Levenshulme Old Library Charitable Incorporated Organisation Safeguarding Policy
Levenshulme Old Library CIO (LOLCIO) is committed to ensuring that young people and vulnerable adults who use our services, work with us, and for us, are not abused and that our working practices minimise the risk of such abuse. All Trustees, Staff and Volunteers of LOLCIO have a duty to identify abuse and report it.
Due to the nature of our organisation as the management of and an enabler of activities within Levenshulme Old Library in general LOLCIO does not directly work with or provide services with vulnerable people and would most likely do so through intermediaries, such as those hiring Levenshulme Old Library for activities they run. Nevertheless we take our duties to provide a safe building seriously.
Definition of vulnerable people
Vulnerable people may be unable to take care of themselves and unable to protect themselves from harm or exploitation by other people. We define vulnerable people as primarily either:
• Young people under the age of 18.
• Vulnerable adults who are over 18 years of age and are getting or may need help and services to live in the community.
The aim of this policy is to establish best practice guidelines to safeguard vulnerable people at risk of abuse and neglect. This policy is our commitment to the following principles:
• Everyone using our services, working with us, and for us are safe;
• Everyone has the right to live their life free from violence, fear and abuse;
• Everyone has the right to be protected from harm and exploitation;
• Everyone has the right to self-determination, which may involve a degree of risk.
Abuse can include:
• Physical;
• Financial;
• Material;
• Sexual;
• Psychological;
• Discriminatory;
• Emotional abuse;
• Neglect.
Abuse can take place in any setting, public or private, and can be perpetuated by anyone.
Rights and Responsibilities
Responsibilities of all Trustees, Staff and Volunteers of LOLCIO:
• To ensure all are aware of vulnerable peoples’ need for protection;
• To notify the appropriate agencies if abuse is identified or suspected;
• To support and where possible secure the safety of individuals and ensure that all referrals to services have full information in relation to identified risk and vulnerability;
• If necessary to undergo checks through the Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) for all Trustees, Staff and Volunteers of LOLCIO that have access to or work with Vulnerable People
• To be familiar with the vulnerable people safeguarding policy;
• To take appropriate action in line with the policy of LOLCIO;
Support for those who report abuse
All those making a complaint or allegation or expressing concern, whether they are Trustees, Staff and Volunteers of LOLCIO or service users or members of the general public should be reassured that:
• They will be taken seriously;
• Their comments will usually be treated confidentially, but their concerns may be shared with the appropriate authorities if they or others are at significant risk;
• LOLCIO has a named Safeguarding Lead who will be responsible for investigating any alleged abuse and taking any appropriate action.
The Vulnerable person has the right:
• To be made aware of this policy;
• To have alleged incidents recognised and taken seriously;
• To receive fair and respectful treatment throughout;
• To be involved in any process as appropriate;
• To receive information about the outcome.
Safeguarding Lead:
Name:
Address:
Telephone:
Position: Trustee
Date: 8/6/2018
We are also committed to reviewing our policy and good practice regularly, and this will normally be bi-annually.
This policy will be reviewed at intervals of two years to ensure it remains up to date and compliant with the law.
Trustees share overall and final responsibility for equal opportunities.
The named project lead has responsibility for ensuring this policy is put into practice on location during projects and events.
Signed in hard copy by Jez Hall (Trustee) Dated 8/6/2018