1. Purpose

 

This policy sets out Teens Unite's commitment and responsibilities for safeguarding the children and young adults supported by the charity and for promoting their welfare.

 

Teens Unite supports young people aged 13–24. For safeguarding purposes, a child is anyone under the age of 18. Young people aged 18 and over are adults and, where the relevant criteria are met, will be safeguarded in accordance with adult safeguarding legislation and guidance.

 

This policy has been developed with reference to relevant legislation and statutory guidance, including the Children Act 1989, Children Act 2004, Care Act 2014, Children and Social Work Act 2017 and Working Together to Safeguard Children.

 

1. Scope

 

2.1 Subject area

 

This policy sets out Teens Unite's approach to safeguarding children and young adults who engage with the charity and provides the framework for recognising, responding to, recording and reporting safeguarding concerns.

 

It applies across all Teens Unite activities and services, including in-person and digital delivery, residential activities, events and other interactions with young people.

 

2.2 Individuals

 

This policy applies to all those working for or on behalf of Teens Unite, including employees, trustees and volunteers. Contractors, partners and external providers working with Teens Unite are also expected to comply with the safeguarding requirements relevant to their role and activity.

 

1. Policy

 

3.1 Organisational Responsibilities

 

Teens Unite is committed to creating a culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and the welfare and safety of the children and young adults we support is paramount.

 

The Board of Trustees has overall responsibility for safeguarding and for ensuring that Teens Unite has appropriate policies, procedures and practices in place to protect those who come into contact with the charity from harm. The Board may delegate oversight and operational responsibilities but retains overall accountability for safeguarding.

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The Board will appoint a Trustee Lead for Beneficiaries and Safeguarding, who will provide specific oversight and challenge in relation to safeguarding practice and act as a link between the Board and the charity's operational safeguarding arrangements. The appointment of a Lead Trustee does not remove or reduce the collective safeguarding responsibilities of the Board of Trustees.

 

The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for ensuring that safeguarding arrangements are implemented effectively throughout the organisation and that appropriate resources, training and support are available.

 

Teens Unite will appoint a suitably trained Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) with responsibility for the day-to-day management and implementation of safeguarding arrangements. Appropriate cover will be identified for circumstances in which the DSL is unavailable.

 

The DSL will take appropriate action following any safeguarding concern, disclosure or reported incident and will seek advice from, or make referrals to, the appropriate statutory safeguarding agencies where required.

 

All employees, trustees and volunteers have a responsibility to understand and follow Teens Unite's safeguarding policies and procedures, to remain alert to safeguarding concerns and to report concerns promptly in accordance with this policy.

 

4.0 Designated Safeguarding Lead Responsibilities

 

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) has operational responsibility for safeguarding within Teens Unite and will:

 

• act as the first point of contact for safeguarding concerns, disclosures and incidents;

• assess information received and determine the appropriate safeguarding response;

• seek advice from and make referrals to children's social care, adult safeguarding services, the police, LADO or other appropriate statutory agencies where required;

• ensure safeguarding concerns, decisions, actions and referrals are recorded accurately, promptly and securely;

• ensure appropriate information is shared with relevant agencies where necessary to safeguard a child or adult at risk;

• provide safeguarding advice and support to employees and volunteers;

• maintain appropriate knowledge of current safeguarding legislation, guidance and local safeguarding arrangements;

• ensure safeguarding concerns involving staff or volunteers are managed in accordance with the appropriate procedure; and

• escalate significant safeguarding matters appropriately to the CEO and, where appropriate, the Trustee Lead for Beneficiaries and Safeguarding.

 

The DSL is not responsible for investigating allegations of abuse. Their role is to receive and assess concerns, take appropriate safeguarding action and refer to the relevant statutory agencies where necessary.

 

4.1 Staff, Trustee and Volunteer Responsibilities

 

Everyone working for or on behalf of Teens Unite has a responsibility to contribute to a safe safeguarding culture.

 

Employees, trustees and volunteers must:

 

• be familiar with and follow the safeguarding policies and procedures relevant to their role;

• remain alert to signs that a child or young adult may be experiencing, or at risk of, abuse, neglect, exploitation or other harm;

• listen and respond appropriately if a young person raises a concern or makes a disclosure;

• report any safeguarding concern, disclosure or allegation to the DSL immediately, in accordance with Teens Unite's reporting procedures;

• make an accurate record of the concern as soon as possible, using the young person's own words wherever possible;

• maintain appropriate professional boundaries;

• share safeguarding information only with those who need it for safeguarding purposes and never promise confidentiality to a young person;

• complete safeguarding induction and training appropriate to their role; and

• raise concerns if they believe safeguarding procedures have not been followed or a concern has not been acted upon appropriately.

