Safeguarding Policy

Version Control

Version	Date	Completed By	Notes of changes
Version 1.0	39/3/22	RH & AC	First Version
Version 2.0	October 2025	RH	reviewed

1.0 The purpose and scope of this policy statement

Safeguarding children, young people and adults is at the heart of all Nottinghamshire Down’s Syndrome Support Group’s (referred to throughout this document as NDSSG) activities.

1.1 NDSSG Activities

NDSSG currently offer support and activities to about 180 families who live in and around the
Nottinghamshire area. The type of support we offer is to :

Provide new baby packs to all families of babies born in a Nottinghamshire hospital, via the specialist paediatricians
Organise a regular weekly parent and toddler group for families of pre-school children 0-4 years
Run a football club for children and adults, 5-35 years old, who have Downs Syndrome and other learning disabilities, that meets every week
Run dance sessions for our members 5+ years, that meet on a monthly basis
Organise regular big events for all our families throughout the year, eg Christmas Party, Summer Fun Day, October Disco, Easter Egg Hunt etc, plus occasional smaller events aimed at particular age groups
Communicate with our members via the website, Facebook, Instagram, email and our YouTube channel
Work closely with the local hospitals, offering support to families (who contact us) who are expecting a baby with Down syndrome
Promote awareness of Down syndrome in the wider community, including sharing stories and creating fun engagement in fundraising activities

1.2 Purpose of Policy

The purpose of this policy statement is:

To protect children, young people and adults who receive NDSSG services from harm. This includes the children of adults who use our services
To provide staff and volunteers, as well as children, young people, adults and their families, with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.

1.3 Scope of Policy

This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of NDSSG, the board of trustees, the management committee, paid staff, volunteers, sessional workers and students.

2.1 Definitions

2.1.1 Definition of Child

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) defines a child as everyone under 18. This policy will apply to all staff, contractors and volunteers and will be used to support their work.

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:

Protecting children from maltreatment
Preventing impairment of children’s health and development
Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

2.1.2 Definition of Vulnerable Adult at risk of abuse or neglect

For the purposes of this policy, adult at risk refers to someone over 18 years’ old who, according to paragraph 14.2 of the Care Act 2015

has care and support needs
is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect
as a result of their care and support needs is unable to protect himself or herself against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it.

If someone has care and support needs but is not currently receiving care or support from a health or care service, they may still be an adult at risk.

2.1 Our Approach

2.1.1 We believe that:

children, young people and vulnerable adults should never experience abuse of any kind
we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, young people and vulnerable adults to keep them safe and to deliver NDSSG services in a way that protects them.

2.1.2 We recognise that:

the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults is paramount in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take
working in partnership with children, young people, vulnerable adults and their parents or carers is essential in promoting their welfare
all children, regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief or sexual orientation have 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
extra safeguards may be needed to keep children who are additionally vulnerable safe from abuse.

2.1.3 Persons affected:

All trustees, management committee and volunteers
All those attending any activity or service that is being delivered by, or on behalf, of NDSSG
All visitors and contractors

2.1.4 We will seek to keep children, young people and vulnerable adults safe by:

valuing, listening to and respecting them
appointing a Designated Safeguarding Lead for children, young people and vulnerable adults, a Deputy and a Lead Trustee for Safeguarding
adopting safeguarding best practice through our policies, procedures and code of conduct for our trustees, management committee and volunteers
developing and implementing an effective online safety policy and related procedures confidently and competently
recruiting volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
recording, storing and using information professionally and securely, in line with data protection legislation and guidance [more information about this is available from the Information Commissioner’s Office: ico.org.uk/fororganisations]
making sure that children, young people and vulnerable adults, and their families, know where to go for help if they have a concern
using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, vulnerable adult’s, parents, families and carers appropriately
using our procedures, outlined below, to manage any allegations against NDSSG members and volunteers appropriately
creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment
ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place
ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, adults and volunteers
building a safeguarding culture where volunteers, children, young people, adults and their families, treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns

3.0 Good Practice Guidelines

All members of NDSSG should be encouraged to demonstrate exemplary behaviour. The following are common sense examples of how to create a positive culture and climate within the above named organisation.

