Safeguarding policy
This Policy aligns with other associated policies of Rhea Projects
Safeguarding Policy Statement Rhea Projects
In our work we meet many children and adults who are potentially at risk for a variety of reasons. We aim to create a safe environment in which no child or adult will experience harm or exploitation during their contact with us. We will, where reasonably practicable, follow relevant UK and International laws and standards, as well as ensuring local legal compliance.
Rhea is committed to:
• Valuing, respecting, and listening to children and adults, maintaining confidentiality, and acting proportionately.
• Maintaining strong safeguarding systems, to reduce risk and manage situations where abuse and harm could occur.
• Share best practice and information regarding safeguarding concerns with relevant parties, involving children and adults where appropriate.
• conducting thorough assessments where abuse is suspected or has occurred.
We require all staff to ensure their behaviour is consistent with this policy. We also require that clients, customers, partners, and suppliers are made aware of this policy and operate within it. We will provide adequate and appropriate resources to implement this policy and will ensure it is communicated throughout the Rhea and understood by all staff.
Summary
This Policy sets out the broad framework and expectations relating to safeguarding children and adults. It articulates why safeguarding is important and the actions Rhea will take to meet its responsibilities when interacting with children and adults. The policy does not cover staff concerns which would ordinarily be address under other policies. Rhea promotes a zero-tolerance approach to inaction. In practice, this means that all necessary efforts will be made to comply with the Policy, irrespective of cost implications or operational inconvenience within the limited resources Rhea has.
Rhea requires all staff to immediately report safeguarding concerns to an appropriate Manager or Directly to Lynne Woodburn as the director responsible. This would be reported verbally or via email. This policy is in line with our values and links to our Code of Conduct. This policy is intended to compliment and reinforce other Rhea Policies and
Procedures that are relevant to Safeguarding – including Code of Conduct, Health & Safety, Equality and Data Protection.
Background
Definitions
Child A child is defined as:
Adult: An adult is defined as:
Staff:
The term staff applies to Rhea staff as well as contractors' staff in instances. This includes paid and unpaid staff and volunteers engaged on a one off, short, or long-term basis. It also covers consultants and contracted temporary personnel.
Partners, Suppliers & Contractors:
The terms ‘partners, suppliers and contractors’ relate to all those who we have a contract or agreement with to provide goods, services, or collaboration. There may be a financial or alternative benefit, but this is not essential. It includes implementing partners who carry out work on our behalf and other stakeholders with whom Rhea may establish a working relationship, such third sector organisations, delivery partners, donors and funders.
Safeguarding:
In the context of this policy, ‘safeguarding’ does not mean preventing accidents (covered by Health and Safety) or making sure that a child’s rights (as defined in legislation are fully implemented. Instead, we are referring specifically to the protection of children and adults from abuse.
Child Abuse:
Rhea uses the definition of abuse endorsed by the World Health Organisation
‘Child abuse’ or ‘maltreatment’ constitutes all forms of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, or negligent treatment or commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development, or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power’.
Adult Safeguarding:
Safeguarding adults means protecting an adult’s right to live safety, free from abuse and neglect. It is about people and organisations working together to both prevent and respond to risks and experiences of abuse or neglect. At the same time making sure the adult’s wellbeing is promoted, including where appropriate, having regard to their views, wishes, feelings and beliefs in deciding any action. Safeguarding adults involves reducing or preventing the risk of significant harm in relation to neglect or abuse, while also supporting people to maintain control of their own lives.
Sexual Exploitation Abuse and Harassment:
Sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH) is a distinct category of harm that poses unique risks to vulnerable individuals and populations, including children, adults, refugees and displaced persons. By incorporating SEAH guidance in the policy, Rhea recognises and addresses the specific risks, ensuring that individuals are better protected within the organisation’s activities and programmes. It also signals the commitment to accountability, transparency and responsible conduct and ensures Rhea takes proactive steps to prevent its staff volunteers and partners from being complicit in acts of exploitation and abuse. Emphasising SEAH in this policy seeks to promote a culture of respect, equality and nondiscrimination, discouraging harmful behaviours. Many countries have laws and regulations related to SEAH, which Rhea aims to be in alignment with. Also Rhea aims to appropriately mitigate legal risks and demonstrate compliance.
Introduction
The definitions of safeguarding that guides our work at Rhea are taken from the statutory guidance below:
For Rhea the contact with customers is limited to short term duration or phone contact. In the majority of cases the contact will be sufficiently brief to make identification of issues extremely difficult or impossible. This policy is mandatory and must be applied in all situations where Rhea, or our partners, work.
