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Safeguarding Policy

Introduction

South Coast Builders recognises its paramount responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults who may come into contact with our business. This contact can occur through various avenues, including our employees, contractors, suppliers, clients, or members of the public present on sites where we operate. We are committed to creating and maintaining a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment for everyone, recognising that safeguarding is not just a policy but a fundamental aspect of our operational culture. This policy applies to all employees, workers, contractors, volunteers, and suppliers of South Coast Builders, regardless of their role or length of service. We acknowledge that safeguarding is an ongoing process requiring vigilance, training, and continuous improvement.

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Our Commitment

South Coast Builders firmly believes that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. We are dedicated to:

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  • Protecting: Shielding children, young people, and vulnerable adults from all forms of harm, including physical, emotional, sexual abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, and discriminatory abuse.

  • Promoting: Actively fostering the well-being and positive development of children, young people, and vulnerable adults, recognizing their individual needs and rights.

  • Creating a Culture: Cultivating an environment of vigilance, transparency, and open communication where concerns about safeguarding are readily raised and addressed without fear of reprisal.

  • Working Collaboratively: Partnering with relevant statutory agencies, local safeguarding boards, and other organisations to share information, coordinate efforts, and ensure the effective safeguarding of individuals.

  • Training and Development: Providing comprehensive and ongoing safeguarding training to all staff, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to recognise, respond to, and report safeguarding concerns effectively.

  • Robust Procedures: Implementing and regularly reviewing robust procedures for responding promptly and appropriately to any concerns or allegations of abuse, ensuring that these procedures are in line with current best practices and legislation.

 

Scope

This policy applies to all activities undertaken by South Coast Builders, including but not limited to:

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  • On-Site Activities: Work carried out on client sites, including domestic properties, commercial buildings, and public spaces. This includes interactions with clients, their families, and members of the public present on the site.

  • Off-Site Activities: Business-related activities conducted off-site, such as meetings with clients or suppliers, training sessions, and company events.

  • Recruitment and Selection: The process of recruiting and selecting employees, contractors, and volunteers, ensuring that appropriate safeguarding checks are carried out and that individuals are suitable to work with children, young people, or vulnerable adults.

  • Training and Supervision: The provision of safeguarding training and ongoing supervision to staff, ensuring they are aware of their responsibilities and have the support they need to implement the policy effectively.

  • Online and Social Media: The use of online platforms and social media by the company and its employees, ensuring that these platforms are used responsibly and do not pose a risk to the safety of children, young people, or vulnerable adults.

  • Transportation: Where transportation is provided by the company, ensuring the safety and well-being of those being transported.

  • Supply Chain: Considering safeguarding practices within our supply chain, where feasible, and encouraging ethical sourcing.

 

Definitions

  • Child: Anyone under the age of 18, as defined by the Children Act 1989.

  • Young Person: While the legal definition of a child covers those under 18, we recognise the particular vulnerability of young people transitioning to adulthood and will extend some safeguarding considerations to those aged 18-25 where appropriate, especially those with additional needs.

  • Vulnerable Adult: A person aged 18 or over whose ability to protect themselves from abuse or neglect is significantly impaired through physical or mental disability, illness, or old age, as defined by the Care Act 2014.

  • Abuse: Any act or failure to act which results in harm to a child, young person, or vulnerable adult. This includes, but is not limited to:

    • Physical Abuse: Inflicting physical harm, such as hitting, slapping, kicking, shaking, or inappropriate restraint.

    • Emotional Abuse: Acts that undermine a person's self-esteem and emotional well-being, such as verbal abuse, intimidation, threats, or isolation.

    • Sexual Abuse: Any sexual act to which a person has not consented or is incapable of consenting, including sexual exploitation, grooming, and the sharing of indecent images.

    • Neglect: The failure to meet a person's basic needs, such as food, shelter, clothing, healthcare, or supervision.

    • Financial Abuse: The misuse of a person's finances or property, including theft, fraud, and exploitation.

    • Discriminatory Abuse: Abuse motivated by prejudice or discrimination based on a person's age, disability, gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation.

    • Organisational Abuse: Abuse that occurs within an institutional setting, such as a care home or hospital, due to systemic failures in care.

  • Harm: A significant negative impact on a person's physical or emotional well-being.

 

Responsibilities

  • Managing Director: The Managing Director, Andrew Barber, has ultimate responsibility for the implementation and ongoing review of this Safeguarding Policy, ensuring that it remains relevant, effective, and compliant with current legislation and best practices.

  • Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO): Andrew Barber. The DSO is the key point of contact for all safeguarding matters within the company. Their responsibilities include:

    • Providing expert advice and guidance to staff on safeguarding issues.

    • Receiving, recording, and investigating all concerns or allegations of abuse.

    • Liaising with relevant statutory agencies, including local authority children's services, adult social care services, the police, and local safeguarding boards.

    • Maintaining accurate and confidential records of all safeguarding concerns and actions taken.

    • Monitoring the effectiveness of the Safeguarding Policy and recommending improvements.

    • Ensuring that all staff receive appropriate and up-to-date safeguarding training.

  • All Employees, Workers, Contractors, and Volunteers: Everyone working for or on behalf of South Coast Builders has a personal responsibility to be aware of this policy, to understand their safeguarding obligations, and to follow the procedures outlined within it. This includes:

    • Being vigilant and recognising the potential signs and indicators of abuse or neglect.

    • Reporting any concerns or disclosures of abuse promptly and directly to the Designated Safeguarding Officer.

    • Cooperating fully with any investigations into safeguarding concerns.

