Safeguarding Policy of Mary Macarthur Holiday Trust (“the Charity”)

1. Preliminary

1.1 The Charity Commission has stated that safeguarding should be a key governance priority for all charities, regardless of size, type, or income, not just those charities working with children or vulnerable adults. It has also stated that it is essential for charity trustees to have and implement safeguarding policies and procedures and that they have to be adequate and appropriate for the charity’s particular circumstances.

1.2 The charity employs one person. The Trustees do not have direct contact with beneficiaries. There are no volunteers.

1.3 This Policy applies to any employee and the trustees of the Charity.

2. Commitment to safeguarding

2.1 Those who are beneficiaries or potential beneficiaries of the Charity are referred to in this Policy as its “Beneficiaries”.

2.2 Beneficiaries may be at risk from the actions of others or due to age, illness or disability. The Charity is committed to working in their interests, to promote their welfare, and to put in place safeguards and measures to protect them. In providing services and benefits for Beneficiaries the Charity will endeavour at all times to minimise risk to them and to ensure that they are as safe as the Charity can make them.

2.3 The Charity aims to protect all of its Beneficiaries from any act or behaviour of any employee or trustee which, whether deliberately or unknowingly gives rise to harm or ill treatment.

2.4 Such harm or ill treatment includes abuse (physical, sexual, emotional, discriminatory, institutional or organisational, financial or material), neglect, or impairment of the health or development of the Beneficiaries

2.5 The Charity also aims to ensure the provision to them of safe and effective care and to promote the well-being and welfare of its Beneficiaries.

2.6 The Charity recognises that it has a duty to act on reports or suspicions of abuse or neglect.

2.7 The Charity’s direct involvement with beneficiaries is restricted to telephone conversations and written communications through its Administrator. It does not use social media.

3. Safe recruitment

3.1 The current employee has undergone training in the Safeguarding of Vulnerable adults.

3.2 In any future recruitment the Charity will seek to recruit staff using appropriate procedures and checks. In any appointment of an employee the Charity will take up two references for all staff posts prior to appointment.

3.3 The Charity will provide an induction programme for all new staff, and appropriate training and ongoing/refresher training for staff at regular intervals, to enable them to undertake their roles safely, effectively and confidently. It will be made clear to all staff that they have an obligation to implement this Policy and to learn about protection issues and their related responsibilities.

3.4 Where the Charity should do so, it will use the Disclosure & Barring Service (“DBS”) checks to help it to assess suitability of a candidate for role which is treated by the DBS as Regulated Activity and is therefore subject to a barring list check. In relation to a post or role which is eligible for an enhanced DBS check, where it considers it appropriate it will carry out an enhanced DBS check. The Charity will assess any criminal record information that is disclosed in line with its data protection and equalities (treating ex-offenders fairly) policies.

3.5 The Charity will regularly review its recruitment and other human resources procedures in response to changes in legislation and systems external to the Charity, e.g. DBS and barring list checks.

4. Safeguarding Officer

4.1 The Charity’s appointed Safeguarding Officer is Cheryl Andrews. She will have access to appropriate training to support her in this role.

4.2 She will be available to all Beneficiaries to speak to when they have any concerns, issues, or complaints regarding their safety or well-being

5. Awareness of harm and abuse

5.1 Every Beneficiary has a sponsor for her application. In the event of Mrs.Andrews having any concern that a Beneficiary is at risk of harm she will seek the guidance of the sponsor and if appropriate the relevant department of the local authority.

5.2 Harm can result from accidents, deliberate abuse (physical, psychological, sexual, emotional, financial), neglect (deliberate or not) or factors such as bullying, prejudicial attitudes, or a failure to enable a person to participate in activities that are open to most of their peers. It can also include abuse via use of ICT facilities (e.g. grooming, bullying via the internet).

6. Confidentiality

All reports and logs (including personnel records) will be kept securely and confidentially.

7. Reports of possible or actual harm

7.1 The Charity supports and encourages all Beneficiaries to voice their concerns.

7.2 The Charity prefers that anyone should use internal processes whenever possible to make a report as above, but this does not prevent them from making a report or referral, in their own right as a private individual, to statutory agencies such as social services or the police.

7.3 The Charity cannot promise confidentiality to anyone making an internal report (to the Safeguarding Officer or a Trustee where it is has to be shared with any statutory agencies.

8. Safeguarding Officer’s action

Where there is risk of Significant Harm to any Beneficiary the Safeguarding Officer has the power to act as she thinks necessary necessary and, in particular, as follows:

  • log all conversations regarding the issue
  • sign and request signatures on reports and statements
  • confidentially seek advice from expert sources
  • share concerns (with consent where required and appropriate) internally with the Chair of Trustees
  • share concerns and make referrals to external agencies such as social services or the police, as appropriate to the circumstances

9. Communication by the Charity about safeguarding and this Policy

9.1 All employees have an obligation to learn about protection issues and their responsibilities.

10. Implementation of this Policy

10.1 This Policy must be followed by all staff of the Charity and must be promoted by all of its trustees. Failure to follow it will be treated as a very serious matter.

10.2 This Policy needs to be read in conjunction with the following policies and procedures of the Charity:

  • Data Protection Policy
  • Complaints Policy

11. Adoption, coming into effect, and review, of this Policy

11.1 This Safeguarding Policy was approved by the Board of trustees on 2020. It also comes into force on that date.

11.2 The Board will, as appropriate, monitor and enforce this Policy,

11.3 The Board will revise this Policy from time to time. The next date for review of this Policy by the Board will be 2021

Signed by Ian Kershaw, Chair of Trustees.