
Safeguarding Policy
Safeguarding Policy
This Policy applies to all staff, including Psychologists, Associates, Supervisors, paid staff, volunteers, students or anyone working on behalf of Pocket Family Psychologist.
The purpose of this policy:
- To protect children, young people and vulnerable adults who receive Pocket Family Psychologist services. This includes the children of adults who use our services
- To provide staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding and child protection
- Children Act 1989
- United Convention of the Rights of the Child 1991
- Data Protection Act 1998
- Human Rights Act 1998
- Sexual Offences Act 2003
- Children Act 2004
- Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
- Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
- Children & Families Act 2014
- Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) code of practice: 0 – 25 years – Statutory guidance for organisations which work with and support children and young people who have special educational needs or disabilities: HM Government 2014
- Information sharing: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers.: HM Government 2015
- Working together to safeguarding children: a guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children: HM Government 2015
- General Data Protection Regulations 2018
- Confidentiality
- Complaints
- Privacy
- Risk
- Health & Safety
- Please note, we follow the same Code of Conduct as the British Psychological Society (BPS)
- The welfare of the child or vulnerable adult is paramount
- All children and vulnerable adults, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexuality or identity, have a right to equal protection from all types of harm and abuse
- Some children and adults are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues
- Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers, vulnerable adults and other agencies is essential in promoting a person’s welfare
- Valuing them, listening to and respecting them
- Adopting child protection and safe-guarding practices through procedures and a code of conduct for staff and volunteers
- Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures
- Recruiting staff and volunteers carefully, ensuring all necessary checks are made
- Recording and storing information professionally and securely
- Sharing information about safeguarding and good practice with children, vulnerable adults, their families, staff and volunteers by providing them with copies of our procedures
- The safe and appropriate use of cameras, mobile phones, technology and online equipment within the setting
- Using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, vulnerable adults, parents and families and carers appropriately
- Ensuring that we have effective complaints measures in place
- Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, vulnerable adults, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance
We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually. Changes and updates to the Privacy Policy will be available on the website.
Dated: 21st June 2020
By: Saskia Raymond