SAFEGUARDING – HORIZON LIFE TRAINING

Section 1

The Organisation: Horizon Life Training

Address: Kennel Hall Farm, Ripon Road, Harrogate, HG3 2AY

Tel No: 01423 560841

General Email address: admin@horizonlifetraining.org.uk

Chair of Trustees Name: Mr David Smith

Chair of Trustees Contact Telephone / Email: davidandlizsmith@hotmail.com

Safeguarding Coordinator/Centre Manager Name: Bernadette Francies

Safeguarding Coordinator Contact Telephone / Email: bernie@horizonlifetraining.org.uk

Charity Number: 1134335

Company Number: 6995906

Insurance Company: Markel International Insurance Company Limited

The following is a brief description of our organisation and the type of work / activities we undertake with adults who have care and support needs:

Horizon Life Training (HLT) is a Christian Charity in Harrogate offering 12 month residential accommodation for men and women to help rebuild and transform their lives by providing bespoke education and training packages. HLT provide a move-on option for motivated men and women who have completed a residential rehabilitation programme and wish to add Functional and Vocational qualifications such as Maths, English, Health and Social Care, Hospitality, NVQ’s, Construction Trade Placements / Apprenticeship’s, IT and more to their portfolios. Working with training providers such as Harrogate Adult Learning, Higher Education Colleges in Harrogate, Leeds and York, alongside Local Businesses and Agencies HLT are able to offer a unique person centred approach to each applicant. HLT align each resident to community volunteer / placement roles relevant to their chosen vocation. The residents gain valuable experience building skills towards future employability. On occasion some placements have led to permitted work (this is not guaranteed), which can serve to provide a means to start saving for future needs such as a family provision, housing tenancy deposit and home furnishings etc. Applicants need be self-motivated to work a placement within their chosen vocation and to study in their free time without being prompted. Residents will also receive a variety of different life building skills in areas such as Cook & Eat, Budgeting and Debt Advice all helping to prepare them for independent living.

Our commitment

As the board of trustees and the management we recognise the need to provide a safe and caring environment for our residents. We acknowledge that children, young people and adults can be the victims of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, and neglect. We accept the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant of Human Rights, which states that everyone is entitled to “all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status”. As the board of trustees and the management we have therefore adopted the procedures set out in this safeguarding policy in accordance with statutory guidance. We are committed to build constructive links with statutory and voluntary agencies involved in safeguarding.

The policy and any attached practice guidelines are based on the ten Safe and Secure safeguarding standards published by thirtyone:eight.

The board of trustees and the management undertake to:
• endorse and follow all national and local safeguarding legislation and procedures, in addition to the international conventions outlined above.
• provide on-going safeguarding training for all its workers and will regularly review the operational guidelines attached.
• ensure that the premises meet the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and all other relevant legislation, and that it is welcoming and inclusive.
• support the Safeguarding Coordinator(s) in their work and in any action they may need to take in order to protect children and adults with care and support needs.
• the Board of trustees and the management agrees not to allow the document to be copied by other organisations.

Section 2
Prevention

Understanding abuse and neglect

Defining child abuse or abuse against an adult is a difficult and complex issue. A person may abuse by inflicting harm or failing to prevent harm. Children and adults in need of protection may be abused within a family, an institution or a community setting. Very often the abuser is known or in a trusted relationship with the child or adult.

In order to safeguard those in our places of worship and organisations we adhere to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and have as our starting point as a definition of abuse, Article 19:
1. States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other person who has the care of the child.
2. Such protective measures should, as appropriate, include effective procedures for the establishment of social programmes to provide necessary support for the child and for those who have the care of the child, as well as for other forms of prevention and for identification, reporting, referral, investigation, treatment and follow-up of instances of child maltreatment described heretofore, and, as appropriate, for judicial involvement.
Also for adults the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights with particular reference to Article 5:
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Detailed definitions, and signs and indicators of abuse, as well as how to respond to a disclosure of abuse, are included here in our policy.

