Date adopted
Review date / February 2013
Committee or person responsible for review / RMc/Board

Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy Statement

  1. Introduction

This policy applies to all staff, trustees and volunteers of Cornwall Youth Work Partnership (CYWP) and all those whose activities directly affect the business and undertaking of CYWP. It was originally drawn up with close reference to the guidelines contained in the Home Office document “Safe from Harm” and the National Council for Voluntary Youth Service document “Keeping it Safe” with references to the South West Child Protection Procedures available at

  1. Changes to Legislation

Changes introduced by Government in the Protection of Freedoms Act from September 2012 have been incorporated into this updated version, and further information can be accessed at “Changes to Disclosure & Barring: What you Need to Know”

The main changes have occurred in the following areas

Original Terms / New Terms
CRB, ISA, VBS / DBS
Standard CRB / Standard DBS check
Enhanced CRB check / Enhanced DBS check
Enhanced CRB check with Barred List check / Enhanced check for regulated activity
ISA Adult First / DBS Adult First
Vulnerable adults / Vulnerable groups

Additionally, changes from Spring 2013will include

•A new ‘Update Service’ which will provide portability for individuals

•Introduction of Applicant Only certificates

Cornwall Youth Work Partnership (CYWP) continues to recognise and fully endorse the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. A summary of the convention is available at

  1. This Policy

This policy recognises the obligations and duty of care on organisations working with children and young people as covered in the Children’s Act 1989. This act defines children and young people as anyone up to the age of 18 years; however, CYWP recognises that the Local Authority and partner members of CYWP define children and young people as anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday(and up to 25 for those with additional support requirements into their adult years).

The policy is designed to encourage the development of best practices in order to prevent the neglect, physical, emotional and sexual abuse of young people and children while they are in the care of CYWP and its partner members. However CYWP expects that partner members should have their own Safeguarding policy in place. This policy stresses the responsibility of workers to be alert to the signs of abuse and provides for a prompt and effective reporting procedure should abuse be suspected, disclosed or discovered, regardless of the setting in which the abuse has allegedly taken place.

CYWP is committed to providing or accessing training for staff and partner members to raise the awareness of their responsibilities for safeguarding children and young people.The policy also provides guidance to staff and partner members on safe working practice with children and young people to minimise the risk of false allegations of abuse.

  1. What the law says
  1. The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (2006) and the Protection of Freedoms Act (2012)

The new legal definition of regulated activity is covered in the above legislation, and this still excludes family arrangements and personal, non-commercial arrangements. All CYWP staff, including volunteers, who take positions of responsibility, are, for the purposes of child protection, employees. In terms of what duties they perform, “Regulated activity” relating to children has been re-defined by the new legislation from 2012 as follows;

(i)“Unsupervised activities: teach, train, instruct, care for or supervise children, or provide advice/guidance on well-being, or drive a vehicle only for children

(ii)Work for a limited range of establishments (specified places) with the opportunity for contact: for example, schools, children’s homes, childcare premises. Not work by supervised volunteers;

Work under (i) and (ii) is regulated activity only if done regularly

(iii)Relevant personal care, for example washing or dressing; or health care by or supervised by a professional;

(iv)Registered childminding; and foster-carers position”

[“Changes to Disclosure and Barring: What you need to know”]

An organisation which knowingly allows a barred person to work in regulated activity will be breaking the law. This means that all employees (including volunteers) undertaking regulated activity must be subject to the Enhanced check for regulated activity through theDisclosure and Barring Service (BDS)

  1. The Sexual Offences (Amendments) Act 2001

Introduces the offence of abuse of trust. This offence covers sexual relationships between a person over the age of 18 years and a person under that age where the adult is in a ‘position of trust’ in relation to the young person.

  1. Advice and Referral

Any safeguarding concerns about a child or young person will follow this policy, the aim of which is to ensure that children and young people get the right help at the right time from the best provider.The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CYWP is responsible for making decisions regarding safeguarding concerns and must share these with the Chair of the Board of CYWP.

If at any time a member of staff believes that

  • A child or young person is at risk of harm or;
  • Has been the victim of abuse or;
  • Is in need of urgent medical attention or;
  • Another person is at serious risk of harm by a disclosure made by or the actions of a child or young person.

the reporting procedure as outlined in the CYWP child protection policy must be put into immediate action.In any instance of concern, advice and possible referral must be channelled through the Multi – Agency Referral Unit (MARU)

Cornwall:Multi – Agency Referral Unit- 0300 1231 116

Out of hours service - 01208 251300 (after 17.15 and at weekends)

Post to Fistral House, Truro, TR4 9NH

Isles of Scilly:Children's Social Care - 01720 424040/39

Out of hours service - 01720 422699

  1. Recruitment procedure

6.1All staff and volunteers are entitled to be treated in exactly the same way and share the same rights and responsibilities. The term staff is therefore used hereafter and applies to all paid and voluntary personnel of CYWP, including Trustees acting on CYWP business.

