VHANI Foundation CIC: Safeguarding Policy
Purpose
The VHANI Foundation CIC strives to safeguard all stakeholders, including beneficiaries, staff, volunteers, contractors, and partners, while providing a transparent and fair mechanism for addressing complaints. This policy upholds legal and ethical standards, fostering trust and accountability across all activities in the London Boroughs. VHANI Foundation CIC is committed to improving the lives of vulnerable individuals and families, particularly those facing socio-economic challenges. The foundation ensures that all individuals—especially children, young people, and vulnerable adults—are protected from harm, abuse, and neglect through robust safeguarding measures. These measures are embedded across all programs and services, prioritizing safety and well-being. This policy also establishes clear procedures for managing complaints in a transparent and equitable manner. By addressing concerns promptly and fairly, the foundation strengthens its services and builds trust within the community. The mechanism ensures stakeholders feel comfortable raising issues, knowing they will be treated impartially and lead to continuous improvement. The foundation strictly adheres to relevant UK laws and regulations, including the Children Act 1989 and 2004, the Care Act 2014, and the Equality Act 2010. Regular training for staff, volunteers, and partners ensures safeguarding measures are consistently implemented. This policy reflects VHANI Foundation CIC’s core values of transparency, fairness, respect, and accountability.
Safeguarding Policy
Principles of Safeguarding
The principle of "Duty of Care" emphasizes VHANI Foundation CIC’s commitment to proactively ensuring the safety, well-being, and rights of all individuals involved in its operations. This includes beneficiaries, staff, volunteers, and other stakeholders.
Training Staff and Volunteers:
Regular and mandatory training sessions equip staff and volunteers to identify signs of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
o Training includes recognizing physical, emotional, psychological, and environmental risks that could harm vulnerable individuals.
o Staff and volunteers are taught how to respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns, ensuring timely intervention.
Creating a Safe Environment:
o Programs and services are designed to minimize potential risks to stakeholders by incorporating protective measures.
o Physical safety measures (e.g., secure premises, proper supervision) and psychological safety (e.g., promoting inclusive, respectful interactions) are prioritized.
Promoting Well-being:
o Preventive actions, such as regular check-ins and community engagement, identify risks before harm occurs.
o Risk management strategies are developed to mitigate potential hazards in programs and services.
VHANI Foundation CIC adopts a zero-tolerance approach to any form of harm, ensuring immediate action against abuse, exploitation, neglect, or discrimination.
Forms of Abuse:
o Physical Abuse: Includes actions causing physical harm, such as hitting, shaking, or inappropriate restraint.
o Emotional Abuse: Involves actions that harm an individual's mental health, such as verbal abuse, humiliation, or manipulation.
o Sexual Abuse: Covers inappropriate sexual behavior, advances, or exploitation. o Psychological Abuse: Involves intimidation, threats, or controlling behavior that affects mental well-being.
Psychological Abuse: Involves intimidation, threats, or controlling behavior that affects mental well-being.
Neglect:
o Neglect refers to the failure to provide essential support, care, or protection to vulnerable individuals
Exploitation:
o Includes using individuals for personal or financial gain, such as forced labor or monetary exploitation.
Discrimination:
o Any unfair or unequal treatment based on race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or other characteristics is actively opposed. Immediate Response:
o When incidents are reported or identified, action is taken without delay. This may involve reporting to authorities, supporting the victim, or removing the perpetrator from their role.
The foundation uses proactive strategies to prevent safeguarding issues before they arise.
Risk Assessments:
o Regular assessments identify potential hazards in programs, premises, and activities.
o Risks are documented, evaluated, and addressed through tailored mitigation plans.
Safe Recruitment Processes:
o Recruitment involves thorough background checks, including criminal record checks (DBS checks in the UK), to ensure individuals working with vulnerable groups are suitable and trustworthy.
o Interviews assess candidates' understanding and commitment to safeguarding principles.