Safer recruitment

The Board of trustees and the management will ensure all workers will be appointed, trained, supported and supervised in accordance with government guidance on safe recruitment. This includes ensuring that:

• There is a written job description / person specification for the post
• Those applying have completed an application form and a self-declaration form
• Those short listed have been interviewed
• Safeguarding has been discussed at interview
• Written references have been obtained, and followed up where appropriate
• A disclosure and barring check has been completed where necessary (we will comply with Code of Practice requirements concerning the fair treatment of applicants and the handling of information)
• Qualifications where relevant have been verified
• A suitable training programme is provided for the successful applicant
• The applicant has completed a probationary period
• The applicant has been given a copy of the organisation’s safeguarding policy and knows how to report concerns.

Safeguarding training
The board of trustees and the management are committed to on-going safeguarding training and development opportunities for all workers, developing a culture of awareness of safeguarding issues to help protect everyone. All our workers will receive induction training and undertake recognised safeguarding training on a regular basis.
The Board of trustees and the management will also ensure that adults with care and support needs are provided with information on where to get help and advice in relation to abuse, discrimination, bullying or any other matter where they have a concern.
Management of Workers – Codes of Conduct

As a Board of trustees and the management we are committed to supporting all workers and ensuring they receive support and supervision. All workers have been issued with a code of conduct towards adults with care and support needs.

Section 3
Practice Guidelines
As an organisation working with adults with care and support needs we wish to operate and promote good working practice. This will enable workers to run activities safely, develop good relationships and minimise the risk of false or unfounded accusation.

As well as a general code of conduct for workers we also have specific good practice guidelines for every activity we are involved in.

Working in Partnership

The diversity of organisations and settings means there can be great variation in practice when it comes to safeguarding adults with care and support needs. This can be because of cultural tradition, belief and religious practice or understanding, for example, of what constitutes abuse.

We therefore have clear guidelines in regards to our expectations of those with whom we work in partnership, whether in the UK or not. We will discuss with all partners our safeguarding expectations and have a partnership agreement for safeguarding. It is also our expectation that any organisation using our premises, as part of the letting agreement will have their own policy that meets thirtyone:eight’s safeguarding standards.

We believe good communication is essential in promoting safeguarding, both to those we wish to protect, to everyone involved in working with children and adults and to all those with whom we work in partnership. This safeguarding policy is just one means of promoting safeguarding.

 

Section 4
Responding to allegations of abuse

Under no circumstances should a volunteer or worker carry out their own investigation into an allegation or suspicion of abuse. Follow procedures as below:

• Documenting a concern
The worker or volunteer should make a report of the concern in the following way:

• The person in receipt of allegations or suspicions of abuse should report concerns as soon as possible to:
Name: Bernadette Francies(hereafter the “Safeguarding Co-ordinator”)
Tel: 01423560841
Email: bernie@horizonlifetraining.org.uk
The above is nominated by the Board of trustees and the management to act on their behalf in dealing with the allegation or suspicion of neglect or abuse, including referring the matter on to the statutory authorities.

• In the absence of the Safeguarding Co-ordinator or, if the suspicions in any way involve the Safeguarding Co-ordinator, then the report should be made to:
Name: David Smith (hereafter the “Deputy”)
Tel: 01943 884644
Email: davidandlizsmith@hotmail.com

If the suspicions implicate both the Safeguarding Co-ordinator and the Deputy, then the report should be made in the first instance to:
thirtyone:eight PO Box 133, Swanley, Kent, BR8 7UQ.
Tel: 0303 003 1111.
Alternatively contact Social Services or the police.

