Safeguarding – Our Commitment & Approach
introduction
The Dome Youth Zone is a bold and transformative initiative, founded on the belief that every young person deserves the opportunity to thrive. As part of the OnSide Network, The Dome Youth Zone is a state-of-the-art facility in Crewe, designed to provide thousands of young people a safe, inspiring and inclusive environment where they can explore their passions, build confidence and develop the skills they need for a successful future.
Our exceptional spaces are filled with energy, inspiration, supported by highly skilled youth workers who truly believe in young people. Central to all work is the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk.
This policy applies to all employees, volunteers and Trustees and must be read, understood and implemented.
safe working culture
The Dome Youth Zone is committed to maintaining a culture where safeguarding is embedded in everyday practice. Everyone has a responsibility to create an environment in which children, young people and adults at risk feel safe, respected, valued and supported.
Employees, Trustees and volunteers (referred to as ‘employees &/or others’ going forward) are supported to understand how to respond to concerns, regarding the behaviour or others.
Key procedures include:
- Ensuring policies and procedures are followed, regularly reviewed and updated and that named roles are accountable for their implementation.
- Setting clear and acceptable standards of behaviour for employees, volunteers, Trustees, partner organisations, and young people.
- Promoting an open culture with no secrecy.
- Including safeguarding as a standing agenda item in all appraisal sessions.
- Encouraging open discussions about safeguarding measures and evaluating their effectiveness.
- Promoting professional challenge
- Providing opportunities for employees and/or others to share any safeguarding concerns. Maintaining transparent and clear procedures, actively promoted by the Senior Leadership Team and Trustee Board, including the use of whistleblowing procedures.
- Supporting employees and/or others when they raise concerns.
- Maintaining robust, timely, and accurate recording systems. Identifying and responding to inappropriate behaviour or abuse at the earliest opportunity.
- Delivering strong induction processes and making effective use of probationary periods to ensure understanding of safeguarding policies and procedures.
- Providing ongoing safeguarding training to keep everyone up to date with policy and procedural changes.
- Incorporating professional behaviour and conduct into performance reviews.
- Ensuring a shared commitment from all at The Dome Youth Zone to safeguard children, young people, and adults at risk, and to maintain a culture of vigilance and professional curiosity.
Relationships and Professional Boundaries
All employees and/or others must ensure the boundaries of a professional caring relationship understood. Individuals must maintain clear professional boundaries with children and young people at all times, both in person and online.
This includes interaction over social media, for example it is not appropriate to accept or request connections with young person on any social media platforms.
Any existing personal, family or community relationships which may give rise to a conflict of interest should be declared to a manager.
We recognise that there may be exceptional circumstances, such as family or community connection, where employees and/or others know the young person in a personal capacity.
In such cases, employees and/or others must make it clear to the young person that, within the work setting, interactions will remain professional and consistent with those with all young people.
Employees and/or others must also inform their line manager or other appropriate person if they are working with young people that they know outside of the organisation.
Further clarification on any aspect of the Safeguarding Policy can be provided by line managers and/or the organisation Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), where required.
Definitions
- Child: “A child is defined as anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday. ‘Children’ therefore means ‘children and young people’ throughout.” (Working
Together to Safeguard Children 2018 and 2023) - Adult at Risk: “An adult at risk is a person aged 18 or over who has needs for care and support, is experiencing or is at risk of abuse or neglect and is unable to protect themselves as a result of those needs.” (Care Act 2014)
- Safeguarding: “Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and adults at risk and protect them from harm.” (NSPCC)
Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL)
The Dome Youth Zone’s Designated Safeguarding Lead is the Head of Youth Work and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Any employees &/or others who are concerned about a young person or adult at risk should inform their line manager or Designated Safeguarding Lead immediately.
The Designated Safeguarding Lead has a responsibility to:
- Liaise with delivery partners, or Youth Zone, Children and Family Services, Adult Services, the Police or other relevant agencies.
- Act as the main point person within The Dome Youth Zone, providing advice and support.
- Coordinate safeguarding actions within the organisation.
- Discuss individual cases with employees and/or others on a ‘need to know’ basis. Represent The Dome Youth Zone at safeguarding meetings.
- Ensure employees and/or others are familiar with this policy and any related
procedures.