 

A person reporting a safeguarding concern is not responsible for deciding whether abuse has occurred or for investigating the concern. Their responsibility is to recognise, respond appropriately, record and report.

 

Where there is an immediate risk of serious harm, emergency services must be contacted without delay.

 

4.2 Safeguarding Training

 

Teens Unite will ensure that employees, trustees and volunteers receive safeguarding information, induction and training appropriate to their role and level of contact with children and young adults.

 

All employees and volunteers will receive essential safeguarding information relevant to their role as part of their induction and before undertaking unsupervised work with young people. Those with direct contact with young people must complete appropriate formal safeguarding training within three months of commencing their role. Refresher training will be completed at least every two years, or sooner where changes to legislation, statutory guidance, organisational practice or an identified safeguarding need make this appropriate.

 

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) will undertake safeguarding training appropriate to the responsibilities of the role and will update their knowledge and skills at least annually through formal training, professional development, safeguarding briefings and/or relevant legislative and practice updates.

 

Trustees will receive safeguarding information and training appropriate to their governance responsibilities. The Trustee Lead for Beneficiaries and Safeguarding will maintain additional knowledge appropriate to their oversight role.

 

Safeguarding will also be reinforced between formal training sessions through relevant updates, briefings, supervision and learning arising from safeguarding incidents or concerns.

 

A record of safeguarding training undertaken by employees, trustees and volunteers will be maintained by Teens Unite.

 

5.0 Safeguarding Information

 

Safeguarding means taking action to promote the welfare of children and young adults and to protect them from harm, including taking appropriate safeguarding action where an adult meets the criteria for an adult at risk.

 

Anyone can raise a safeguarding concern, and concerns may arise through a disclosure, an observation, a change in behaviour, information provided by another person or something seen or communicated online.

 

Staff and volunteers are not expected to determine whether abuse or neglect has occurred. Any concern about the safety or welfare of a child or young adult should be reported in accordance with this policy.

 

5.1 Safeguarding children

 

For safeguarding purposes, a child is anyone under the age of 18. Abuse and neglect are forms of maltreatment of a child. A child may be abused or neglected by an adult or by another child. Abuse may occur in person or online, and technology may be used to facilitate abuse.

 

The four main categories of child abuse are:

 

Physical abuse - deliberately causing physical harm to a child. This may include hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning or suffocating. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates or deliberately induces illness in a child.

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Emotional abuse - persistent emotional maltreatment that causes, or is likely to cause, serious adverse effects on a child's emotional development. This can include making a child feel worthless or unloved, imposing inappropriate expectations, bullying, frightening or exploiting them, or preventing normal social interaction.

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Sexual abuse - forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child understands what is happening. Sexual abuse can involve physical contact or non-contact activity and may occur online.

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Neglect - persistent failure to meet a child's basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in serious impairment of their health or development. This may include failing to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, supervision or medical care, or failing to respond to a child's emotional needs.

 

5.2 Other Safeguarding Concerns Affecting Children

 

Safeguarding concerns may also include, but are not limited to:

• child-on-child abuse, including bullying, sexual harassment and sexual violence;

• domestic abuse, including the impact on children who see, hear or experience its effects;

• grooming and sexual or criminal exploitation;

• online abuse and exploitation;

• discrimination and abuse related to race, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or other protected characteristics;

• female genital mutilation (FGM);

• forced marriage;

• trafficking and modern slavery;

• radicalisation and extremism; and

• other circumstances that create a significant risk to a child's safety or welfare.

 

5.3 Safeguarding Young Adults

 

Teens Unite supports young adults aged 18–24. An adult is not automatically considered an adult at risk because they have a cancer diagnosis, disability or health condition.

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Under the Care Act 2014, adult safeguarding duties apply where an adult:

 

• has needs for care and support, whether or not the local authority is meeting those needs;

• is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect; and

• as a result of those care and support needs, is unable to protect themselves from the abuse or neglect or the risk of it.

 

Where these criteria are met, concerns will be managed in accordance with adult safeguarding legislation and procedures.

