SAFEGUARDING POLICY and PROCEDURES
This safeguarding policy and its related procedures are approved by the Directors of Kailash Buddhist Centre and apply to all Directors, Managers, Sponsored Staff and Volunteers of the Charity, and to all members of the Residential Community at Kailash Buddhist Centre. All these persons are required to accept and personally abide by the policy and procedures.
The purpose of this policy is to provide Directors, Managers, Staff, Residents and Volunteers of Kailash Buddhist Centre with guidelines for the Safeguarding of everyone who comes into contact with the Charity, particularly Children and Adults-at-risk.
Statement of Policy
Kailash Buddhist Centre (“the Charity”) is committed to organising and carrying out its activities in a way that safeguards and promotes the welfare of everyone who comes into contact with the Charity, particularly Children and Adults-at-risk. The Object of the Charity is to promote the Buddhist Faith, and a fundamental commitment of followers of the Buddhist Faith is not to harm others. In the Internal Rules of the New Kadampa Tradition – International Kadampa Buddhist Union, it states that the Centre shall always remain as a pure, peaceful, and harmonious society. All Directors, Managers, Staff, Residents, and volunteers of Kailash Buddhist Centre will personally abide by these Internal Rules.
“Safeguarding is everyone’s business “ (HM Government).
The Designated Safeguarding Officer (“DSO”) and the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer (“Deputy DSO”) are presently Neil Maycox and Pam Chaplin. respectively.
This policy is in accordance with:
Children Act 1989 and 2004
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1991
Children and Families Act 2014
Working together to safeguard children 2018
Sexual Offences Act 2003
Care Act 2014
Mental Capacity Act 2005
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
Modern Slavery Act 2015
Equality Act 2010
Data Protection Act 1998
General Data Protection Regulation 2016
Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
https://www.scie.org.uk/safeguarding/faith-groups/communities
Making Safeguarding Personal: SCIE
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/adult-pocket-guide.pdf
https://www.england.nhs.uk/south/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2016/04/1085-nhs-leaflet-accesible-copy.pdf
North-West Safeguarding Adults Policy
https://www.wirralsafeguarding.co.uk/procedures/
Wirral multi–agency Adult Safeguarding Procedure
All children, young people and adults-at-risk have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse, regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or identity. Some children and adults-at-risk are especially at risk because of the impact of past experiences, their level of dependency or their communication needs, or because of other issues.
Definitions used in this policy document:
Child means any person under the age of 18.
Adult-at-risk A person aged 18 or over who is in need of care and support, regardless of whether they are receiving them, and because of those needs are unable to protect themselves against abuse or neglect.
Neglect: Ignoring medical, emotional or physical care needs, failure to provideaccess to appropriate health, social care or educational services, and the withholding of the necessities of life such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating. Neglect also includes a failure to intervene in situations that are dangerous to the person concerned or to others, particularly when the person lacks the mental capacity to assess risk for themselves.
Physical Abuse: Assault, hitting, shaking, throwing , poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, slapping, pushing, misuse of medication, or any other cause of physical harm.
Sexual abuse: The NSPCC states that there are two types of sexual abuse regarding children’s experiences of sexual abuse, contact and non-contact abuse.
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/
With regard to adults’ experiences of sexual abuse please see the NW Safeguarding Adults Policy page 24
North West Safeguarding Adults Policy (wirral.gov.uk)
Psychological abuse: May involve leading a child or adult-at-risk to believe that they are worthless, unloved or inadequate, or that they are only valued if they meet the needs of another person. It includes emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, cyber bullying, isolation or unreasonable and unjustified withdrawal of services or supportive networks.
Organisational abuse: Is the mistreatment, abuse or neglect of a person in a setting or service where the person lives or that they use. Such abuse violates the person’s dignity and represents a lack of respect for their human rights.
Domestic violence and Abuse: Domestic violence or abuse can be characterised by indicators relating to the following forms of abuse: psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional.
Financial Abuse: Theft, fraud, internet scamming, coercion in relation to a person’s financial affairs or arrangements, including in connection with wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits.
Modern Slavery: Slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour. Persons experiencing human trafficking.
Self-Neglect: This covers a wide range of behaviour concerning a person’s experiences of personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes experiences such as hoarding.
Discriminatory abuse – including forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment; because of race, gender and gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.
Signs of a child possibly experiencing abuse could include (signs not a fully exhaustive list):
Some common signs that there may be something concerning happening in a child’s life can include unexplained changes in behaviour or personality, becoming withdrawn, seeming anxious, becoming uncharacteristically aggressive, lacks social skills and has few friends, if any, poor bond or relationship with a parent, knowledge of adult issues inappropriate for their age, running away or going missing, always choosing to wear clothes which cover their body. NB These signs do not necessarily mean that a child is being abused, there could be other things happening in their life which are affecting their behaviour.
Signs of an older adult experiencing abuse could include: Behavioural signs of abuse in an older person include:, becoming quiet and withdrawn, being aggressive or angry for no obvious reason, looking unkempt, dirty or thinner than usual, sudden changes in their character, such as appearing helpless, depressed or tearful, physical signs – such as bruises, wounds, fractures or other untreated injuries, the same injuries happening more than once, not wanting to be left by themselves or alone with particular people, being unusually light-hearted and insisting there’s nothing wrong. Other signs include a sudden change in their finances, such as not having as much money as usual to pay for shopping or regular outings or getting into debt.
