Statement of Intent
This is the Health and Safety policy statement of The Youth Counselling Project
Our Health and Safety policy aims to –
- Maintain safe and healthy working conditions
- Prevent accidents and causes of ill health
- Manage health and safety risks
- Provide clear information and training to ensure counsellors and volunteers are competent to do their work
This will be achieved using each school’s Health and Safety Policy, a copy of each will be held by the charity.
Responsibilities for Health and Safety
Overall and final responsibility for Health and Safety
Chair of Trustees
Day to day responsibility
Individuals.
All counsellors and people volunteering for the charity should-
- Be aware of the Health and Safety policy for the school in which they are working (if appropriate)
- Co-operate with supervisors and managers on all health and safety matters
- Take reasonable care of own health and safety
- Report all health and safety concerns to an appropriate person
Arrangements for Health and Safety
Risk Assessment
The charity will produce and review risk assessments when necessary responding to any change in circumstances eg remote working, Covid 19.
Training
The charity will provide appropriate training to counsellors and volunteers, including Safeguarding and GPDR, and ensure they have access to all policies.
Consultation
The charity will consult regularly with counsellors on health and safety matters as they arise and formally when reviewing this policy.
Safeguarding Policy
This policy applies to all staff, volunteers and sessional workers, working on behalf of The Youth Counselling Project.
Safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who may come into contact with children and families has a role to play.
The purpose of this policy is to:
Protect children and young people who receive a service from The Youth Counselling Project.
- Provide staff, volunteers and sessional workers with the overarching principles that govern our approach to safeguarding and child protection.
- Direct the reader to follow each schools Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy when working with children within in the school.
- Direct the reader to report all concerns to the Designated Child Protection Lead within the school.
- Follow and comply with East Sussex Safeguarding Children Partnership.
We recognise that:
- The welfare of the child is paramount, as enshrined in the Children Act 1989 and subsequent legislation and holding to the principle that ‘Every Child Matters’
- All children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse.
- Some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experience, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues
- Working in partnership with the school, children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.
We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:
- Valuing them, listening and respecting them.
- Following each school’s child protection and safeguarding procedures.
- Identifying each school’s Designated Child Protection Lead.(DSL)
- Developing and implementing an effective e-safety policy and related procedures always following school guide lines when relevant.
- Providing effective management for staff, volunteers and sessional workers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures.
- Recruit staff, volunteers and sessional workers safely, ensuring all necessary and legal checks are made in line with the statutory guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education: September 2019
- Recording and storing all personal information professionally and securely.
- Following each individual school’s safeguarding procedures and child protection policies when sharing concerns and relevant information with agencies.
- Always liaising with and reporting to the designated the DSL within each school.
- Using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff ,volunteers and sessional workers appropriately
- Ensuring we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measure in place
- Ensuring we provide a safe environment for our children, young people, staff, volunteers and sessional workers, by working within the health and safety procedures in place in the school and in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance.
Legal Framework
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of law and guidance that seeks to protect children, namely:
- Children Act 1989 – https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1989/41/contents
- United Convention of Rights of the Child 1991 – https://www.unicef.org.uk/rights-respecting-schools/the-rrsa/introducing-the-crc/
- Data Protection Act 1998 – https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/29/contents
- Human Rights Act 1998 – https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/42/contents
- Sexual Offences Act 2004 – https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/contents
- Children Act 2004 – https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/31/contents
- Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/47/contents
- Protection of Freedom Act 2012 – https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2012/9/contents
- Children and Families Act 2014 – https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/6/contents
- Special education needs and disability (SEND) code of practice: 0 to 25 years – Statutory guidance for organisations which work with and support children and young people who have special educational needs or disabilities; HM Government 2014
- Information sharing: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding service to children, to young people, parents and carers; HM Government 2015
- Working together to safeguarding children: a guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children; HM Government 2015
Senior Lead for Safeguarding
This is the Lead Counsellor who reports to the Chair of Trustees
