This Policy applies to all staff, including Psychologists, Associates, Supervisors, paid staff, volunteers, students or anyone working on behalf of Shortland Psychology.
The purpose of this policy:
To protect children, young people and vulnerable adults who receive Shortland Psychology’s 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
Shortland Psychology believes that a child, young person or vulnerable adult should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to protect the welfare of all children, young people and vulnerable adults and to keep them safe. We are committed to practice in a way that protects them.
Legal Framework:
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of law and guidance that seeks to protect children, namely:
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
This policy should read alongside our other policies and procedures on:
Confidentiality
Complaints
Privacy
Risk
Health & Safety
Please note, we follow the same Code of Conduct as the British Psychological Society (BPS)
What is abuse?
Abuse is the violation of an individual’s human rights. It can be a single act or repeated acts. It can be physical, sexual or emotional. It also includes acts of neglect or an omission to act. In all forms of abuse there are elements of emotional abuse. Vulnerable adults may also suffer additional types of abuse such as being manipulated financially or being discriminated against.
We recognise that:
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
We seek to keep children and vulnerable adults safe by:
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
Contact details:
Safeguarding Officer – Dr Andrea Shortland
Email:
Phone: 07714 082448
Alternative Safeguarding Contact – Dr Paddy McNally
Email:
Phone: 07835 028196
We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.
We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually. Changes and updates to the Privacy Policy will be available on the website.