Safeguarding Procedures

Safeguarding Governance

Governance of safeguarding throughout Compassionate Accompaniment CIC is overseen by the board of directors. They ensure that all safeguarding requirements and quality standards are met with regard to the following:

• Safeguarding incidents or concerns
• Training compliance
• Regulatory updates
• Analysis of safeguarding risks and risk mitigations
• Development and agreement of the safeguarding strategy which is approved by the Board of Directors
• Ensure that all partner organisations have up to date governance and safeguard policies in place
• Development and agreement of the policy and procedures which are approved by the Board of Directors

1. Policy Statement

1.1 Steps to ensure that people who join our organisation are suitable for their roles.

We do this by:

• making sure that our job descriptions are a good reflection of what will be expected from the role
• Making sure our person specifications outline the values, behaviours and skills we are seeking in a successful applicant
• Checking references carefully
• Ensuring that every member of staff/volunteer has the appropriate level of criminal records/barring list checked via Disclosure Scotland. These steps are in accordance with our responsibilities under: Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007

1.2 We expect our staff and volunteers to uphold our organisational values and behave in a way that reflects these values.

• We have a code of conduct for all staff and volunteers
• If staff do not adhere to this code of conduct, we may take disciplinary action
• If our volunteers do not adhere to the code of conduct, we will look at whether:
  1. they need more training/supervision, additional support/adjustments to their roleshould be moved to another role
  2. they can continue to volunteer with Compassionate Accompaniment CIC

We refer any relevant allegations to Disclosure Scotland

For more information please refer to the Compassionate Accompaniment CIC Code of Conduct.

1.3 Steps we take to minimise the risk of staff/volunteers coming to harm in the course of their work for us.

We take a zero tolerance approach to physical, verbal and discriminatory abuse towards our staff and volunteers. We are committed to providing a working environment free from bullying and harassment and have a robust policy and procedure that staff and volunteers can use if they feel they are being bullied or harassed in the course of their work for us or as a result of their employment/volunteering.

1.4 Support we offer to help staff/volunteers overcome difficulties they may face

All staff and volunteers can go to the executive director of Compassionate Accompaniment CIC or our board of directors for advice and support. All communications will be held in confidence.

1.5 Training staff/volunteers to recognise signs which could indicate that a child/adult at risk may be being harmed and to know what action to take.

All staff and volunteers will be trained to recognise signs of abuse/neglect and what to do when they have a concern. By law we have a responsibility to be vigilant for and responsive to signs that children, and particular groups of adults, may be at risk of harm.

Staff/volunteers may come across children whilst delivering our caring services, They may also hear/see information from other adults (service users or colleagues) which may suggest that a child is at risk (e.g. disclosure of domestic abuse in a household where children are present).

Staff/volunteers may come across adults at risk in our caring services or may be working or volunteering alongside an adult who they come to know/believe is at risk. Equally, they may come across information in the course of their work, or via a colleague which would suggest that someone using our services, a volunteer, colleague or member of the public may be an adult at risk.

Some staff will need more extensive training because of their roles, because they are working in a clinical environment and/or in regulated activity. Staff who are registered professionals must check that they meet the requirements of their professional body in terms of their safeguarding training, competency and practice.

1.6 Safeguarding children

All volunteers and staff must be alert to indications that a child may be at risk of harm and report these in accordance with the safeguarding children procedure for their nation. Harm to children may take the form of: physical, sexual or emotional abuse; neglect; exploitation by criminal gangs and organised crime groups; trafficking; online abuse; sexual exploitation and the influences of extremism leading to radicalisation. It also includes the harm which can be caused to children from seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another (e.g. in cases of domestic abuse). Reference: The Scottish Government (2021) National guidance for child protection in Scotland.

1.7 Deprivation of Liberty

Restraint and restrictions which amount to continuous supervision and control and the inability of an adult to leave the premises of their own free will constitute a deprivation of liberty. Depriving someone, who lacks the mental capacity to consent to the arrangements of their liberty is not unlawful, or a safeguarding concern, as long as the appropriate steps to protect the rights and interests of the individual have been taken. Nevertheless, any deprivations of liberty shall be reported to the appropriate body.

1.8 Prevent

Prevent is part of the UK’s Counter Terrorism Strategy and applies to services in England, Wales and Scotland.

Prevent operates to support individuals by redirecting them rather than criminalising them. Prevent aims to challenge the ideology that supports terrorism and those who promote it, to prevent vulnerable individuals from being drawn into terrorism and ensure they are offered appropriate advice and support and to work with sectors and institutions where there are risks of radicalisation.

If you are concerned that a child, or an adult at risk is being radicalised please refer this to the Local Authority.If in Scotland you are concerned about:

• someone connected to the organisation is promoting extremist ideology or has made extremist comments in a professional or personal capacity
• Compassionate Accompaniment CIC premises, funds or name is being used by individuals/ organisations to promote terrorism or express, without challenge, extremist ideology please report this to the Executive Director.

2. Adults at Risk

Some adults are less able to protect themselves from harm than others because of their care and support needs/life circumstances. This includes the risk of abuse (physical/sexual/discriminatory, domestic/organisational/institutional) neglect (including self- neglect) or radicalisation.

If anybody comes across information that may suggest that an adult falls into this category they must follow the safeguarding adults procedure for their nation.

There are differences in the definition of an adult at risk across the four nations, details for Scotland listed below

Scotland (Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) code of practice (under the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007)

An adult at risk is someone:

• Aged 16 or over
• unable to safeguard their own wellbeing, property, rights or interests
• At risk of harm
• Because of disability, mental disorder, illness (physical or mental) are more vulnerable than others

2.1. Making a referral to the Police or Local Authority about an Adult at Risk

Adults have the right to make decisions about their own lives, even if those decisions seem unwise or might put them in situations which are not safe. A decision can be made on behalf of an adult, in their best interests if, at the time the decision needs to be made, they lack the capacity to make it. If someone is not able to understand, retain and weigh up the risks and benefits of a decision or cannot communicate their decision we call this lacking capacity.

In Scotland referrals to the Local Authority/Police can be made without consent. They will act in accordance with the Adults Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007.

3. Speaking up

Speaking up about things which could cause harm to people within/in contact with Compassionate Accompaniment CIC

3.1 Concerns about practices within the organisation

We encourage our staff/volunteers to speak up if they have any concerns about the organisation. We take all issues and concerns very seriously and will provide the appropriate care and attention to each individual.