Safeguarding Policy

Context 

Molehill Green Village Hall recognises that everyone within our community deserves to have access to local community activities or assets. For all activities all users must be safe, have dignity and be always treated with dignity.  It is vital that all users of our village hall understand and respect to the Safeguarding regulations. 

All Village Hall trustees members, staff and volunteers have a duty to safeguard vulnerable users of the hall and its premises and those who may encounter vulnerable users.

It is expected that everyone should respond to any concerns they may have regarding the physical, sexual, emotional, or psychological safety of a vulnerable person or concerns relating to discriminatory or financial violation or exploitation of a vulnerable person. 

This policy is in place to protect all vulnerable persons regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, religion, or faith. 

Safeguarding Act

The trustees will ensure they are following the protocols for the below safeguarding legislation. These are: 

·      Working together to Safeguard children 2018

·      The Care Act 2014

What is a vulnerable user? 

Vulnerable users could include: 

·      Children 

·      Young people 

·      Adults with learning difficulties or physical disability 

·      Frail, elderly people. 

·      Carers 

The importance of child protection is well known but it also needs to be remembered that village hall committees owe a duty of care to all those using their premises, which means that the safety of those who cannot read warning signs, who are frail or physically less able needs to be borne in mind. 

Principles 

The welfare of the child or vulnerable adult is paramount and is the responsibility of everyone. All children and vulnerable adults, without exception, have the right to protection from abuse, whether physical, verbal, sexual, bullying, exclusion or neglect. Bullying, shouting, physical violence, sexism and racism towards children will not be permitted or tolerated. 

Our Key Principles are: 

• No member of the trustees, helpers or other volunteers or staff will have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults unless they have been through the safe recruitment procedure and introductory Child Protection or Vulnerable Adults Protection training. 
  
• All suspicions or allegations of abuse against a child will be taken seriously and dealt with speedily and appropriately. 
  
• All staff and volunteers need to be aware of this policy, child protection, and vulnerable adult issues, and should be offered introductory training. 
  
• There will be a nominated and named Vulnerable Users representative to who any suspicions or concerns should be reported. This person is Lucy Johnson until 31/3/2024. 
  

The Trustees will endeavour to keep the premises safe for use by children and vulnerable adults. The committee recognises that a higher standard of safety is required where use is made by small children, those who cannot read safety notices and physically disabled adults. 

Any organisations or individuals hiring the hall for the purposes of holding activities where Ofsted registration is required should show their registration and their own Child Protection Policy. Safe recruitment processes should be used to appoint staff who will be working with children or vulnerable adults in any kind of activity. 

The Trustees will ensure that hirers are made aware of their obligations under the Licensing Act 2003 to ensure that alcohol is not sold to those under the age of 18. The committee will ensure that hirers are aware that no children may be admitted to films when they are below the age classification for the film or show. No gambling or entertainment of an adult or sexual nature shall be permitted on the premises. 

Policy & Procedures 

All trustees, volunteers and staff will be given information about child protection and should attend introductory level Child Protection training and Protection of Vulnerable Adults training where possible. 

A copy of the policy will be displayed for the attention of all in the village hall and made available on request to hirers at point of hiring or held within the building within the ‘Molehill Green Village Hall Policies and Procedures Folder, available to all. 

Organisations hiring the hall for activities for children will be asked to show their Child Protection policy before the first booking commences. Individuals hiring the hall for activities for children will be made aware of this policy. 

Organisations hiring the hall for activities specifically involving vulnerable adults will be asked to show their Vulnerable Adults Protection policy before the first booking commences. Other organisations hiring the hall whose activities may involve vulnerable adults will be made aware of this policy. 

The committee will require hirers to report any damage, breakages or safety issues needing attention to the booking secretary, who will inform the appropriate people. These will be dealt with as soon as practicable, in the light of the circumstances, with provision to prevent access by children and vulnerable adults pending repair where appropriate. 

A hiring agreement which includes appropriate clauses will be entered into for all hiring’s for licensable activities. The committee will ensure that these provisions are observed when holding any licensable activities itself. The committee will give written instructions to those selling alcohol concerning the licensing offences which must be avoided. 

Contractors engaged to carry out work at the premises must not be allowed unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults. Appropriate supervision will be arranged if necessary. 

If the premises might be used by more than one hirer, the attention of hirers will be drawn to the need to ensure that children and vulnerable adults are supervised when using toilets. 

At all times, the trustees of Molehill Green Village Hall will ensure that all users are aware of all Safeguarding Regulations defined by the policy. For all those that use the building, either through volunteering, renting, hiring, employing, or visiting the building will be expected to comply to our policy. 

The Trustees will require hirers to report any damage, breakages or safety issues needing attention to the booking secretary, who will inform the appropriate people. These will be dealt with as soon as practicable, in the light of the circumstances, with provision to prevent access by children and vulnerable adults pending repair where appropriate.

Raised Concerns 

In event that any users breach this policy, or a Safeguarding incident is raised, Molehill Green Village Hall trustees reserve the to make the following actions:

• If it involves a Child the trustees will notify the appropriate authorities, this includes the Police and Children Social Services.
• If it involves a Vulnerable Adult the trustees will notify the appropriate authorities, this includes the Police and Adult Social Care. 
• Refuse any future events and stop the use of the building or grounds to any individual, organisation, or employee. 

Hirer, Employee or Volunteer

If any users of the building receive notification of a Safeguarding incident. The trustees of the Molehill Green Village Hall will expect to be notified of the incident immediately or as soon as possible. 

The person who raised this incident to the trustees will be expected to comply with all subsequent requests or actions to ensure the safeguarding incident is dealt with swiftly, respecting the circumstances, individuals, and law.

In the event of an incident main user of the Building or Grounds will need to report this to the trustees of the village hall. the report will need to state the context, actions the user took and outcomes from the incident.  This will need to be sent to the Trustees of the Village Hall (trustees@molehillgreenvillaghall.co.uk).

User

If the individual would like to raise an safeguarding incident after the event, the individual can  notify the trustees of Molehill Green Village Hall, this can be done either through email (trustees@molehillgreenvillagehall.co.uk) or can contact  via telephone the trustees of Molehill Green Village Hall.  (Lucy Johnson – 07780 688740)

Recording and Managing Incidents 

The trustees of the Molehill Green Village Hall will All captured, keep, and monitored the outcomes of the incident. In the event this is deemed as unlawful further appropriate actions or measures will put in place. This information will be shared with the appropriate organisations or governing bodies to ensure all safeguarding incidents are managed effectively. 

Further advice and support 

At any stage you may wish to seek further advice or support from the following sources: 

·      Child Protection:

·      NSPCC – www.nspcc.org.uk or 0116 234 7223

·      NSPCC Child Protection Helpline – 0808 800 5000

·      Criminal Records Bureau – www.disclosure.gov.uk

·      Save the Children – www.scfuk.org.uk

·      Early Years Partnerships – based in County Council Social Services depts. 

·      Vulnerable Adults Protection: Action on Elder Abuse – helpline 0808 808 8141 

·      Age Concern – helpline 0800 009966 

Policy Review 

The Policy will be reviewed on a yearly basis or when changes occur to the Safeguarding Act(s) for Adults or Children. New trustees, volunteers and staff must be given an induction to this policy and understand their responsibilities.