INTRODUCTION

Cottingley Collective is a volunteer led organisation based in Cottingley Leeds for the provision of activities that manage the wellbeing of residents in South Leeds by reducing poverty, Community Events, Working with Organisations that provide services to achieve wellbeing.

 

Name of Safeguarding Lead: Paul Smart

• Mobile Number: 07590731858

• Emergency Contact No: 07590731858

 

Telephone number of Children’s Social Work Service (including out of hours number):

• During Office hours: 0113 222 4403

• Social Care- Emergency Duty Team: 0113 240 9536

 

SIGNS OF ABUSE

 

Physical Abuse

May involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to an adult.

 

Emotional abuse

Is the persistent emotional maltreatment of an adult such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to the adult that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only in so far as they meet the needs of another person.

 

It may include not giving the adult opportunities to express their views, deliberately silencing them or “making fun” of what they say or how they communicate. It may feature developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on an adult.

 

These may include interactions that are beyond the adult’s developmental capability, as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the adult participating in normal social interaction. It may involve frequently being made to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of adults. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of an adult though it may occur alone.

 

Sexual Abuse

Involves forcing or enticing an adult to take part in sexual activities, not

necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether the adult is aware of what is

happening.

 

The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example, rape or oral sex) or non- penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside of clothing. Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse.

 

Neglect

In the case of ORGANISATIONAL ABUSE Is the persistent failure to meet a basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of an adult’s health or wellbeing. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to an adult’s basic emotional needs.

 

Financial Abuse

Removing financial decisions where an adult is capable. Not allowing access to own money. Using money for something other than its purpose i.e. food, rent equipment required.

 

Possible signs of abuse include:

• Unexplained or suspicious injuries such as bruising cuts or burns, particularly if situated on a part of the body not normally prone to such injuries or the explanation of the cause of the injury is does not seem right.

• The adult discloses abuse or describes what appears to be an abusive act.

• Someone else (child or adult) expresses concern about the welfare of another adult.

• Unexplained change in behaviour such as withdrawal or sudden outbursts of temper.

• Inappropriate sexually explicit behaviour.

• Distrust of adults, particularly those with whom a close relationship would normally be expected.

• Difficulty socialising

• Eating disorders, depression, self-harm or suicide attempts

• Says they are not allowed to have money

 

BECOMING AWARE OF A SAFEGUARDING ISSUE

 

Ways abuse or safeguarding concern might be reported to you or how you may become aware of a concern:

• third party or anonymously

• persons appearance, behaviour or statements cause suspicion of abuse or neglect.

• an adult reports an incident directly to you

• an adult reports abuse that happened previously.

• a report is made about the misconduct of a worker/volunteer towards an adult

 

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT AN ADULT

 

Stage 1

• Initially talk to adult about what you are observing. It is okay to ask questions, for example: “I’ve noticed that you don’t appear yourself today, is everything okay? b

• Never use leading questions

• Listen carefully to what the young person has to say and take it seriously. Act always towards the adult as if you believe what they are saying.

• It is not the responsibility of groups to investigate incidences of suspected abuse towards an adult but to gather information and refer only.

• Always explain to the adult and that any information they have given will have to be shared with others, if this indicates they and or other children are at risk of harm.

• Notify the organisation’s Named Person for safeguarding

• Record what was said as soon as possible after any disclosure; The person who receives the allegation or has the concern should complete a safeguarding form and ensure it is signed and dated.

• Respect confidentiality and file documents securely in the office, never leave the forms out.

 

Stage 2

• The named person/s should take immediate action if there is a suspicion that an adult has been abused or likely to be abused.

• In this situation the named person/s should contact the police and/or the Duty and Advice Team. If a referral is made direct to the Duty and Advice team this should be followed up in writing within 24 hrs.

• We will inform the person of every step we take

 

Management and Supervision of Volunteers/Staff

Cottingley Collective take responsibility for taking on volunteers/staff and giving appropriate roles checks are done thoroughly and according to safeguarding guidelines we will following these 3 rules:

• Any volunteer working with children must have a DBS

• An interview will take place.

