Words Matter Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy
Policy Aims
Words Matter takes seriously its responsibility towards safeguarding all children and young people.
Words Matter does not directly engage with children or young people, but instead collaborates with charities, educational bodies, research institutions and other such organisations working with these groups.
As such, Words Matter’s Safeguarding Policy relates to its partnerships and the criteria needed in order to work with the charity. The aim of the policy is to ensure that:
- Excellent safeguarding practice is promoted at Words Matter and across all partner organisations
- All partners working with children and or vulnerable individuals on behalf of or in conjunction with Words Matter, have appropriate systems in place to ensure that individuals are able to raise concerns that are dealt with swiftly
- All children and young people engaging with partners of Words Matter are treated with dignity and respect
- All partners, Trustees, staff, and volunteers working with Words Matter are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities
- Everyone interacting with children and young people in relation to Words Matter activities meet high standards of behaviour and professionalism
Safeguarding Principles
Words Matter regards safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people as:
- Protecting children and young people from mistreatment
- Preventing impairment of children or young people’s health or development
- Ensuring that children and young people are protected from harm at all times
- Taking action to ensure that all children and young people have the best outcomes
- Ensuring all children and young people, regardless of their age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation, have the right to equal protection from harm
- Taking all suspicions or allegations of abuse seriously, with appropriate action taken swiftly and fully
Where collaborating with organisations on matters which may involve contact with children and or vulnerable individuals, Words Matter will only work with organisations that have robust safeguarding policies and procedures to ensure that every child, regardless of their age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation, has the right to equal protection from harm.
All partners working with children and or vulnerable individuals on behalf of or in conjunction with Words Matter (including those receiving funding for research projects) will be required to provide an up-to-date Safeguarding Policy to Words Matter. All policies will be reviewed by the Trustees. In circumstances where safeguarding policies are deemed to be inadequate, Words Matter reserves the right to cease working with such partners.
Anyone engaging with children and young people in relation to Words Matter must not in any way engage in the following unacceptable behaviour:
- Use language that is discriminatory, offensive or abusive
- Act in ways that shame, humiliate, belittle, or degrade children or young people
- Behave physically in a manner which is inappropriate, harmful, or sexually provocative
- Engage in a physical / sexual relationship with children or young people or develop relationships which could in any way be deemed abusive or exploitative
- Behave in any way, physically or verbally, that could be offensive to a child
- Make any kind of physical contact with a child or young people that would not be considered appropriate in a school or business environment
- Incite children or young people to break the law
- Invite children or young people to your home
- Offer a child a lift in a car
- Smoke or drink alcohol or take illegal substances when in the presence of a child or young people
- Discuss confidential information in front of a child or young person at risk – Arrange to meet or contact a child or young person outside of organised activities – Share full names, schools, locations of children or young people outside on personal social media channels
- Share videos or photos of children or young people without their consent and consent of their guardian. Any sharing will be done on an anonymised or first name basis and taking care to ensure that the child’s identity and location cannot be identified.
To ensure effective management of Safeguarding, led by the Trustees, the following questions will be reviewed:
- Does the organisation have a written child safeguarding policy to which all staff and associates, including partners, are required to adhere?
- Is the policy clear that all children have equal rights to protection and that some children face particular risks and difficulties in getting help, because of their ethnicity, gender, age, religion, disability or sexual orientation?
- Is the definition of a child in the policy any person under the age of 18?
- Has the policy been publicised and communicated to children and caregivers, in a child friendly and accessible format for all needs?
- Does the policy address safeguarding children from harm through misconduct by staff, volunteers, associates and others, from poor practice, and from its operational activities, including online?
- Does the organisation have internal processes to address child protection concerns appropriately?
- Is there a robust risk assessment in place, indicating key risks, accompanied by a set of measures for minimisation?
Commitment to the Policy and Actions Taken
All Trustees, employees, volunteers and collaborating partners will be asked to join Words Matter in adhering to this policy.
Any Trustee, employee, volunteer or organisations collaborating with Words Matter seen to be in breach of this policy will be immediately reviewed by the Trustees. A full report will be drawn up and appropriate action will be taken, which may include:
- A full written warning will be provided to the partner
- A formal meeting will be held between the partner and the Trustees of Words Matter – The partnership agreement will be terminated with immediate effect
- A report will be sent to the Charity Commission for review
