This policy applies to all users of the Walliswood Village Hall, including the outside spaces. 

All Walliswood Village Hall Committee members, volunteers and hirers of the hall have a duty to safeguard vulnerable users of the hall and its premises and those who may come into contact with vulnerable users.  They 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.

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 the Walliswood Village Hall committee 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, need to be borne in mind.

Further information

If at any stage, you wish to seek further advice or support the links below can be of use.

• Child Protection: NSPCC – https://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

Walliswood Village Hall Committee beliefs. 

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 anyone using the village hall will not be permitted or tolerated.

Policy Statement 

1. 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 (see Appendix 1) and introductory Child Protection or Vulnerable Adults Protection training.

2. All suspicions or allegations of abuse against a child will be taken seriously and dealt with speedily and appropriately.

3. All staff, volunteers and hirers need to be aware of this policy, child protection, and vulnerable adult issues, and should be offered introductory training.  A copy of the appendices will be provided to all who request it.

4. There will be a nominated and named Vulnerable Users representative to whom any suspicions or concerns should be reported.  This person is XXXXXX until (annually reviewed at AGM).

5. The committee 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.

6. Any organisations or individuals hiring the hall for the purposes of holding activities where OFSTED registration is required (see Appendix 1) 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.

7. The committee 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.

8. These policies and procedures will be reviewed annually at the AGM and updated as appropriate in the interim periods.

Procedures 

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

2. An annual review will take place following the AGM to allow for any required up-date of policies and or procedures.  New trustees, committee members and volunteers must be given an induction to this policy and understand their responsibilities. 

3. A copy of the policy will be displayed for the attention of all in the village hall and made available on request to hirers.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. A hiring agreement which includes appropriate clauses will be entered into for all hirings 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

Appendix 1 

Safer Recruitment 

All staff, working directly for the village hall must:

• complete an application form which shows their employment history

• provide at least two references

If working directly with children or young people or vulnerable adults:

• one of the references should come from someone who has supervised them working with children, young people or vulnerable adults before

• they should be checked under the Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure System and a copy of the CRB disclosure form kept on the booking secretary’s file.

Any volunteers working for the village hall committee and having unsupervised access to vulnerable us

Reporting Incidents 

The nominated Child Protection and Vulnerable Adult representative XXXXXX will have responsibility for reporting concerns that arise, as a matter of urgency, to the local authority Child Protection and Vulnerable Adult lead agency.  The representative may choose to have a confidential discussion with others in order to clear up any misunderstandings or to corroborate and support any suspicions before reporting a concern to the lead agency.

The nominated person should:

• know who to contact at the local authority

• know who to contact in Social Services for advice and referrals

• know about helplines and other sources of help for children and young people and vulnerable adults

• ensure that there is an environment in which staff could have the opportunity to raise any child protection or vulnerable adult protection concerns

OFSTED Requirements

 If you work as a childminder or provide day care for children under 8 years old for more than two hours each day you must register with OFSTED and be inspected regularly.  Nursery education settings which are on their local authority's directory to provide free places for three to four year old’s must also be inspected regularly by OFSTED. (www.ofsted.gov.uk).  These requirements cover playgroups, nurseries, after school clubs and holiday clubs, amongst others.

Appendix 2: Forms and signs of abuse – Children and young people 

This appendix gives guidance on how to recognise the signs of abuse in children.  If you are not in regular contact with children or young people some of these signs will be harder to detect.  This guidance will probably be most useful as a reminder for those who have had some basic or introductory child protection training.

Ways to recognise child abuse and neglect

Physical abuse

Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child.  Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer feigns the symptoms of, or deliberately causes ill health to, a child whom they are looking after.  A person might do this because they enjoy or need the attention they get through having a sick child.  Physical abuse can be caused through omission or the failure to act to protect. 

Visible signs:

• Injuries to any part of the body

• Children who find it painful to walk, sit down, to move their jaws or are in some other kind of pain.

• Injuries which are not typical of the bumps and scrapes associated with children’s activities.

• The regular occurrence of unexplained injuries.

• The child who is frequently injured, where even apparently reasonable explanations are given. 

Behavioural signs:

• Furtive, secretive behaviours.

• Uncharacteristic aggression or withdrawn behaviour.

• Compulsive eating or sudden loss of appetite.

• The child who suddenly becomes ill co-ordinated.

• The child who finds it difficult to stay awake

• The child who is repeatedly absent.

What to listen for:

• Listen for confused or conflicting explanations of how the injuries were sustained.

• Evaluate carefully what is said and preferably document it ad verbatim.

• Consider if the explanation is in keeping with the nature, age and site of injury.

Consider:

• What do you know about the family?

• Is there a history of known or suspected abuse?

• Has the family been under stress recently?

• Do you have concerns about the family? 

Emotional abuse:

Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional ill treatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve making a child feel or believe that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person.  The recognition of emotional abuse is based on observations over time of the quality of relationships between parent/carer and the child.