    • Maintaining appropriate professional boundaries with children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

    • Respecting the confidentiality of information shared, while understanding the limits to confidentiality in safeguarding situations.

    • Participating in required safeguarding training and updates.

 

Procedures

  • Recognising Concerns: Staff should be vigilant and aware of the potential signs and indicators of abuse or neglect. These signs may be behavioural (e.g., withdrawal, anxiety, aggression), physical (e.g., unexplained injuries, poor hygiene), or emotional (e.g., low self-esteem, fearfulness). It is important to remember that a single indicator may not necessarily mean abuse is occurring, but any concerns should be reported.

  • Reporting Concerns: Any concerns or allegations of abuse, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, must be reported immediately and directly to the Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO). If the DSO is unavailable, the concern should be reported to the Managing Director. The report should include:

    • The name and details of the person raising the concern.

    • The name and details of the person about whom the concern is raised.

    • A clear and factual account of the concern, including what was seen, heard, or observed.

    • The date, time, and location of the incident or observation.

  • Responding to Disclosures: If a child, young person, or vulnerable adult discloses abuse, staff should:

    • Listen carefully and empathetically to the individual.

    • Reassure the individual that they have done the right thing by telling someone.

    • Avoid asking leading questions or making assumptions.

    • Explain that the information will be shared with the DSO and potentially other agencies, but only on a need-to-know basis.

    • Record the disclosure accurately and in detail, using the individual's own words where possible.

    • Report the disclosure immediately to the DSO.

  • Confidentiality: Information about safeguarding concerns should be treated with the utmost confidentiality and shared only on a need-to-know basis with relevant professionals, such as the DSO, social services, or the police. Staff should not discuss concerns with anyone else, including colleagues who are not directly involved. However, it is crucial to understand that confidentiality cannot be guaranteed if a child or vulnerable adult is at risk of significant harm. In such cases, the duty to safeguard overrides the duty of confidentiality.

  • Record Keeping: Accurate, detailed, and contemporaneous records of all safeguarding concerns, disclosures, and actions taken must be maintained. These records should be stored securely and confidentially, in compliance with data protection legislation. Records should include:

    • Date and time of the concern or disclosure.

    • Details of the individual raising the concern.

    • Details of the individual about whom the concern is raised.

    • A clear and factual account of the concern or disclosure, including what was seen, heard, or observed.

    • Details of any actions taken, including who was informed and when.

    • Dates and details of any meetings or conversations held.

    • Copies of any relevant documents or reports.

  • Training: All staff will receive comprehensive safeguarding training upon induction, covering the contents of this policy, recognising the signs of abuse, reporting procedures, confidentiality, relevant legislation and guidance (including the Children Act 1989, the Care Act 2014, and relevant local safeguarding board guidance), and best practices for working with children, young people, and vulnerable adults. Refresher training will be provided at regular intervals, at least annually, to ensure that staff knowledge and skills remain up to date. Training will be tailored to the specific roles and responsibilities of staff members.

  • Recruitment: South Coast Builders is committed to safer recruitment practices to minimise the risk of employing individuals who pose a threat to children, young people, or vulnerable adults. These practices include:

    • Obtaining references from previous employers.

    • Conducting Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for all roles that involve working with children or vulnerable adults. The level of DBS check will be appropriate to the role.

    • Verifying the identity of applicants.

    • Conducting thorough interviews to assess suitability for working with children or vulnerable adults.

    • Including safeguarding questions in the interview process.

    • Ensuring that job descriptions clearly outline safeguarding responsibilities.

  • Working with Other Agencies: South Coast Builders will work proactively and collaboratively with local safeguarding boards, social services, the police, and other relevant agencies to safeguard children, young people, and vulnerable adults. This includes:

    • Sharing information promptly and appropriately, in accordance with data protection legislation and local safeguarding protocols.

    • Participating in multi-agency meetings and case conferences.

    • Cooperating fully with investigations into safeguarding concerns.

    • Following the guidance and advice provided by statutory agencies.

  • Information Sharing: South Coast Builders recognises the importance of sharing information between agencies to safeguard children, young people, and vulnerable adults. Information will be shared in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, ensuring that it is necessary, proportionate, and lawful. We will have clear procedures in place for information sharing, which will be regularly reviewed and updated.

  • Allegations Against Staff: Any allegation of abuse or misconduct against a member of staff will be taken extremely seriously. The following procedures will be followed:

    • The allegation will be reported immediately to the Managing Director and the Designated Safeguarding Officer.

    • The staff member involved will be suspended from their duties pending the outcome of the investigation.

    • The relevant statutory agencies will be informed, including the local authority designated officer (LADO) if the allegation involves a child.

    • A thorough investigation will be conducted, following local safeguarding procedures.

    • Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken if the allegation is substantiated.

  • Policy Dissemination and Accessibility: This Safeguarding Policy will be readily accessible to all employees, workers, contractors, volunteers, clients, and members of the public. It will be published on the company website and made available in hard copy upon request. Staff will be made aware of the policy during their induction and through regular updates.

  • Review and Monitoring: This policy will be reviewed and updated annually, or more frequently if required, to ensure its ongoing suitability, effectiveness, and compliance with current legislation and best practices. The review will involve consultation with staff and relevant stakeholders. The implementation of the policy will be monitored regularly by the Designated Safeguarding Officer to identify any areas for improvement.

 

Contact Details of Designated Safeguarding Officer

Andrew Barber (Managing Director)      Address: 1 Manor Ave, Poole, Dorset, BH12 4LB

Tel: 01145 518963          Mobile: 07893 905674                 Email: andy@scbuilders.co.uk

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