Safeguarding

Leap works directly with young people to help them better navigate different conflicts in their lives. We also train the adult professionals working with them, to build their confidence and skills and help them to understand the issues facing young people and society.

We are committed to providing safe and supportive environments for everyone involved in our organisation and the work we do. We believe that everyone, and specifically those who are in vulnerable circumstances and less able to protect themselves, has the right to be kept safe from harm, exploitation, abuse and neglect.

Every Leap representative has a personal responsibility for safeguarding children and adults. They do this by considering the safety and well-being of all those involved in our activities and by protecting children and adults from harm, exploitation, abuse and neglect, reporting concerns whenever this happens.

OUR SAFEGUARDING COMMITMENT

LEAP WILL:

  • promote the general safety and well-being of all.
  • take steps to minimise the possibility that harm, exploitation, abuse and neglect occur, which includes being drawn into terrorism and violent extremism.
  • develop trusting and respectful relationships with those we work with, recognising that they have rights as individuals and should be treated with dignity and respect and in doing so, provide them with a safe and supportive environment.
  • take steps to ensure those involved in our organisation and the work we do are not discriminated against, by us, through being a child, or on grounds of age, sex, gender, disability, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation, appearance or cultural background, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity.
  • act quickly and appropriately where there are safeguarding concerns.

TO MEET THIS COMMITMENT, WE WILL ENSURE THAT: 

  • every Leap representative, and any organisation we work with, has access to the safeguarding policy and guidance and understands their role and responsibilities, which includes what to do if they have a concern.
  • we actively create safe and supportive environments for everyone involved in our organisation
  • there are appropriate risk assessments in place for all our programmes and activities.
  • we encourage the active participation of children and adults in keeping themselves and others safe, encouraging them to voice their concerns and know where and how to seek help if needed.
  • effective procedures are in place for responding to safeguarding concerns.
  • we practice safe recruitment in checking the suitability of Leap representatives, especially those who work with children or adults at risk.
  • the safeguarding policy and guidance meet the requirements of legislation and statutory guidance (England and Wales) and the Charity Commission.
  • the organisation continues to monitor the implementation of the safeguarding policy and guidance and take any measures required to strengthen and improve existing practice.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

ALL LEAP REPRESENTATIVES 

All Leap representatives have the following responsibilities, to:

  • understand and be familiar with the safeguarding policy and guidance.
  • undertake any appropriate training to support their role.
  • follow safe working practice.
  • act appropriately and challenge inappropriate behaviour in others.
  • recognise the signs of harm, exploitation, abuse and neglect.
  • know how to follow and use the procedure for reporting safeguarding concerns.

The following positions have specific safeguarding responsibilities within the organisation.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 

The Board of Trustees has strategic responsibility for ensuring effective safeguarding practice throughout the organisation. They must take steps to ensure that those benefiting from, or working with, Leap are not harmed in any way through contact with it. They should ensure safeguarding policies and guidance are approved, implemented and monitored. They do this by annually reviewing and approving this policy and any associated safeguarding guidance or reports.

The Board of Trustees will, on occasion, be responsible for working directly with the Chief Executive and Designated Safeguarding Lead when a serious incident is being managed.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE 

The Chief Executive is responsible for ensuring Leap has, and regularly reviews, an appropriate and effective safeguarding policy, there are clear lines of accountability and that the Senior Management Team has the resources to implement these across all areas of their work. They must advise the Board of Trustees of any major causes of concern and present the annual safeguarding report for approval.

SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM 

The Senior Management Team are responsible for the implementation of the policy and its accompanying procedures across their areas of responsibility. They must ensure any safeguarding concerns, allegations or incidents have been reported and that any children and adults involved in Leap’s work are ultimately safeguarded. They will do this by regularly reviewing and reporting on the quality, consistency and effectiveness of safeguarding practice in their area of responsibility.

MANAGERS 

Managers are responsible for overseeing the safe delivery, quality and effectiveness of work and services and promoting good practice across their areas of responsibility.

This includes:

  • ensuring their staff and volunteers are aware of their safeguarding roles and responsibilities and undertake any required safeguarding induction and training.
  • consideration of safeguarding in the development of all new pieces of work.
  • ensuring safeguarding guidance and appropriate risk assessments are in place and regularly reviewed in all existing pieces of work.
  • including safeguarding as part of regular development and supervision discussions.
  • ensuring that safeguarding concerns, discussions and actions are recorded and referred according to Leap’s procedures.

WORKING WITH PARTNERS AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS

When we work with partners and other external organisations we will provide guidance about safeguarding and our respective responsibilities. Where appropriate, a signed service level agreement or contract will be in place, which confirms the safeguarding policy and guidance have been shared and meet the required standards and we are confident that all appropriate steps have been taken to safeguard young people and adults. Therefore, as well as understanding Leap’s safeguarding policy, partners and other external organisations must ensure all Leap representatives have access to their own safeguarding policies and guidance.

DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING TEAM

The designated safeguarding team consists of the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Designated Safeguarding Officers.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) acts as the main source of support, advice and expertise for safeguarding and they are responsible for compiling the annual safeguarding report.

The Designated Safeguarding Officers (DSO) have responsibility for responding to safeguarding concerns within Leap. They do not replace the DSL, but they act as an operational deputy in responding to safeguarding concerns.

If you have a safeguarding concern

If you are concerned that Leap or one of its representatives, is endangering the safety or wellbeing of others please contact: Ruth Chapple, Designated Safeguarding Lead on ruth.chapple@leapcc.org.uk or on 07545 400010.