Safeguarding Policy

SAFEGUARDING AND CLIENT PROTECTION

Reviewed October 2024

Download full policy: MBH Safeguarding October 2024

This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of Megan Baker House (MBH), including senior managers and the board of trustees, paid staff, volunteers, sessional workers, agency staff and students.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS POLICY STATEMENT

To protect children’s, young people and adults who receive services from MBH.
To provide staff and volunteers, as well as all MBH clients and their families, with the overarching principles that guide our approach to protection and safeguarding.
To promote appropriate information sharing to effectively safeguard children’s, young people and adults from harm and promote their wellbeing.
To enable the secure exchange of personal information, between practitioners and other individuals with a responsibility for safeguarding.

SHARING INFORMATION – 7 GOLDEN RULES

(including personal information):

All MBH clients have a right to be protected from abuse and neglect. Protecting them from such harm takes priority over protecting their privacy, or the privacy rights of the person(s) failing to protect them. The UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) provide a framework to support information sharing where practitioners have reason to believe failure to share information may result in the client being at risk of harm.
When you have a safeguarding concern, wherever it is practicable and safe to do so, engage with the client and/or their carer(s), and explain who you intend to share information with, what information you will be sharing and why. You are not required to inform them, if you have reason to believe that doing so may put the client at increased risk of harm (e.g., because their carer(s) may harm the client, or react violently to anyone seeking to intervene, or because the client might withhold information or withdraw from services).
You do not need consent to share personal information about a client and/or members of their family if a client is at risk or there is a perceived risk of harm. You need a lawful basis3 to share information under data protection law, but when you intend to share information as part of action to safeguard a client at risk of harm, consent may not be an appropriate basis for sharing. It is good practice to ensure transparency about your decisions and seek to work cooperatively with a client and their carer(s) wherever possible. This means you should consider any objection the client or their carers may have to proposed information sharing, but you should consider overriding their objections if you believe sharing the information is necessary to protect the client from harm.
Seek advice promptly whenever you are uncertain or do not fully understand how the legal framework supports information sharing in a particular case. Do not leave a client at risk of harm because you have concerns you might be criticised for sharing information. Instead, find out who in your organisation/agency can provide advice about what information to share and with whom. This may be your manager/supervisor, the designated safeguarding lead professional, the data protection/information governance lead (e.g., Data Protection Officer), Caldicott Guardian, or relevant policy or legal team. If you work for a small charity or voluntary organisation, follow the NSPCC’s safeguarding guidance.
When sharing information, ensure you and the person or agency/organisation that receives the information take steps to protect the identities of any individuals (e.g., the client, a carer, a neighbour, or a colleague) who might suffer harm if their details became known to an abuser or one of their associates.
Only share relevant and accurate information with individuals or agencies/organisations that have a role in safeguarding the client and/or providing their family with support, and only share the information they need to support the provision of their services. Sharing information with a third party rarely requires you to share an entire record or case-file – you must only share information that is necessary, proportionate for the intended purpose, relevant, adequate and accurate.
Record the reasons for your information sharing decision, irrespective of whether or not you decide to share information. When another practitioner or organisation requests information from you, and you decide not to share it, be prepared to explain why you chose not to do so. Be willing to reconsider your decision if the requestor shares new information that might cause you to regard information you hold in a new light. When recording any decision, clearly set out the rationale and be prepared to explain your reasons, if you are asked.

MBH BELIEFS

Children, young people and adults should never experience abuse of any kind.
We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children’s, young people and adults, to keep them safe and to practice in a way that protects them.
The welfare of all MBH clients is paramount in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take.
Working in partnership with children’s, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.
All MBH clients, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse.
Some of our clients are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues.
Extra safeguards may be needed to keep our clients who are additionally vulnerable safe from abuse.

MBH ACTIONS

Valuing, listening to and respecting them
Appointing a nominated client protection lead for children’s, young people and adults, a deputy and a lead trustee/board member for safeguarding
Adopting client protection and safeguarding best practice through our policies, procedures and code of conduct for staff and volunteers
Developing and implementing an effective online safety policy and related procedures
Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures so that all staff and volunteers know about and follow our policies, procedures and behaviour codes confidently and competently recruiting and selecting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
Recording and storing and using information professionally and securely, in line with data protection legislation and guidance [more information about this is available from the Information Commissioner’s Office: ico.org.uk/for organisations]
Making sure that children’s, young people, adults and their families know where to go for help if they have a concern
Using our safeguarding and client protection procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children’s, young people, adults, parents, families and carers appropriately
Using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately
Creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise.
Ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place
Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children’s, young people, adults, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance
Building a safeguarding culture where staff and volunteers, children’s, young people, adults and their families, treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

The MBH CEO will be responsible for ensuring that this policy is monitored and enacted upon throughout MBH.

This policy was reviewed on: 7th October 2024

Signed: John Gough CEO

Date: 7th October 2024

Email: john@meganbakerhouse.org.uk

Download full policy: MBH Safeguarding October 2024