Safeguarding Policy

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Common Purpose Charitable Trust – Safeguarding Policy

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to protect our trustees, staff, volunteers and programme participants (including children and at risk adults) from any harm that may be caused due to their coming into contact with Common Purpose. This includes harm arising from: 

  • The conduct of trustees, staff or personnel associated with Common Purpose
  • The design and implementation of Common Purpose’s programmes and activities

The policy lays out the commitments made by Common Purpose, and informs trustees, staff and associated personnel of their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding.
This policy does not cover:

  • Sexual harassment in the workplace – this is dealt with under Common Purpose’s Human Resources Policies and Procedures
  • Safeguarding concerns in the wider community not perpetrated by Common Purpose or associated personnel


What is safeguarding?

Safeguarding means protecting peoples' health, wellbeing and human rights, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect.

In relation to Common Purpose, we understand it to mean protecting people, including children and at risk adults, from harm that arises from coming into contact with our staff or programmes.

The practices and procedures within this policy are based on the principles contained in UK legislation and guidelines from the Charity Commission for England. They take the following into consideration:

  • The Care Act 2014
  • The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
  • The Equality Act 2010
  • The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
  • Sexual Offences Act 2003
  • The Human Rights Act 1998
  • The Data Protection Act 2018


Scope

The following people are expected to comply with this policy:

  • Trustees and directors of The Common Purpose Charitable Trust and all subsidiaries
  • All staff employed by or contracted to Common Purpose
  • Associated personnel whilst engaged with work or visits related to Common Purpose, including but not limited to the following: consultants, volunteers, contractors, programme visitors and guest contributors
  • The licensees of Common Purpose, including their directors, staff, and associated personnel

Programme participants and members of the public are not within the scope of the policy. Programme participant behaviour is addressed through the Common Purpose Conventions. 


Policy Statement

Common Purpose believes that everyone we come into contact with, regardless of age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or ethnic origin has the right to be protected from all forms of harm, abuse, neglect and exploitation. Common Purpose will not tolerate abuse and exploitation by staff or associated personnel.

Common Purpose commits to addressing safeguarding throughout its work, through the three pillars of prevention, reporting and response.


Prevention

Common Purpose responsibilities

Common Purpose will:

  • Make this policy available to all staff, are provide appropriate means for staff to become familiar with, and know their responsibilities within this policy
  • Design and undertake all its programmes and activities in a way that protects people from any risk of harm that may arise from their coming into contact with Common Purpose. This includes the way in which
  • information about individuals in our programmes is gathered and communicated
  • Implement stringent safeguarding procedures when recruiting, managing and deploying staff and associated personnel
  • Adopt safeguarding practices through procedures and a code of conduct for staff and volunteers
  • Develop and implement an effective e-safety policy and related procedures
  • Make training available on safeguarding for staff
  • Follow up on reports of safeguarding concerns promptly and according to the agreed procedures as set out in the Safeguarding Reporting Procedures
  • Appoint a lead trustee with responsibility for safeguarding
  • Review this policy annually and have it approved by the CPCT board.
  • Record and store information professionally and securely, and share information about safeguarding and good practice with staff and volunteers via the staff handbook and other communication
  • Use its safeguarding procedures to share concerns with agencies who need to know
  • Use its procedures to manage and allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately
  • Create and maintain an anti-bullying environment and include appropriate policy and procedure to help it deal effectively with any bullying that does arise
  • Establish effective complaints and whistleblowing measures
  • Provide a safe physical environment for staff, volunteers, and programme participants by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance.

Staff responsibilities

Common Purpose staff and associated personnel must not:

  • Sexually abuse or exploit anyone
  • Subject anyone to physical, emotional or psychological abuse, or neglect
  • Exchange money, employment, goods or services for sexual activity.

Additionally, Common Purpose staff and associated personnel are obliged to:

  • Contribute to creating and maintaining an environment that prevents safeguarding violations and promotes the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy
  • Value, listen to and respect all people whom they come into contact with
  • Report any concerns or suspicions regarding safeguarding violations by an Common Purpose staff member or associated personnel to the appropriate staff member


Enabling reports

Common Purpose will establish safe, appropriate and accessible means of reporting safeguarding concerns for staff and the programme participants we work with.

Any staff reporting concerns or complaints through formal whistleblowing channels (or if they request it) will be protected by Common Purpose’s Whistleblowing Policy.

Common Purpose will also accept complaints from people other than staff, such as programme participants and members of the public. Participants and members of the public can report concerns to the CPCT HR Director.

How to report a safeguarding concern – staff

Staff members who have a complaint or concern relating to safeguarding should report it immediately to the HR Director. If the staff member does not feel comfortable reporting to HR Director (for example, if they feel that the report will not be taken seriously, or if that person is implicated in the concern) they may report to any other appropriate senior staff member or trustee.

How to report a safeguarding concern – people other than staff (programme participants etc)

Programme participants and members of the public who have a complaint or concern relating to safeguarding should contact CPCT’s HR Director (hr@commonpurpose.org) in the first instance.


Response

Common Purpose will follow up safeguarding reports and concerns according to the processes set out in the Safeguarding Reporting Procedures, and legal and statutory obligations within the timelines set out therein (see procedures for reporting and response to safeguarding concerns in Associated Policies).

Common Purpose will apply appropriate disciplinary measures to staff found in breach of policy.

Where staff or associated personnel have caused harm to a person, regardless of whether or not a formal internal response is initiated (such as an internal investigation), Common Purpose will offer appropriate support to that person.

 

Confidentiality

Staff and associated personnel will maintain confidentiality at all stages of the process when dealing with safeguarding concerns. Information relating to the concern and subsequent case management will be shared strictly on a need to know basis, and will be kept secure at all times.

Associated policies

Safeguarding Reporting Procedures
Common Purpose Staff Handbook
Human Resources Policies and Procedures
Staff Data Privacy Policy
Ethical Standards Policy
Common Purpose Conventions
Complaints Policy
Risk Management Policy & Procedures
GDPR Policy