6.2Occasionally individuals may come forward who have ulterior motives for wanting to work with young people and we cannot afford to put our young people or the good reputation of CYWP at risk. In order to minimise these risks it is essential that the following procedure be applied tothe recruitment of all new staff whose work may involve them in regulated activity with young people.

6.3All prospective new staff will therefore

- complete an application form

- have a clear job or role description that details responsibilities and highlights management reporting structures

- be interviewed by at least three people

- provide at least two recent references, one of which should be from their most recent employer and the other from a person outside CYWP, providing the opportunity for previous experience to be assessed before confirming appointment

- explain any gaps in employment or residency.

- provide evidence of their identity; at least two items of evidence should be examined and the details recorded in the individual’s employment file

- disclose all convictions relating to children (even ‘spent’ ones)

6.4 On appointment, all new staff will

- receive appropriate induction training in their roleincluding the operation of this policy and the Child Protection procedures in CYWP

- access appropriate continuing training for their role, including risk assessment and Levels 1,2 and 3 Child Protection training from the Local Children’s Safeguarding Board (LSCB)

- receive at least one session of supervision from their line manager every six to eight weeks;

- receive an annual personal development review informed by observation of practice with children and young people

- be subject to a probationary period

- be subject to an Enhanced check for regulated activity through the DBS

For complete details of CYWP’s recruitment and selection procedures please see contact the CYWP CEO.

  1. Criminal Record Checks for CYWP Personnel

The Government has established the DBS as the agency to check the criminal records of people who are applying for both paid and voluntary work with vulnerable children, young people and adults. Disclosure checks are free for all voluntary roles at both standard and enhanced levels.

Disclosures for paid employees are charged for and current rates can be viewed on the disclosure website at checks will be free of charge.

There are now three levels of checks;

- Standard

-Enhanced DBS check

-Enhanced check for regulated activity

All roles within CYWP that involve regulated activity with children and young people must be subject to anEnhanced check for regulated activity through the DBS.

Currently checks must be re-checked after a period of no longer than three years but from early 2013 the DBS will be introducing an Update Service to allow individuals to apply for a criminal record check once and then, if they need a similar sort of check again, to reuse their existing certificate, with their organisation checking online to establish it is still up to date. In this way, staff joining CYWP from partner agencies can be thoroughly vetted.

  1. Complaints and whistle blowing procedure

In the event that a member of staff or other party should feel that a member of CYWP staff or somebody whose activities affect the business of CYWP has acted in a manner which could be construed as immoral, abusive or unethical, they are encouraged to report this to their line manager (or if not immediately possible, to a trustee) in a timely fashion so that the incident can be investigated. Where a complaint is to be made about their line manager or the CEO, the complaint can be directed to the Chair of the Board of CYWP Trustees, who has a responsibility to handle the complaint with dignity and discretion. When a member of staff has reported a suspicion about another member of staff or the organisation itself the Trustees are obliged to protect that person from harassment or unfair treatment.

  1. Consent

Should CYWP engage in activities where young people are under the supervision and direction of their staff, consent will always be sought from parents or those with parental responsibility using an adopted consent form from one of its partner members.

These records should only be kept for the duration of the activity and will be destroyed after the activity has been completed. New consent will be sought for other activities.

  1. The use of photographs or recorded images of children and young people

Implicit within CYWP’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy is the commitment to ensure that all publications and media represent children and young people appropriately and with due respect.

  • A photograph or image of a child (including on the website) should not be published without written consent, and personal information of the individual should not accompany the image. If consent is explicit the name of an individual may be used.
  • Care must be taken that images of children or young people who are under a court order are not recorded or published without proper and appropriate permission.
  • Simultaneous streaming of images to a website should be avoided as this may provide an opportunity to edit inappropriate images, and an independent server used so that images cannot be accessed, copied or downloaded.
  • Parental consent should be sought through the use of an informed consent statement when photographers may be present at a CYWP event and further consent sought regarding the publication of images.

Photography activity means both still and moving images for the purposes of this policy.

  1. Resources for further Safeguarding study

•Changes to Disclosure & Barring: What you Need to Know

•Latest Updates from the CRB/DBS

•CIPD

•NACRO

•Guidance for Safer Working Practice for Adults who work with children and Young People

  • CIOS LSCB website at

For other issues with regard to the safeguarding of children and young people please refer to the CYWP policy handbook, especially under the following headings

-Risk assessment – see Health and Safety policy statement

-Confidentiality – see Confidentiality policy

Cornwall Youth Work Partnership is a Limited Company Registered in England No 5641036 Registered office:

Wesley Buildings, Wesley Street, Redruth, Cornwall TR15 2EG. Charity No 1117066

Web Site Telephone 01209 213738