Supporting families who have suffered the loss of a child or have a child living with medical complexities

Supporting families who have suffered the loss of a child or have a child living with medical complexities

Safeguarding statement

Reuben’s Retreat will work with children, young people, adults and the community to ensure the safety of all.

Everyone has the right to be treated with respect, and to be safe from harm, neglect, or any abuse, in whatever form.

Our Safeguarding Policy lays out Reuben’s Retreat’s position, role and responsibilities. It also clarifies what is expected                      from everybody involved. Reuben’s Retreat has put in place safeguards to protect children, young people and adults from harm.

We have also put in place safeguards to avoid putting our staff and volunteers in positions where harm might be alleged, and to ensure our staff and volunteers know exactly what to do should harm, or risk of harm, be suspected. Our policy also lays out the procedure that will be followed if Reuben’s Retreat has any reason to believe any child, or vulnerable adult, accessing our support is subject to safeguarding risks/concerns, including emotional, financial, discriminatory abuse or neglect.

 

Principles

  • Reuben’s Retreat is committed to the welfare, protection and safekeeping of all.
  • The needs of the child/vulnerable adult are paramount and underpins our safeguarding practice.
  • All individuals, vulnerable adults, young people and children, whatever their age, culture, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs, or sexual identity, have the right to be protected from harm, from all forms of neglect and abuse. They should feel, and be kept, safe and secure.
  • All suspicions and allegations of abuse or neglect will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
  • All staff and volunteers have a responsibility to report safeguarding concerns to their manager, or the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
  • Parents should be reassured that it is the aim of Reuben’s Retreat to always act in the best interests of their beneficiaries, and to encourage the fullest possible involvement and consultation with families.

 

Aims

  • To ensure all beneficiaries are never placed at risk while in the charge of staff or volunteers.
  • To raise the awareness of all staff and volunteers of the need for safeguarding, and of their responsibilities in identifying, and reporting possible cases of neglect or abuse.
  • To emphasise the need for good levels of communication between all members of staff and volunteers.
  • To identify safeguarding risks, and to take action to minimise and monitor them.
  • To provide a structured internal procedure, to be followed by all staff and volunteers of Reuben’s Retreat, in cases of suspected abuse or neglect.
  • To ensure all staff and volunteers are aware of the safeguarding recording and referral procedures within the Charity.
  • To ensuring that outside agencies are involved, where appropriate.
  • To create an environment where people feel secure, have their viewpoints valued, are encouraged to talk, and are listened to.
  • To maintain an open environment where staff and volunteers feel free to raise concerns (including whistleblowing), listen to beneficiaries, and are ready to involve outside agencies.
  • To ensure confidentiality is maintained at all times.

 Download our current Safeguarding Policy here

The wellbeing of a child is the paramount consideration in all circumstances.