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
This is defined for the purposes of this policy as:
- Protecting children from maltreatment.
- Preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development.
- Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care.
- Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.
Safeguarding Children/Young People and Adults with Disabilities
Research has found that disabled children/adults are three to four times more likely to be abused and neglected than non-disabled children/adults (Jones et al 2012) and are also less likely to receive the protection and support needed when they have been abused (Taylor et al, 2014).
Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child provides for the protection of the child from all forms of abuse and Article 23 recognises the right of the disabled child to enjoy a full and decent life in conditions which ensure dignity, promote self-reliance and facilitate the child’s active participation in the community.
Under the Equality Act (2010) service providers have a positive and pro-active duty to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled people can use and receive services to the same standard as non-disabled people.
We all have a responsibility to keep all children and adult with care and support needs safe. A child or adult with care and support needs having a disability, being d/Deaf or needing additional support should never stop someone acting on child/adult protection concerns.
However, employees and volunteers sometimes have difficulty identifying safeguarding concerns when working with d/Deaf and disabled children and adult with care and support needs (NSPCC, 2016). It’s vital that everyone who works with d/Deaf and disabled children or adult with care and support needs understands how to protect them against people who would take advantage of their increased vulnerability. Disabled children and adult with care and support needs at greatest risk of abuse are those with behaviour or conduct disorders.
Legislative and Guidance Framework
This policy should be read alongside: Children Act 1989 and 2004
- Care Act 2014
- Equality Act 2010
- Working Together to Safeguard Children (current version)
- Keeping Children Safe in Education (where applicable)
- The Mental Capacity Act 2005
- United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
- Local Safeguarding Children Partnership (LSCP) procedures
- Local Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) procedures
For further guidance please refer to The Dome Youth Zone: Safeguarding d/Deaf and Disabled Children, Young People and Adults
Adults at Risk
An adult at risk is defined as a member of The Dome Youth Zone aged 18 and over who, for any reason, has additional needs and may be unable to take care of themselves or protect themselves against significant harm or exploitation.
Adults at risk who are members of The Dome Youth Zone may have an EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) or other identified Special Educational Need or Disability (SEND). An EHCP is a legal document that outlines the educational, health and social care needs of children and young people, and where applicable adults (up to the age of 25), who require additional support. It identifies the provision required to meet those needs.
Employees and volunteers supporting adults at risk should be aware of any specific support requirements to meet an individuals’ additional needs. Safeguarding adults at risk involves preventing the risk of harm, neglect or abuse, while also supporting individuals to maintain choice, control and independence in their own lives.
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults at risk
For the purposes of this policy, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults as
risk is defined as:
- Ensuring individual can live in safety, free from abuse and neglect.
- Empowering individuals by supporting them to make their own decisions and
provide informed consent. - Minimising the risk of abuse or neglect and preventing it from occurring.
- Promoting their wellbeing and taking into account individuals’ views, wishes, feelings and beliefs.
This policy outlines how to recognise the signs and indicators of possible abuse to ensure that employees and/or others understand the significance of their observations and the procedures they must follow if they have a concern.
This policy is supplemented by a ‘Safeguarding Toolkit’ which provides further guidance for employees and/or others who work directly with children and adults at risk.
Training Requirements
- All employees, volunteers, and Trustees of The Dome Youth Zone (referred to as
‘employees and/or others’) are required to: - Complete safeguarding and professional boundaries training at induction, prior
to working with young people, and at least every two years thereafter. - Confirm, by signature or digital acceptance, that they have read, understood, and will comply with this policy.
All individuals must:
- Complete safeguarding training before commencing unsupervised duties.
- Complete mandatory safeguarding refresher training every two years.
- Read and comply with safeguarding policies and procedures.
- Maintain an appropriate DBS clearance where required.
Those with designated safeguarding responsibilities, or who hold a safeguarding-related portfolio, must complete Designated Safeguarding Lead training in addition to the organisations in-house training. The training will cover;
- Key national legislation/guidance
- Local context – Families First, Safeguarding Practice Reviews, Cheshire East priorities
- Thresholds of need
- Screening tools
- The front door/Cheshire East Consultation Service
- When and when not to speak to parents about concerns
- Child & Family assessments, Child in Need, Child Protection, Family Group Conferencing – a summary of each of these and what to do if you are asked to attend.
