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Little Art Hub Safeguarding Policy​

• This Safeguarding Policy applies to all activities undertaken by Little Art Hub and impacts upon workers, participants, audiences, volunteers, partners, and artists.

• Little Art Hub will monitor the implementation and application of this Safeguarding Policy to ensure that it reflects and meets the needs of the diverse communities we serve.

• The responsibility for implementing this policy lies with the Little Art Hub committee and will be actively supported and implemented by all contracted workers.

• Volunteers will be fully briefed and provided with a copy of this policy. Little Art Hub aims to comply with all relevant legislation and regulations regarding the safeguarding of everyone, including children and vulnerable adults and will regularly update this policy when a revision is made.

• Any complaint or grievance under this policy should be made in writing to the LAH committee. The matter will then be formally investigated by our designated safeguarding person who will report back to the committee members. If the complaint or grievance is considered reasonable, the committee shall decide by majority vote on the appropriate action to be taken.

• This policy aims to ensure that children and vulnerable adults are protected, and that we work within the principles of dignity, safety, equality and diversity, to deliver our activities in a way which keeps everybody safe.

 

Working with vulnerable adults and children

Little Art Hub believe that it is always unacceptable for a child, young person or adult to experience abuse of any kind. We recognise our responsibility to safeguard the welfare of everyone, by a commitment to practices which protect them.

A vulnerable adult is a person who is, or may be for any reason, unable to take care of themselves, or unable to protect themselves against significant harm of exploitation.

All vulnerable adults at risk, regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse. Working in partnership with vulnerable adults at risk, their relatives, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting their welfare.

We recognise that the welfare of children and young people is paramount, as stated in the Children Act 1989. All children, regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse.
Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.

 

The Purpose of our Safeguarding Policy

The purpose of our Safeguarding Policy and practices include:

• To provide protection for the children, young people and vulnerable adults who participate

  in, receive services from, or volunteer with Little Art Hub.

• To provide LAH staM, freelancers, partners and volunteers with guidance on procedures

  they should adopt in the event that they suspect a child, young person or vulnerable adult

  may be experiencing, or be at risk of, harm.

• Ensure that all external parties hiring, facilitating workshops that involve children, young

  people and vulnerable adults in LAH have appropriate Safeguarding policies, PVG’s and an

  understanding of this safeguarding policy.

• To actively promote the empowerment and wellbeing of children, young people and

  vulnerable adults. Little Art Hub is committed to supporting the rights of adults at risk to be protected from abuse, and to ensure prompt action when dealing with allegations or suspicions of abuse.

 

To support vulnerable adults, children or young people who are experiencing, or at risk from, abuse, Little Art Hub is committed to:

• Responding effectively to any circumstances giving grounds for concern, or where formal complaints or expressions of anxiety are expressed.

• Ensuring the active participation of individuals, families, groups and communities wherever possible and appropriate.

• Regularly monitoring and evaluating how our policies, procedures and practices for protecting vulnerable adults, children or young people are working.

• Making sure our policies, procedures and practices stay up to date with good practice and the law in relation to safeguarding vulnerable adults, children or young people.

• Ensuring our procedures are in line with the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Procedures.

 

Safeguarding information and procedures​

• All staff, volunteers, partners, external users and hirers of Little Art Hub, who work directly with vulnerable adults, children or young people will

• complete or present an up-to-date PVG certification prior to any activities.

• Little Art Hub will ensure any relevant staff, members and volunteers have access to training and resources in relation to safeguarding, working with children and vulnerable adults, first aid, mental health first aid and other areas as appropriate. LAH will continually assess the suitability of volunteers and staM to prevent the employment/deployment of unsuitable individuals in the organisation.

• All third sector partners and organisations using LAH for activities with vulnerable adults, children or young people will be asked to present a safeguarding policy at the point of booking.

 

Preventing opportunities for abuse​

• Little Art Hub will raise awareness of safeguarding issues with all relevant stakeholders, ensuring this Safeguarding Policy is transparent and accessible.

• LAH will maintain procedures for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases of abuse, will maintain training where needed on safeguarding adults, children and young people and ensure any external users and partners working with children and vulnerable adults have relevant and up to date procedures.

• LAH primarily serves as a hosting organisation or freelancers and organisations who may work with young people and vulnerable adults. However, we are committed to maintaining our safeguarding policy wherever possible to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals involved.

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Noticing abuse​​

Concerns about or evidence of abuse can come through:

• A direct disclosure by the vulnerable adult, child or young person.

• A complaint or expression of concern by a member of staM, a volunteer, a carer, a member

  of the public or relative.

• An observation of the behaviour of the vulnerable adult, child or young person by a

  volunteer, member of staM or carer.