 

Where there is reason to believe that a young adult may lack capacity to make a particular decision, Teens Unite will act in accordance with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and seek appropriate advice where necessary.

 

5.4 Types of Abuse and Neglect Affecting Adults

 

Adult safeguarding concerns may include:

 

• physical abuse;

• domestic abuse;

• sexual abuse;

• psychological or emotional abuse;

• financial or material abuse;

• modern slavery and trafficking;

• discriminatory abuse;

• organisational abuse;

• neglect and acts of omission; and

• self-neglect.

 

Abuse may be carried out by anyone and may occur once or repeatedly. It may take place in person or online and may occur within personal relationships, families, communities, care settings or other organisations.

 

5.5 Safeguarding and Health Needs

 

Teens Unite recognises that some of the young people it supports may have complex health needs, disabilities, communication needs or ongoing effects from cancer and its treatment. These circumstances may increase vulnerability to particular forms of harm or affect how a young person communicates a concern.

 

Staff and volunteers should remain alert to changes in behaviour, communication or circumstances and should not assume that signs of distress, injury or changes in presentation are necessarily attributable to a young person's cancer, treatment, disability or health condition.

 

6.0 General Safeguarding Practice

 

Everyone working for or on behalf of Teens Unite must maintain appropriate professional boundaries and behave in a way that promotes the safety, dignity and wellbeing of the young people we support.

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Staff and volunteers should:

• treat all young people with dignity, respect and without discrimination;

• maintain professional boundaries at all times and ensure relationships with young people remain appropriate to their role;

• avoid favouritism or behaviour that could reasonably be perceived as creating an inappropriate or exclusive relationship with an individual young person;

• use appropriate language and behaviour and challenge inappropriate, discriminatory, sexualised or bullying behaviour;

• be mindful of situations where they are alone with a young person and, where one-to-one contact is necessary, follow agreed Teens Unite procedures and ensure appropriate safeguards are in place;

• only use approved Teens Unite communication channels and work accounts when communicating with young people, unless an exceptional circumstance makes this impossible;

• not connect with young people through personal social media accounts or communicate with them through personal accounts;

• ensure communications with young people are appropriate, necessary and related to Teens Unite's work;

• follow Teens Unite procedures relating to photography, filming, consent and the use of young people's personal information;

• respect a young person's privacy while recognising that safeguarding concerns must be shared appropriately and confidentiality can never be promised;

• be alert to safeguarding risks during digital activities as well as face-to-face delivery;

• report any behaviour by another employee, trustee, volunteer, contractor or other person that causes a safeguarding concern, even where no allegation or disclosure has been made; and

• seek advice from the DSL whenever they are uncertain whether behaviour, communication or a situation is appropriate.

 

6.1 Professional Boundaries

 

Teens Unite recognises that positive, trusted relationships are an important part of its work with young people. Professional boundaries are not intended to prevent warm, supportive relationships, but to ensure those relationships remain safe and appropriate.

 

Staff and volunteers must not use their position to establish inappropriate personal, financial, sexual or otherwise exploitative relationships with young people supported by Teens Unite.

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Particular care should be taken where a relationship with a young person has developed over a prolonged period or where a young person moves from childhood into adulthood while continuing to engage with Teens Unite. Reaching the age of 18 does not, by itself, remove the need for appropriate professional boundaries.

 

Any uncertainty about professional boundaries should be discussed with the DSL or relevant manager.

 

6.2 One-to-One Contact

 

Teens Unite recognises that appropriate one-to-one contact may form part of supporting a young person. Where this occurs, staff and volunteers must maintain professional boundaries and follow agreed safeguarding arrangements.

 

Wherever practicable, one-to-one meetings should take place in an environment that is observable or interruptible by others. Digital and telephone contact should take place through approved Teens Unite systems and appropriate records should be maintained.

 

Staff and volunteers should avoid unnecessary private or secretive contact with a young person. Where circumstances require an exception to normal arrangements, this should be transparent and reported to an appropriate manager or the DSL.

 

6.3 Physical Contact

 

Physical contact with a young person should always be appropriate to the circumstances, respectful and responsive to the young person's wishes and needs. Staff and volunteers should consider the young person's age, individual needs, communication and the context in which contact occurs.

 

Physical contact must never be sexualised, coercive, secretive or for the gratification of the adult.

 

Where physical contact is required for safety, first aid, an activity or to provide appropriate assistance, this should be explained to the young person wherever possible and their consent sought where circumstances allow.

