Safeguarding Policy
Safety. Dignity. Trust. Protection.
Protecting children and adults at risk, promoting wellbeing and creating a safe, respectful environment for everyone involved with Khushamdid.Policy Information
Organisation: Khushamdid Registered Charity Number: 1112396 Responsible Body: Board of Trustees Designated Safeguarding Lead: Naila Sharif General Contact: info@khushamdid.org (please request confidential contact with the safeguarding lead) Policy Status: Draft for trustee approval Adoption Date: To be confirmed by the Board of Trustees Review: At least annually, beginning 12 months after adoptionPurpose
Khushamdid is committed to providing a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for everyone who comes into contact with our charity. We recognise our responsibility to safeguard children, young people and adults at risk from abuse, neglect, exploitation and other harm. This policy applies to trustees, employees, volunteers, contractors and anyone acting on behalf of Khushamdid.Our Activities
Khushamdid supports the health, education, social inclusion and wellbeing of Asian women, particularly women of Pakistani origin or heritage, in Tameside. Our work includes luncheon clubs and activities for older people, wellbeing and exercise sessions, educational guidance, community events, outings and information or signposting services. Our activities may involve older people, families, children and adults who need additional support.Our Safeguarding Commitment
Khushamdid will seek to:- Put participants’ safety and welfare first.
- Treat everyone with dignity, fairness and respect.
- Respond promptly to concerns about harm, abuse or neglect.
- Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
- Prevent bullying, exploitation, harassment and discrimination.
- Apply suitable recruitment, DBS checking and safeguarding training for relevant roles.
- Work with safeguarding agencies where necessary.
- Review safeguards as our activities change.
Children and Young People
A child is anyone under the age of 18. Where children participate in our activities, safeguards will be proportionate to the activity, supervision needs and risks. No trustee, staff member or volunteer may misuse a position of trust to intimidate, exploit or develop an inappropriate relationship with a child. Concerns must be reported promptly to the Designated Safeguarding Lead or, where appropriate, directly to statutory services.Adults at Risk
We recognise that adults with care and support needs may be at risk of abuse or neglect and may have difficulty protecting themselves. Abuse may be physical, sexual, psychological, financial, discriminatory or organisational, and may include domestic abuse, neglect, modern slavery or self-neglect. We will take concerns seriously while respecting the individual’s wishes, wellbeing, rights and capacity to make decisions wherever appropriate.Responding to a Concern or Disclosure
- Consider immediate safety; call 999 if someone is in immediate danger.
- Listen calmly, take the person seriously and avoid blame.
- Do not promise absolute confidentiality.
- Do not investigate yourself or ask leading questions.
- Record factual details promptly, using the person’s own words where possible.
- Report the concern without delay to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
- Where necessary, contact Tameside’s children’s or adults’ safeguarding services, or the police, directly.
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Naila Sharif is the named Designated Safeguarding Lead for Khushamdid. Her responsibilities include receiving concerns, maintaining confidential records, seeking specialist advice, making appropriate referrals and keeping safeguarding procedures under review. For non-urgent contact, use info@khushamdid.org to request a confidential conversation with the safeguarding lead. Do not include sensitive disclosure details in an ordinary general enquiry. If the concern involves the safeguarding lead, report it to another trustee or directly to the relevant statutory safeguarding authority.Safer Recruitment, Volunteers and DBS
We will take proportionate steps to assess suitability for roles involving children or adults at risk, including references, induction and appropriate supervision where relevant. Disclosure and Barring Service checks will be considered at the level legally eligible and appropriate to the duties of the role. Volunteering alone does not automatically make a person eligible for a DBS check. Relevant staff and volunteers will receive safeguarding guidance or training suited to their responsibilities.Confidentiality and Information Sharing
Safeguarding information will be handled sensitively, recorded securely and shared only with those who have a legitimate safeguarding, legal or regulatory need to know. We will follow applicable data protection requirements and our Privacy Policy. Confidentiality does not prevent necessary, lawful information sharing to protect someone from serious harm.Photography, Social Media and Online Safety
Khushamdid will take appropriate precautions when using photographs, videos, messaging and online communications involving participants. Permission will be sought where appropriate before identifiable images are published, with particular care for children and adults at risk. Staff and volunteers must not use their role or online contact to form inappropriate relationships with beneficiaries.Partner Organisations and Venues
When working with activity providers, partner organisations, contractors or venues, we will consider safeguarding responsibilities during planning. Where appropriate, we will seek assurance that partners delivering activities on our behalf have suitable safeguarding procedures, trained personnel and clear reporting arrangements.Recording and Reporting
Concerns, disclosures, decisions, referrals and actions taken will be documented accurately and promptly. Records will be kept securely with access restricted to authorised persons. Khushamdid will cooperate with the police, Tameside safeguarding services and other appropriate statutory agencies where required. Any allegation involving a worker or volunteer will be referred for appropriate advice and action rather than handled solely as an internal complaint.Monitoring and Review
The Board of Trustees will review this policy at least annually, or sooner where legislation, guidance, activities or a safeguarding incident indicate that changes are needed. Safeguarding responsibilities and contact arrangements will be reviewed when key personnel change.Trustee Approval
Approved on behalf of Khushamdid: Board of Trustees Designated Safeguarding Lead: Naila Sharif Approval Date: To be confirmed Next Review: 12 months after adoption This page is a draft until formally approved by the trustees.Urgent Safeguarding Concerns
Immediate danger or emergency: Call 999. Non-emergency police: Call 101. Local authority safeguarding: Contact Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council’s relevant children’s or adult safeguarding service via tameside.gov.uk. If a child or adult is at risk, do not wait for an internal response before contacting emergency or statutory services.Everyone Has a Role in Safeguarding
At Khushamdid, safety, respect and compassion are central to our commitment to empowering women and strengthening communities. At Khushamdid, safety, respect and compassion are central to our commitment to empowering women and strengthening communities.Involvement • Empowerment • Education — the values at the heart of everything we do.