Watch for parent/carer behaviours: 

• poor attachment relationship with the child

• unresponsive or neglectful behaviour towards child’s emotional or psychological needs

• persistent negative comments about the child

• inappropriate or inconsistent developmental expectations of the child

• parental problems that supersede the needs of the child

• dysfunctional family relationships including domestic violence

Watch for child behaviours:

• emotional indicators such as low self-esteem, unhappiness, fear, distress, anxiety

• behavioural indicators such as attention seeking, withdrawn, insecure

• physical indicators such as failure to thrive/faltering growth, delay in achieving developmental, cognitive or educational milestones 

Sexual abuse:

Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of, or consents to, what is happening.  The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative acts such as rape, buggery or oral sex or non-penetrative acts such as fondling. Sexual abuse may also include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, pornographic material or watching sexual activities, or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.  Boys and girls can be sexually abused by males and/or females, by adults and by other young people.  This includes people from all different walks of life. 

Neglect:

Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs.  It may involve a parent or carer failing to provide adequate food, shelter and clothing; failing to protect a child from physical harm or danger; or the failure to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.

Physical signs

• abnormal growth including failure to thrive

• underweight or obesity

• recurrent infection

• unkempt dirty appearance

• smelly

• inadequate/unwashed clothes

• Hunger

• listlessness

Appendix 3: Forms and signs of abuse -Vulnerable adults 

Predisposing factors: Some examples of factors which may place people at risk of abuse are listed below.  Adult abuse often occurs when a vulnerable adult is faced with a set of circumstances where there is potential for harm.  The presence of one, or more, of these factors does not automatically imply that abuse will follow, but may increase the likelihood:

The Individual:

• poor communication or communication difficulties

• history of falls and/or minor injuries

• physical and/or emotional dependence on others

• mental health needs, especially moderate or severe dementia

• rejection of help

• aggression

• self-injurious behaviour

• history of repeatedly making allegations of abuse

• high level dependency on others to meet their care needs

• substance misuse

• previous history of violent relationships within the family or social networks 

The Environment:

• overcrowding

• poor or insecure living conditions

• geographical isolation

• poor management and/or high staff turnover

• Relationships (in particular with carers):

• unequal power relationships

• increased dependency of vulnerable adult

• multiple dependency within the family or social networks

• multigenerational family structure where conflicts of personal interests and loyalties may exist

• role reversal or significant change in the relationship between the vulnerable adult and carer

• history of abuse within the family

• significant levels of stress on the carer

• isolation of the carer, due to the demands of caring, leading to a lack of practical and emotional support

• lack of understanding about the vulnerable adults condition, resulting in inappropriate care

• dependency on the vulnerable adult

• difficult or challenging behaviour by the vulnerable adult which the carer finds intolerable or stressful

• history of the carer being abused or being a perpetrator

• the carer feels exploited, resentful, angry or guilty

• financial difficulties

• illness or disability of the carer

• significant and long-term stress of the carer

Discriminatory abuse:

Discriminatory abuse exists when values, beliefs or culture result in a misuse of power that denies mainstream opportunities to some groups or individuals. It is the exploitation of a person’s vulnerability, resulting in repeated or pervasive treatment of an individual, which excludes them from opportunities in society, for example, education, health, justice, civic status and protection. It includes discrimination on the basis of race, gender, age, sexuality, disability or religion. 

Physical abuse: 

The non-accidental infliction of physical force that results in bodily injury, pain, or impairment. Examples include the inappropriate application of treatments, involuntary isolation or confinement, misuse of medication.

Sexual abuse: 

Direct or indirect involvement in sexual activity without consent. Consent to a particular activity may not be given because:

• a person has capacity but does not want to give consent

• a person lacks capacity and is therefore unable to give consent

• a person feels coerced into activity because the other person is in a position of trust, power, or authority

Psychological abuse: 

The use of threats, humiliation, bullying, swearing and other verbal conduct, or any other form of mental cruelty, that results in mental or physical distress. It includes the denial of basic human and civil rights, such as choice, self-expression, privacy and dignity.

Financial abuse:

The unauthorised and improper use of funds, property, or any resources belonging to an individual. Examples include forcing changes to a will, preventing access to money, property, possessions or inheritance, and theft. 

Neglect and Acts of Omission:

The repeated deprivation of assistance that the vulnerable adult needs for important activities of daily living, including the failure to intervene in behaviour which is dangerous to the vulnerable adult or others. 

Appendix 4: Guidelines for responding to abuse or suspicion of abuse

DO

• Do treat any allegations extremely seriously and act at all times towards the child as if you believe what they are saying.

• Do tell the child they are right to tell you.

• Do reassure them that they are not to blame.

• Do be honest about your own position, who you have to tell and why.

• Do tell the child what you are doing and when, and keep them up to date with what is happening.

• Do take further action – you may be the only person in a position to prevent future abuse – tell your nominated person immediately.

• Do write down everything said and what was done (see notes on recording).

• Do seek medical attention if necessary.

• Do inform parents/carers unless there is suspicion of their involvement.