 

Any physical contact that causes concern or could reasonably be misunderstood should be reported promptly to the DSL.

 

6.4 Gifts, Money and Favouritism

 

Staff and volunteers must not give or receive significant personal gifts, lend or borrow money, or enter into private financial arrangements with young people supported by Teens Unite.

 

Small gifts given openly as part of an activity, celebration or established Teens Unite practice may be appropriate. Any uncertainty should be discussed with a manager or the DSL.

 

Staff and volunteers should avoid favouritism and should not provide individual young people with benefits, opportunities or attention that could create or reasonably be perceived as creating an inappropriate relationship.

 

6.5 Transport and Activities

 

Staff and volunteers must follow Teens Unite's agreed safeguarding, risk assessment and transport arrangements when accompanying or transporting young people.

 

Where practicable, arrangements should avoid placing a staff member or volunteer in an unnecessarily isolated situation with an individual young person. Where one-to-one transport is necessary, this should be appropriately authorised, transparent and recorded.

 

7.0 Reporting Safeguarding Concerns

 

All safeguarding concerns must be taken seriously and acted upon promptly. A person does not need to be certain that abuse, neglect or harm has occurred before reporting a concern.

 

Safeguarding concerns may arise from a disclosure, something observed directly, information received from another person, a change in a young person's behaviour or circumstances, or something seen or communicated online.

 

If a child or young adult is in immediate danger or requires urgent medical attention, emergency services must be contacted on 999 without delay. The DSL must then be informed as soon as possible.

 

In all other circumstances, safeguarding concerns, disclosures or allegations must be reported to the DSL as soon as possible and on the same day that the concern arises or becomes known.

 

Reporting must not be delayed while a written record is completed.

 

7.1 Recording a Safeguarding Concern

 

A written record of the safeguarding concern must be made as soon as possible and within 24 hours.

 

The record should include, where relevant:

 

• the date, time and location of the concern or disclosure;

• the name of the young person concerned;

• what was observed, heard or disclosed;

• the young person's own words wherever possible;

• the names of anyone else present or involved;

• any immediate action taken;

• the name of the person to whom the concern was reported; and

• the date and time it was reported.

 

Records should be factual and distinguish clearly between what was observed or said and any professional opinion or interpretation.

 

Safeguarding records must be stored securely and access restricted to those who require the information for safeguarding purposes.

 

7.2 Action by the DSL

 

On receiving a safeguarding concern, the DSL will consider the information available and determine what action is required. This may include seeking safeguarding advice, making a referral to children's social care or adult safeguarding services, contacting the police, consulting the LADO where the concern relates to a person working with children, or taking other appropriate safeguarding action.

 

The DSL will record the concern, their assessment, any advice sought, decisions made, actions taken and the reasons for those decisions.

 

Where a decision is made not to refer a concern externally, the rationale for that decision must also be recorded.

 

The DSL will consider whether information should be shared with the CEO and/or Trustee Lead for Beneficiaries and Safeguarding, taking account of the nature and seriousness of the concern and the need to maintain appropriate confidentiality.

 

7.3 DSL Unavailable or Concern Not Acted Upon

 

If the DSL is unavailable, the concern must be reported to the identified safeguarding cover or the CEO.

 

If a member of staff or volunteer believes that a safeguarding concern has not been acted upon appropriately, they must escalate the matter to the CEO or Trustee Lead for Beneficiaries and Safeguarding.

 

No employee or volunteer should assume that someone else has reported a safeguarding concern unless they have confirmation that this has occurred.

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7.4 Direct Referral

 

Nothing in this policy prevents an individual from contacting emergency services or the relevant statutory safeguarding service directly where they believe a child or adult at risk is in immediate danger, where urgent safeguarding action is required, or where they believe a safeguarding concern has not been responded to appropriately within Teens Unite.

 

Where it is safe and appropriate to do so, the DSL or CEO should subsequently be informed that a direct referral has been made.

 

7.5 Consent and Information Sharing

 

Wherever appropriate, young people should be informed about safeguarding decisions that affect them and involved in the process in a way that reflects their age, understanding and circumstances.

 

Consent should normally be sought before sharing safeguarding information where it is appropriate and safe to do so. However, information may be shared without consent where there is a lawful basis to do so, including where this is necessary to protect a child or another person from harm.

