Beech Village Hampshire

Beech Village in Hampshire England

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Safeguarding and Child Protection policy

Safeguarding commitment

All Beech Village Hall Management Committee members and volunteers have a duty to safeguard vulnerable users of the Hall and its premises, and those who may come into contact with vulnerable users. They will respond to any concerns they may have regarding the physical, sexual, emotional or psychological safety of a vulnerable person or concerns relating to discriminatory or financial violation or exploitation of a vulnerable person

Scope

This policy is in place to protect all vulnerable persons regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, religion or faith. Vulnerable users could include:

  • children
  • young people under the age of 18
  • adults with learning difficulties or physical disability
  • frail, elderly people
  • carers

Principles

The welfare of the child or vulnerable adult is paramount and is the responsibility of everyone.  All children and vulnerable adults, without exception, have the right to protection from abuse, whether physical, verbal, sexual, bullying, exclusion or neglect.  Bullying, shouting, physical violence, sexism and racism towards children or vulnerable adults will not be permitted or tolerated.

Policy Statement

  1. No member of the Management Committee, nor its volunteers nor contractors will have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults.
  2. All suspicions or allegations of abuse against a child and vulnerable adults will be taken seriously and dealt with speedily and appropriately by the Vulnerable Users Representative.
  3. All Management Committee members and volunteers will be made aware of this policy and child protection and vulnerable adult issues.
  4. The Management Committee will nominate a Vulnerable Users Representative/ Safeguarding Officer to be responsible for vulnerable persons’ matters, and to whom any suspicions or concerns should be reported.
  5. The Trustees will endeavour to keep the premises safe for use by children and vulnerable adults.  The Trustees recognise that a higher standard of safety is required where use is made by small children, those who cannot read safety notices and physically disabled children and adults.
  6. Any organisations or individuals hiring the Hall or meeting room (Hall users) for the purposes of holding activities where Ofsted registration is required, should have the appropriate DBS clearances and their own Child Protection Policy.  Safe recruitment processes should be used by the Hall users to appoint staff who will be working with children or vulnerable adults in any kind of activity.
  7. The Management Committee will ensure that Hall users are made aware of their obligations under the Licensing Act 2003 to ensure that alcohol is not sold to those under the age of 18.   The Management Committee will ensure that Hall users are aware that no children may be admitted to films when they are below the age classification for the film or show.  No entertainment of an adult or sexual nature shall be permitted on the premises.
  8. These policies and procedures will be reviewed annually and updated as appropriate in the interim period.

Procedures

  1. All Management Committee members and volunteers will be given information about child protection and will be encouraged to attend appropriate Child Protection and Protection of Vulnerable Adults training where possible.
  2. An annual review will take place following the AGM to allow for any required up-date of policies and or procedures.  New Management Committee members and volunteers will be made aware, by the Vulnerable Users Representative, of this policy and their associated responsibilities.
  3. A copy of the policy will be displayed for the attention of all in the Village Hall, on the Village Hall website and be made available on request to Hall users.
  4. Organisations hiring the Hall for activities for children and/or vulnerable users will be contractually required to have the appropriate clearances and child and/or vulnerable user protection policy.  Other organisations or individuals hiring the Hall whose activities may involve vulnerable adults will be made aware of this policy.
  5. A hiring agreement which includes appropriate clauses will be entered into for all hiring of the Hall for licensable activities.  The Trustees will ensure these provisions are observed when holding licensable activities themselves.
  6. Contractors engaged to carry out work at the premises must not be allowed unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults.  Appropriate supervision will be arranged if necessary.
  7. If the premises are used by more than one Hall user, attention will be drawn to the need to ensure that children and vulnerable adults are supervised when using toilets.
  8. Any images of children can only be published, for example on the website and on the Village Facebook site, with the written consent of parents.
  9. Safeguarding process to help identify and effectively manage potential concerns and the appropriate recording and sharing of informatiom
  10. Designated Vulnerable Users Representative: Karen Littlewood