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Children’s & Adult’s Safeguarding Policy

The Cookery Cabin abides by the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and is committed to safeguarding practice that reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice requirements. 

  • We recognise the welfare of children is paramount in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take 

  • All children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation has an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse 

  • Some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues 

  • Working in partnership with children, young people, vulnerable adults, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare. 

 

Purpose

The Cookery Cabin will: 

  • Protect children, young people and vulnerable adults who receive The Cookery Cabin’s services from harm. This includes the children of adults who use our services.

  • Provide staff and contractors, as well as children, young people, vulnerable adults and their families, with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection. 

 

This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of The Cookery Cabin, including paid contractors and volunteers. Failure to comply with the policy and related procedures will be addressed without delay and may ultimately result in dismissal/exclusion from the organisation. 

  

Definitions

The Children Act 1989 definition of a child is: anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday, even if they are living independently, are a member of the armed forces or is in hospital. 

 

Adult at Risk/Vulnerable Adult: An adult who has needs for care and support (whether or not the authority is meeting any of those needs), is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect, and as a result of those needs is unable to protect himself or herself against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it. 

 

Child and Adult Abuse: Children and adults may be vulnerable to neglect and abuse or exploitation from within their family and from individuals they come across in their daily lives. There are 4 main categories of abuse, which are: sexual, physical, emotional abuse, and neglect. It is important to be aware of more specific types of abuse that fall within these categories, they are: 

  • Bullying and cyberbullying 

  • Child sexual exploitation 

  • Child Criminal exploitation 

  • Child trafficking 

  • Domestic abuse 

  • Female genital mutilation 

  • Grooming 

  • Historical abuse 

  • Online abuse 

​

Safeguarding children: Safeguarding children is defined in Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 as:  

  • providing help and support to meet the needs of children as soon as problems emerge.  

  • protecting children from maltreatment, whether that is within or outside the home, including online. 

  • preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development. 

  • ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care.

  • promoting the upbringing of children with their birth parents, or otherwise their family network4 through a kinship care arrangement, whenever possible and where this is in the best interests of the children.

  • taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes in line with the outcomes set out in the Children’s Social Care National Framework.

 

Legal Framework: 

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children, young people and vulnerable adults in England. A summary of the key legislation is available from nspcc.org.uk/learning. 

 

The Cookery Cabin should have in place arrangements that reflect the importance of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people as well as vulnerable adults. 

 

The Prevent duty 

Some organisations in England, Scotland and Wales have a duty, as a specified authority under section 26 of the Counterterrorism and Security Act 2015, to identify vulnerable children, young people and vulnerable adults and prevent them from being drawn into terrorism. This is known as the Prevent duty. These organisations include: 

  • Schools  

  • Registered childcare providers 

  • Local authorities 

  • Police 

  • Prisons and probation services 

  • NHS trusts and foundations. 

  • Other organisations may also have Prevent duties if they perform delegated local authority functions. 

 

Children, young people or vulnerable adults can be exposed to different views and receive information from various sources. Some of these views may be considered radical or extreme. 

 

Radicalisation is the process through which a person comes to support or be involved in extremist ideologies. It can result in a person becoming drawn into terrorism and is in itself a form of harm. 

 

Extremism is vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. 

 

Training and Awareness

The Cookery Cabin will ensure an appropriate level of safeguarding training is available to its staff, volunteers and any relevant persons linked to the organisation who requires it (e.g. contractors). 

 

For all employees who are working or volunteering with children, young people or vulnerable adults, this requires them as a minimum to have awareness training that enables them to:  

  • Understand what safeguarding is and their role in safeguarding children young people or vulnerable adults. 

  • Recognise a child, young person or vulnerable adult potentially in need of safeguarding and take action. 

  • Understand how to report a safeguarding Alert. 

  • Understand dignity and respect when working with children, young people or vulnerable adults. 

  • Have knowledge of the Children’s & Adult’s Safeguarding Policy. 

 

Confidentiality and Information Sharing

The Cookery Cabin expects all staff, volunteers and any relevant persons linked to the organisation who requires it (e.g. contractors) to maintain confidentiality.  Information will only be shared in line with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and Data Protection. 

 

However, information should be shared with the Local Authority if a child, young person or vulnerable adult is deemed to be at risk of harm or contact the police if they are in immediate danger, or a crime has been committed.

 

Recording and Record Keeping

A written record must be kept about any concern regarding a child, young person or vulnerable adult with safeguarding needs. This must include details of the person involved, the nature of the concern and the actions taken, decision made and why they were made. 

 

All records must be signed and dated. All records must be securely and confidentially stored in line with General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). Our Privacy Policy can be found here.

 

Safe Recruitment & Selection

The Cooker Cabin is committed to safe employment and safe recruitment practices, that reduce the risk of harm to children from people unsuitable to work with them or have contact with them.  

 

Social Media

All employees and volunteers should be aware of The Cookery Cabin social media policy and procedures and the code of conduct for behaviour towards the children, young people and vulnerable adults we support. 

 

Use of Mobile Phones and other Digital Technology

All employees, trustees and volunteers should be aware of The Cookery Cabin policy and procedures regarding the use of mobile phones and any digital technology and understand that it is unlawful to photograph children, young people and vulnerable adults without the explicit consent of the person with parental responsibilities.

 

Whistleblowing

It is important that people within The Cookery Cabin have the confidence to come forward to speak or act if they are unhappy with anything. Whistle blowing occurs when a person raises a concern about dangerous or illegal activity, or any wrong- doing within their organisation. This includes concerns about another employee or volunteer. There is also a requirement by The Cookery Cabin to protect whistleblowers.

 

Important Contacts

Lead for Safeguarding                                                                               Childs’ Services 03000 411111 
Name: Triona Chapman 
Email address:  triona@thecookerycabin.co.uk                                       Adults’ Services 03000 416161 
Telephone number: 07796613303

                                                                                                                     Email social.services@kent.gov.uk 

Police                                                                                                            
Emergency – 999 
Non-emergency – 101 

 

NSPCC Helpline                                                                                           Childline
0808 800 5000                                                                                               0800 1111

 

Gravesham Borough Council

https://www.gravesham.gov.uk/keeping-gravesham-safe/safeguarding-children-adults

 

Medway Council

https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200170/children_and_families/600/worried_about_a_child/1

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