Policy Statement
Well Hope Family Mediation Services is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects everyone who works or volunteers for us to share this commitment. Well Hope believes that every child has a Human Right to be protected from violence, exploitation, and abuse within their home, and outside their homes including sexual abuse and exploitation, trafficking, child labour, cyberbullying, and child marriage.
Although rare, if it has been assessed that you, your child or someone else has experienced significant harm or is at risk of harm, we may need to share this information with other agencies if there are concerns about a child or someone else’s welfare.
We will ensure that our concerns about your child are discussed with you as their parent(s) first, unless there is a reason to believe that sharing this with you may put your child’s safety, or someone else’s safety at further risk.
Well Hope Family Mediation Service’s Designated Safeguarding Lead is Natalie Vandal. All safeguarding matters should be immediately reported to her via our Enquire Now Form located in our web page’s header .
What is Safeguarding?
Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and vulnerable persons and protect them from harm.
Safeguarding means:
- Protecting children and vulnerable people from abuse and maltreatment
- Preventing harm to children and vulnerable person’s health or development
- Ensuring children and vulnerable people live grow up with the provision of safe and effective care
- Taking action to enable all children, young people and everyone else to have the best outcomes
Child Protection is part of the safeguarding process. It focuses on protecting children who are suffering or are likely to suffer significant harm. This includes Child Protection procedures which detail how to respond to concerns about a child.
Safeguarding children and Child Protection guidance and legislation applies to all children up to the age of 18.
Well Hope believes:
- That the welfare of children is paramount
- That every child has a Human Right to protection against all violence and abuse regardless of their age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, or sexuality
- That some children are more vulnerable and at risk such as babies and young children, children with disabilities and communication needs, children from Black, Asian and other marginalised ethnic groups and/or are impacted by the Cost of Living Crisis due to poverty, homelessness, food insecurity, etc…
- That working in partnership with children and their families or carers, in addition to other agencies, is essential in promoting their welfare
Well Hope is Committed to Keeping Children and Vulnerable Persons Safe by:
- Prioritising their wishes and feelings and valuing their contributions as members of a family and a community
- Appointing a Well Hope Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to imbed a culture of Safeguarding
- Providing robust reflective supervision, training, and quality assurance monitoring to all staff and volunteers
- Adhering to Safer Recruitment best practice when recruiting staff and volunteers
- Promptly sharing Child Protection concerns to relevant agencies who are required to know about children who have experienced harm or are at risk of harm
- Managing allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately through allegations management procedures
- Committing to a workplace that is free from verbal or physically violent behaviour, discrimination, oppression and bullying and ensuring that procedures in place to manage concerns effectively and within a timely manner
- Ensuring Well Hope has an effective complaints and whistleblowing procedure
- Providing all families, a safe physical environment by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance
- Ensuring that everyone who works for Well Hope, whether they work directly with children or not have a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Certificate
To get additional information related to Safeguarding topics, please review the following links:
- NSPCC – Pants Campaign
- Educate Against Hate – Hate Crimes
- NSPCC – Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
- ACT – Explaining Extremism and Terrorism to Children
- NSPCC – Home or Out Alone Guide
- NSPCC – Hiring a Private Tutor for Your Child
- National Crime Agency -County Lines
- Barnardo’s – Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
- Childline – Services that a child can access themselves
In the UK, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. If you, someone you know, or a child are in immediate danger, dial 999 NOW to receive urgent help.
If you or someone you know feels suicidal or are struggling to cope and would like to talk to someone, contact Samaritans for free on 116 123. Alternatively, please go to your GP, or your local A&E.
Domestic Violence can happen to anyone. Domestic violence is a pattern of behaviour on the part of an abuser to control their partner. It can happen at any point of a relationship, including after you have split up. If you need help with domestic violence, contact the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
If you have concerns about a child, contact your local authority children’s services at any time of the day, the police or contact the NSPCC Helpline via this link: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/reporting-abuse/report
If you are a child and you need help, please contact Childline on 0800 111.
We are members of the Family Mediation Council (FMC), The Family Mediation Association (FMA), The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) and Social Work England (SWE) in good professional standing.
