POLICY FOR SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS
Safeguarding Statement
This policy sets out the Safeguarding approach of Shirehampton Public Hall Community Association (the Association). (This statement has been revised in line with guidance published by NVCO, NSPCC.)
Hirers of the Hall must explicitly adopt the Association’s policy when making a booking.
The Association has appointed a Volunteer, Janet Wilson, registered social worker SW19684 as the Designated Person to take the lead in implementing this policy.
The Association’s aim is to create a safe and welcoming environment, where everyone who uses The Hall, are respected, valued and feel safe from harm, harassment, bullying, abuse and neglect.
Everyone who uses The Hall has a role to play in safeguarding.
This safeguarding statement is for all children and young people until their 18th Birthday who use this venue as a member of a hiring group, attend any public activity held in The Hall or The Hall grounds or are on the premises in any other supervised role (e.g., volunteering).
and
all Adults who are vulnerable or at risk:
An adult at risk is anyone aged 18 or over who:
- has needs for care and or support
- as a result of care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from abuse
- is currently experiencing or is at risk of abuse.
Adults at risk may:
- have a mental or physical illness
- have a learning disability
- have addiction problems
- be frail.
Whether an adult is at risk or not is something which changes with their circumstances – it’s not fixed.
Digital safeguarding
Safeguarding applies to everything done digitally, from the impact of something written online to how data is stored.
The Association will aim to consider safeguarding when designing and delivering digital services whether on The Associations platforms (such as a website or any apps) and when using other platforms (such as social media sites).
The Association will aim to ensure that any digital technology provided by the Association has Firewalls and Security in place to keep users safe from exposure to harm. Users will be asked to sign a user’s statement that states they will not use the Associations technology to harm others.
Abuse and harm
To fulfil our aim of becoming a safe and welcoming environment for all who use The Hall, we ask our staff, volunteers, trustees and users to be alert to the possibility that Children and / or Adults may be experiencing:
- Physical harm
- Sexual abuse
- Emotional harm
- Psychological harm
- Neglect
- Radicalisation
- Discriminatory abuse
- Financial abuse
More information about the above abuse and harm can be found at https://knowhow.ncvo.org.uk/safeguarding/what-is-safeguarding
That the Child and/or Adult may be experiencing that abuse from a:
- family member
- friend
- people working or volunteering in an organisational or community settings
- people they know
- strangers.
Many of the signs that a child, young person or vulnerable adult is being abused are the same regardless of the type of abuse. Anyone working with children, young people or vulnerable adults should be alert to the following.
Children or Adults:
- being afraid of particular places or making excuses to avoid particular people
- knowing about or being involved in ‘adult issues’ which are inappropriate for their age or stage of development, for example alcohol, drugs and/or sexual behaviour
- having angry outbursts or behaving aggressively towards others
- becoming withdrawn or appearing anxious, clingy or depressed
- self-harming or having thoughts about suicide
- showing changes in eating habits or developing eating disorders
- regularly experiencing nightmares or sleep problems
- regularly wetting the bed or soiling their clothes
- running away or regularly going missing from home or care
- not receiving adequate medical attention after injuries.
These signs do not necessarily mean that a child, young person or vulnerable adult is being abused. There may well be other reasons for changes in a child’s behaviour such as a bereavement or relationship problems between parents or carers. If you have any concerns, there should be reported in line with this safeguarding policy guidance.
Confidentiality
The law does not allow anyone to keep concerns relating to abuse to themselves.
Confidentiality may not be maintained if the withholding of the information will prejudice the welfare of the child or vulnerable adult. The welfare of the child or vulnerable adult is paramount.
Recruitment
- When recruiting staff, volunteers and trustees, references will be obtained and checked, and appropriate DBS checks will be carried out in line with the DBS guidance.
- All staff, volunteers and trustees will be required to read and sign the Association’s safeguarding policy to confirm they understand their responsibilities.
