Safeguarding Policy

1. Purpose and Scope

This Safeguarding Policy sets out Vines Support Services Ltd's commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. It applies to all staff, volunteers, contractors, and anyone acting on behalf of the organisation.

This policy is underpinned by the following legislation and guidance:

• Children Act 1989 and 2004
• Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023)
• The Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015
• Keeping Children Safe in Education (2023) — where applicable
• Care Standards Act 2000
• Ofsted's Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF)
• The Human Rights Act 1998
• The Equality Act 2010

2. Our Commitment

Vines Support Services Ltd is fully committed to:

• Protecting children and young people from maltreatment, abuse, and exploitation
• Preventing impairment of children's mental and physical health and development
• Ensuring children grow up in circumstances consistent with safe and effective care
• Taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes
• Promoting the voice of the child in all decisions affecting their lives
• Working in partnership with families, placing authorities, and other agencies

3. Recognising Abuse and Neglect

All staff are trained to recognise signs of abuse and neglect. The four main categories of abuse are:

Physical abuse

Hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, biting, scalding, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child.

Emotional abuse

Persistent emotional maltreatment that affects a child's emotional development, including making a child feel worthless, unloved, or inadequate.

Sexual abuse

Forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening.

Neglect

Persistent failure to meet a child's basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in serious impairment of health or development.

4. Responsibilities

Responsible Individual (RI)

Prosper Tawanda, as the Responsible Individual, holds overall accountability for safeguarding across all Vines homes. The RI ensures that all regulatory requirements are met and that safeguarding is embedded in the culture of the organisation.

Registered Managers

Each Registered Manager is responsible for day-to-day safeguarding within their home, including ensuring staff are trained, concerns are reported, and records are maintained accurately.

All staff

Every member of staff has a duty to:

• Be vigilant for signs of abuse, neglect, or exploitation
• Report concerns immediately to their line manager or Registered Manager
• Never investigate allegations independently
• Maintain confidentiality appropriately — sharing information only on a need-to-know basis
• Complete mandatory safeguarding training and keep it up to date

5. Reporting Concerns

Any person who has a concern about the safety or welfare of a child should follow these steps:

• Step 1: Report concerns immediately to the Registered Manager of the home
• Step 2: If the concern involves a member of staff, report to the Responsible Individual
• Step 3: If there is immediate risk of harm, contact the police (999) or local children's services
• Step 4: Document the concern in writing as soon as possible, using factual language
• Step 5: Do not discuss the concern with others not involved in the investigation

Concerns must always be reported — even if you are unsure. It is not your responsibility to decide whether abuse has occurred. That is the role of the statutory agencies.

6. Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE)

Vines Support Services has a specific commitment to identifying and responding to CSE and CCE. Staff are trained to recognise warning signs including unexplained gifts, frequent absences, secretive behaviour, and contact with unknown adults.

All concerns relating to exploitation are reported immediately to the placing authority and, where appropriate, to the police.

7. Safer Recruitment

We are committed to safe recruitment practices to ensure that all staff working with children are suitable. Our recruitment process includes:

• Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks for all staff
• Verification of identity, qualifications, and right to work
• A minimum of two references, including the most recent employer
• Gaps in employment history are always explored and explained
• All new staff complete safeguarding induction before working unsupervised

8. Training and Development

All staff receive safeguarding training appropriate to their role:

• Induction safeguarding training before starting work with young people
• Level 1 safeguarding training for all staff, refreshed every two years
• Level 3 safeguarding training for managers and senior staff
• Specialist training on CSE, CCE, UASC, and mental health as required

9. Whistleblowing

Vines Support Services Ltd encourages a culture of openness. Any member of staff who has concerns about a colleague's behaviour or practice is encouraged to raise these concerns without fear of recrimination.

If internal reporting channels are not appropriate, concerns can be raised with Ofsted directly:

• Ofsted: 0300 123 1231
• NSPCC Whistleblowing Helpline: 0800 028 0285

10. Record Keeping

All safeguarding concerns, disclosures, and actions taken must be recorded accurately and promptly. Records are:

• Stored securely with restricted access
• Written in factual, objective language
• Retained for the periods specified in our Data Retention Policy
• Made available to Ofsted inspectors and statutory agencies on request

11. Policy Review

This policy is reviewed annually, or sooner if there are significant changes in legislation, guidance, or following any serious safeguarding incident. The Responsible Individual is responsible for ensuring the policy remains current and fit for purpose.

12. Related Policies

• Privacy Policy
• Safer Recruitment Policy
• Whistleblowing Policy
• Anti-Bullying Policy
• Risk Assessment Policy
• Missing Young Person Protocol
• CSE/CCE Risk Management Policy

This policy was approved by Prosper Tawanda, Responsible Individual, Vines Support Services Ltd. For queries, contact info@vinessupportservices.co.uk.