Safeguarding

HOPE HOUSING BRIDLINGTON SAFEGUARDING POLICY

Hope Housing Bridlington provides accommodation, advice and support to those who are homeless, through its move-on house(s).  All Hope Housing Bridlington services are adult-only services, with the minimum age being 18.  Nevertheless we recognise that some of our clients may have contact with children, either their own children with whom they have contact, or those of friends and family.  We recognise too that some of our clients are themselves vulnerable adults and have safeguarding needs of their own.

Hope Housing Bridlington’s policy is not to allow residents to have their children, or indeed any children, in the Hope Housing Bridlington property in which they reside. If they are found to be in breach of that rule, in their licence agreement, the disciplinary processes would commence.

Policy Statement on Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults

Hope Housing Bridlington recognises that all children, young people and vulnerable adults have a right to protection from abuse and takes seriously its responsibility to protect and safeguard all such people. We will:

• Respond swiftly and appropriately to all suspicions or allegations of abuse, and provide parents, children, young people and vulnerable adults with the opportunity to voice their concerns;
• Have a system for dealing with concerns about possible abuse;
• Recruit all staff and volunteers safely, making appropriate use of application forms, role descriptions, Confidential Declaration Forms, interviews, references and, where one-to-one contact is part of the role, insisting on Enhanced DBS checks;
• Hold a risk register which is regularly reviewed, so that we assess the risks we face and take suitable steps to mitigate them;
• Ensure that Trustees work together, taking steps to ensure that no single Trustee is allowed to dominate the charity;
• Maintain appropriate links with statutory safeguarding authorities.

The Policy

Hope Housing Bridlington recognises that many children, young people and vulnerable adults are the victims of neglect, and physical, sexual and emotional abuse.  Accordingly the policy contained in this document (hereafter "the policy") has been adopted.  The policy sets out agreed guidelines relating to responding to allegations of abuse, including those made against staff and volunteers.   These guidelines have been prepared with reference to the East Riding Safeguarding Children Board website and the Diocese of York safeguarding policies and procedures.  They will be kept under review and be supported by appropriate training.

The policy applies to all staff and volunteers of Hope Housing Bridlington who may come directly into contact with children, young people or vulnerable adults or be aware of service users who may come directly into contact with children, young people or vulnerable adults.  Safeguarding is everybody’s concern: each individual has a responsibility to inform promptly the designated person of any safeguarding concerns they have.  The designated person must decide if the concerns should be communicated to social services or the police, and will readily seek advice from social services or from the Diocese of York’s Safeguarding Team.

Definitions of Abuse

Physical Abuse

Somebody may abuse or neglect a child, young person or vulnerable adult by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm.  People may be abused by those known to them, or more rarely by a stranger.  Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child, young person or vulnerable adult.  Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer feigns the symptoms of, or deliberately causes ill health to, a child or young person whom they are looking after.

Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional ill-treatment of a child, young person or vulnerable adult such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on that person’s emotional development.  It may involve conveying to them that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person.  It may involve causing feelings of fright or danger, other exploitation or corruption of children, young people or vulnerable adults.  Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of ill-treatment, though it may occur alone.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child, young person or vulnerable adult to take part in sexual activities, whether or not that person is aware of what is happening.  The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative (e.g. rape or buggery) or non-penetrative acts.

They may include non-contact activities such as involving children, young people or vulnerable adults in looking at, or in the production of, pornographic material or watching sexual activities, or encouraging them to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.

Neglect

Neglect is the persistent failure to meet the basic physical and/or psychological needs of a child, young person or vulnerable adult, likely to result in the serious impairment of their health or development.  It may involve a parent or carer failing to provide adequate food shelter and clothing, failing to protect a child, young person or vulnerable adult from physical harm or danger, or the failure to ensure appropriate medical care or treatment.  It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness, to their basic emotions.

What you should do if you suspect abuse

1. You must report concerns as soon as possible to Heather Bingley who is nominated by Hope Housing Bridlington to act on their behalf in referring allegations of suspicions of neglect or abuse to the statutory authorities (‘the designated person’).  In the absence of the designated person, the matter should be brought to the attention of the deputy designated person, who is the Housing and Support Officer.  If it is an emergency, and the designated persons cannot be contacted, then social services or the police should be contacted. Contact details are at the end of this document.
2. If the suspicions relate to the designated person, then the deputy or social services should be contacted.
3. Suspicions should not be discussed with anyone, other than those named above.
4. It is the right of any individual to make direct referrals to the safeguarding agencies.  We would hope that an individual would use this procedure.  However, if you feel that the organisation has not responded appropriately to your concerns, it is open to you to contact the statutory agencies direct.

Allegations of Physical Injury, Emotional Abuse or Neglect

If a child, young person or vulnerable adult has an injury which may be a non-accidental injury, or there are symptoms of neglect and a referral is to be made then:

1. The designated person should contact social services.  If there has been a deliberate injury or where there are concerns about a child's or young person’s safety their parents should not be contacted before first consulting with social services.
2. Where emergency medical attention is necessary it should be sought immediately.  The designated person should inform the medical services of any suspicion of abuse.
3. If a referral is being made without the parent's knowledge and non-urgent medical treatment is required, social services should be informed.  Otherwise, speak to the parent/carer and suggest medical attention be sought for the child.
4. If appropriate the parent/carer should be encouraged to seek help from the Social Services Department prior to a referral being made.  If they fail to do so in situations of real concern the designated person will contact social services directly for advice.

Allegations of Sexual Abuse

In the event of allegations of sexual abuse the designated person will:

1. Contact the Social Services or Police Safeguarding Team directly.  The designated person will not speak to parents or carers.
2. Under no circumstances should the designated person, or any other member of the organisation, attempt to carry out any investigation into the allegations or suspicions of sexual abuse. The role of the designated person is to collect the exact details of the allegations or suspicion and to provide this information to the safeguarding agencies who will investigate the matter.

What to do once a child, young person or vulnerable adult has talked to you about abuse

1. Make a note immediately, writing down exactly what the person has said, what you said in reply, when they said it and what was happening immediately beforehand.  Record dates and times of the events and when the record was made.  Keep all notes secure.
2. Report your discussion as soon as possible to the designated person.
3. Once someone has talked about abuse the designated person must consider if it is safe for them to return home to a potentially abusive situation. On a rare occasion it might be necessary to take immediate action to contact social services and/or the police to discuss putting into effect safety measures for that person so that they do not return home.
4. Where there are concerns that someone has been put in danger of abuse, or has suffered abuse owing to the actions of a member of staff or volunteer, social services or the police will be contacted.

Contact Details

Designated Safeguarding Officer for Hope Housing Bridlington: Heather Bingley – tel 07902 219567

East Riding Safeguarding (Adults)  01482 396940

East Riding Safeguarding (Children)  01482 395500

East Riding Safeguarding (Out of hours, adults and children)  01377 241273

York Diocese Safeguarding Team   01904 699524

If there is immediate danger, ring the Police on 101