- Escalation and professional challenge
- The role of the DSL
- Vulnerable children’s list to track vulnerabilities
- Themes staff need to be aware of
- Record keeping – CPOMS electronic system
Safeguarding supervision for staff
Certain roles that require further safeguarding training beyond the core requirements. The table below identifies all The Dome Youth Zones identified roles with enhanced training needs.
Any new or amended roles will be assessed by the Designated Safeguarding Lead to determine appropriate safeguarding training requirements.
Role [Level of Training Required]
CEO [DSL Training or equivalent]
Head of Youth Work [DSL Training or equivalent]
Head of Operations and People [DSL Training or equivalent]
Head of Fundraising [DSL Training or equivalent]
Team Leaders [DSL Training or equivalent]
Deputy Team Leaders [DSL Training or equivalent]
aim & scope
This policy is to ensures that the all employee, volunteers, trustees and partner agencies understand their legal and individual responsibilities to safeguard children and adults at risk.
It also ensures that everyone knows how to respond appropriately if they have a concern.
The Dome Youth Zone is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk by implementing:
- Robust safeguarding procedures.
- Safer recruitment and vetting of employees and/or other policies.
- A clear and appropriate code of conduct.
- Ongoing safeguarding training.
- Effective support for employees and/or others
- Clear safeguarding expectations for external agencies and partners.
LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK
This policy reflects:
- Children Act 1989 and 2004.
- Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023).
- Care Act 2014.
- Human Rights Act 1998.
- Equality Act 2010.
- Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR.
RECOGNISING ABUSE
Children
Abuse is defined as “a form of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm or by failing to act to prevent harm. Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting by those known to them or, more rarely, by others. Abuse can take place wholly online, or technology
may be used to facilitate offline abuse. Children may be abused by an adult or adults, or another child or children” (Working Together to Safeguard Children, 2018 and 2023).
Forms of child abuse include, but not limited to:
- Physical abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Neglect
- Sexual abuse
Adults at Risk
Safeguarding adults means protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. It involves individuals and organisations working together to prevent and stop both the risks and experience of abuse or neglect, while the adult’s wellbeing is promoted.
This includes, where appropriate, having regard to the adult’s views, wishes, feelings and beliefs when deciding on any action. It also recognises that adults may have complex interpersonal relationships and may sometimes be ambivalent, unclear or unrealistic about their personal circumstances. (Care Act 2014).
Forms of abuse affecting adults at risk include, but not limited to:
- Physical abuse
- Domestic violence or abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Psychological or emotional abuse
- Financial or material abuse
- Modern slavery
- Discriminatory abuse
- Organisational and/or institutional abuse
- Neglect or act of omission
- Self-neglect.
CONTEXTUAL SAFEGUARDING
Contextual Safeguarding – is an approach to understanding, and responding to, children (those under the age of 18 yrs) and young adult’s experience of significant harm that lies outside their families. Contextual safeguarding includes child sexual exploitation, missing children, gangs, county lines, radicalisation, modern slavery and all forms of criminal exploitation. There are clear links across these areas.
Child sexual exploitation is a form of child sexual abuse. It can occur where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator.
Child criminal exploitation occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into any criminal activity:
- in exchange for something the victim needs or wants.
- for the financial or other advantage of the perpetrator or facilitator.
- through violence or the threat of violence.
The victim may have been criminally exploited even if the activity appears consensual. Child criminal exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology. The criminal exploitation of children is not confined to ‘county lines’ but can also include other forms of criminal activity such as theft, acquisitive crime, knife crimes and other forms of criminality.
County lines is a term used to describe gangs and organised criminal networks involved in exporting illegal drugs into one or more importing areas [within the UK], using dedicated mobile phone lines or other form of ‘deal line’. They are likely to exploit children and adults at risk of harm to move and store the drugs and money, and they will often use coercion, intimidation, violence (including sexual violence)
and weapons.
Serious and Organised Crime – People who have worked together for an extended period to plan co-ordinate and conduct serious crime. Often these people are motivated to commit serious crime by the potential of financial gain.
Online Safety
The Dome Youth Zone recognises that safeguarding concerns can arise both online and offline. Individuals must follow the Social Media Policy and report concerns relating to online harm, exploitation, cyberbullying, online grooming, harmful content or inappropriate online behaviour.
