"eyes and ears along the coast"

 

SAFEGUARDING

 

 

Purpose

 

The purpose of this policy is to protect people, particularly children, at risk adults and beneficiaries of assistance, from any harm that may be caused due to their coming into contact with Coastwatch Irvine. This includes harm arising from: The conduct of volunteers associated with Coastwatch Irvine The design and implementation of Coastwatch Irvine’s activities.

 

The policy lays out the commitments made by Coastwatch Irvine and informs volunteers of their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding.

 

This policy does not cover:

Sexual harassment – this is dealt with under Coastwatch Irvine’s Anti Bullying and Harassment Policy Safeguarding concerns in the wider community not perpetrated by Coastwatch Irvine or associated personnel

 

What is safeguarding? 

In the UK, safeguarding means protecting peoples' health, wellbeing and human rights, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. In the volunteer sector, we understand it to mean protecting people, including children and at risk adults, from harm that arises from coming into contact with our volunteers or activities. Further definitions relating to safeguarding are provided in the glossary below.

 

Scope

All members of Coastwatch Irvine; and Associated personnel whilst engaged with activities or visits related to Coastwatch Irvine, including but not limited to the following: consultants; volunteers; contractors; programme visitors including journalists, celebrities and politicians.

 

Policy Statement

Coastwatch Irvine 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. Coastwatch Irvine will not tolerate abuse and exploitation by volunteers. This policy will address the following areas of safeguarding [as appropriate]: child safeguarding, adult safeguarding, and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse. Coastwatch Irvine commits to addressing safeguarding throughout its work, through the three pillars of prevention, reporting and response.

 

Prevention

Coastwatch Irvine responsibilities Coastwatch Irvine will: Ensure all volunteers have access to, are familiar with, and know their responsibilities within this policy Design and undertake all its activities in a way that protects people from any risk of harm that may arise from their coming into contact with Coastwatch Irvine. This includes the way in which information about individuals is gathered and communicated. Implement safeguarding procedures when recruiting and managing volunteers. Ensure volunteer awareness of safeguarding at a level commensurate with their role in the organization Follow up on reports of safeguarding concerns promptly and according to due process

 

Volunteer responsibilities

Child safeguarding

Coastwatch Irvine volunteer must not: Engage in sexual activity with anyone under the age of 16; Sexually abuse or exploit children; Subject a child to physical, emotional or psychological abuse, or neglect

 

Adult safeguarding

Coastwatch Irvine volunteers must not: Sexually abuse or exploit at risk adults; Subject an at risk adult to physical, emotional or psychological abuse, or neglect

 

Protection from sexual exploitation and abuse

Coastwatch Irvine volunteers must not: Exchange money, employment, goods or services for sexual activity. This includes any exchange of assistance that is due to beneficiaries of assistance Engage in any sexual relationships with beneficiaries of assistance, since they are based on inherently unequal power dynamics

 

Additionally, Coastwatch Irvine volunteers are obliged to:

Contribute to creating and maintaining an environment that prevents safeguarding violations and promotes the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy Report any concerns or suspicions regarding safeguarding violations by an Coastwatch Irvine volunteers to the Station Manager.

 

Enabling reports:

Coastwatch Irvine will ensure that safe, appropriate, accessible means of reporting safeguarding concerns are made available to volunteers and the communities we work with and any volunteers reporting concerns or complaints are made through formal channels. Coastwatch Irvine will also accept complaints from external sources such as members of the public, partners and official bodies.

 

How to report a safeguarding concern:

Volunteers who have a complaint or concern relating to safeguarding should report it immediately to the Coastwatch Irvine Safeguarding Officer who is also the Station Manager. If the volunteer does not feel comfortable reporting to the Station Manager (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 any of the Coastwatch Trustees. Coastwatch Irvine Station Manager and Safeguarding Officer: Kaye Johnstone Coastwatch Irvine Trustees: Kaye Johnstone, David Devoy, and Brian Lamb.

 

Response:

Coastwatch Irvine will follow up safeguarding reports and concerns according to policy and procedure, and legal and statutory obligations. Coastwatch Irvine will apply appropriate disciplinary measures to volunteers found in breach of policy. Coastwatch Irvine will offer support to survivors of harm caused by volunteers, regardless of whether a formal internal response is carried out (such as an internal investigation). Decisions regarding support will be led by the survivor.

 

Confidentiality:

It is essential that confidentiality in maintained at all stages of the process when dealing with safeguarding concerns. Information relating to the concern and subsequent case management should be shared on a need to know basis only, and should be kept secure at all times.

 

Associated policies

Volunteer Policy

Code of Conduct

Privacy

Health and Safety

Bullying and Harassment

Ethics

Disciplinary Policy

Retention Policy

Other policies as appropriate

 

Glossary of Terms

 

Beneficiary of Assistance: Someone who directly receives services from Coastwatch Irvine’s activities. Note that misuse of power can also apply to the wider community that Coastwatch Irvine serves, and also can include exploitation by giving the perception of being in a position of power.

 

Child: A person below the age of 16.

 

Harm: Psychological, physical and any other infringement of an individual’s rights Psychological harm: Emotional or psychological abuse, including (but not limited to) humiliating and degrading treatment such as bad name calling, constant criticism, belittling, persistent shaming, solitary confinement and isolation

 

Safeguarding: In Scotland, safeguarding means protecting peoples' health, wellbeing and human rights, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. We understand this statement to mean protecting people, including children and at risk adults, from harm that arises from coming into contact with our volunteers or activities. Definition is as follows: Safeguarding means taking all reasonable steps to prevent harm, abuse and harassment from occurring; to protect people, especially vulnerable adults and children, from that harm; and to respond appropriately when harm does occur. Safeguarding applies consistently and without exception across our volunteers and activities. It requires proactively identifying, preventing and guarding against all risks of harm, exploitation and abuse and having an accountable and transparent process for response, reporting and learning when risks materialise. Those processes must be survivor-centred and also protect those accused until proven guilty. Safeguarding puts beneficiaries and affected persons at the centre of all we do.

 

Sexual abuse: The term ‘sexual abuse’ means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.

 

Sexual exploitation: The term ‘sexual exploitation’ means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. This definition incudes human trafficking and modern slavery.

 

Survivor: The person who has been abused or exploited. The term ‘survivor’ is often used in preference to ‘victim’ as it implies strength, resilience and the capacity to survive, however it is the individual’s choice how they wish to iidentify themselves.

 

At risk adult: Sometimes also referred to as vulnerable adult. A person who is or may be in need of care by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or explitation.