Guidelines for applicants on safeguarding

Safeguarding - for children, young people and vulnerable adults

All those who come into contact with children, young people, vulnerable adults or those at risk of harm in their everyday work, including people who do not have a specific role in relation to adult or child protection, have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and adults.

It is vital that every person who has contact with children, young people, vulnerable adults or those at risk, either caring or working with them, should be able to recognise and know how to respond should they be concerned or be aware that a child/adult is, or may be, at risk of significant harm. This may be caused by infliction of harm or by failure to act to prevent such harm. Staff/volunteers/contractors operating on behalf of and/or supported by the Council should also be able to recognise situations where a child/adult requires extra support to prevent significant impairment to his or her health or development.

The Borough Council has a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children (Section 11 of the Children's Act 2004), and has obligations to every adult at risk to ensure that they can live a life that is free from abuse and neglect. As a result, the Council expects that all activities and services provided or supported by the Council, its agents, contractors or partners must comply with the principles contained within the Council's Safeguarding Policies.

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Expectations of applicants

Where an applicant is making an application for an activity which will directly involve children, young people and/or vulnerable adults, or where the outcome of such grant activity may result in greater access by children, young people and/or vulnerable adults, then the following conditions will apply as a minimum.

  • All applicants must have in place a Safeguarding Policy (a copy of which must be submitted with the application).

  • For applicants who are successful, a condition of grant award will be that the applicant must provide information regarding all employees / volunteers within their organisation who are CRB checked, together with details of whether they are `enhanced' or `standard' and the date of expiry. A template has been provided for applicants tocomplete. From November 2010, applicants must ensure any new recruits/volunteers are registered with the ISA (Independent Safeguarding Authority) and suitable checks are undertaken to conform to the new legislation in terms of `regulated' or `controlled' activities (Further details available from www.isa-gov.org.uk). The responsibility will remain with the organisation concerned to keep all safeguarding records appropriately up to date, and to make the list available on request by the Council (or agent working on its behalf).

  • In addition to the above criteria and, if not already undertaken, applicants will be expected to be able to verify on request that at least one Trustee (or equivalent position within their organisation) has received Safeguarding Training. Furthermore, and dependent on the type of activity undertaken, it is expected that a minimum of 2 helpers / assistants who are CRB checked must have undergone Safeguarding training, and that such training records will be made available on request by the Council (or agent working on its behalf).

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Further information, support and training

Woking Association for Voluntary Services (WAVS)

  • run FREE workshops on writing Safeguarding Policies

  • run FREE safeguarding training sessions.

Contact: WAVS, Provincial House, 26 Commercial Way, Woking. Phone 01483 751456.

Woking Borough Council

Contact: website: www.woking.gov.uk or phone: 01483 755855.

Surrey Community Action

Contact: Astolat, Coniers Way, New Inn Lane, Burpham, Guildford, Surrey GU4 7HL. Phone 01483 459292 or email: info@surreyca.org.uk

NSPCC

Contact: Website:www.nspcc.org.uk

Surrey Safeguarding Adults / Children's Board

Contact: Website: www.surreycc.gov.uk