuse

• Discriminatory abuse

• Organisational or institutional abuse

• Exploitation, coercion or controlling behaviour

• Online abuse

• Bullying, harassment or intimidation

We will also take seriously concerns about self-neglect, unsafe living circumstances or situations where a person appears unable to protect themselves from significant harm.

5. Creating a safe environment

CROGGI CIC will seek to reduce safeguarding risks by:

• Carrying out appropriate risk assessments for activities

• Providing clear expectations for staff, volunteers and instructors

• Maintaining appropriate professional boundaries

• Ensuring activities are delivered in suitable environments

• Considering accessibility and individual needs

• Using appropriate supervision arrangements

• Taking concerns seriously and recording them appropriately

• Ensuring information is shared only where there is a legitimate reason to do so

• Reviewing safeguarding arrangements as our activities develop

Where activities involve children or adults who may be at risk, we will consider whether additional safeguards, supervision, DBS checks or specialist training are appropriate to the particular role.

6. One-to-one and practical community support

Some CROGGI CIC projects may involve providing practical support to individuals in their homes or community, such as assistance with applications, administration, communication, household tasks or other agreed support.

These activities require particular care because they can involve entering someone's home or developing a position of trust.

Where such support is provided, CROGGI CIC will:

• Agree the nature and boundaries of the support wherever possible

• Avoid unnecessary personal or intimate care

• Maintain professional boundaries

• Keep appropriate records of agreed support

• Consider whether a second person, referral or additional safeguarding measure is appropriate

• Encourage individuals to remain connected with relevant statutory, family or community support

• Escalate concerns where there is a risk of abuse, neglect or serious harm

CROGGI CIC does not seek to replace professional social care, healthcare, safeguarding or statutory services.

Where appropriate, our role is to support people alongside existing services and help them access the assistance they are entitled to.

7. If someone tells us about abuse or harm

If someone discloses a safeguarding concern to a CROGGI CIC representative, we will:

1. Listen calmly and take the person seriously.

2. Allow them to explain what has happened in their own words.

3. Avoid leading questions or investigating the allegation ourselves.

4. Not promise to keep information secret.

5. Explain that information may need to be shared to help keep someone safe.

6. Record the concern as soon as reasonably possible, using the person's own words where appropriate.

7. Report or escalate the concern through the appropriate safeguarding route.

We will not confront an alleged perpetrator or attempt to conduct our own investigation where doing so could increase risk or interfere with an appropriate investigation.

8. Immediate danger

If someone is in immediate danger or requires urgent medical assistance, the appropriate emergency service should be contacted.

In the UK, this may include 999 for an immediate emergency.

For safeguarding concerns that are not an immediate emergency, CROGGI CIC will use the appropriate local authority, safeguarding, police or specialist referral route.

9. Children and young people

Where CROGGI CIC activities involve children or young people, additional safeguards will be considered.

These may include:

• Appropriate adult supervision

• Safe venue arrangements

• Parental or guardian communication where appropriate

• Appropriate DBS checks for relevant roles

• Appropriate consent and emergency contact arrangements

• Clear boundaries for communication between adults and young people

• Appropriate photography, filming and social media arrangements

The welfare of the child or young person will remain the primary consideration.

10. Adults who may be at risk

CROGGI CIC recognises that adults may experience safeguarding risks while remaining capable of making their own decisions.

We will respect people's independence, dignity, choices and rights while taking appropriate action where there is a serious safeguarding concern.

Where possible, we will involve the individual in decisions about what happens next.

However, confidentiality cannot be guaranteed where information needs to be shared to protect someone from serious harm or where another legal or safeguarding duty applies.

11. Confidentiality and information sharing

Safeguarding information will be handled sensitively and only shared with people or organisations who have a legitimate reason to receive it.

CROGGI CIC will follow its wider data protection and privacy arrangements when recording and sharing safeguarding information.

Safeguarding concerns should not be discussed casually with other members, volunteers or community participants.

12. Allegations concerning CROGGI CIC representatives

Any allegation or concern involving a CROGGI CIC director, volunteer, instructor, contractor or other representative will be taken seriously.

The person receiving the concern should record it and report it to the appropriate CROGGI CIC safeguarding lead or, where necessary, directly to the relevant statutory safeguarding authority or police.

Where an allegation concerns a director or safeguarding lead, it should be reported to another appropriate director or directly to the relevant external safeguarding authority.

CROGGI CIC will not attempt to protect an individual from legitimate safeguarding investigation because of their position within the organisation.

13. Safer recruitment and volunteers

CROGGI CIC will consider safeguarding requirements when recruiting or engaging people to work with the community.

Depending on the role, this may include:

• Appropriate references

• Identity checks

• Relevant experience

• DBS checks where the role and legislation require or justify them

• Safeguarding training

• Clear role descriptions

• Appropriate supervision

A DBS check will not automatically be required for every CROGGI CIC volunteer. Requirements will depend on the nature of the role and the relevant eligibility rules.

14. Safeguarding training

CROGGI CIC will seek to ensure that directors, volunteers and people undertaking relevant roles understand:

• Basic safeguarding principles

• How to recognise possible signs of abuse or neglect

• How to respond to a disclosure

• How and when to report a concern

• Appropriate professional boundaries

• Confidentiality and information sharing

Additional training will be considered for roles involving children, adults at risk, home visits or significant responsibility for community members.

15. Recording concerns

Safeguarding concerns will be recorded securely and factually.

Records should include, where known:

• Date and time

• Who raised the concern

• Who the concern relates to

• What was observed or disclosed

• The person's own words where relevant

• Actions taken

• Who the concern was reported to

• Any subsequent action or referral

Records should avoid assumptions, speculation or personal opinions.

16. Equality, dignity and respect

CROGGI CIC is committed to treating people with dignity and respect.

Safeguarding arrangements will be applied without discrimination and will take account of people's communication, cultural, accessibility and support needs.

We recognise that people may communicate concerns in different ways and will seek to provide appropriate opportunities for people to be heard.

17. Policy review

This policy will be reviewed at least annually and whenever there is a significant change to CROGGI CIC's activities, legal requirements or safeguarding guidance.

The directors will remain responsible for ensuring that safeguarding arrangements are proportionate to the activities being undertaken.

Approved by: CROGGI CIC Directors
Date: _17/09/26_________________
Next review: __September 2027________________