3.1 Good practice means:

Always working in an open environment (e.g. avoiding private or unobserved situations and encouraging an open environment i.e. no secrets).
Wherever possible the intimate care needs of the children will be tended to by their parents/carers.
Treating all children/young people/ adults equally, and with respect and dignity.
Always putting the welfare of each child/young person/adult first.
Maintaining a safe and appropriate distance with children (e.g. it is not appropriate to have an intimate relationship with a child or to share a room with them).
Building balanced relationships based on mutual trust which empowers children, young people and adults to share in the decision-making process;
Keeping a written record of any injury that occurs, along with the details of any treatment given.

3.2 Practice never to be sanctioned

The following should never be sanctioned. You should never:

engage in rough, physical or sexually provocative games, including horseplay;
allow or engage in any form of inappropriate touching;
allow children to use inappropriate language unchallenged;
make sexually suggestive comments, even in fun;
reduce a child to tears as a form of control;
allow allegations made by a child to go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted upon;
do things of a personal nature for children or adults, that they can do for themselves;
invite or allow children to stay with you at your home unsupervised.

NB. It may sometimes be necessary for NDSSG members / volunteers to do things of a personal nature for children, young people or adults. These tasks should only be carried out with the full understanding and consent of parents and the children involved. There is a need to be responsive to a person’s reactions. If a person is fully dependent on you, talk with him/her about what you are doing and give choices where possible. This is particularly so if you are involved in any dressing or undressing of outer clothing, or where there is physical contact, lifting or assisting a child to carry out particular activities. Avoid taking on the responsibility for tasks for which you are not appropriately trained.

If any of the following occur, you should report this immediately to the Safeguarding Lead, Rachel Howard, and record the incident. You should also ensure the parents of the child are informed.

if you accidentally hurt a child.
if he/she seems distressed in any manner.
if a child appears to be sexually aroused by your actions.
if a child misunderstands or misinterprets something you have done.

3.3 Guidelines for Use of Photographic Filming Equipment at Group Events

Written permission will be sought for photographs/film footage of any children to be used on NDSSG website and media/social media to promote the group. Any photograph or film footage must maintain the dignity of the children at all times.

3.4 Recruitment and selecting volunteers

NDSSG recognises that anyone may have the potential to abuse children in some way and that all reasonable steps are taken to ensure safe recruitment is undertaken. When undertaking pre-selection checks the following should be included:

All volunteers /staff should complete an application form. The application form will require information about an applicant’s past and a self disclosure about any criminal record.
Volunteers are required to provide a current DBS check from the Criminal Records Bureau before working with the group, and whenever it is requested by a trustee of NDSSG.
Two confidential references, including one regarding previous work with children. These references must be taken up and confirmed through telephone contact.
Evidence of identity (Passport or driving licence with Photo).

3.5 Responding to suspicions or allegations

It is not the responsibility of anyone involved with NDSSG in a paid or unpaid capacity to take responsibility or to decide whether or not child abuse has taken place. However, there is a responsibility to act on any concerns through contact with the appropriate authorities.

3.5.1 Allegations and concerns management

Any allegation or concern about the conduct or behaviour of a person who works with children and/or young people must be referred to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO). This will enable the management of the three strands of the allegations management process (potential safeguarding concerns, criminal investigation and disciplinary procedures).

DSSG Safeguarding Lead, Rachel Howard is responsible for allegations and information should go to them in the first instance before a referral is made to the LADO.

Referrals must be made to the LADO when information suggests that an adult who has contact with children or vulnerable adults as part of their employment or voluntary work may have:

behaved in a way that has harmed a child or may have harmed a child
possibly committed an offence against or related to a child
behaved towards a child(ren) in a way that indicates he or she may pose a risk of harm to children
behaved or may have behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children

Nottingham City LADO – Nottingham City Safeguarding Children Partnership 0115 8764762

Nottinghamshire County LADO – 0115 977 3921

3.5.2 Confidentiality

Every effort should be made to ensure that confidentiality is maintained for all concerned.

Information should be handled and disseminated on a need to know basis only. This includes the following people:

The group Designated Safeguarding Lead;
The parents of the person who is alleged to have been abused;
The person making the allegation;
Children’s services/police;
The alleged abuser (and parents if the alleged abuser is a child).

Information should be stored in a secure place with limited access to designated people, in line with data protection laws (e.g. that information is accurate, regularly updated, relevant and secure).