Rhea has a zero-tolerance inaction approach to safeguarding. In practice this means that all necessary efforts must be made to comply with the policy within the scope of our customer contact.
Our Policy considers two levels of intervention
Cultural Sensitivity
Rhea aims to work in ways which are culturally sensitive and respect the diverse nature of the people and locations in which we work. We will seek to safeguard children and adults in ways which are sensitive and appropriate to their context. It is acknowledged that protecting children and adults within the legal framework required of Rhea as a Lancashire based organisation, and as articulated in this policy, can be difficult. Understandings of what is harmful may differ between the organisations that Rhea contract with and partner with.
Rhea belief that “everyone everywhere matters” reflects our commitment to valuing the dignity, rights, and wellbeing of all individual, regardless of their background or circumstances. This foundational principle affirms our dedication to promoting a safe and inclusive environment for everyone we engage with, be it children or adults. The assertion that “culture must never be used as a reason to abuse children or adults” underscores Rhea's stance against cultural relativism when it comes to safeguarding vulnerable people. This means that cultural practices or beliefs should never be used as a justification or excuse for harmful behaviours, including sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment, regardless of cultural norms or traditions.
Rhea's policy is written as a small independent contractor, however Rhea are aware of the Lancashire wide policy in this respect and any identified issues brought forward specifically under ChiL would be actioned if practicable and feasible.
Purpose
To ensure that Rhea exercises its duty of care to safeguard children and adults.
Scope
All staff are expected to comply with this policy. The policy covers partners, contractors, and suppliers, and is also relevant for those with whom we engage including children, parents, and communities. In cases where Rhea is not the lead partner (i.e., we are not the primary funders), then it is expected that we will encourage and advocate for our partners to either follow the Rhea Safeguarding Policy or develop their own.
Principles
There are several key pieces of legislation and guidance that inform the principles underpinning this policy, and our practice in relation to safeguarding children and adults, these include:
Children
Adults
People are supported and encouraged to make their own decisions and to give informed consent.
Rhea will look to mitigate risks where possible
The least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented
Support and representation for those in greatest need.
Services offer local solutions through working closely with their communities. Communities have a part to play in preventing, detecting, and reporting safeguarding concerns.
Accountability and transparency in delivering safeguarding.
Preventative Actions
The key to safeguarding is abuse prevention. It is widely recognised that organisational awareness and good practice can promote positive staff actions, reduce opportunities for offending and enable earlier detection and response to safeguarding concerns. Design, development and delivery of programmes and projects that have not appropriately and proactively assessed safeguarding risk can negatively impact children and adults who may directly or indirectly be harmed because of our activities. The following areas outline the ways in which this policy will be implemented across the organisation, in addition to the systems in place to support abuse prevention, so that children and adults are not harmed during their contact with Rhea
Roles and Responsibilities
Across the organisation, there are specific roles that have named and defined responsibilities to support corporate strategy, risk management and ensure effective implementation of Safeguarding Policies and Procedures. The director will be responsible for developing procedures and guidance available to all staff and partners. This will be further supported by team talk training.
Risk Mapping, Self-Audit & Action Plans
To support prevention mechanisms, to reduce the likelihood of incidents occurring Rhea will look at work processes to identify where safeguarding issues are prevalent and suggest potential safeguards. This self-audit of safeguarding may help to measure progress in implementing the Safeguarding Policy but more importantly identify gaps in Safeguarding.
Integrating Safeguarding
Safeguarding must be integrated and actively managed into new and existing business activities, processes, and systems to promote and mainstream abuse prevention throughout Rhea. Safeguarding must be considered from the outset, during scheme design and development and all planning stages. Special consideration to safeguarding must be given when working with children and adults in difficult and challenging locations or where children and adults may be especially vulnerable (for example due to young age, disability, race, culture or gender) in order to ensure that all risks are adequately considered and addressed.
Information and Training
To ensure the effective implementation of the Safeguarding Policy into action, following appointment, all staff, partners and contractors will be given training on the Safeguarding Policy. While Rhea has a responsibility to ensure awareness and education is provided in accordance with the policy. All staff have an individual responsibility for accessing and participating in such training. All staff should have access to the Safeguarding Policy. All partners, suppliers, contractors, and customers (including children, adults and parents who participate in projects and programmes) should be made aware of the existence of our Safeguarding Policy and provided with copies on request. This should include advice about who to contact if they have a concern / allegation or a complaint.
