TECHED OFF Safeguarding Policy

Purpose

This policy has been created to protect children, at risk adults and any beneficiaries of assistance, from any harm that may be caused due to their coming into contact with Teched Off.  This includes harm arising from:

·      The conduct of staff or personnel associated with Teched Off

·      The design and implementation of Teched Off’s programmes and activities

This policy lays out Teched Off’s commitments and informs staff and any associated personnel of their safeguarding responsibilities.  

Safeguarding defined

In the UK, safeguarding means protecting peoples' health, wellbeing and human rights. It also means enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect.

We understand it to mean protecting everybody from harm that arises from coming into contact with our staff or our programmes.

Scope

·      All staff contracted by Teched Off

·      Associated personnel whilst engaged with work or visits related to Teched Off, including but not limited to the following: consultants; volunteers; contractors; programme visitors including journalists, celebrities and politicians

Policy Statement

Teched Off believes that everyone we come into contact with, regardless of their age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or ethnicity has the right to be protected from all forms of harm, abuse, neglect and exploitation.  Teched Off will not tolerate abuse and exploitation by staff or associated personnel.

This policy addresses:  child safeguarding and adult safeguarding.

Our responsibilities

Teched Off will:

·      Ensure all staff have access to, are familiar with, and know their responsibilities within this policy

·      Design and carry out all its programmes and activities in a way that protects people from any risk of harm that may arise from their coming into contact with Teched Off. 

·      Implement safeguarding procedures when recruiting, managing and deploying staff and associated personnel

·      Ensure staff receive training on safeguarding at a level commensurate with their role in the organization

·      Follow up on reports of safeguarding concerns promptly and according to due process

·      Where we are doing online training or video calls, we will not have conversations with a child or children on their own. We ensure that none of our staff will have access to personal information beyond what is needed for the call, such as an email address.

·      We use Google Meet rather than Zoom for greater security. Information shared on a call will not be shared without the prior written consent of the person or people on the call. Where those on calls are children, there will be no subsequent contact between Teched Off and those children.
In case of allegations, we will keep the recordings for two weeks following a call, then delete the recording.

·      If visiting schools, holding events or giving talks in the community, in person, we will adhere to any safeguarding policies and procedures of the host organisation.

·      All staff, volunteers and board members who work directly or indirectly with Teched Off and will be in contact with vulnerable adults or children will receive safeguarding training. Teched off will ensure that any of our staff, directors or volunteers has the appropriate level of safeguarding training.

·      Safeguarding is reviewed yearly during our board meetings and we amend the policy as we go along if needed, for example in the event of any safeguarding concern.

·      All staff, volunteers and trustees who are working directly with vulnerable adults or children will have the appropriate DBS check.

Reporting concerns

Safeguarding concerns should be reported to Safeguarding Lead, Miranda Wilson – mim@teched-off.com or phone 07904 171708 as soon as possible. If someone isn’t happy with our actions in event of a specific situation, they can get in touch with the local safeguarding board. For adults, get in touch with the Somerset Safeguarding Board - adults. For children, get in touch with the Somerset Safeguarding Board - children. In an emergency, call 999. We will only store information related to safeguarding concerns for as long as it is needed for an investigation, after which it will be permanently deleted.  If your concern is about Miranda Wilson, contact the relevant safeguarding board for your area.

Confidentiality

It is essential that confidentiality in maintained at all stages of the process when dealing with safeguarding concerns.  Information relating to the concern and subsequent case management should be shared on a need-to-know basis only, and should be kept secure at all times. If we believe a child or vulnerable adult is at risk of harm, we will notify the relevant authority.

Contact details

Nominated Safeguarding Lead

Name: Miranda Wilson

Phone/email: 07904 171708, mim@teched-off.com

We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.

This policy was last reviewed on: 16 September 2023

Signed: …………………………………………………………………………

Date: …………………………………………………………………………