top of page
Image by Lianhao Qu

OUR POLICIES 

code of conduct
Gradient Background

CODE OF CONDUCT

Access to and use of the Several Seats website is provided by Several Seats subject to the following Terms and conditions:

1. By using the Several Seats website you agree to be legally bound by these Terms and conditions, which shall take effect immediately on your first use of the page.  Please review these Terms and conditions regularly. 

 

EVENTS REGISTRATION

 

Cancellations received are liable for the full registration fee. Substitutions can be made at any time without charge. In the event of circumstances beyond its control, Several Seats reserves the right to amend or cancel any conference.

 

COPYRIGHT

 

All rights reserved. All materials are copyright © Several Seats. The name, logo and strapline are trademarks of the organisation.

 

DISCLAIMER

 

We seek to ensure the content of this website is accurate and up to date but does not accept any liability for error or omission. We are NOT a medical organisation but provides information and advice. We do not accept liability for any inconvenience, loss or damage arising from the use or inability to use any of the information on this website. Several Seats takes no responsibility for the content of external websites and any such links should not be taken as an endorsement of any kind.

DIGITAL SAFEGUARDING POLICY

Our Safeguarding Policy


We have a responsibility to protect and promote the safety of all that use our services.

We are committed to the welfare and safeguarding of all our members, volunteers and staff both offline, and online. And as part of this we believe it’s important we can demonstrate best practice in digital safeguarding.

This policy sets out the expectations for all members, volunteers, staff, associated contractors, third party providers and users to ensure the protection of children, young people and volunteers and staff online.

It is our responsibility to raise concerns and report online incidents that happen inappropriately, using this policy and its procedures. We expect all to follow the Code of conduct online.

Digital Safeguarding Principles

 

  • Ensure that social media accounts are set up appropriately.

 

  • Make it clear on personal social media accounts using disclaimers that their views, thought and opinions are personal and not reflective of Several Seats policies, procedure or guidance.

 

  • Make sure that technical solutions are in place to reduce access to inappropriate content on devices owned or used by Several Seats. These could be filtering or monitoring software for example parental controls.

 

  • Ensure the correct permissions are in place before taking and using photographs on mobile devices.

 

  • Make sure that they have parental permissions before contacting any young member under 14 years of age, even if they have contacted you first.

 

  • Make every effort to ensure that members understand why and how they must use social media responsibly and safely using the appropriate privacy settings.

 

We recognise that digital safeguarding is an important part of all our work, and we are committed to always delivering best practice.

We will:

  • Ensure our projects, activities, programmes and campaigns support all of our members, volunteers and staff to stay safe online.

 

  • Use best practice digital safeguarding for technical solutions, processes and procedures.

 

  • Help our volunteers to support members in being effective online.

 

  • Take best practice action when a digital safeguarding incident occurs.

 

  • Support and train appropriate volunteers and staff in digital safeguarding.

 

  • Have appropriate links with key organisations to raise awareness and refer and report incidents.

 

  • Risk-assess all projects, initiatives, programmes, activities, services and campaigns to make sure appropriate digital safeguards are in place.

SAFEGUARDING OF CHILDREN AND

VULNERABLE ADULTS

Our Safeguarding Policy


This policy applies to all staff, including directors, paid staff, volunteers and sessional workers, agency staff, students or anyone working on behalf of Several Seats C.I.C


The purpose of this policy:


●  To protect children, young people and vulnerable adults who receive Several Seats C.I.C’s services. This includes the children of adults who use our services

●  To provide staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding and child protection; Several Seats CIC believes that a child, young person and vulnerable adult should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, young people and vulnerable adults and to keep them safe. We are committed to practice in a way that protects them. 


Policy Statement


Safeguarding is a fundamental part of Several Seats C.I.C’s work and this commitment is reflected in Several Seats’ Quality Standards and the values of our organisation, which inform and support all of our safeguarding activity:

  • We are respectful

  • We treat others as they would want to be treated

  • We are inclusive

  • We work together, we involve, and we consult

  • We are solutions-focused

  • We ensure that what we do makes a real difference

  • We are expert

  • We strive to be the best at what we do.

  • We are empowering

  • We support others to achieve their goals

We recognise that:


●  The welfare of the child or vulnerable adults is paramount, as enshrined in the Children Act 1989●  All children and vulnerable adults, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse.

●  Some children and vulnerable adults are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues

●  Working in partnership with children, young people, vulnerable adults, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting welfare.


