OVERVIEW
Richer Adventures takes seriously all complaints that might arise against members of its staff. Procedures are in place for children, parents and staff to share any concerns that they may have been brought about by the actions of any member of staff or volunteer. Any such complaints will be brought immediately to the attention of the Directors or one of the Designated Safeguarding Leads if the Directors are not available and nothing should be said to the colleague involved. These procedures are used in respect of all cases in which it is alleged that a tutor or any other member of staff (including volunteers) during a Richer Adventures’ session, workshop or excursion for children under 18 years of age has:
Behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child;
Possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child; or
Behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates he or she would pose a risk of harm if they work regularly or closely with children.
The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) should be informed of all allegations that come to Richer Adventures’ attention and appear to meet the criteria. Contact can also be made with the (Local Safeguarding Children Board) LSCB who will liaise with the LADO. Many cases may well either not meet the criteria set out above, or may do so without warranting consideration of either a police investigation or enquiries by local authority children’s social care services. In these cases, local arrangements will be followed to resolve cases without delay.
Some rare allegations will be so serious they will require immediate intervention by children’s social care services and/or police. In such cases, referral to the LADO will lead to a Strategy Meeting or Discussion being held in accordance with the Department for Education (DfE) guidance and London Safeguarding Children Board (SCB) procedures. This process will agree upon the appropriate course of action and the time-scale for investigations.
Richer Adventures has a legal duty to refer to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) office anyone who has harmed, or poses a risk of harm, to a child and anyone who has been removed from working (paid or unpaid) in any of its regular activities. The DBS will consider whether to ban the person. Referrals will be made as soon as possible after the resignation or removal of the individual.
For the avoidance of doubt, any member of staff employed by Richer Adventures either in a voluntary or paid capacity must undergo a DBS check.
The full procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse made against tutors and/or other staff can be found in Part four of the DfE guidance “Keeping children safe in education”.
The Directors are:
Mr Andrew Burton (074 8423 2532)
Mr Rafael Hernandez (074 8423 2532)
Ms Sian Chalkley (074 8423 2532)
Richer Adventures is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for children, staff and visitors and promoting a climate where children and adults will feel confident about sharing any concerns that they may have about their own safety or the well being of others.
The Richer Adventures’ Child Protection (CP) policy draws upon duties conferred by the Children Acts 1989 and 2004, S175/157 of the 2002 Education Act, the Education & Inspections Act 2006 and the guidance contained in “Working Together to Safeguard Children”, the DfE’s statutory guidance “Keeping children safe in education”, Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) Guidance and procedures produced by the London Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) The policy is applicable to all on and off-site activities undertaken by children whilst they are the responsibility of Richer Education.