Safeguarding Policy

ਸਮੀਖਿਆ ਕੀਤੀ: 07/12/2025

ਮਿਆਦ: 07/12/2026

1. ਮਕਸਦ

The Elm Foundation is committed to safeguarding the welfare, rights, dignity and safety of children and young people. Our priority is to prevent harm, reduce risk, protect individuals from abuse and neglect, and respond promptly and effectively when safeguarding concerns arise.

ਇਹ ਨੀਤੀ ਰੂਪਰੇਖਾ ਦਿੰਦੀ ਹੈ:

Our responsibilities under statutory guidance
How employees respond to safeguarding concerns
When and how to make referrals to Safeguarding Children
Internal reporting expectations
Recording, confidentiality and information sharing

Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility.

2. ਦਾਇਰਾ

ਇਹ ਨੀਤੀ ਇਸ 'ਤੇ ਲਾਗੂ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ:

All employees, volunteers, trustees and students.
All activities, including refuge, supported accommodation (16–17), community support, counselling, helpline, CYP services, group work and perpetrator programmes
All contact with clients, partners, visitors and members of the public
All contexts including in-person, telephone, outreach, digital contact and community settings

3. Legislation and Guidance

This policy is guided by:

Children

Children Act 1989 & 2004
Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023)
Keeping Children Safe in Education (where relevant)
Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (DSCP) Procedures
ਘਰੇਲੂ ਦੁਰਵਿਵਹਾਰ ਐਕਟ 2021

4. Definitions

4.1 Children

Anyone under 18 years old.

4.2 Types of Abuse

Includes but is not limited to:

ਘਰੇਲੂ ਦੁਰਵਿਵਹਾਰ
Physical, sexual, emotional abuse
Neglect
Coercive control
ਮਾਲੀ ਸ਼ੋਸ਼ਣ
Self-neglect
ਮਾਡਰਨ ਗੁਲਾਮੀ
ਅਪਰਾਧਿਕ ਸ਼ੋਸ਼ਣ
Child sexual exploitation

5. Safeguarding Principles

The Elm Foundation follows:

5.1 Trauma-Informed Approach

Safety, trust, choice, empowerment and collaboration.

5.2 Early Help and Prevention

Identifying concerns early reduces harm.

5.3 Proportionality

Responding in the safest way.

5.4 Information Sharing

Sharing relevant information lawfully and without delay when safety concerns exist.

5.6 Child-Centred Practice

The needs and safety of children come first.

6. Responsibilities

6.1 Board of Trustees

ਜ਼ਿੰਮੇਵਾਰੀ:

Strategic oversight
Monitoring safeguarding risks
Ensuring annual reviews

6.2 CEO

ਜ਼ਿੰਮੇਵਾਰੀ:

Policy implementation
Ensuring training and induction
Reporting to Trustees
Ensuring multi-agency compliance

6.3 Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) (Head of Operations/CEO in their absence)

DSLs oversee:

Advice and decision-making
Quality of safeguarding responses
Liaison with statutory agencies where needed
Ensuring safer recruitment practices
Learning from incidents

6.4 All employees, volunteers and students must:

Recognise abuse, neglect and indicators of risk
Report safeguarding concerns immediately
Record concerns clearly and factually
Share information appropriately
Follow Safeguarding referral pathways
ਲਾਜ਼ਮੀ ਸੇਫਗਾਰਡਿੰਗ ਸਿਖਲਾਈ ਵਿੱਚ ਹਿੱਸਾ ਲਓ

7. Identifying Safeguarding Concerns

Concerns may arise from:

Disclosures
Observations
Third-party information
Helpline calls
Changes in behaviour
Environmental factors
Risk assessment findings

Concerns may involve:

ਘਰੇਲੂ ਦੁਰਵਿਵਹਾਰ
Child at risk of harm
Criminal offences
Self-harm or suicide risk
Missing persons
Perpetrator risks

Guidance on identifying concerns can be found at:

Child protection service – Derbyshire County Council

8. Referral Pathways – Derbyshire Safeguarding Procedures

If a child or young person is in immediate danger always call 999

8.1 Safeguarding Children – Derbyshire County Council

Make a referral verbally and electronically to:

Derbyshire Starting Point
(24/7 children’s safeguarding front door)

Online referral form:
Starting Point contact and referral service – Derbyshire County Council
ਫ਼ੋਨ: 01629 533190

Criteria for a referral:

A child is suffering or at risk of significant harm, or
A parent/carer (including a perpetrator or victim) is unable to protect a child, or
Domestic abuse is impacting parenting capacity, emotional wellbeing, or safety

8.2 Early Help

Where concerns do not meet the “significant harm” threshold:

Refer to Early Help via Starting Point (same form).
Employees will continue to support in partnership.

