Safeguarding

Cool Earth believes that a child, young person, or adult should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, young people, and adults and to keep them safe. We are committed to practicing in a way that protects them.

This document sets out our policy and procedures relating to safeguarding. If you have any concerns or would like to discuss our policy, please contact Dr Hannah Peck, our Safeguarding Lead, at [email protected].

About This Policy

The aim of this policy is to keep children and vulnerable adults safe by providing a framework to ensure a safe environment for them, whilst contributing to the prevention of harm or abuse and the protection of those individuals who are identified as suffering or likely to suffer harm from any such risk to their safety, health or well-being, whether at work, at home or in the wider community.

This policy applies to all staff, including senior managers and the board of trustees, paid staff, volunteers, interns, or anyone working on behalf or in the name of Cool Earth.

Legal Framework

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of law and guidance, namely:

• Children Act 1989
• United Convention of the Rights of the Child 1991
• Data Protection Act 1998
• Human Rights Act 1998
• Sexual Offences Act 2003
• Children Act 2004
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
• Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
• Children and Families Act 2014
• Special educational needs and disability (SEND) code of practice: 0 to 25 years – Statutory guidance for organisations which work with and support children and young people who have special educational needs or disabilities; HM Government 2014
• Information sharing: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers; HM Government 2015
  Working together to safeguarding children: a guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children; HM Government 2015

Cool Earth will ensure that:

• The safety and well-being of children, young people and adults are paramount in all areas of its operations, including safeguarding our staff and raising their awareness, to safeguard themselves and others
• All children and adults, regardless of age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief and or sexual identity can exercise their right to protection from harm or abuse when engaged in Cool Earth related activity or settings
• All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately, with due regard to appropriate levels of privacy and the dignity of those concerned
• All staff will be made aware of key safeguarding principles/practice through appropriate training and are required to report any disclosures, concerns or allegations in line with our procedures
• We work in a proactive partnership with other key statutory and voluntary sector organisations to share information and good practice to improve safeguarding within our communities
• We adhere to any statutory responsibilities placed upon us

Contact details

• Designated Safeguarding Officer: [email protected]
• Director: [email protected]
• Trustee Lead: Mark Ellingham

Procedures for dealing with incidents, allegations, or suspicions of abuse, and reporting concerns.

If an individual is alerted to concerns or receives an allegation of abuse regarding another individual working for or with Cool Earth they should report this immediately to the designated member of staff. They should not investigate concerns or allegations of abuse but should report them immediately to the designated member of staff.

Abuse may be a single incident or something that occurs over a long period of time. It can take many forms including, but not limited to:

• Financial or material abuse
• Physical abuse
• Mental abuse
• Neglect and failures to act
• Sexual abuse
• Threats of abuse or harm
• Controlling or intimidating conduct
• Self-neglect
• Domestic abuse
• Poor practices within an organisation providing care
• Modern slavery

Confidentiality 

All individuals covered by this policy must be mindful, and remain mindful, of the importance of ensuring that confidentiality is, where possible, maintained for all concerned. Information should be handled and disseminated on a need-to-know basis only.