Safeguarding Policy: Statement of Safeguarding Principles

7th May 2024

1. Commitment to Safety and Welfare
   SGSSS is dedicated to safeguarding children and adults at risk by preventing harm and promoting their welfare. This commitment is inclusive and applies to all individuals regardless of protected characteristics such as age, disability, or gender.
2. Legal and Regulatory Compliance
   The policy aligns with UK safeguarding laws, and SGSSS will prioritise compliance with updated legal frameworks over internal policy requirements. This includes working with local safeguarding partners.
3. Scope of the Policy
   This policy covers all SGSSS activities involving children and adults at risk, including community events, educational classes, and sporting activities. It applies to all staff, including trustees, employees, volunteers, and affiliate groups.
4. Definitions

• Children: Individuals under 18 years of age.
• Adults at risk: Individuals aged 18 or over who need care or support and cannot protect themselves from harm due to their situation.
• The terms “safeguarding advisor,” “consultant,” “lead,” “designated safeguarding lead,” and “head of safeguarding” are interchangeable and refer to the same role, which is advisory. The SGSSS Management Committee retains ultimate responsibility, accountability and legal liability.

5. Reporting Obligations
   Any safeguarding concerns or complaints received by affiliates, staff members, volunteers, or trustees must be reported immediately to the Safeguarding Lead by emailing safeguarding@sgsss.org. Failure to report may result in suspension or administrative action.
6. Investigation and Response
   Safeguarding concerns will be investigated promptly and objectively. SGSSS reserves the right to suspend individuals or affiliate groups during investigations to maintain the safety of beneficiaries. SGSSS will also refer to external agencies (e.g., police, local authorities) when necessary. Affiliate groups investigating complaints against their members must share all relevant information with the SGSSS Safeguarding Lead as soon as they become aware of a possible incident. Visitors have the right to request that an investigation is conducted by SGSSS instead of the affiliate group. Visitors have the right to request that any appeal of a complaint is handled by SGSSS rather than the affiliate group.
7. Responsibilities of Staff and Affiliates
   All staff members, volunteers, and affiliates must:

• Promote the safety and wellbeing of beneficiaries.
• Disclose any criminal convictions or investigations to the Safeguarding Lead.
• Participate in all assigned safeguarding training.

8. Information Sharing
   Information related to safeguarding concerns will be shared on a need-to-know basis, adhering to UK data protection laws (GDPR). This ensures that personal data is handled securely.
9. PREVENT Duty
   SGSSS complies with the PREVENT Duty to protect individuals from radicalisation. Staff will be trained to recognize signs of extremism and report concerns to the Safeguarding Lead, who will liaise with local authorities when necessary.
10. Right to Suspend or Terminate Activities
    SGSSS can suspend or terminate the service of any individual or affiliate group found to have violated the Safeguarding Policy, whether or not the violation involves criminal activity. Repeated failures to comply with the policy will be considered a breach.
11. Responsibility for Compliance and Awareness
    Compliance with and awareness of the Safeguarding Policy is the responsibility of all individuals and groups who attend SGSSS, including staff, volunteers, and affiliates. Everyone must ensure they understand and follow the policy to protect all beneficiaries.
12. Requesting the Full Policy
    To request a full copy of the SGSSS Safeguarding Policy, please email safeguarding@sgsss.org.