Our Safeguarding Policy
This policy applies to all staff, including senior manager and the board of trustees, paid staff, volunteers, agency staff, students or anyone working on behalf of Brainwave.
The purpose of this policy is:
- to protect children and young people who attend Brainwave
- to provide staff and volunteers with the overreaching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding
We believe that a child or young person should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people and to keep them safe. We are committed to practice in a way that protects them.
Legal Framework
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of law and guidance that seeks to protect children, namely;
- Children Act 1989
- United Convention of the Rights of Child 1991
- Data Protection Act 1998
- Sexual Offences Act 2003
- Children Act 2004
- Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
- Relevant government guidance on safeguarding children
We recognise that:
- the welfare of the child or young person is paramount, as enshrined in the Children Act 1989
- all children and young people, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have a right to equal protection from all types of harm and abuse
- some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues
- working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting children and young people’s welfare
We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:
- valuing them, listening to and respecting them
- adopting child protection practices through procedures and a code of conduct for staff and volunteers
- developing and implementing an effective e-safety policy and related procedures
- providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support and training
- recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
- sharing information about child protection and good practice with children, parents, staff and volunteers
- sharing concerns with agencies who may need to know, and involving parents and children appropriately
We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.