Safeguarding Children

Safeguarding Children Policy Statement

Our values

• All abuse of children is an abuse of their rights
• All children have equal rights to protection from abuse and exploitation
• Abuse is never acceptable
• We have a commitment to protecting all children with whom we work
• When we work through partners, they have a responsibility to meet minimum standards of protection for children in their services/programmes

What we will do

We will meet our commitment to protect children from abuse through the following means:

Awareness: we will ensure that all staff and volunteers and others are aware of the problem of child abuse.
Prevention: we will ensure, through awareness and good practice, that staff, volunteers and service users and others minimise the risks to children.
Reporting: we will ensure that staff, volunteers and others are clear what steps to take where concerns arise regarding the safety of children.
Responding: we will ensure that action is taken to support and protect children where concerns arise regarding possible abuse.

How Lancashire Mind will do this

In order that the above standards of reporting and responding are met, Lancashire Mind will ensure that it:

• Takes seriously any concerns raised
• Takes positive steps to ensure the protection of children who are the subject of any concerns
• Supports children, staff or other adults who raise concerns or who are the subject of concerns
• Acts appropriately and effectively in instigating or co-operating with any subsequent process of investigation
• Is guided through the child protection process by the principle of ‘best interests of the child’
• Listens to and takes seriously the views and wishes of children
• Works in partnership with parents/carers and/or other professionals to ensure the protection of children.

Actions to Take

If a young person is at risk of serious, immediate harm staff should contact the local area Children's Services or the Police on 999.  All safeguarding concerns will be reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Deputy DSL.

Safeguarding Children Covid-19 Response (PDF)