 

When safeguarding an adult, particular regard will be given to the adult's wishes, choices and autonomy. Where information is shared without an adult's consent, the reason for doing so must be considered carefully and recorded.

 

Information shared for safeguarding purposes should be relevant, necessary, proportionate and limited to those who need to know.

 

8.0 Responding to a Disclosure

 

If a child or young adult tells you that they have experienced, or may be at risk of, abuse, neglect, exploitation or other harm, your first responsibility is to listen and respond calmly.

 

You should:

• give the young person your full attention and allow them to speak at their own pace;

• listen carefully and take what they are saying seriously;

• remain calm and avoid showing shock, disbelief or judgement;

• reassure them that they have done the right thing by speaking to you;

• avoid asking leading or unnecessary questions or attempting to investigate what has happened;

• only ask questions where necessary to clarify what the young person is telling you or establish whether they are in immediate danger;

• never promise to keep what they tell you secret;

• explain, in a way they can understand, that you may need to share the information with someone who can help keep them or somebody else safe;

• avoid making promises about what will happen next;

• consider whether any immediate action is required to keep the young person or another person safe; and

• report the disclosure to the DSL as soon as possible and follow the reporting procedures set out in Section 7.

 

8.1 What to Say

 

You do not need to find the perfect words. Simple responses may include:

 

• “Thank you for telling me.”

• “I'm listening.”

• “You did the right thing by telling someone.”

• “I may need to share this with someone who can help keep you safe.”

 

Avoid responses that question, minimise or appear to judge what the young person is telling you.

 

8.2 Questions and Clarification

 

The purpose of listening to a disclosure is to understand enough to respond safely, not to investigate or establish whether the information is true.

 

Where clarification is necessary, use open and neutral questions such as “Can you tell me what you mean by that?” or “Is there anything else you want to tell me?”

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Do not repeatedly question the young person, ask them to provide unnecessary detail, confront the person alleged to have caused harm or attempt to gather evidence.

 

8.3 Recording a Disclosure

 

As soon as possible after the conversation, make an accurate written record of what the young person told you.

 

Wherever possible:

 

• record their actual words rather than summarising or interpreting what you think they meant;

• record any questions you asked and their responses;

• note the date, time, location and anyone else who was present;

• record what you said or did in response; and

• sign and date the record in accordance with Teens Unite's safeguarding recording procedures.

 

Do not ask the young person to repeat their disclosure simply so that another member of staff can hear it or so that a record can be made.

 

The disclosure must be reported promptly to the DSL. Completing the written record must not delay reporting.

 

8.4 After a Disclosure

 

Receiving a safeguarding disclosure can be upsetting. Staff and volunteers may seek appropriate support from the DSL or their manager after receiving a disclosure, while continuing to respect the young person's confidentiality.

 

Information about the disclosure must not be discussed with colleagues, other young people, family members or others unless there is a safeguarding reason for them to know or the DSL has advised that it is appropriate to do so.

 

9.0 Allegations or Concerns About Staff, Volunteers or Others Working on Behalf of Teens Unite

 

Any allegation or safeguarding concern about the behaviour of an employee, trustee, volunteer, contractor or other person working for or on behalf of Teens Unite must be taken seriously and reported immediately.

 

An allegation concerning someone who works with children may arise where that person has:

• behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have harmed, a child;

• possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child;

• behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children; or

• behaved, or may have behaved, in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children.

 

Concerns may relate to behaviour within Teens Unite or to information about a person's conduct outside their work or volunteering role where this may indicate a safeguarding risk.

 

9.1 Reporting an Allegation

 

Any allegation or concern relating to a person working for or on behalf of Teens Unite must be reported immediately to the DSL.

 

Where the allegation concerns the DSL, it must be reported directly to the CEO.

 

Where the allegation concerns the CEO, it must be reported directly to the Trustee Lead for Beneficiaries and Safeguarding or the Chair of Trustees.

 

Where there is an immediate risk of harm or a possible criminal offence requiring urgent action, the police or other appropriate emergency service must be contacted without delay.

 

The person receiving the allegation must not investigate it, question the person who is the subject of the allegation or attempt to establish whether the allegation is true.

 

9.2 Allegations Relating to Children

 

Where an allegation or concern relates to a person who works with children, the DSL, CEO or other appropriate senior person will consider the matter against the relevant allegations criteria and contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) in accordance with local safeguarding arrangements.

 

Where the allegation meets, or may meet, the relevant threshold, the LADO will be informed within one working day.