We will work to implement and monitor Safeguarding arrangements through:
- Staff development / Training
- Ensuring information about getting help if you are concerned about abuse is visible – posters with contact numbers
- Ensuring users of the venue are aware of and agree with our safeguarding approach
- Regular review of any safeguarding issues raised with the Designated Person.
What should I do if I think someone is being abused, or someone is abusing me?
Everyone in contact with children and vulnerable adults has a duty to respond to any safeguarding concerns bought to their attention. Do not assume that someone else is doing something to help. Protecting vulnerable adults and children is everyone’s responsibility.
Government publication, ‘What to do if you are worried a child is being abuse’ 2015
When abuse is suspected, disclosed or observed please follow these steps.
It may not always be appropriate to go through all four stages sequentially.
If a child, young person or adult is in immediate danger or is at risk of harm, you should refer to Children’s social care /Adult social care and/or the police.
Before doing so, you should try to establish the basic facts. However, it will be the role of social worker and the police to investigate cases and make a judgement on whether there should be a statutory intervention and/or a criminal investigation.
You should record, in writing, all concerns and discussions about a child’s welfare, the decisions made and the reasons for those decisions.
- Be Alert –consider if you are observing, hearing or are otherwise worried that a child, young person or vulnerable adult is acting in a manner that indicates they may be experiencing abuse.
- Question behaviours – listen carefully to the concern, ask open questions (TED – Tell me, Explain to me, Describe to me) to gather enough information to know if it is a disclosure of abuse that needs to be passed on. Be clear about what happens next and do not panic.
- Ask for help – Your concerns should be reported to the designated person (DP) in the hirer’s organisation and The Public Hall, as soon as possible.
- If the allegation needs an urgent response or involves someone in the hirer’s organisation / The Association – Concerns can be reported to the Police, Bristol City Council First Response Services for Children, NSPCC or Bristol City Council Care Direct service for Adults.
- Refer – The DP will work with you to gather all the information to make a referral, if appropriate, by talking to the appropriate people inside and/or outside the organisation.
- Listen and Reassure: If a child or adult tells you about abuse, listen carefully, stay calm, and reassure them they did the right thing by telling you.
- Do Not Confront the Abuser: This could put the child / a vulnerable adult and yourself in further danger.
- Confidentiality: You can report concerns anonymously, though sharing your details helps authorities investigate.
- No Proof Needed: You do not need to be certain to report; it is better to be safe, as professionals will investigate.
- Your Duty: While you may fear getting someone in trouble, your primary responsibility is to protect the child / vulnerable adult
What to do if a member of staff is the subject of abuse or a disclosure?
The initial procedure is the same as above, report the matter immediately to the Designated Person. If the allegation is against the Designated Person, then the matter should be reported to an Officer of the Committee who will refer the concerns to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).
The role of the Designated Person for the Association
The designated person for safeguarding will ensure that the proper procedures and policies are in place and are followed with regard to safeguarding issues. They will act as a resource for employees, board members and volunteers to contact regarding any issues concerning safeguarding, bullying, harassment or abuse.
- They will treat disclosures as high priority and will seek advice.
- They will decide, where necessary, what action to take.
- They will help ensure the ‘discloser’ is kept informed about what will happen next, so that they can be reassured about what to expect.
Useful contact details – ADULTS
https://www.bristol.gov.uk/social-care-health/report-suspected-abuse
Care Direct – 01179222700, 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Emergency Duty Team 01454 615165.
The Police – 08454567000
Useful contact details – CHILDREN / YOUNG PEOPLE
https://www.bristol.gov.uk/social-care-health/reporting-concerns-about-a-child-first-response
First Response Team 0117 903 6444
Emergency Duty Team – 01454 615165
Other useful numbers
NSPCC 24 hour Helpline: 0808 800 5000 (free from a landline)
NSPCC Text helpline: 88858 (service is free and anonymous)
Police: 101 (non-emergency calls)
In an emergency call Police – 999
Declaration
I have read and agree to uphold and implement the Association’s policy for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.
Signed
Date
Role (staff, volunteer, trustee, hirer, etc)
Policy revised January 2026
