WAY wellbeing through art & yoga CIC

Vulnerable Adult & Children Safeguarding Policy

Issued August 2023

Review August 2024

Introduction

The purpose of this policy is to protect people, particularly vulnerable adults and children from any harm that may be caused due to their coming into contact with WAY teachers and classes. This includes harm arising from:

• The conduct of staff or personnel associated with WAY.

• The design and implementation of WAY’s programmes and activities

The policy lays out the commitments made by WAY and informs staff and associated personnel of their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding.

This policy does not cover:

• Sexual harassment in the workplace – this is dealt with under WAY’s Anti Bullying and Harassment Policy.

• Safeguarding concerns in the wider community not perpetrated by WAY or associated personnel.

What is safeguarding?

In the UK, safeguarding means protecting peoples' health, wellbeing, and human rights, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect (NHS, “What is safeguarding?” Easy Read 2011).

We also consider it to mean protecting vulnerable adults and children from the risk of harm encountered from WAY staff or WAY programmes.

Scope

• WAY Directors, staff and WAY teachers delivering the yoga and art classes.

• Associated personnel at WAY events, including volunteers and contractors.

Policy Statement

WAY believes that everyone we encounter, regardless of age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, or ethnic origin has the right to be protected from all forms of harm, abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

WAY will not tolerate abuse and exploitation by staff or associated personnel. This policy will address the following areas of safeguarding: adult and children safeguarding, and protection from neglect, sexual exploitation, and abuse. These key areas of safeguarding may have different policies and procedures associated with them.

WAY commits to addressing safeguarding throughout its work, through the three pillars of prevention, reporting and response.

Prevention

WAY will:

• Ensure that all WAY teachers, Directors, and staff have access to, are familiar with, and know their responsibilities within this policy.

• Design and undertake all its programmes and activities in a way that protects people from any risk of harm that may arise from them encountering WAY. This includes the way in which information about individuals in our programmes is gathered and communicated.

• Implement stringent safeguarding procedures when recruiting WAY teachers, recruiting Board members, and managing and deploying staff/volunteers and associated personnel.

• Ensure everyone receives training on safeguarding at a level commensurate with their role in the organization.

• Follow up on reports of safeguarding concerns promptly and according to due process.

WAY staff and associated personnel must not:

• Sexually abuse or exploit adults or children.

• Subject an adult or child to physical, emotional or psychological abuse, or neglect.

• Exchange money, employment, goods or services for sexual activity. This includes any exchange of assistance that is due to beneficiaries of assistance

• Engage in any sexual relationships with beneficiaries of assistance, since they are based on inherently unequal power dynamics

Additionally, WAY teachers and associated personnel are obliged to:

• Contribute to creating and maintaining an environment that prevents safeguarding violations and promotes the implementation of the safeguarding policy

• Report any concerns or suspicions regarding safeguarding violations by a WAY staff member or associated personnel to the appropriate staff member

Reporting

WAY will ensure that safe, appropriate, accessible means of reporting safeguarding concerns are made available to staff and the communities we work with.

WAY will also accept complaints from external sources such as members of the public, partners and official bodies.

How to report a safeguarding concern

WAY teachers who have a concern relating to safeguarding should report it immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead at the organisation where they are delivering the class. Staff members or those representing WAY can report Safeguarding concerns immediately to their manager or the WAY Designated Safeguarding Lead.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead is normally a representative from the WAY Board of Directors. If you wish to report a Safeguarding concern, or you wish to seek advice on a matter related to your WAY role please contact:

Designated safeguarding Lead (DSL)

Name: Bianca Webb

Email: wellbeingartyoga@gmail.com

Response

WAY will follow up safeguarding reports and concerns according to policy and procedure, and legal and statutory obligations. WAY will apply appropriate disciplinary measures to staff found in breach of its policy. WAY will offer support to survivors of harm caused by staff or associated personnel.

Confidentiality

Safeguarding practices rely on reliable information being shared across agencies in a timely manner to ensure swift communication of any risks. Information relating to Safeguarding concerns and subsequent case management should be kept secure at all times.