 

Teens Unite will follow advice from the LADO, police, children's social care or other relevant statutory agency regarding the management of the allegation and any subsequent investigation.

 

Teens Unite will not begin an internal investigation where doing so could prejudice or interfere with a statutory safeguarding or criminal investigation.

 

9.3 Allegations Relating to Young Adults

 

Where an allegation concerns the treatment of a young adult, the DSL will consider whether the circumstances meet the adult safeguarding criteria set out in Section 5 and whether a referral to adult safeguarding services, the police or another appropriate agency is required.

 

The wishes and autonomy of the young adult will be considered in accordance with the principles set out in Section 7, while recognising that information may need to be shared without consent where this is necessary and lawful to protect them or another person from harm.

 

9.4 Managing an Allegation

 

An allegation is not, in itself, proof that wrongdoing has occurred. Teens Unite will respond in a way that prioritises safeguarding while ensuring that allegations are handled fairly, sensitively and confidentially.

 

Any decision about whether the person who is the subject of an allegation should continue working, volunteering or having contact with young people while the matter is considered will be made on the basis of safeguarding risk and, where appropriate, following advice from the LADO, police or other relevant agency.

 

Suspension or temporary restriction of duties will not be treated as an assumption of guilt and will be considered only where appropriate to protect those involved or enable the allegation to be managed safely.

 

Appropriate support will be offered to the person who is the subject of the allegation, without compromising the safeguarding process or the support provided to the person who raised or is affected by the concern.

 

9.5 Outcomes and Further Action

 

Teens Unite will maintain an accurate and confidential record of the allegation, advice received, decisions made, actions taken and outcome.

 

Following the conclusion of a safeguarding or disciplinary process, Teens Unite will consider whether any further action is required. This may include changes to safeguarding practice, additional training, disciplinary action, referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), referral to a professional or regulatory body, or reporting a serious incident to the Charity Commission where the relevant criteria are met.

 

Any referral to the DBS or another regulatory body will be made where Teens Unite has a legal duty to do so or where referral is otherwise appropriate.

 

10.0 Confidentiality and Information Sharing

 

Safeguarding information must be treated with care and respect for the privacy of the young person and others involved. It should only be shared with those who need the information in order to safeguard, support or take appropriate action.

 

Confidentiality must never prevent appropriate safeguarding action. Staff and volunteers must not promise to keep a safeguarding concern or disclosure secret and should explain, wherever possible, that information may need to be shared with someone who can help keep the young person or another person safe.

 

When deciding whether information should be shared, Teens Unite will consider what information is relevant and necessary, with whom it needs to be shared, and whether sharing is proportionate to the safeguarding concern.

 

Information may be shared without consent where there is a lawful basis to do so, including where this is necessary to protect a child or another person from harm. Data protection legislation does not prevent appropriate information sharing for safeguarding purposes.

 

Where information is shared, the decision, the information shared, with whom it was shared and the reason for sharing should be recorded. Where a decision is made not to share information following a safeguarding concern, the reasons for that decision should also be recorded.

 

10.1 Young Adults and Confidentiality

 

When a safeguarding concern relates to a young adult, their wishes, choices and autonomy should be respected, and they should normally be involved in decisions about how their information is used and shared.

 

There may, however, be circumstances in which information needs to be shared without their consent, for example where there is a risk of serious harm to them or another person, where this is necessary in the public interest in connection with a possible criminal offence, or where there is another lawful basis for sharing.

 

Where there is uncertainty about whether information should be shared, advice should be sought from the DSL. The reason for the eventual decision should be recorded.

 

10.2 Speaking Up and Whistleblowing

 

Everyone working for or on behalf of Teens Unite has a responsibility to raise concerns where they believe that safeguarding practice is unsafe, inappropriate or has not been followed.

 

No member of staff, trustee or volunteer should feel prevented from raising a genuine safeguarding concern because it relates to a colleague, manager, senior member of staff or trustee.

 

Concerns should normally be raised through the safeguarding reporting and escalation routes set out in this policy. Where an individual believes that a concern has not been acted upon appropriately, or does not feel able to raise it through the normal route, they should use Teens Unite's Whistleblowing Policy and/or raise the matter with an appropriate senior person or trustee.

 

A person raising a genuine concern in good faith will be supported and must not be subjected to detrimental treatment for doing so.

