Safeguarding Policy
Building It Better NI is committed to providing a safe, respectful and supportive environment for everyone taking part in our courses, workshops and commissioned programmes.
Our Commitment
Building It Better NI is committed to providing a safe, respectful and supportive environment for everyone participating in our courses, workshops and commissioned programmes.
We recognise our responsibility to safeguard children, young people and adults who may be at risk of harm, abuse, neglect or exploitation.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Any concern about the welfare or safety of a participant will be taken seriously and handled appropriately.
Who This Policy Applies To
This policy applies to Building It Better NI tutors, staff, contractors and anyone working on behalf of Building It Better NI.
It applies to our public courses as well as training and programmes delivered on behalf of councils, community organisations, charities and other organisations.
Our Tutors
Building It Better NI tutors who deliver our training hold current DBS checks.
A DBS check forms part of our safeguarding arrangements but does not replace appropriate safeguarding practice, professional conduct, risk assessment or the responsibility to report concerns.
Tutors are expected to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and conduct themselves in a manner that supports the safety and wellbeing of participants.
Designated Safeguarding Lead
The Designated Safeguarding Lead for Building It Better NI is Sarah McKiernan.
The Designated Safeguarding Lead is responsible for receiving safeguarding concerns, ensuring they are appropriately recorded and deciding whether further action or referral to an appropriate safeguarding or statutory service is required.
If a concern relates directly to the Designated Safeguarding Lead, it should instead be raised with another senior representative of Building It Better NI.
Recognising Safeguarding Concerns
A safeguarding concern may arise because of something a participant says, something that is observed during a course or programme, information received from another person, or behaviour that gives reasonable cause for concern.
Concerns may include suspected physical, emotional or sexual abuse, neglect, exploitation, coercion, inappropriate behaviour or other circumstances in which somebody may be at risk of harm.
Tutors are not expected to investigate allegations themselves.
If Someone Discloses a Safeguarding Concern
If a participant tells a tutor or member of staff something that raises a safeguarding concern, they should:
- listen carefully and remain calm;
- take the person seriously;
- avoid asking unnecessary or leading questions;
- not promise to keep the information secret;
- explain that the information may need to be shared with an appropriate person to help keep them or someone else safe;
- make an accurate record of the concern as soon as reasonably possible; and
- report the matter promptly to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Information should only be shared with people who need it for safeguarding purposes.
Immediate Danger
If there is reason to believe that someone is in immediate danger or requires urgent medical assistance, the priority is their immediate safety.
Emergency services should be contacted where necessary.
The Designated Safeguarding Lead should be informed as soon as reasonably possible afterwards.
Reporting and Referrals
The Designated Safeguarding Lead will consider the information available and determine the appropriate action.
Depending on the circumstances, this may include seeking safeguarding advice, contacting the relevant Health and Social Care Trust, or referring the matter to another appropriate statutory authority.
Building It Better NI will cooperate with safeguarding authorities where required.
Children and Young People
Where Building It Better NI provides activities involving children or young people, appropriate safeguarding arrangements will be considered as part of the planning and delivery of the activity.
Additional requirements agreed with a commissioning organisation, school, council or community organisation will also be followed where applicable.
Adults at Risk
Building It Better NI recognises that some adults may be particularly vulnerable to abuse, neglect, exploitation or harm because of their circumstances or support needs.
Any concern regarding an adult who may be at risk will be treated seriously and referred appropriately where necessary.
Photography and Personal Information
Photographs or recordings involving participants will be handled appropriately, and consent will be obtained where required.
Personal information relating to safeguarding matters will be treated confidentially and only shared where there is a legitimate safeguarding, legal or regulatory reason to do so.
Safeguarding records will be stored securely and access restricted appropriately.
Course Safety and Professional Boundaries
Safeguarding works alongside our Health & Safety arrangements.
Our courses involve practical activities and the use of tools and equipment. Tutors are responsible for providing appropriate instruction and supervision and for maintaining professional boundaries with participants.
Participants are also expected to follow safety instructions and behave respectfully towards tutors and other participants.
Concerns About a Tutor or Member of Staff
Any allegation or safeguarding concern involving a Building It Better NI tutor, member of staff or person acting on our behalf will be taken seriously.
The matter will be handled appropriately and, where necessary, referred to the relevant statutory authority.
A person who is the subject of an allegation must not be responsible for deciding how that allegation is handled.
Confidentiality
Safeguarding information will be treated sensitively.
However, confidentiality cannot be guaranteed where withholding information could place a child, young person or adult at risk.
Information will be shared only where appropriate and with those who need it for safeguarding purposes.
Review of This Policy
Building It Better NI will review this Safeguarding Policy periodically and when there are significant changes to our activities, safeguarding guidance or relevant legal requirements.