• References will be requested.

 

The committee members will always be available to hear concerns from volunteers/staff. Regular group meetings will be every 2 months, and a volunteer/staff can request a meeting at any time.

 

All committee members are always available online and in person at least once a week.

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Arrangements will be made for volunteers who are affected by anything they have heard or seen to have additional support.

 

Allegations against Volunteer/Staff

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Allegations against a volunteer/staff member must be dealt with immediately. The safety of any attendee is a priority and must be removed from the people who the

allegation is made against.

 

All volunteer/staff members will be suspended while an investigation takes place.

Complaint to be reported to LADO – Local Authority Dedicated Officer – 0113 3789687

 

If the allegation is made against a safeguarding lead/lead member this should be told to LADO.

 

Whatever the outcome of a police investigation, an internal investigation will take place and have a conclusion. Suspension or dismissal may still happen if no criminal case is found depending on the situation.

 

Recording and Managing Information

All information regarding a safeguarding complaint must be kept confidential and not be shared outside of the safeguarding leads and those reporting.

 

A form will be made available to all so information can be written quickly. The person who has received the information must do this alone and include details such as date of birth, name and details of incident.

 

Everyone has a right to have their information stored confidentially and not doing so may cause further risk.

 

Never leave a form lying around and give to your safeguarding lead where they will lock it in a secure unit in a locked room.

 

Cottingley Collective will always prioritise the confidentiality of claims of abuse.

 

All discussion regarding this, including support for the person who has reported the abuse will be done in private.

 

Distributing and reviewing Policies and Procedures

A copy of our policy will be available to all who request one to keep for their records.

 

Partners and beneficiaries will be made aware of this and other policies and that they may offer suggestions and shape any policy that may affect them.

 

The information and guidelines will be updated, and it is the responsibility of the safeguarding leads and signed off by the Cottingley Collective annually.

 

A file will be uploaded to the website

 

Partners and beneficiaries will be made aware of this and other policies and that they may offer suggestions and shape any policy that may affect them.

 

The information and guidelines will be updated, and it is the responsibility of the safeguarding leads and signed off by the Cottingley Collective annually.

 

A file will be uploaded to the website

 

All policies and procedures will be signed off by the Cottingley Collective committee, and all members/volunteers/staff will be provided with a paper copy of these.

 

The Committee understands it is their legal responsibility to stick by the guidelines and procedures set out both by law and by the committee to create a safe environment.

 

All volunteers/staff who are in contact with children will have safeguarding training.

 

All volunteers/staff are responsible for reporting safeguarding and logging that concern properly, forms will be created stating exactly what information is required and the time frame this must be done in.

 

We will make sure that this procedure stays fresh in everyone’s mind by checking in every 3 months.

 

Our volunteers will never use verbal threat, humiliation or physical punishment when dealing with children who access our activities.

 

Responsibility of the Management Committee

Partners and beneficiaries will be made aware of this and other policies and that they may offer suggestions and shape any policy that may affect them.

 

The information and guidelines will be updated, and it is the responsibility of the safeguarding leads and signed off by the Cottingley Collective annually.

 

A file will be uploaded to the website

 

All policies and procedures will be signed off by the Cottingley Collective committee, and all members/volunteers/staff will be provided with a paper copy of these.

 

The Committee understands it is their legal responsibility to stick by the guidelines and procedures set out both by law and by the committee to create a safe environment.

 

All volunteers/staff who are in contact with children will have safeguarding training.

​

All volunteers/staff are responsible for reporting safeguarding and logging that concern properly, forms will be created stating exactly what information is required and the time frame this must be done in.

 

We will make sure that this procedure stays fresh in everyone’s mind by checking in every 3 months.

 

Our volunteers/staff will never use verbal threat, humiliation or physical punishment when dealing with children who access our activities.