 

Nothing in Teens Unite's internal procedures prevents an individual from raising a safeguarding concern directly with an appropriate statutory, regulatory or professional body where necessary.

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10.3 Safeguarding Records

 

Safeguarding records will be stored securely, separately from general records where appropriate, and access will be limited to those who need the information for safeguarding, management or legal purposes.

 

Records will be retained and disposed of in accordance with Teens Unite's data protection and records retention arrangements and any relevant safeguarding requirements.

 

11.0 Safer Recruitment

 

Teens Unite is committed to recruiting employees, trustees and volunteers who are suitable for their roles and who share the charity's commitment to safeguarding.

 

Safer recruitment is not based on any single check. Teens Unite will use a proportionate combination of recruitment and vetting measures appropriate to the responsibilities of the role and the level of contact with children and young adults.

 

These may include:

 

• a clear role description and safeguarding responsibilities;

• an application and appropriate selection process;

• exploration of relevant employment or volunteering history and any unexplained gaps where appropriate;

• verification of identity and relevant qualifications;

• references;

• appropriate interview or suitability discussions;

• confirmation of the right to work in the UK where applicable;

• appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks; and

• any additional checks required because of the nature of the role.

 

Safeguarding responsibilities and expectations will be made clear during recruitment and induction.

 

11.1 Disclosure and Barring Service Checks

 

Teens Unite will assess each role to determine whether a DBS check is appropriate and, where applicable, the level of check for which the role is legally eligible.

 

Standard, Enhanced and Enhanced DBS checks with Barred List information will only be requested where the role and activities undertaken meet the relevant legal eligibility requirements.

 

Where a role involves regulated activity with children or adults, Teens Unite will obtain the appropriate level of DBS check, including the relevant Barred List information where the role is eligible.

 

Where a role is not eligible for a Standard or Enhanced DBS check, Teens Unite may consider whether a Basic DBS check is appropriate as part of its safer recruitment risk assessment.

 

DBS eligibility will be reconsidered where a person's role or responsibilities change.

 

11.2 Trustees

 

Appropriate due diligence and suitability checks will be undertaken before the appointment of trustees, including checks required by charity law and any safeguarding checks appropriate to the role.

 

Where a trustee undertakes additional operational duties involving children or adults, the eligibility for safeguarding checks will be assessed against those additional activities.

 

11.3 Volunteers

 

Teens Unite recognises that volunteer roles vary considerably. Safeguarding and recruitment checks will therefore be proportionate to the nature of the volunteer role, the activities undertaken, the frequency of involvement, level of supervision and contact with children or young adults.

 

Volunteers undertaking roles involving regular direct work with young people will be subject to appropriate safer recruitment and DBS checks in accordance with current eligibility requirements.

 

Occasional volunteers who do not have direct or unsupervised responsibility for young people will be appropriately supervised and briefed on safeguarding expectations relevant to their role.

 

11.4 Recruitment Decisions

 

Information identified through a DBS check, reference or other safer recruitment process will be considered fairly and proportionately in relation to the responsibilities and safeguarding risks associated with the role.

 

The existence of a criminal record will not automatically prevent appointment unless the individual is legally barred from undertaking the role or the information identified means that Teens Unite considers the person unsuitable following an appropriate risk assessment.

 

Any concerns arising during safer recruitment will be considered by appropriate senior staff and recorded in accordance with Teens Unite's recruitment, data protection and safeguarding arrangements.

 

11.5 Ongoing Suitability

 

Safer recruitment is an ongoing responsibility. Employees, trustees and volunteers must inform Teens Unite of any relevant change in circumstances that may affect their suitability to undertake their role.

 

Teens Unite will review safeguarding and DBS requirements where roles change and may undertake renewed checks or suitability assessments where appropriate.

 

Concerns about an individual's conduct or suitability arising after appointment will be managed in accordance with the safeguarding, allegations, disciplinary or volunteer management procedures as appropriate.

 

12.0 Policy Review

 

This policy will be reviewed at least annually and sooner where necessary, including following a serious safeguarding incident, a significant change in Teens Unite's activities or delivery, or relevant changes to legislation, statutory guidance or recognised safeguarding practice.

 

The review will take account of learning from safeguarding concerns and incidents, feedback from those involved in delivering Teens Unite's services, and any identified improvements to safeguarding practice.

 

Any substantive changes to this policy will be approved in accordance with Teens Unite's governance arrangements.

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Policy last reviewed and approved August 2026.