Advice and Support
All staff have access to advice and support regarding the integration of safeguarding within business activities, implementation of the Safeguarding Policy or its applicability. In cases where staff have specific safeguarding concerns or need further assistance, they should contact their manager.
Responding to Allegations and Concerns
Rhea has specific legal and regulatory obligations under UK law as specified in the Principles section of this document.
Rhea has a duty of care to:
What is Abuse?
Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights.
Physical
Assault, rough handling, pushing, biting, scalding, spitting, punching, unauthorised restraint
Domestic Violence
Controlling, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour in intimate or familial relationships
Sexual
The threatened or actual physical intrusion of a sexual or sexualised nature, including inappropriate touching, by force or under unequal or coercive conditions, sexual assault and rape. It may also include threatened or actual non-physical intrusion (unwanted and/or uninvited exposure to pornography, texts, images, and so on, the sharing of images, texts and so on, demands for sexualised photographs etc.).
Sexual Exploitation
Any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust for sexual purposes. Includes profiting momentarily, socially, or politically from sexual exploitation of another. It includes transactional sex, solicitation of transactional sex and exploitative relationship. This includes any offer or promise for sexual or sexualised acts, in exchange for money, goods, services, or opportunities. It also includes demands for inappropriate/unconsented photography, filming, or exposure to pornography or pornographic material etc.
Neglect & Acts of Omission
The ongoing failure to meet a person’s basic physical, emotional, or psychological needs. For example, not providing food, shelter, or clothing, not responding to educational or medical needs of someone who is reliant on you.
Psychological or Emotional
Intimidation, coercion, harassment, threats, Cyber bullying, enforced isolation, intentionally leaving someone unattended when they need assistance; stopping a person from meeting their religious and cultural needs; preventing the expression of choice and opinion
Organisational or Institutional
Abusive and disrespectful attitudes toward people using the service, lack of respect for dignity and privacy
Modern Slavery
Human trafficking, forced labour, debt bondage, sexual exploitation
Discriminatory
Unequal treatment based on difference – race, gender, civil partnerships, belief, sex or sexual orientation
Financial or Material
Theft of money, scamming, fraud, preventing someone from accessing their own money, false representation, exploitation of a person's money or assets
Everyone shares responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults and for supporting the implementation of this policy, irrespective of individual roles. Managers are accountable for fostering a safe working environment that is free from any form of harassment, exploitation, abuse, or harm. They lead by example and uphold the highest ethical standards. In addition, post holders, including managers and those with additional safeguarding responsibilities, will have specific responsibilities as described in their role profile. Irrespective of role or function, all those working for or on behalf of Rhea, in any capacity, have a responsibility to:
It is not the responsibility of staff to decide whether abuse has taken place. All staff, however, have a mandatory duty to report any concerns – even where these are vague and are only a suspicion or ‘intuition’ that something is not right. No staff member can agree to keep information regarding actual or suspected abuse ‘private’ as a personal confidence. Rhea is not an investigative authority, and therefore where appropriate referrals will be made to relevant social welfare/statutory and law enforcement agencies. Rhea will seek agreement to making a referral from the child and their parents/guardians or the adult unless this places them at increased danger/risk of harm. In such cases the decision to refer without this consent will be made in conjunction with the director. The No Harm principle will also be applied in all cases where there is a need for a referral to an external statutory agency. To report an allegation or concern, contact your manager or director.
Safer Recruitment
A strong emphasis on safer recruitment demonstrates Rhea’s commitment to safeguarding and helps in maintaining our reputation as a responsible and reliable organisation. Adhering to the legal requirements of the different jurisdictions in which Rhea operates, helps us to be compliant and avoid possible legal liabilities. Rigorous safer recruitment procedures are vital to ensure that only safe, trustworthy, and qualified candidates are hired. By carefully selecting and screening employees and volunteers, the chances of incidents related to abuse or exploitation are reduced, leading to a safer environment for all. Rhea’s Code of Conduct is incorporated within the recruitment process, making it clear what behaviours are expected from staff.
Accountability, Monitoring and Evaluation
Accountability for the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy rests with the director. All breaches of the Safeguarding Policy will be considered as serious, and action taken.
Review of Safeguarding Policy
Responsibility for reviewing and updating the Safeguarding Policy lies with the director. This Policy will be reviewed appropriate to changes and as a result of any reporting, to ensure it continues to meet legislative, regulatory requirements and best practice.
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