Child Protection Policy

Child Protection Policy

Last Updated (Tuesday, 30 November 1999 01:00) Written by Iain Monday, 21 April 2008 13:12

Malpas Young Persons Project is committed to safeguard its members, employees, volunteers and facility users from physical, sexual or emotional harm while taking part in any of its activities. Its Policy is to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the environment in which young people and adults participate is safe.

Implementation

This policy is based on Home Office Guidance and serves to protect the interests of young people and adults who may work with them. It relies on a code of practice that everyone must follow. All employees and volunteers undertaking supervisory or youth-work roles in the presence of young people will be required to sign a declaration and agree to a Police criminal record check. Any guests, visiting tutors or specialists without police clearance will be accompanied by an employee or volunteer who has successfully completed this clearance process. Any indications of abuse uncovered as a result of working with a young person must be reported to a member of the MYPP Operations Sub Committee. As a subscribing member of the Youth Federation, the Project will draw on its Director of Youth Work as its independent adviser in cases of difficulty.    

Responsibility

The Management Committee will ensure that staff, volunteers and users read, understand and conform to this Policy and the associated behaviour guidelines, key points of which are outlined overleaf.

Referrals

This is a critical policy and depends on trust as well as normal managerial monitoring. Anyone who has a concern must have sufficient confidence that whatever they confide is dealt with in a caring but clear-cut manner. Under the terms of the code of practice, evidence of abuse that comes to light must be reported so that appropriate help can be brought to bear through and on behalf of the Management Committee. Anyone volunteering information will need to appreciate that the employee or volunteer receiving it is duty bound to report the issue, albeit in a sensitive manner.  Responsibility for any investigation or communication will rest with MYPP Operations Sub-Committee, guided by the Youth Federation and NOT with the employee / volunteer initiating the report. Any immediate danger detected will be reported directly to the Social Services Duty Officer