• The Safeguarding Co-ordinator should contact the appropriate agency or they may first ring the thirtyone:eight helpline for advice. They should then contact social services in the area the child or adult lives.
Name of local authority: North Yorkshire County Council
Adult Social Services
Tel: 01609 780780
Out of hours Tel: 01609 780780
Website Address: https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/safeguarding-vulnerable-adults

Police Protection Team Tel: 999

• The Safeguarding Co-ordinator may need to inform others depending on the circumstances and/or nature of the concern
 Chair or trustee responsible for safeguarding who may need to liaise with the insurance company or the charity commission to report a serious incident.
 Designated officer or LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) if the allegation concerns a worker or volunteer working with someone under 18.

• Suspicions must not be discussed with anyone other than those nominated above. A written record of the concerns should be made in accordance with these procedures and kept in a secure place.

• Whilst allegations or suspicions of abuse will normally be reported to the Safeguarding Co-ordinator, the absence of the Safeguarding Co-ordinator or Deputy should not delay referral to Social Services, the Police or taking advice from thirtyone:eight.

• The board of trustees and the management will support the Safeguarding Co-ordinator in their role and accept that any information they may have in their possession will be shared in a strictly limited way on a need to know basis.

• It is, of course, the right of any individual as a citizen to make a direct referral to the safeguarding agencies or seek advice from thirtyone:eight, although the Board of trustees and the management hope that resident service users of the organisation will use this procedure. If, however, the individual with the concern feels that the Safeguarding Co-ordinator/Deputy has not responded appropriately, or where they have a disagreement with the Safeguarding Co-ordinator(s) as to the appropriateness of a referral they are free to contact an outside agency direct. We hope by making this statement that the Board of trustees and the management demonstrate its commitment to effective safeguarding and the protection of all those who are vulnerable.

The role of the safeguarding co-ordinator/ deputy is to collate and clarify the precise details of the allegation or suspicion and pass this information on to statutory agencies who have a legal duty to investigate.

 

Detailed procedures where there is a concern that an adult is in need of protection:
Suspicions or allegations of abuse or harm including; physical, sexual, organisational, financial, discriminatory, neglect, self-neglect, forced marriage, modern slavery, domestic abuse.

If there is concern about any of the above, Safeguarding Co-ordinator will:

• Contact the Adult Social Care Team who have responsibility under the Care Act 2014 to investigate allegations of abuse. Alternatively thirtyone:eight can be contacted for advice.
• If the adult is in immediate danger or has sustained a serious injury contact the Emergency Services, informing them of any suspicions.

If there is a concern regarding spiritual abuse, Safeguarding Co-ordinator will:
• Identify support services for the victim i.e. counselling or other pastoral support
• Contact thirtyone:eight and in discussion with them will consider appropriate action with regards to the scale of the concern.
Allegations of abuse against a person who works with adults with care and support needs

The safeguarding co-ordinator will:

• Liaise with Adult Social Services in regards the suspension of the worker

• Make a referral to the DBS following the advice of Adult Social Services

The Care Act places the duty upon Adult Services to investigate situations of harm to adults with care and support needs. This may result in a range of options including action against the person or organisation causing the harm, increasing the support for the carers or no further action if the ‘victim’ chooses for no further action and they have the capacity to communicate their decision. However, this is a decision for Adult Services to decide not the church.

Section 5

Support

Supporting those affected by abuse

The Board of trustees and the management is committed to working with statutory agencies as appropriate, and support to all those who have been affected by abuse who have contact with or are part of the organisation.

Working with offenders and those who may pose a risk

When someone attending the organisation is known to have abused children, is under investigation, or is known to be a risk to adults with care and support needs; the Board of trustees and the management will supervise the individual concerned and offer pastoral care, but in its safeguarding commitment to the protection of children and adults with care and support needs, set boundaries for that person, which they will be expected to keep. These boundaries will be based on an appropriate risk assessment and through consultation with appropriate parties.

 © 2019 Thirtyone:eight – Company Registered in England No: 2646487, Charity No: 1004490

 

Horizon Life Training – Kennel Hall Farm, Ripon Road, Killinghall, Harrogate, HG3 2AY

Horizon Life Training is a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in England & Wales, company number 6995906, charity number 1134335