What to do if you suspect abuse
A child or adult at risk may choose to disclose concerning information to any employees &/or others or may be observed carrying out concerning behaviour that raises concerns around possible abuse. It is not the duty of employees &/or others to investigate the issue themselves; however, it is their responsibility to gather as much information as possible.
Where you suspect a child or adult at risk is being abused or there is potential for harm, you should:
- Any safeguarding concern, allegation, Risk/suffering or suspicion of abuse must be reported immediately to a DSL, Deputy DSL or appropriate manager and recorded using the Cause for Concern process
- If there is significant concern the safeguarding lead or deputies will contact Children’s Services/Adult Services and/or the Police.
- They will need your support in making the referral to ensure the details are
recorded correctly. - If you are not sure or have any concerns, speak to your line manager or The Dome Youth Zone’s Safeguarding Lead. Remember this is what they are there for, to deal with any concerns and offer advice and support.
- They will need your support in making the referral to ensure the details are
- The supplementary Appendix includes a Flowchart to follow if you suspect abuse and/or harm has occurred to a child and/or adult at risk.
CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION
Our children, adults at risk and their parents/carers have the right to expect all employees &/or others to deal sensitively and sympathetically with their situation. It is important that information is only available to those who need to know it.
Parents/carers and, where appropriate, the child/adult at risk should be told that if a child/young person is at Risk of harm then information will be shared with the relevant professionals/services. Safeguarding issues relating to individual cases must not be subject to open discussion in any environment. Should any information or correspondence relate to specific safeguarding issues need to be sent via email or any other electronic means, The Dome Youth Zone.
The Designated Safeguarding Lead must be contacted prior to transmission. As a minimum, any attached documents must be password protected for confidentiality of sensitive information.
Employees &/or others should also remember to not promise children or adults at risk to keep ‘secrets’.
THE ROLE OF THE BOARD
The Board of Trustees is responsible for ensuring that effective safeguarding arrangements are in place and operating effectively across the organisation. The Board will receive regular safeguarding assurance, monitor safeguarding performance and provide appropriate challenge and oversight.
A safeguarding report will be received at each Board meeting to include the following:
- any changes in the safeguarding policy or procedures;
- an update on safeguarding training delivered;
- a summary of the number of Critical or High safeguarding incidents (as per OnSide Network Incident Escalation Policy and withholding any sensitive data) and the level to which they were escalated (See OnSide Network Incident Escalation Policy)
See Appendix 3 – Safeguarding Board Reporting for template
RELATED POLICIES
- Safeguarding Allegations Management Procedure
- Code of Conduct
- Dignity at Work Policy
- Recruitment and Selection Policy
- Social Media Policy
- Whistleblowing Policy
- Health and Safety Policy
- Lone Working Policy
- Data Protection Policy
monitored & reviewing
The Safeguarding Policy will be regularly monitored, and reviewed on an annual basis, by the Safeguarding Manager and Trustee responsible for safeguarding. The policy will also be reviewed in response to any changes in legislation or to The Dome Youth Zone working practices.
Child Centred Approach
The Dome Youth Zone adopts a child-centred approach to safeguarding. Children and young people will be listened to, respected and involved in decisions affecting them wherever appropriate. Their wishes, feelings and lived experiences will inform safeguarding decisions and interventions.
APPENDIX
safeguarding flow charts
What to do if you suspect abuse
further guidance
Further guidance can also be found here:
https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/pdf/livewell/care-and-support/thresholdsdocument-final-master.pdf
The Care Act 2014 sets out a clear legal framework for how local authorities and other parts of the system should protect adults at risk of abuse or neglect.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/23/contents/enacted
Cause for Concern (C4C) Form
The Dome Youth Zone uses a Cause for Concern (C4C) process to record safeguarding concerns, Risk/sufferings, allegations, welfare concerns and observed behaviours that may indicate a risk of harm. All concerns must be reported to a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or Deputy DSL as soon as possible and recorded using the C4C form. Records must be factual, timely, accurate and stored securely in accordance with safeguarding and data protection requirements.
Please scan the QR code below to report a safeguarding or behaviour concern. Please ensure you put your name on the form when you report it and the young persons name.
