Safeguarding the welfare of our children is APF's primary duty.

SEE OUR SAFEGUARDING POLICY HERE  

We approach safeguarding by making sure that everyone provides a safe environment for our children and staff . This includes, having activities to promote safety and the correct documents, policies, procedures and records in place. Additionally, we believe that staff knowledge of the indicators of abuse and neglect is critical. Without these elements, safeguarding will be ineffective, just as it will if we fail to act on early signs of abuse and neglect in a professional way, do not share information, or do not listen to what children tell us. Even if children, young people and adults say they feel safe, we are fully aware that we must keep asking ourselves whether they are safe. The truth is that we do not know, which is why we take every step to develop a culture that is as safe as possible.

We embed this culture by:

• Recognising that anyone can become a perpetrator, regardless of faith, religion, background, or gender.

• Being aware of camp related issues and trends, along with knowledge of concerns in the wider community.

• Being confident of reporting safeguarding (or potential safeguarding) concerns and respecting the importance of confidentiality.

• Never turning away from a difficult, controversial, embarrassing topic or conversation at our camp.

• Discussing concerns sensibly, with maturity and consideration.

• Speaking to the right people to seek advice and support.

• Acknowledging that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and working as a team to prevent, protect and take action.

• Whilst your child is in our care we are responsible for their wellbeing and safety. In everything we do, the welfare of your child will be our top priority.

All children have the right

• To be safe; no one should take this right away from them.

• To protect their own bodies; their body belongs to them.

• To say no; it is alright to say no to someone if that person tries to do something to them that they feel is wrong.

• To get help against bullies; tell children to enlist the help of friends, to say no without fighting and to tell an adult.

• To tell; assure children that no matter what happens staff will not be angry with them should report any incident that frightens or confuses them or makes them unhappy.

• To be believed; when children are told to go to an adult for help, they need to know they will be believed and supported.

• Not to keep secrets; teach children that some secrets should never be kept, even if they promised the abuser not to tell.

APF endeavours to safeguard children and staff by:

• Promoting and prioritising the safety and well-being of children.

• Adopting child protection guidelines through effective procedures and a staff code of conduct.

• Ensuring appropriate action is taken in the event of incidents/concerns of abuse and that support is provided to all parties.

• Following carefully the procedures for safer recruitment and selection of staff.

• Providing effective management for the staff through supervision, support and training.

• Sharing information about child protection and good practice with children, parents and care givers, staff and any relevant third parties.

• Sharing information about concerns with the agencies who need to know and involving parents and children appropriately.

• Reviewing our policy and best practice at regular intervals.

USEFUL INFORMATION AND WEBSITES FOR PARENTS AND AGENCIES

Parental substance misuse

National Youth Advocacy Service

Types of Abuse

Keeping Children Safe Online

Family Lives provides targeted early intervention and crisis support to families

Neglect Tools

Child Exploitation Screening Tool

Thresholds of Need Matrix

The Golden Rules to Sharing Information

The Information sharing - advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers guidance sets out the process and principles for sharing information. Here are the seven golden rules to sharing information from the guidelines to support you when you need it.

1. Remember that the General Data Protection Regulation, the Data Protection Act 2018 and human right law don’t limit justified information sharing for the purposes of keeping children and young people safe. They provide a framework to ensure personal information is shared appropriately.
2. Be open with the individual and seek their agreement - unless it’s unsafe or inappropriate to do so.
3. If in doubt, seek advice from other practitioners.
4. Where possible, share information with consent and respect the wishes of those who don’t consent to have their information shared.
5. Consider safety and wellbeing.
6. Information sharing must be necessary, proportionate, relevant, adequate, accurate, timely and secure.
7. Record decisions and reasons.

KEYS PERSONS YOU CAN CONTACT

Group Managing

Director and DSL

Kaz James

07555748776

[email protected]

Deputy DSL

William Nalli

[email protected]

07555 748776

local Authority

Designated officer for Bucks

Local Authority Designated Office (LADO)

Telephone: 01296 382 070

local Authority

Designated officer for Hertfordshire

Local Authority Designated Office (LADO)

https://thegrid.org.uk/safeguarding-and-child-protection/child-protection/allegations-against-staff then click Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) referral form

Or call 0300 123 4043

local Authority

Designated officer for Milton Keynes

Local Authority Designated Office (LADO)

01908 254307 or email

[email protected]

local Authority

Designated officer for Oxfordshire

Local Authority Designated Office (LADO

The LADO for Oxfordshire is Jo Lloyd. The LADO and Assistant LADO’S can be contacted via [email protected] or call 01865 810603.

SAFEGUARDING POLICY HERE  

OR EMAIL US FOR A COPY TO BE SENT TO YOU: [email protected]