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Safeguarding

Annabelle's Challenge Safeguarding Policy

The purpose of this policy is: 

a) To protect children and adults who receive support from Annabelle's Challenge. 

b) To provide parents, staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection and safeguarding for children and adults. 

This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of Annabelle’s Challenge including senior managers and the board of trustees, employees, volunteers and students. 

Legal framework 

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children and adults in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland & Wales. A summary of the key legislation is available from nspcc.org.uk/learning. 

Related policies and procedures 

This policy should be read alongside our organisational policies & procedures, including: 
  •  Dealing with disclosures and concerns about a child or adult. 
  •  Managing allegations against staff and volunteers. 
  •  Recording and information sharing. 
  •  Code of conduct for staff and volunteers. 
  •  Safer recruitment. 
  •  Online safety. 
  •  Bullying and Harassment. 
  •  Managing complaints. 
  •  Whistleblowing. 
  •  Health and safety. 
  •  Induction, training, supervision and support. 
  •  Consent for photography and videoing children. 
We believe that: 
  • Children and adults should never experience abuse of any kind. 
  • We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, young people and adults, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them. 
We recognise that: 
  • The welfare of the child is paramount.
  • All children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse.
  • Some children and adults 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 young people’s welfare. 
We will seek to keep children and adults safe by: 
  • Valuing, listening to and respecting them. 
  • Adopting child protection and safeguarding best practice through our policies, procedures and code of conduct for staff and volunteers. 
  • Using a professional external company to provide activities for our children’s entertainment at family weekends and events using staff that have had the relevant DBS checks and adult to child ratios. 
  • Developing and implementing an effective online safety policy and related procedures. 
  • Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures. 
  • Recording and storing information professionally and securely. 
  • Using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies and/or medical professionals who need to know, and involving children, adults, parents, families and carers appropriately. 
  • Using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately. 
  • Creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise. 
  • Ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistle blowing measures in place. 
  • Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, adults, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance. 
Confidentiality 

In exceptional circumstances we may need to break confidentiality and share information without your consent. 

Circumstances where we may be required to break confidentiality: 
  • A child, young person or adult is at risk of harm.
  • A person is at risk of immediate and significant harm either to themselves or others.
  • We are required to share information as ordered by the courts.
  • A caller is being threatening or abusive to staff or is deliberately misusing the service preventing the helpline being available to support others.
  • We will always attempt to keep you informed of any action we take if a decision is made to break confidentiality. 
Designated Safeguarding Officer

Our Designated Safeguarding Officer is Jared Griffin, CEO, who is trained and can report directly into the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).

The CEO of the charity has also received training on Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP).

V1 Safeguarding. Effective 1st November 2018. 

Last Review: February 2024.
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