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Safeguarding Policy

Safeguarding Policy

Introduction

Safeguarding adults at risk of harm and children/young people is a key governance priority for Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke (NICHS). Everybody has the right to be safe, no matter who they are or what their circumstances, and the public expects charities to be safe and trusted places.

NICHS acknowledges that it is our duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people and protect adults at risk of harm from abuse. We are committed to ensuring that our safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with the best practice. This includes sharing information with relevant agencies and organisations if required for the protection of children, young people and adults at risk and reporting concerns to the designated Safeguarding Officers for NICHS.

NICHS’s safeguarding policy and procedures set out the duty of care to safeguard both adults at risk (Safeguarding Adults Procedures) and children/young people - any person under the age of 18 (Safeguarding Children and Young People Procedures).

Adult Safeguarding means protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of adults at risk, enabling them to live safely, free from abuse and neglect. It is about people and organisations working together to prevent and reduce both the risks and experience of abuse or neglect.

Child Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. This means protecting children from abuse and maltreatment, preventing harm to children's health or development, and ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care.

NICHS is a charity that works to prevent chest, heart and stroke illnesses in Northern Ireland and cares for people who have been affected by these conditions, providing support, information and advice.

NICHS personnel come into direct and indirect contact with people who have been affected by chest, heart and stroke illnesses through the delivery of a range of care services aimed at helping them to manage their illnesses and providing them with the opportunity to meet and learn from others.

While our care and prevention services are delivered primarily to adults, from time to time personnel delivering some of our other services, staff and volunteers may also come into contact with children.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and all personnel i.e. staff and volunteers who, during the course of their work for the organization have direct or indirect contact with adults or children, or who have access to information about them, have a duty and responsibility to safeguard and promote their welfare.

The responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare and safety of children and adults also is something we should be aware of in our personal life.

POLICY STATEMENT

NICHS is committed to practices, whichpromote the welfare of children and adults and safeguards them all from harm. NICHS acknowledge that as part of our safeguarding policy we will comply with the safeguarding principles and will endeavor to ensure that NICHS:

  • Ensure a clear line of governance in terms of responsibilities relating to safeguarding
  • Provide a safe and trusted environment which safeguards anyone who comes into contact with NICHS including beneficiaries, staff and volunteers
  • Assessing the safeguarding risks that children/adults encounter in their engagement with NICHS and take all necessary steps to manage those risks, whilst ensuring that our staff, volunteers and Trustees/Board Members take steps, where necessary, to protect themselves;
  • Implementing this policy in conjunction with our Health and Safety guidelines already in place.
  • Promote a culture across the organisation that priorities safeguarding, so that it is safe for those affected to come forward and report incidents and concerns with the assurance they will be handled sensitively and properly
  • Have adequate policies and procedures and measure in place to protect adults at risk and children and young people
  • Provide clarity as to how incidents and allegations will be handled including reporting to relevant authorities
  • Promote and prioritise the safety and wellbeing of all users of the services NICHS provides/offers
  • Ensure everyone understands their role and responsibility in respect of safeguarding and is provided with appropriate learning opportunities to recognise, identify and respond to signs of abuse, neglect and other safeguarding concerns.
  • All allegations will be taken seriously and responded to quickly in line with NICHS Policy and procedures
  • Ensure that confidential, detailed and accurate records of all safeguarding concerns are maintained and securely stored by the safeguarding designated officer for NICHS i.e. both the Adult & Children Safeguarding Officers
  • Prevent the employment/deployment of unsuitable individuals by ensuring that all staff working with children and vulnerable adults are security cleared by relevant nation authority
  • Ensure robust safeguarding arrangements and procedures are in operation
  • Promote zero-tolerance of harm to all adults and children from abuse, exploitation or neglect;
  • Influence the way our organisation thinks about harm to adults resulting from abuse, exploitation or neglect by embedding a culture which recognises every adult’s and child’s right to respect and dignity, honesty, humanity and compassion in every aspect of their life;
  • Promote Human Rights andzero-tolerance to Modern Slavery.
  • We all have a shared responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of all adults and will act appropriately and report concerns whether these concerns arise within NICHS for example inappropriate behaviour by a volunteer or member of NICHS staff, or in the wider community.
  • We recognise the role and responsibilities of the statutory agencies in safeguarding adults and is committed to complying with the procedures of Local Health and Social Care services.
  • Prevent and reduce the risk of harm to adults, while supporting people’s right to maintain control over their lives and make informed choices free from coercion.
  • Ensure staff attend appropriate safeguarding training in line with their role and responsibilities which is repeated every three years.

LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK

  • Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007
  • The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995
  • Mental Capacity Act Northern Ireland 2016
  • Adult Safeguarding: Prevention and Protection in Partnership Policy, DHSSPS 2015
  • Adult Safeguarding Operational Procedures: Adults at Risk of Harm and Adults in Need of Protection, NIASP, 2016
  • Keeping Children Safe 2016
  • Getting it Right: Standards of Good Practice
  • The Equality (Northern Ireland) Order 2003, Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998
  • The Human Rights Act (HRA) 1998
  • Modern Slavery Act 2015 (MSA)

EQUALITY STATEMENT

Northern Ireland ChestHeart and Stroke (NICHS) is committed to upholding and promoting inclusion, equality, diversity and human rights in all aspects of its work. NICHS aims to ensure all of our operations, services and support aligns with policies andvalues to ensure all people in contact with NICHS has a positive experience, is treated with dignith and respect and receives high quality and safe services. To achieve this aim, NICHS have polices for Equality and Diversity, Human Rights and Modern Slavery in practice that supports our Safegauring Policy.

Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke (NICHS) is committed to upholding and promoting inclusion, equality, diversity, and human rights in all aspects of its work. NICHS aims to ensure our operations, services and support align with our policies and values to ensure all people in contact with NICHS have a positive experience, are treated with dignity and respect and receive high quality and safe services. To achieve this, NICHS has policies for Equality and Diversity, Human Rights, and Modern Slavery that support our Safeguarding Policy.

If anyone wishes to contact NICHS about safeguarding, please contact :

  • Tel : 02890320184