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Mucky Monkeys Safeguarding Policy
Our Safeguarding Policy
This policy applies to all staff, including all directors, paid staff, volunteers, agency staff, students or anyone working on behalf of Mucky Monkeys.
The purpose of this policy:
• To protect children and young people who attend Mucky Monkeys.
• To provide staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding and child protection.
Mucky Monkeys 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 young people and to keep them safe. We are committed to practice in a way that protects them.
Legal Framework
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of law and guidance that seeks to protect children, namely:
• Children Act 1989
• United convention of the Rights of the Child 1991
• Human Rights Act 1998
• Sexual Offences Act 2003
• Children Act 2004
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
• Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
• Children and Families Act 2014
• Special educational needs and disability (SEND) code of practice: 0 to 25 years –
Statutory guidance for organisations which work with and support children and young people who have special educational needs or disabilities; HM Government 2014
• Information sharing: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers; HM Government 2015
• Working together to safeguard children: a guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children; HM Government 2015
• The Data Protection Act 2018. (GDPR)
• SCIE's Safeguarding Children and Families during the COVID-19 crisis
We recognise that:
• The welfare of the child is paramount, as enshrined in the Children Act 1989
• All children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or
belief, sex or sexual orientation.
• 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, young people, their parents, carers and
other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.
We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:
• Valuing them, listening to and respecting them
• Appointing a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) for children and young
people.
• Adopting child protection and safeguarding practices through procedures and a code of conduct for staff and volunteers
• Developing and implementing an effective e-safety policy and related procedures
• Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision,
support, training and quality assurance measures
• Recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
• Recording and storing information professionally and securely, and sharing
information about safeguarding and good practice with children, their families,
staff and volunteers via one to one discussions
• Using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information
with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents,
families and carers appropriately
• Creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have
a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise
• Ensuring that we have an effective complaints procedure 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
Contact Details
Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO)
Alex Henderson
Phone: 07921808763 Email: muckymonkeys@hotmail.com
Deputy Safeguarding Officer
Heather Cunningham
Phone: 07889902149 Email: arandomh@hotmail.com
NSPCC Helpline 0808 800 5000
We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually. This policy was last reviewed on 31st May 2023
Signed:
Alex Henderson (DSO)