3.5.3 Internal Enquiries and Suspension

NDSSG Designated Safeguarding Lead will make an immediate decision about whether any individual accused of abuse should be temporarily suspended pending further police and social services inquiries.
Irrespective of the findings of the social services or police inquiries above, NDSSG’s Trustees will assess all individual cases to decide whether a member of staff or volunteer can be reinstated and how this can be sensitively handled. This may be a difficult decision; particularly where there is insufficient evidence to uphold any action by the police. In such cases, NDSSG Trustees must reach a decision based upon the available information which could suggest that on a balance of probability, it is more likely than not that the allegation is true. The welfare of children should always remain paramount.

3.5.4 What to do if there are concerns regarding a child / young person under 18 years

Information on types of abuse regarding children can be found in the accompanying leaflet from Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Children Partnership – ‘ Safeguarding Children – Indicators of possible abuse or neglect’, which can also be found here:

https://nscp.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/media/tjgc0gck/indicatorsofpossibleabuse.pdf.

Information passed to children’s services or the police must be as helpful as possible, hence the necessity for making a detailed record at the time of the disclosure/concern. Information should include the following:

Name of child
Age of child and date of birth
Home address and telephone number
Is the person making the report expressing their own concerns or those of someone else
What is the nature of the allegation? Include dates, times, any special factors and other relevant information.
Make a clear distinction between what is fact, opinion or hearsay.
A description of any visible bruising or other injuries. Behavioural signs, or indirect signs?
Witnesses to the incidents.
The child’s account, if it can be given, of what has happened and how any bruising or other injuries occurred.
Have the parents been contacted?
If so what has been said?
Has anyone else been consulted? If so record details.
If it is not the child making the report has the child concerned been spoken to? If so what was said?
Has anyone been alleged to be the abuser? Record details.

If you are worried about a child

If you believe that a child is at immediate risk and in need of protection then you should call the Police – 999 immediately

Nottingham City – Children and Families direct on: 0115 876 4800

Nottingham County – Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH): 0300 500 80 80

3.5.5 What to do if you are worried about a vulnerable Adult:

Abuse is mistreatment by any other person or persons that violates a person’s human and civil rights. The abuse can vary from treating someone with disrespect in a way which significantly affects the person’s quality of life, to causing actual physical suffering.

Abuse can happen anywhere. In a residential or nursing home, a hospital, in the workplace, at a day centre or educational establishment, in supported housing or the street.

Forms of abuse include (as defined in the Care Act 2014):

Physical abuse including hitting, slapping, and pushing, kicking, misuse of medication, restraint, or inappropriate sanctions
Domestic Violence including psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional abuse and honour based violence
Sexual abuse including rape and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the adult at risk has not consented, or is incapable of giving informed consent or was pressured into consenting. This may involve contact or non-contact abuse (e.g. touch, masturbation, being photographed, teasing, and inappropriate touching)
Psychological abuse including emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, isolation or withdrawal from services or supportive networks
Financial or material abuse including theft, fraud, exploitation, pressure in connection with wills, property or inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits
Modern Slavery includes slavery, human trafficking; forced labour and domestic servitude. Traffickers and slave masters use whatever means they have at their disposal to coerce, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment
Discriminatory abuse including racist, sexist, based on a person’s disability, culture and other forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment
Organisational abuse (previously known as institutional abuse) Neglect and poor professional practice in care settings also need to be taken into account. It may take the form of isolated incidents of poor practice at one end of the spectrum, through to pervasive ill-treatment or gross
misconduct at the other. It can occur when the routines, systems, communications and norms of an institution compel individuals to sacrifice their preferred lifestyle and cultural diversity to the needs of that institution. Repeated instances of poor care may be an indication of more serious problems
Neglect and acts of omission including ignoring medical or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, social care or educational services, and the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating
Self- neglect this covers a wide range of behaviour neglecting to care for one’s hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviour such as hoarding

Any of these forms of abuse can be either deliberate or be the result of ignorance, or lack of training, knowledge or understanding. Often if a person is being abused in one way they are also being abused in other ways

If you are worried about an Adult

If you believe that a vulnerable adult is at immediate risk and in need of protection then you should call the Police – 999 immediately.

Nottingham City – Adult Safeguarding Access team 0300 131 0300

Nottingham County – Safeguarding adults – Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH): 0300 500 80 80