Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy

Flourish is an LGBTQI+ inclusive charity, committed to promoting the safety and wellbeing of young women.

The policy below outlines how we will safeguard those we work with and those who work on our behalf. 

1. Policy statement

Flourish is dedicated to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of young women, and we are committed to promoting their safety and wellbeing in all that we do. This policy outlines how we will fulfil our duty of care to safeguard these young women as well as those who work on our behalf, including our volunteers/mentors and trustees.

2. Purpose of this policy

Everyone has the right to be safe and to thrive no matter who they are or what their circumstances. The Flourish approach to safeguarding includes the concept of a ‘culture of care’ which supports and promotes wellbeing, and encourages resilience and the prevention of harm.

We believe that our volunteers/mentors and trustees have both an individual and organisational responsibility for safeguarding. We aim to embed a safeguarding ethos and practice which is both proactive and responsive towards issues of safety and wellbeing.

We understand that where abuse and neglect does occur, it can have devastating effects on individuals, families and wider society. Our commitment to safeguarding in its widest sense is therefore vital.

This policy provides clear standards and processes, ensuring that everyone is clear about their roles, individual and organisational responsibilities, and the procedures to follow in order to protect children and adults at risk from harm.

3. Scope

This policy applies to all employees, volunteers, trustees, independent advisors, contracted associates and unpaid staff working on behalf of Flourish in any capacity and any setting. Flourish requires that our partners, current or in future, share our commitment to safeguarding.

4. Terminology

For the purposes of Flourish’s policy, and any accompanying procedures or guidance, the following terms and definitions apply:

●      Abuse: a form of maltreatment of a child or adult. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child or adult by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm.

●      Child: legally, a child includes babies, children and young people from pre-birth until their eighteenth birthday (at 18, they are legally an adult) in England and Wales.

●      Adult at risk: any person who is aged 18 years or over and who is at risk of abuse or neglect because of their needs for care and support (Care Act 2014 [England]).

●      Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults: protecting individuals from maltreatment; preventing harm to health or development; ensuring children grow up with safe and effective care; and taking action to enable individuals to have the best outcomes.

●      Child or adult protection: the activity that is undertaken to protect specific children or adults who are suffering, or at risk of suffering, significant harm.

●      Significant harm: the threshold which justifies compulsory intervention in the best interests of the child or adult. This may refer to a single traumatic event or, more often, the cumulative effect of incidents and/or behaviours over time which significantly impairs an individual’s physical and psychological development.

●      Early identification and help: statutory guidance stresses the importance of children and adults having the opportunity of early help and support in order to avoid child or adult protection intervention at a later time.

5. Our commitment to safeguarding

Flourish’s Safeguarding Framework sets out the standards which we are committed to upholding throughout our work.

Flourish believes that:

●      The best interests of the child and adult of concern are paramount in all considerations about their welfare and protection.

●      Safeguarding must be embedded throughout our governance, leadership and culture.

●      Young people must be valued, empowered and supported to inform and shape our activities, including decision-making, risk-identification and review of our safeguarding practices.

●      Individuals have an equal right to protection from abuse and neglect regardless of age, disability, gender, nationality, ethnic group, faith, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, or any other factor.

●      Our recruitment, induction, training, supervision and appraisal procedures must ensure that staff and volunteers are suitable and supported to implement safeguarding best practice.

●      Our physical and online environments should be safe and secure, and promote enjoyable and positive experiences.

●      We must have clear policies and procedures for reporting, acting upon and following up safeguarding concerns, which are monitored and regularly reviewed to identify learning and/or implications for policy and practice.

●      It is right to insist upon high standards in safeguarding practice from all of our partners.

●      We must proactively care for our staff and volunteers. Individuals should be encouraged to take personal responsibility for their own wellbeing, and feel empowered to seek support when necessary.

●      Learning, sharing and creating networks to champion best practice is beneficial for all children, young people and adults at risk as well as our staff and volunteers.

●      Our safeguarding policy and related documents should be publicly available.

5.1 Principles of reporting concerns (the 5 Rs)

●      Recognise concerns that a child or adult is being harmed or might be at risk of harm.

●      Respond appropriately to a child or adult who is telling you what is happening to them.

●      Refer the concerns, if appropriate, to children’s or adult social care or the police.

●      Record the concerns appropriately along with any subsequent action taken, and ensure there is no delay in passing on concerns.

●      Resolution and escalation: take responsibility to ensure that referrals made are followed up and take further action if not satisfied with the response.

6. Roles and responsibilities

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone should understand that safeguarding affects all aspects of the organisation and they must be aware of this policy and the procedures to follow. However, in order to ensure all concerns or allegations are handled appropriately, Flourish has a number of designated positions and specific job roles.

These are outlined below:

6.1 Trustees

The Charity Commission expects that safeguarding should be a key governance priority for trustees. Trustees should be fully informed of safeguarding issues across the organisation and contribute to maintaining safe practice across all our operations.

It is part of trustees’ duty of care to ensure Flourish:

●      Acts in the best interests of the children, young people and adults at risk.

●      Takes all reasonable steps to prevent any harm to them.

●      Assesses and manages risk.

●      Puts safeguarding policies and procedures in place.

●      Undertakes ongoing monitoring and reviewing to ensure that safeguards are being implemented and are effective.

●      Responds appropriately to allegations of abuse and whistleblowing cases.

6.2 Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) – Frederique Lambrakis-Haddad to be reached on email:  flh@flourishmentors.com  or +447813025007 

The Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) is the Safeguarding Manager. The DSO is

responsible for:

●      Ensuring staff have access to appropriate safeguarding advice and support.

●      Checking that safeguarding referrals, incident reports and actions taken are recorded, fully reviewed, and logged.

●      Developing guidance and delivering training to increase the level of understanding and expertise on safeguarding across all teams.

●      Providing an annual report to the Board of Trustees regarding our safeguarding activity.

●      Keeping up to date with relevant law, guidance and case examples.

6.3 Volunteers

Volunteers are responsible for:

●      Raising any concerns immediately with the DSO.

●      Completing training appropriate to their roles.

Flourish Mentors 2024