Safeguarding Policy

Introduction

Contact Hostel offers a supported accommodation for homeless young women in the Manchester area who are between 16 and 19 years old. We aim to provide more than just a place to stay, we aim to provide a home that is safe and secure, where it is possible to work towards the goal of a better and happier future.

This is promoted by the process of protecting young people from abuse or neglect, preventing impairment of their health and development, and ensuring they are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care that enables young people to have optimum life chances and enter adulthood successfully.

Statement of principles

The Contact Hostel is committed to practices that protect young people from harm. The legal definition of a child is that “a child is a child until their eighteenth birthday” The organisation recognises and accepts its responsibilities to develop the awareness of the issues that may cause children harm.

We will always work to appropriate Government guidance and all Local Safeguarding Children Board policies and procedures. We will always follow relevant Protection of Vulnerable Adult guidance.

Statement about working with children and young people

  • We are committed to updating and reviewing these policies and procedures on a regular basis.
  • We are committed to multi disciplinary working.
  • We will recruit all staff and volunteers in an equal opportunity way and ensure that full checks (including DBS) and references are undertaken before a person starts work.
  • We will provide all our staff with formal child protection training on induction and at intervals of at least every three years.
  • We will ensure a designated person is always available to co-ordinate all child protection and other protection concerns.
  • We will include a code of behaviour within this policy.

Vulnerable adult definition: Anyone who is eighteen years of age or over, who is or may be in need of social care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness: and who is or may be unable to protect her or himself against significant harm or exploitation.

Definitions of abuse

Physical abuse:
Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a child.

Emotional abuse:
Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to children that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person.

Sexual abuse:
Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether the child is aware of what is happening.

Neglect:
Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development.

Suspicions or allegations of abuse

Nominated Child Protection Person:
The Manager.

Deputy Nominated Person:
The Deputy Manager.

Local Safeguarding Team Contact

Address: Contact Centre MCC
Telephone: 0161 234 5001
Email: mcsreply@manchester.gov.uk
Emergency Duty Team: 0161 225 9295

British values and the Prevent duty

The Prevent Duty:
This is now included in statutory guidance to all workers working with children and young people. It is an essential part of safeguarding to identify children who may be vulnerable to radicalisation.

British Values
The Government defines British Values as:

  • Democracy
  • The rule of law
  • Individual liberty
  • Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

Contact for Radicalisation Concerns

Local Authority Community Cohesion Officer
Police Sergeant Darren Callaghan (9395)

City of Manchester Partnerships, GMP, Town Hall Extension, 1st Floor, M60 2AX.

Telephone: 0161 856 3673
Email: ManchesterCity.PartnershipTeam@gmp.police.uk