9 Safeguarding Referrals Outside of Derbyshire

Although The Elm Foundation primarily works within Derbyshire, safeguarding concerns sometimes relate to children who live outside the county or who move to another area while receiving support. In these cases, safeguarding referrals must be made to the appropriate local authority, in line with Care Act requirements and national guidance.

9.1 When a Referral Outside Derbyshire Is Required

A referral to another local authority must be made when:

a) Helpline or Support Contacts from Outside Derbyshire

If the child:

Lives outside Derbyshire, or
A disclosure of a safeguarding concern involving a child at risk located in another area.

Employees must make the safeguarding referral to the local authority responsible for that geographical area.

The Elm Foundation may still provide emotional support, advice and signposting, but statutory safeguarding responsibility lies with the local authority where the child resides or is currently located.

b) Children Moving from Derbyshire to Another Area

When a child supported by The Elm Foundation relocates—for example, leaving our refuge to move to a refuge or accommodation in another county—an external safeguarding referral may be required where:

There are ongoing safeguarding concerns.
The child continues to be at risk.
Multi-agency involvement needs to continue in the new area.
Sharing relevant risk information is necessary for safe transition.

9.2 Why External Referrals Are Necessary

Safeguarding concerns must be raised with the local authority where the child is ordinarily resident or currently located.
External referrals ensure:

The child receives timely protection.
Risks are managed by the correct safeguarding team.
Continuity of support when a child relocates for safety.
Compliance with statutory duties and defensible decision-making.
Multi-agency safeguarding responses are maintained across local authority boundaries.

9.3 Process for Referring Safeguarding Concerns to Another Local Authority

Identify the Correct Safeguarding Team
Use postcode information or the adult’s stated location to determine which local authority is responsible.
Employees should use the government’s online directory or the local authority website for contact details.
Discuss with the line manager or DSL (if required)
The Designated Safeguarding Lead may advise or support employees where there is complexity, uncertainty, cross-border risk, or the need for rapid escalation.
Make the Referral
- Follow the external local authority’s referral form or process.
- Clarify that The Elm Foundation is based in Derbyshire and is referring due to the child’s location or relocation.

9.4 Record All Actions
Employees must record:

Reason for external referral
Consent status (parent)
Local authority contacted
Details provided
Referral confirmation or reference numbers

11. Information Sharing

We may share information without consent of the parent / carer or guardian when:

A child is at risk
A crime is suspected
Disclosure is required by law
Not sharing information increases risk

12. Recording

All safeguarding concerns must be recorded:

On the same day
Factually, objectively, and without opinion
On the correct system (case management + safeguarding referral form)
Including decisions, actions, referral reference numbers, who was spoken to and the time
With copies of any referrals made

13. Multi-Agency Working

The Elm Foundation actively participates in:

Strategy meetings
Child protection conferences
Core groups
MARAC
MAPPA (where relevant)
Professional meetings and reviews

We share relevant information and advocate for the safety and wellbeing of those we support.

14. Safer Recruitment

In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education and DSAB/DSCP guidance, we ensure:

Enhanced DBS checks
Verification of identity, employment history and qualifications
Two references
Safeguarding interview questions
Safe induction processes

15. Training

All employees must complete:

Safeguarding children (annual refresher)
Safeguarding adults (every 2 years minimum)
Risk assessment (DASH)

16. Escalation and Professional Disagreement

If employees believe safeguarding decisions by other agencies do not adequately protect a child:

Escalate to Line manager for further advice and if unresolved
Escalate to DSL

This ensures risks are not minimised or overlooked.

17. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed:

Annually
After any major safeguarding incident
Following updates to Derbyshire safeguarding procedures
After national legislation changes