Safeguarding

The Life Project is fully committed to safeguarding. Providing a safe environment for the Life Project community, the vulnerable adults and children with whom we work, our staff, volunteers and trustees, is a priority.

If a child, young person or vulnerable adult is considered to be in imminent danger of harm call the Police immediately – 999

We recognise that safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility but there are specific responsibilities we have as an organisation and those who work with us. Our hope is that there will never be an incident or concern and have safe recruitment procedures, staff and volunteer training, policy, and procedures that all must abide by.

Our complete Safeguarding policy is available to download.

Safeguarding Policy Click to Download

Thirtyone:Eight

We work with and are supported by Thiryone:eight – an independent Christian safeguarding charity which helps individuals, organisations, charities, faith and community groups to protect vulnerable people from abuse.

Thirtyone:eight facilitate DBS Checks and Training for the Life Project (Bath) and are able to provide confidential advice and guidance to those with safeguarding concerns – service users, volunteers, staff and trustees. They have a dedicated safeguarding helpline 9am-5pm Monday to Friday – 0303 003 1111

Safeguarding Team

At the Life Project we have a Safeguarding Team who work together to overview our safeguarding practices and manage any concerns.

The team are available to respond confidentially to concerns related to children, young people and vulnerable adults associated with The Life Project (Bath).

Safeguarding Lead (Trustee): 

safeguarding@lifeprojectbath.org.uk

Safeguarding Co-ordinator:

Rich Blake-Lobb ceo@lifeprojectbath.org.uk | 07444 408736

Deputy Safeguarding Co-ordinator:

Esmé Neale de Zarate dayservices@lifeprojectbath.org.uk | 07856 576461

Further Contacts

Local supportive contacts include:

• www.beta.bathnes.gov.uk
• BANES Adult Social Services: 0300 247 0201 (option 3)
• BANES Children’s Social Work Services: 01225 396111 or 01225 477929
• BANES Disabled Children’s Team: 01225 396967
• BANES Out of Hours Emergency no. for Adults and Children: 01454  615165
• Thirtyone:Eight: 0303 003 1111 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)
• Bath Police: 101 (ask for the ‘Safeguarding Co-ordination Unit’)

Trustee Board Safeguarding Statement

The Trustee Board recognise the importance of its work with children, young people and adults in need of protection and its responsibility to protect everyone entrusted to our care. The following statement has been agreed by the Trustees:

This organisation is committed to the safeguarding of children, young people and adults with care and support needs and ensuring their well-being.
Specifically:

• We recognise that we all have a responsibility to help prevent the physical, sexual, spiritual abuse and neglect of children, young people (those under 18
  years of age) and vulnerable adults and to report any such abuse that we discover or suspect.
• We believe every person should be valued, safe and happy. We want to make sure that people we have contact with know this and are empowered to
  tell us if they are suffering harm.
• All children, young people and vulnerable adults have the right to be treated with respect, to be listened to and to be protected from all forms of abuse.
• We recognise that we all have a responsibility to help prevent the physical, sexual, psychological, financial and discriminatory abuse and neglect of adults
  who have care and support needs and to report any such abuse that we discover or suspect.
• We recognise the personal dignity and rights of children, young people and adults who find themselves victims of forced marriage or modern slavery and
  will ensure all our policies and procedures reflect this.
• We believe all children, young people and adults should enjoy and have access to every aspect of the life of the organisation unless they pose a risk to
  the safety of others.
• We undertake to exercise proper care in the appointment and selection of all those who will work with children, young people and adults with care and
  support needs.

We are committed to:

• following the requirements of UK legislation in relation to safeguarding children and adults and good practice recommendations;
• respecting the rights of children as described in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child;
• implementing the requirements of legislation regarding people with disabilities;
• ensuring that workers adhere to the agreed procedures of our safeguarding policy;
• keeping up to date with national and local developments relating to safeguarding;
• following organisational guidelines in relation to safeguarding children and adults in need of protection;
• supporting the Safeguarding Team in their work and in any action they may need to take to protect children / adults;
• ensuring that everyone agrees to abide by these recommendations and the guidelines established by this organisation;
• supporting parents and families;
• nurturing, protecting and safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults;
• supporting, resourcing, training, monitoring and providing supervision to all those who undertake this work;
• supporting all in the organisation affected by abuse;
• adopting and following the ten safeguarding standards developed by thirtyone:eight.

We recognise:

• Children’s Social Services (or equivalent) has lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns
  about a child. The Adult Disability Team (or equivalent) has lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are
  concerns about an adult with care and support needs.
• Where an allegation suggests that a criminal offence may have been committed then the police should be contacted as a matter of urgency.
• Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

We will review this statement and our policy and procedures annually or when there is a change in personnel.

If you have any concerns for a child or adult with care and support needs, then speak to one of the following who have been approved as the Safeguarding Team
for this organisation.