Safeguarding Policy

Date: August 2022
Reviewed and Amended: March 2025

1. Purpose

This policy defines how Capa First Response CIC (Capa) operates to safeguard children, adults at risk, and staff from harm or neglect. The aims are to:

• Protect individuals from harm, abuse, and neglect.
• Provide staff and volunteers with principles guiding safeguarding practices.
• Ensure a safe and supportive working environment for staff and volunteers.

Capa believes in the right of every individual—regardless of age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, or ethnicity—to be protected from harm. Capa is committed to promoting well-being, harm prevention, and effective response mechanisms in line with statutory responsibilities, government guidance, and best practices, including local Safeguarding Partnership Boards across the UK.

Capa is guided by the following legislative frameworks:

• Children Acts 1989 & 2004
• Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023)
• Care Act (2014)
• Domestic Abuse Act (2021)
• Human Rights Act (1998)

This policy encompasses child safeguarding, adult safeguarding, staff safeguarding, and protection from exploitation or abuse, outlining responsibilities in prevention, reporting, and response.

 

2. Definitions

Children

Defined as anyone under 18 years of age, or up to 25 with additional needs.

Safeguarding Children

As defined in Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023):

• Supporting needs proactively when issues arise.
• Protecting children from maltreatment, including online.
• Preventing impairment of health or development.
• Ensuring safe and effective care.
• Promoting positive life outcomes and family involvement wherever possible.

Adults at Risk

An adult at risk is defined under the Care Act (2014) as someone who:

• Has care and support needs.
• Is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect.
• Cannot protect themselves due to their care and support needs.

Safeguarding Staff

Capa recognises that safeguarding extends to protecting staff and volunteers from workplace harm, including but not limited to:

• Harassment, bullying, and discrimination.
• Emotional distress or vicarious trauma from safeguarding work.
• Physical and psychological safety in the workplace.

3. Scope

This policy applies to all individuals associated with Capa, including:

• Board of Directors
• Staff (paid and sessional)
• Volunteers
• Contractors and agency staff
• Students

4. Safeguarding Policy Principles

Capa is committed to a zero-tolerance approach to abuse, adhering to the principles of safeguarding children, adults, and staff:

Child-Centric, Adult-Inclusive, and Staff-Supportive Approach

• The welfare of children, adults at risk, and staff is paramount.
• Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

Commitment to Best Practices

• Safeguarding policies reflect statutory guidance.
• Staff, volunteers, and contractors are appropriately trained.
• A culture of transparency is fostered to enable staff to raise concerns.

Procedural Safeguards

• Robust reporting mechanisms for concerns or allegations of abuse.
• Clear whistleblowing and disciplinary policies.
• Adherence to local safeguarding partnerships for interagency collaboration.

5. Responsibilities and Processes

Staff and Volunteer Conduct

All staff and volunteers must:

• Follow the Staff and Volunteer Code of Conduct.
• Participate in mandatory safeguarding training and regular practice reviews.
• Report any concerns regarding the welfare of children, adults, or staff.

Failure to adhere to safeguarding standards may result in disciplinary action.

Internal Safeguarding for Staff

Capa is responsible for ensuring staff well-being and protection through:

• A designated Staff Safeguarding Officer (SSO) for staff-related concerns.
• Mental health and well-being support resources.
• Regular debriefing sessions for staff dealing with safeguarding cases.
• A commitment to addressing workplace harassment and discrimination.

Capa First Response’s Internal Responsibilities

• Ensure  all staff and volunteers have a safe space to work from remotely in line with the work they are performing.
• Ensure that all safeguarding concerns—whether about service users or staff—are acted upon promptly.
• Conduct internal investigations into allegations of misconduct, abuse, or harm involving staff members.
• Implement safeguarding supervision and support measures, including access to counseling and professional development on handling sensitive cases.

Reporting Concerns

Concerns must be reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).

 Capa ensures:

• Clear procedures for managing allegations against staff or volunteers.
• Compliance with safeguarding protocols as defined by local authorities.
• Support mechanisms for staff experiencing safeguarding-related stress or trauma.

 

Safeguarding Governance

Capa appoints: 

• A Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) responsible for policy implementation.
• A deputy safeguarding lead
• A clinical supervisor to support the above as required.

6. Key Safeguarding Standards

 

Child Safeguarding

• Timely support when needs arise.
• Collaboration with external safeguarding bodies to ensure effective protection.

Adult Safeguarding

• Safeguarding processes are person-centered and outcome-focused.
• Capacity and consent are respected in all safeguarding actions.

Staff Safeguarding

• Prevention of workplace abuse and harassment.
• Access to mental health support and supervision.
• Clear mechanisms for reporting internal safeguarding concerns.

Interagency Collaboration

Capa actively participates in joint safeguarding efforts with local partnerships, adhering to best practice for information sharing and coordinated responses including safeguarding referrals and multi-agency support processes for families.

Safe Recruitment

• All staff undergo thorough background checks, including DBS where appropriate.
• Recruitment processes incorporate safeguarding screening and best practices.

7. Monitoring and Review

The Chief Officer and Board of Directors will:

• Regularly monitor safeguarding compliance.
• Review this policy annually or as required to reflect legislative or procedural updates.
• Ensure staff well-being measures are effective and responsive to needs.

Appendices

Six Principles of Adult Safeguarding:

Empowerment, Prevention, Proportionality, Protection, Partnership, Accountability.

Associated Procedures:

• Staff Code of Conduct
• Whistleblowing Policy
• Incident Reporting Guidelines
• DBS and Recruitment Policy
• Staff Well-being and Support Policy

Contact Information

For safeguarding concerns in the first instance please email info@capafirstresponse.org  including requesting details for the Designated safeguarding lead and staff safeguarding officer. 

END.