Safeguarding Policy for Young People with Additional Needs

Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this policy is to ensure the safety, wellbeing, and protection of young people with additional needs from harm, abuse, and exploitation. This policy applies to all staff, volunteers, and individuals working within the organization.

Principles

• Every young person has the right to feel safe and protected.
• All individuals have a responsibility to safeguard young people and report concerns.
• The needs and views of young people are at the forefront of all safeguarding activities.
• Safeguarding is a shared responsibility within the community.

Definitions

• Additional Needs: Refers to any physical, learning, sensory, behavioral, or emotional needs that require additional support.
• Abuse: Any form of physical, emotional, sexual abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Safeguarding Lead: Oversees the implementation of the policy and handles safeguarding concerns.
• Staff and Volunteers: Must understand and adhere to the safeguarding policy and report concerns immediately.
• Parents and Guardians: Encouraged to share relevant information about their child’s needs to facilitate better safeguarding.

Safe Recruitment

• Conduct thorough background checks and interviews for all staff and volunteers.
• Ensure that all employees and volunteers undergo safeguarding training.

Training and Awareness

• Provide regular safeguarding training to all staff and volunteers.
• Educate young people about their rights and how to stay safe.

Reporting and Responding to Concerns

• Establish a clear reporting procedure for safeguarding concerns.
• Ensure that all concerns are reported to the Safeguarding Lead without delay.
• Maintain confidentiality and handle concerns sensitively.

Risk Assessment and Management

• Conduct regular risk assessments to identify potential safeguarding risks.
• Develop and implement strategies to mitigate identified risks.

Support for Young People

• Provide tailored support to young people with additional needs.
• Ensure accessible communication methods and materials are available.

Record Keeping

• Maintain accurate and secure records of safeguarding concerns and actions taken.
• Ensure that records are only accessible to authorized personnel.

Policy Review

• Conduct an annual review of the safeguarding policy.
• Update the policy as necessary to reflect changes in legislation and best practices.

Contact Information

• Provide contact details for the Safeguarding Lead and relevant external agencies.

Confidentiality

• Safeguarding information is confidential and should only be shared with relevant authorities on a need-to-know basis.