Safeguarding Essentials

As an employee of Handcrafted, you must familiarise yourself with the safeguarding policies for adults, children and young people. When you join Handcrafted, you will be given training on safeguarding and you will also receive an annual update of your training.

The following brief guide is for quick reference; however, full details are in the Safeguarding Children Policy and Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Policy. Please refer to the original policies for full guidance and you should speak to your line manager or the Safeguarding Coordinator (Dan Northover) when in doubt about what to do.

What is Safeguarding?

Safeguarding is the process of protecting children, young people, and vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. At Handcrafted, safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, and all workers are expected to collaborate with statutory authorities and multidisciplinary agencies to ensure the safety and well-being of those we support.

Key Safeguarding Responsibilities:

Duty of Care: Every worker at Handcrafted has a duty of care to act if they suspect or become aware of any safeguarding issues. Never assume that someone else will handle it.
Reporting: If you suspect abuse or neglect, report it immediately to the Safeguarding Officer, Dan Northover, or the Deputy Safeguarding Co-ordinator if Dan is unavailable or involved.
Confidentiality: Safeguarding concerns should only be discussed with those directly involved in the response, such as the Safeguarding Co-ordinator. Make a written record of your concerns and keep it secure.

Who is Vulnerable?

Children and Young People: Anyone under 18 years of age.
Vulnerable Adults: Adults over 18 who may be at risk of abuse or neglect due to their circumstances.

Recognising Safeguarding Issues:

Children: Signs of abuse or neglect in children can include unexplained injuries, changes in behaviour, withdrawal, or inappropriate relationships.
Adults: Vulnerable adults may show signs of physical, sexual, emotional, financial, or institutional abuse. Be aware of indicators such as unexplained injuries, financial discrepancies, or sudden behavioural changes.

Types of Abuse:

Physical Abuse: Injuries that don’t match explanations, or repeated medical issues like infections or fractures.
Emotional Abuse: Signs include withdrawal, anxiety, or changes in behaviour.
Sexual Abuse: This can involve inappropriate touching, explicit behaviour, or STDs in adults who cannot consent.
Neglect: Look for signs of poor hygiene, malnutrition, or lack of access to medical care.
Financial Abuse: Discrepancies between financial resources and living conditions.
Institutional Abuse: Involves poor care standards in institutions, such as lack of choice over meals or medication misuse.
Exploitation: Be aware of issues like criminal exploitation (e.g., County Lines) or modern-day slavery.

Responding to Safeguarding Concerns:

Do Not Investigate: Never carry out your own investigation. Report your concerns immediately to the Safeguarding Co-ordinator.
Document Everything: Record your concerns as soon as possible, including any actions taken, decisions made, and the rationale behind them. Use AirTable to document safeguarding alerts and ensure that the safeguarding lead reviews them. When you are making a contact note, you have the option of flagging a safeguarding concern. This will make sure your note is quickly reviewed by the safeguarding team to see if there is a need for further action. However, it is also your responsibility to make sure the concern is registered at the appropriate level and resolved and you have done what you can to make sure someone is safe.
Seek Support: If the Safeguarding Co-ordinator is unavailable, contact Social Services or the police directly.

Important Contacts:

Safeguarding Officer: Dan Northover (07917 037479)
Deputy Safeguarding Officer: Harry Jennings (07501 724686)
Deputy Safeguarding Officer: Ruth Crichton (07585 847908)
Social Care Direct: 0845 26 79 79
Northumbria Police Child Protection Unit: 0191 4547555 ext. 66264/5/6
thirtyone:eight Safeguarding Helpline: 0303 003 11 11
Crisis Team: Call 111 and ask for the Crisis Team if someone is in immediate danger.
Emergency Services: Dial 999 for police, ambulance, or fire services.

Working with Offenders:

If someone attending Handcrafted is known to have abused children, appropriate boundaries will be set in consultation with the police to ensure safety. Offenders must adhere to these boundaries, especially during public events hosted by Handcrafted.

Record Keeping:

Personal information, including full name, date of birth, contact details, and medical conditions, should be collected from new service users within an hour of their arrival. Ensure this information is recorded and handled in line with confidentiality policies.

Questions to Ask Yourself When Assessing a Situation:

Is a child involved?
Are there signs of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, neglect, or exploitation?
Is there a risk of harm or neglect?
Has the individual’s vulnerability increased due to recent events?
Is this part of an ongoing safeguarding concern?

What to Include in Your Report:

The nature of the concern and the associated risks.
Who you discussed it with and the actions taken.
Update risk assessments as needed and cross-reference with previous notes.
Attach any supporting evidence.