Training Programs:
o Comprehensive safeguarding training equips staff and volunteers with the knowledge to prevent, identify, and respond to risks.
o Refresher courses ensure that safeguarding awareness remains current.
Clear Reporting Mechanisms:
o Reporting mechanisms are established for stakeholders to raise concerns easily. This includes anonymous channels for whistleblowers.
o Guidelines clearly outline how to report concerns, ensuring all parties understand the process.
Community Awareness:
o Outreach efforts educate the broader community about safeguarding principles, encouraging collective responsibility for protection.
VHANI Foundation CIC ensures its safeguarding practices align with all relevant UK legislation and best practices.
Children Act 1989 and 2004:
o These acts establish the welfare of children as paramount, requiring organizations to protect children from harm and promote their well-being.
Care Act 2014:
o This act emphasizes the protection of adults at risk of abuse or neglect, ensuring their rights, dignity, and well-being are prioritized.
Equality Act 2010:
o This legislation prohibits discrimination and promotes equality, ensuring fair treatment for all individuals regardless of personal characteristics.
Adherence to Standards:
o The foundation regularly reviews its policies and procedures to ensure compliance with updates in legislation and guidance from regulatory bodies.
The foundation is committed to open communication about its safeguarding practices while respecting the confidentiality and privacy of those involved.
Clear Communication:
o Safeguarding policies and procedures are accessible to stakeholders, ensuring they are informed about their rights and the organization's responsibilities.
o Regular updates and reports on safeguarding activities and improvements are shared with stakeholders.
Confidentiality:
o Information about safeguarding incidents is treated with the highest level of confidentiality to protect the privacy and dignity of all parties involved.
o Details are shared only with those who need to know, such as safeguarding officers, investigators, or external authorities.
Safeguarding Responsibilities
1.Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO):
o Oversees safeguarding practices across the organization:
The DSO ensures safeguarding measures are integrated into all operations of VHANI Foundation CIC. By maintaining a consistent approach, they oversee compliance with internal policies and external regulations.
o Acts as the primary contact for all safeguarding concerns or incidents:
The DSO is the first point of contact for reporting safeguarding issues. This central role ensures that concerns are addressed promptly and effectively, minimizing risks to individuals involved.
o Ensures compliance with current safeguarding regulations and best practices:
The DSO is tasked with staying informed on the latest safeguarding standards and legal requirements, such as the Children Act 1989, the Care Act 2014, and the Equality Act 2010. They also ensure regular reviews and updates of safeguarding policies to reflect changes in legislation or organizational needs.
2. Training and Awareness:
o Mandates safeguarding training for all staff and volunteers:
VHANI Foundation CIC prioritizes the training of its workforce to recognize and respond to safeguarding concerns. All staff and volunteers are required to undergo safeguarding training during their onboarding, ensuring they understand their responsibilities.
o Conducts regular refresher courses and community engagement initiatives to foster awareness:
To maintain high awareness levels, the foundation organizes regular refresher sessions. These sessions help reinforce the principles of safeguarding and update participants on new practices or case studies. The foundation also engages with communities through workshops and awareness campaigns to promote a collective understanding of safeguarding responsibilities.
3. Reporting Procedures:
o Requires immediate reporting of safeguarding concerns:
VHANI Foundation CIC emphasizes the importance of timely reporting. Staff, volunteers, and beneficiaries are encouraged to report concerns as soon as they arise to prevent further harm.
o Provides anonymous reporting channels for whistleblowers:
To ensure inclusivity and mitigate fear of retaliation, the foundation has established anonymous reporting mechanisms. These mechanisms encourage individuals to share their concerns freely, even if they prefer to remain unidentified.
o Ensures secure documentation and confidentiality for all incidents:
All safeguarding reports are documented in a secure manner, with strict confidentiality protocols in place. Only authorized personnel have access to these records to protect the privacy and dignity of those involved.
