Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy

The Northwest Boys’ Brigade Training & Activity Centre is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

We recognise our duty of care to ensure that all individuals visiting the Centre are protected from abuse, neglect, exploitation and harm. Safeguarding is embedded in our operational practices, site management procedures and booking requirements.

We work in partnership with visiting organisations to maintain a safe, secure and respectful environment at all times.

This policy operates in alignment with:

• The Safeguarding Policy of The Boys’ Brigade UK & Republic of Ireland (current national version)
• The Children Act 1989 and 2004
• Working Together to Safeguard Children (latest UK statutory guidance)
• The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
• The Equality Act 2010
• Relevant Health and Safety legislation
• Local Safeguarding Children Partnership guidance

Where legislative or national policy updates occur, this policy will be amended accordingly.

• Child / Young Person: any person under the age of 18.
• Vulnerable Adult: a person aged 18+ who may require support or protection due to physical, mental or social circumstances.
• Safeguarding: action taken to promote welfare and protect from harm.
• Abuse: includes physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, exploitation and online abuse.

4.1 Visiting organisations

Visiting organisations retain full safeguarding responsibility for:

• Supervision and welfare of all young people in their care
• Appropriate adult-to-child supervision ratios
• Behaviour management
• Medical needs of group members
• Responding to safeguarding concerns within their group
• Ensuring leaders are appropriately vetted and trained in line with their organisation’s safeguarding requirements

The Centre does not assume supervisory responsibility unless explicitly agreed in writing.

4.2 The Centre

The Centre is responsible for:

• Providing a safe physical environment
• Maintaining building safety, fire compliance and emergency procedures
• Maintaining appropriate site security
• Reporting safeguarding concerns observed by Centre staff
• Escalating concerns to appropriate statutory authorities where necessary

Where applicable, the Centre implements safer recruitment practices, including:

• Identity verification
• Role-appropriate DBS checks
• Clear role descriptions
• Induction procedures outlining safeguarding expectations

All staff and authorised personnel are expected to:

• Maintain professional boundaries
• Avoid situations where they are alone with a child unless operationally necessary
• Report concerns promptly
• Act in accordance with this policy at all times

The Centre promotes safeguarding through:

• Secure accommodation areas
• Clear sleeping arrangements consistent with safeguarding best practice
• Separate accommodation for leaders where appropriate
• Adequate lighting and secure access points
• Fire safety systems and evacuation procedures
• Risk assessments for premises and facilities
• Incident and accident reporting procedures

Visitors must comply with all site safety instructions.

Standards for visiting groups are set out in our Code of Conduct for Visiting Groups.

The Centre reserves the right to suspend or terminate a booking if safeguarding standards are not upheld.

8.1 Immediate risk

If a child or vulnerable adult is in immediate danger, contact emergency services via 999 without delay.

8.2 During a stay

Concerns should be reported immediately to:

• The Visiting Group Leader in Charge
• The Centre Duty Manager or authorised staff member

Concerns may be escalated to:

• The Local Authority Safeguarding Team
• Police
• The Boys’ Brigade Safeguarding Team

If an allegation is made against a member of Centre staff or authorised personnel:

• The allegation will be taken seriously
• Immediate steps will be taken to ensure safety
• The matter will be referred to relevant safeguarding authorities as required
• The Centre will cooperate fully with any formal investigation

Safeguarding concerns will be handled sensitively and confidentially.

However, confidentiality cannot be guaranteed where:

• A child or vulnerable adult is at risk of harm
• Disclosure is required by law
• Statutory authorities require information

Information will be shared on a need-to-know basis and in accordance with data protection legislation.

The Centre encourages staff, volunteers and visitors to raise concerns about safeguarding practice or behaviour. Concerns may be raised with Centre management or escalated to external safeguarding authorities where appropriate.

No individual will suffer detriment for raising a genuine safeguarding concern.

As a Boys’ Brigade affiliated centre, we operate in alignment with The Boys’ Brigade safeguarding framework. National guidance is available at boys-brigade.org.uk/safeguarding.

This policy is reviewed annually or sooner if:

• Legislative requirements change
• National safeguarding guidance is updated
• Operational changes affect safeguarding procedures
• An incident indicates policy amendment is required

Safeguarding enquiries (Centre):

Telephone: 01772 685000