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


●  Valuing them, listening to and respecting them

●  Appointing a designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) for children and young people, a deputy and a lead board member for safeguarding 

●  Adopting child protection and safeguarding practices through procedures and a code of conduct for staff and volunteers 

●  Developing and implementing an effective e-safety policy and related procedures

●  Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures

●  Recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made

●  Recording and storing information professionally and securely, and sharing information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately 

●  Using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately 

●  Creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise

●  Ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place

●  Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, staff and volunteers by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance


Guiding Principle


Everyone's responsibility - Everyone at Several Seats has a responsibility to keep children and adults who need care and support safe from abuse and neglect.

Prevention – We will put sensible measures in place to prevent abuse, including the use of safe recruitment practices, promoting safe working practice and raising awareness of safeguarding.

Protection – We will provide policy, procedures, information and training to enable all Several Seats staff to identify and respond appropriately to concerns about abuse.

Partnership – Several Seats C.I.C. will work in Partnership with statutory, regulatory and other relevant organisations to ensure that safeguarding concerns are responded to appropriately.

Empowerment – We will be person-centred and uphold rights in our safeguarding work

Accountability - We aim to be transparent in our approaches and recognise the need for continuous learning and improvement.

Roles and Responsibilities - All staff and volunteers Every individual working for Several Seats C.I.C., irrespective of their role, has a part to play in safeguarding children and adults who need care and support. All staff will undertake training and must familiarise themselves with our Safeguarding Policy and Procedures.


Directors


Directors have a responsibility to ensure that safeguarding is included, where appropriate, in the strategic plans, risk assessments, communications and quality assurance processes of their Directorate. In some cases, they will be required to make decisions in relation to complex or serious safeguarding concerns, in consultation with the Head of Safeguarding. They should promote the discussion of safeguarding at team meetings and as part of supervision or one-to-one meetings. They may be required to make decisions relating to complex or serious safeguarding concerns and can seek advice from the Head of Safeguarding where required. 

Head of Safeguarding 

The Head of Safeguarding is the Designated Person for Safeguarding at Several Seats C.I.C. They are responsible for developing and quality assuring safeguarding activity across Several Seats C.I.C. and supporting best practice for external stakeholders.


Several Seats C.I.C. Partners


Several Seats C.I.C.’s Partners will make their own arrangements for safeguarding, in partnership with their local Adult and Children's (where required) Safeguarding Boards and in accordance with the Several Seats C.I.C. Quality Standards for safeguarding.

Breaches of Policy

Failure to comply with the Several Seats C.I.C. safeguarding policy may be managed in a number of ways, depending on the nature and consequences of any incident. In some cases a combination of responses may be required.

  • Local authority co-ordinated safeguarding investigation

  • Police investigation

  • Referral to the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)

  • People & Performance disciplinary process

  • Internal review or co-operation with an external review

 

Legal Framework


This policy has been drawn up on the basis of law and guidance that seeks to protect children and vulnerable young adults, namely;

●  Children Act 1989

●  United Convention of the Rights of the Child 1991

●  Data Protection Act 1998

●  Human Rights Act 1998

●  Sexual Offences Act 2003

●  Children Act 2004

●  Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

●  Protection of Freedom Act 2012

●  Children and Families Act 2014

●  The Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) code of practice: 0-25 years - Statutory Guidance for organisations which work with and support children and young people who have special educational needs or disabilities; HM Government 2014

●  Information sharing: Advice for practitioners providing services to children, young people, parents and carers; HM Government 2015

●  Working together to safeguarding children: a guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children; HM Government 2015This policy should be read alongside our policies and procedures on:

●  Recruitment, induction and training

●  Role of the designated safeguarding officer

●  Dealing with disclosures and concerns about a child or young person

●  Managing allegations against staff and volunteers

●  Recording and information sharing

●  Code of conduct for staff and volunteers

●  Safer recruitment 

●  E-safety

●  Anti-bullying 

●  Complaints 

●  Whistleblowing

●  Health and Safety

●  Training, supervision and support

●  Lone working policy and procedure 

●  Quality assurance 


Equality Statement


Several Seats C.I.C. is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. Everyone who accesses our services or works for us in a paid or voluntary capacity should be safe, empowered to play a part in promoting their own welfare and that of others and able to live a life free from abuse. This applies to all, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality or belief.

digital safeguarding policy
safeguarding of children and vlnerable adults
bottom of page