SASKIA JOSS THERAPY Safeguarding Policy

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to protect people, particularly children, at-risk adults and beneficiaries of assistance, from any harm that may be caused due to their coming into contact with Saskia Joss Therapy.  This includes harm arising from:

·       The conduct of staff or personnel associated with Saskia Joss Therapy

·       The design and implementation of Saskia Joss Therapy’s programmes and activities

The policy lays out the commitments made by Saskia Joss Therapy, and informs staff and associated personnel[1] of their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding.

What is safeguarding?

In the UK, safeguarding means protecting people’s health, wellbeing and human rights, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect[3]

In our sector, we understand it to mean protecting people, including children and at-risk adults, from harm that arises from coming into contact with our staff or programmes.

 Further definitions relating to safeguarding are provided in the glossary below.

Scope

·       All staff contracted by Saskia Joss Therapy

·     Associated personnel whilst engaged with work or visits related to Saskia Joss Therapy, including but not limited to the following: consultants; volunteers; contractors; programme visitors including journalists, celebrities and politicians

Policy Statement

Saskia Joss Therapy believes that everyone we come into contact with, 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.  Saskia Joss Therapy will not tolerate abuse and exploitation by staff or associated personnel.

This policy will address the following areas of safeguarding [as appropriate]:  child safeguarding, adult safeguarding, and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse.  These key areas of safeguarding may have different policies and procedures associated with them (see Associated Policies).

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

Prevention

Saskia Joss Therapy responsibilities

Saskia Joss Therapy will:

·       Ensure all 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 their coming into contact with Saskia Joss Therapy.  This includes the way in which information about individuals in our programmes is gathered and communicated

·       Implement stringent safeguarding procedures when recruiting, managing and deploying staff and associated personnel

·       Ensure staff receive training on safeguarding at a level commensurate with their role in the organisation

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

Enabling reports

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

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

How to report a safeguarding concern

Staff members who have a complaint or concern relating to safeguarding should report it immediately to their Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). Complaints to do with the DSL should be sent directly to social services. If the staff member does not feel comfortable reporting to their DSL (for example, if they feel that the report will not be taken seriously, or if that person is implicated in the concern) they may report to any other appropriate staff member.  For example, this could be a senior manager or a member of the HR Team.

The email address is: saskiajosstherapy@gmail.com

Response

Saskia Joss Therapy will follow up safeguarding reports and concerns according to policy and procedure, and legal and statutory obligations (see Procedures for reporting and response to safeguarding concerns in Associated Policies).

Saskia Joss Therapy will apply appropriate disciplinary measures to staff found in breach of policy.

Saskia Joss Therapy will offer support to survivors of harm caused by staff or associated personnel, regardless of whether a formal internal response is carried out (such as an internal investigation).  Decisions regarding support will be led by the survivor.

Confidentiality

It is essential that confidentiality in maintained at all stages of the process when dealing with safeguarding concerns.  Information relating to the concern and subsequent case management should be shared on a need-to-know basis only, and should be kept secure at all times.

Associated policies

Code of Conduct

Complaints Policy

Procedures for reporting and response to safeguarding concerns

Other policies as appropriate