Safeguarding Policy

Policy Purpose

Dim Yma’s activities involves working with vulnerable individuals, namely those experiencing extreme poverty, hardship and homelessness. The purpose of this policy is:

• To protect vulnerable people in receipt of Dim Yma’s services from harm.
• To provide guidance to staff, trustees and volunteers as to how this will be attained.
• To ensure the safety of all personnel associated with Dim Yma.

This policy applies to all those working on behalf of Dim Yma, including staff members, trustees and volunteers.

Principles of the Policy

Dim Yma is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all those involved in its work by implementing the following principles:

• No individual associated with Dim Yma (in professional capacity, as a recipient of its services, or otherwise) should be subjected to any form of abuse, be it through emotional, verbal or physical means.
• The welfare of clients in receipt of Dim Yma’s services is paramount in all the work we do and decisions we take.
• Dim Yma has a duty to ensure that nobody involved in our work experiences neglect or exploitation in any way.
• Dim Yma will give equal priority to protecting vulnerable individuals irrespective or their age, disability, sex, gender, race, religion or belief.
• Dim Yma wishes to foster a culture in which individuals feel comfortable to raise any concerns about its operations should they have them.

Meeting the Commitment

Dim Yma will meet our commitment to protect vulnerable adults in the following ways:

• Fostering a culture in which all involved in Dim Yma feel comfortable in raising concerns and making them away how they may go about doing this.
• Treating all concerns raised seriously and responding appropriately.
• Appointing a member of the board of trustees to take lead responsibility for safeguarding.
• Providing a dedicated Webform for securely and anonymously raising concerns, reporting misconduct and whistle-blowing.
• Ensuring that all staff members, trustees and volunteers understand and abide to this safeguarding policy through necessary support, supervision and training.
• Storing sensitive information relating to clients securely and in line with data protection legislation and guidance.
• Recruiting personnel safely and carrying out any necessary checks to ensure they meet our safeguarding standards.

Reporting Safeguarding Concerns

If the concern is criminal in nature, or if any individual is at serious risk or in immediate danger then the matter should be reported to the police.

For members of the public or beneficiaries, any minor concerns may be relayed to a member of the Dim Yma team, who will pass it on to a senior figure of the organisation.

For those working with Dim Yma, any concerns should be directed to a senior figure. If this not appropriate, then it will be directed to a the appointed Safeguarding trustee tasked with managing and addressing safeguarding concerns.

If any individual wishes to submit a serious or formal complaint, you may do so anonymously using our secure Webform. This will be relayed to our Safeguarding Trustee and be investigated in accordance with our Complaints Policy.

Trustee Safeguarding Responsibilities

The safeguarding responsibilities of trustees should be made clear to trustees and all trustees should be provided with the relevant resources, policies and training to allow them to carry out these responsibilities accordingly.

This safeguarding policy will be reviewed and approved by the board of trustees on an annual basis.

A trustee will be tasked with the oversight of safeguarding, including and Health and Safety. This will include:

• Annual reviews of safety with recommendations to the Board.
• Providing oversight of any lapses in safeguarding.
• Ensuring that any issues are thoroughly investigated and promptly dealt with in a manner which is fair, just and sensitive.

Additionally, trustees will implement safeguarding practices into the work of Dim Yma including:

• Ensuring that all relevant checks are carried out in recruiting staff and volunteers
• Managing a database to ensure that necessary checks and training are up to date
• Ensuring that safeguarding requirements and responsibilities are reflected in job descriptions, appraisal objectives and personal development plans.
• Ensuring that sensitive information is stored and managed in a safe way that is compliant with data protection regulation including consent to use images and video.
• Making staff, volunteers and others aware of:
  1.  Safeguarding procedures.
  2.  The signs of potential abuse and how to report these.

Should you have any queries or suggestions in relation to this policy feel free to get in touch.