 

Definitions of abuse

Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by any other person or group of people. Abuse may be single or repeated acts. There are many forms of abuse and neglect, including:

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Sexual abuse

• Indecent exposure

• Sexual harassment

• Inappropriate looking or touching

• Sexual teasing or innuendo

• Sexual photography

• Being forced to watch pornography or sexual acts

• Being forced or pressured to take part in sexual acts

• Rape

 

Physical abuse

• Being hit, slapped, pushed or restrained

• Being denied food or water

• Not being helped to go to the bathroom when necessary

• Misuse of medicines

  Psychological abuse

• Emotional abuse

• Threats to hurt or abandon

• Preventing someone from seeing people

• Humiliating, blaming, controlling, intimidating or harassing

• Verbal abuse

• Cyberbullying and isolation

• An unreasonable and unjustified withdrawal of services or support networks

 

Domestic abuse

• This is typically an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse by someone who is, or has been, an intimate partner or family member.

   

​Discriminatory abuse

• This includes some forms of harassment, slurs or unfair treatment relating to:

• Race

• Gender and gender identity

• Age

• Disability

• Sexual orientation

• Religion

 

Financial abuse

• Stealing money or other valuables from someone

• Using someone else’s money inappropriately or coercing them to spend it in a way they’re not happy with

• Internet scams and doorstep crime

   

Neglect

Neglect includes not being provided with enough food or with the right kind of food, or not being taken proper care of. Leaving someone without help to wash or change dirty or wet clothes, not getting them to a doctor when they need one or not making sure they have the right medicines all count as neglect.

 

Institutional

The collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to vulnerable people. This includes a failure to ensure the necessary safeguards are in place to protect children and vulnerable adults and maintain good standards of care in accordance with individual needs, including training, supervision and management, record keeping and liaising with other providers of care.

 

Safeguarding reporting process Step 1 — Immediate action

If a member of staff, freelancer, volunteer or committee member suspects abuse has or may have occurred, they must act immediately:

• Make sure the person is safe.

• Inform the LAH designated safeguarding person immediately using contact details found

  in relevant policy folder located in the Little Art Hub.

• Contact the police if it is thought a crime has been committed.

• Record details of the allegation in relevant policy folder located in the Little Art Hub. (what was said, observed, when, where, date of allegation).

   

​It is good practice to be as open and honest as possible with any parents/carers about any concerns. However, you must not discuss your concerns with parents/carers in the following circumstances:

• Where sexual abuse is suspected.

• Where organised or multiple abuse is suspected.

• Where Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another (FDIA) is suspected.

• Where contacting parents/carers would place a child, yourself or others at immediate risk.

   

It is recognised that a child may seek you out to share information about abuse or neglect or talk spontaneously individually or in groups when you are present. In these situations, you must:

• Listen carefully to the child.

• Do not directly question the child.

• Give the child time and attention.

• Allow the child to give a spontaneous account; do not stop a child who is freely recalling

  significant events.

• Make an accurate record of the information you have been given taking care to record the

  timing, setting and people present, the child’s presentation as well as what was said. Do

  not throw this away as it may later be needed as evidence.

• Use the child’s own words where possible.

• Explain that in order to keep them safe we may have to waiver confidentiality if concerns need to be shared with appropriate agencies.

• Tell the child what you are going to do next.

• Do not ask the child to repeat their account of events to anyone.

• Reassure the child that:

  – You are glad they have told you
  – They have not done anything wrong
  – You may need to get help to keep the child safe.

   

Step 2 — Next steps

• Bring the concern to the attention of the LAH designated safeguarding person, who in turn will contact the Police.

They (designated safeguarding person) should discuss the concern with other committee members and then contact the local authority referral agency on 0300 100 1800 during oMice hours.

• Where a call falls out with normal oMice hours, all calls should go through the Emergency Duty Team (EDT) on Tel 01896 752111, or the local (Galashiels) police on 101.

  Step 3 — Investigation

• The Little Art Hub committee and designated safeguarding person will coordinate an investigation. They will hold a meeting to review the incident and decide on what action to take next and confirm and implement any policy updates, which will be updated online and in our policy folder.

• The incident will be recorded in Little Art Hub’s confidential file of incidents and disclosures. Local authorities or the police will decide what to do next.

• Little Art Hub will review its safeguarding procedures regularly and assess any training needs and decide actions toward such training where relevant.

 

Confidentiality

Privacy and confidentiality should be respected where possible. If this leaves a child, young person or vulnerable adult at risk of harm then the person’s safety has to come first.

The confidentiality of the vulnerable person will be respected wherever possible and their consent obtained to share information, however the child or vulnerable person should be made aware that LAH cannot ignore issues around abuse and that steps will be taken to deal with the situation in as sensitive manner as possible. The welfare of the individual is paramount.

If abuse to a child or vulnerable person is alleged, suspected, reported or concerns are raised, the safeguarding reporting process must be followed.

Little Art Hub will ensure that any records made in relation to a referral are kept confidential and in a secure place.

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

 

For more information on safeguarding issues and procedures please follow these links:

Safeguarding children who come from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities

Safeguarding d/Deaf and disabled children and young people
Safeguarding LGBTQ+ children and young people
Safeguarding children with special educational needs and disabilities