NHES works with children and families as part of its activities. These include providing educational workshops and sports and physical activity sessions.

This policy applies to paid staff, board of trustees, volunteers, sessional workers, agency staff, students and anyone working on behalf of NHES.

The purpose of this policy:

  • To protect children who participate in NHES’s services and/or activities.
  • To provide parents, staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding and child protection.

NHES believes that a child or young person should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and to keep them safe. We are committed to practice in a way that protects them.

When we reference ‘children’ we mean ‘children and young people’ throughout.

This policy should be read alongside policies and procedures on:-

  • Acceptable Use Policy, which outlines the rules for using ICT & Social Media Policy
  • Role of designated safeguarding officer (DSO)
  • Code of Conduct for staff and volunteers
  • Complaints
  • Health and safety
  • Staff Volunteer and Induction & Training
  • Procedures for responding to concerns about a child’s wellbeing
  • Dealing with allegations of abuse against a child
  • Managing allegations against staff and volunteers
  • Safer recruitment policy and procedures
  • Anti-bullying policy and procedures
  • Online safety policy and procedures for responding to concerns about online abuse
  • Photography and image sharing guidance
  • Child protection records retention and storage policy
  • Whistleblowing policy

Legal framework:

This policy has been drawn up based on legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England. A summary of the key legislation and guidance is available from www.nspcc.org.uk/childprotection and Interagency Safeguarding Children Procedures for Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Children Partnership and Nottingham City Safeguarding Children Partnership (Jan 2019)

We believe that:

  • children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind
  • we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, 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 are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues
  • Working in partnership with children, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting children’s welfare

We will seek to keep children safe by

  • valuing them, listening and respecting them
  • appointing a Designated Safeguarding officer (DSO) and a deputy/lead board member for safeguarding
  • developing child protection and safeguarding policies and procedures that reflect best practice
  • using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to, and involving children, parents, families and carers appropriately
  • creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise.
  • developing and implementing an effective online safety policy and related procedures
  • sharing information about child protection and safeguarding best practice with children, their families, staff and volunteers via leaflets, posters, group work and one-to-one discussions
  • recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
  • providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures
  • implementing a code of conduct for staff and volunteers
  • using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately
  • ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place
  • ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance
  • recording and storing information professionally and securely

We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.