Keeping Children and Adults-at-risk safe:
The appointment of a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) and a Deputy (Deputy DSO) by the Charity
Adopting child and adult-at-risk safeguarding practices throughout all activities. Schools and younger people’s organisations will be encouraged to complete their own risk assessment before attending the centre.
- The Centre requests that all children are accompanied by a responsible adult at all times.
Some members of the community in certain roles will have a DBS check.
Recording and storing personal information professionally and securely; and sharing information about safeguarding and good practice with staff and volunteers
Using safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know.
Using procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately. North-West People in a Position of Trust Policy can be used for guidance.
Policies, procedures, guidance and protocols | www.wirral.gov.uk
Creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that there are procedures to help deal effectively with any bullying that does happen.
Ensuring that there are effective complaints procedures in place according to the Internal Rules of the NKT-IKBU, and that complainants are treated fairly and without discrimination.
Ensuring that a safe physical environment for children, adults-at-risk, staff, and volunteers is provided by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance.
Procedure for Raising Concerns:
Safeguarding concerns regarding a child or adult-at-risk should be raised with the DSO, or in his/her absence the Deputy DSO.
If such a concern implicates the DSO or Deputy DSO, then it should be raised with Carol Morris Lewis instead
The person raising the concern must record information about the concern on the same day. This record must be a clear, precise, and factual account of their observations.
The DSO/Deputy DSO (or Carol Morris Lewis) will decide whether the matter should be referred to the relevant local Adult’s or Children’s Social Care office (see contact details following)
If such a referral is necessary, it should be made within 24 hours; and a written report of the concern should be sent within 48 hours to the Social Worker dealing with the case.
If the matter is urgent and individual/group safety is of paramount concern or a crime has been committed the police should be contacted via 999/101. The DSO and/or Deputy DSO could then be contacted after the call to the police has been made.
Contact details
For Safeguarding Child concerns follow the link :
https://www.wirralsafeguarding.co.uk/concerned-about-a-child/
- If a child or young person is at risk of harm, abuse or neglect please report it to the Wirral Integrated Front Door Team: Mon-Fri, 9:00am – 5.00pm Tel: 0151 606 2008
Outside of these hours Tel: 0151 677 6557
Email: IFD@wirral.gov.uk
Initial contact should always be made by telephone.
In an emergency always dial 999
For further advice on how to support children and families
Call NSPCC 0808 800 5000
NSPCC | The UK children’s charity | NSPCC
For Safeguarding Adult concerns
https://www.wirral.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/adult-social-care/safeguarding-adults
If you witness, suspect or have concerns that an adult at risk is being abused it is your responsibility to report it.
Contact the Central Advice and Duty Team in confidence:
- call 0151 606 2006, Monday to Friday 8:50am to 5:00pm
- call 0151 677 6557 all other times and on public holidays
- email: cadt@wirral.gov.uk
Always call one of the above telephone numbers to make enquiries/make a referral in the first instance.
For further advice and information about adult safeguarding, please visit:
Safeguarding adults | www.wirral.gov.uk
If you think there has been a crime but it is not an emergency contact
Merseyside Police
Call 999 in an emergency or 101 in a non-emergency
Social media platforms
- Facebook: Merseyside Police CC
- Twitter: @MerpolCC
- Instagram: MerpolCC
Or to report a crime online
Guidelines for Dealing with a Disclosure
If someone discloses that he or she has been abused, the person to whom it is disclosed should:
Listen to what is being said without displaying shock or disbelief.
Accept what is being said.
Allow the person to talk freely.
Reassure the person, but without making promises which might not be possible to keep.
Not promise confidentiality, because it might be necessary to refer the case to the relevant Social Care Department or police or health Services.
Reassure the person that what happened was not their fault.
Stress that they were right to disclose the abuse.
Listen, rather than ask direct questions.
Ask open questions rather than leading questions.
Not criticise the alleged perpetrator
Explain what has to be done next, and who has to be told.
Use the following Guidelines for Recording a Disclosure.
Guidelines for Recording a Disclosure:
Make some brief notes as soon as possible after the conversation.
Do not destroy these original notes, in case they are needed later by a court.
Record the date, time and place of the disclosure, the words used by the person making the disclosure, and any unusual non-verbal behaviour that they displayed.
Draw a diagram to indicate the position of any bruising or other injury if appropriate.
Be careful to record statements and observations, rather than interpretations or assumptions.
Pass the record of the disclosure immediately and directly to the DSO or Deputy DSO.
Confidentiality:
Any disclosure of abuse should immediately be passed to the DSO/Deputy DSO
Any access to personal information by staff/volunteers is strictly role specific.
Staff/volunteers are expected to treat information that they receive about a child or adult-at-risk in a discreet and confidential manner, regarding the safety and privacy of the child or adult-at-risk to be of the upmost importance.
Records and Monitoring
Well-kept records are essential to good safeguarding practice. Concerns and disclosures are recorded in writing by the person who receives them and are passed to the DSO/Deputy DSO without delay. The DSO/Deputy DSO then decides on further action.
All records will be retained for the time period recommended by the Charity’s insurance company.
Communicating Policy and Procedures to Staff and Volunteers
Upon induction, all Directors, managers, staff, residents, and volunteers of Kailash Buddhist Centre are made aware of the policy and procedures and must agree always to act in accordance with them.
Information regarding the special conditions for children participating in our activities/events is clearly stated on our websites.
Review
This policy will be reviewed annually, or in response to changes in legislation or following a safeguarding incident.
This Safeguarding Policy and Procedures document was adopted by the Directors on 30/06/21.
The latest review of policy took place 12/9/23 by DSO.
