Safeguarding Policy Statement
The Purpose and Scope of this Policy Statement
Leeds Christian Community Trust (LCCT) is committed to promoting the welfare and protection of children, young people and adults at risk throughout its work and activities believing that children, young people and adults at risk have a right to be safe and protected from abuse, neglect and witnessing mistreatment of other children and adults in the projects under our umbrella. LCCT also has a commitment to valuing, listening to and respecting children, young people and adults at risk. All Trustees, staff, Management/Steering groups, project leaders/workers, and volunteers are required to abide by LCCT Safeguarding policies, whenever their work brings them into contact with children, young people and/or adults at risk.
The purpose of this policy statement is:
• to protect children, young people and adults at risk who receive LCCT’s services from
harm. This includes the children of adults who use our services
• to provide staff and volunteers, as well as children and young people and their
families, with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding.
This statement applies to anyone working on behalf of LCCT, all Trustees, staff,
Management/Steering groups, project leaders/workers, and volunteers
Legal Framework
We accept the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant of Human Rights, which states that everyone is entitled to ‘all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status’. We also concur with the convention on the Rights of the Child which states that children should be able to develop their full potential, free from hunger and want, neglect and abuse. They have a right to be protected from ‘all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parents(s), legal guardian(s), or any other person who has care of the child.’
Supporting documents
This policy statement should be read alongside our organisational policies, procedures, guidance and other related documents, including:
• Dealing with safeguarding allegations and concerns child and adult procedures
• Safeguarding Code of Behaviour
• Safer recruitment policy
• Recruitment of ex-offenders policy
• GDPR policy
• Grievance policy
• IT and online safety policy
• Whistleblowing policy
• Health and safety policy
We will seek to keep children, young people and adults at risk safe by:
• Recognising that the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk is
paramount in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take.
• Recognising that some children, young people and adults at risk are additionally
vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency,
communications needs or other issues
• Recognising that extra safeguards may be needed to keep those who are additionally
vulnerable safe from abuse.
• valuing, listening to and respecting them
• appointing a nominated safeguarding officer and a nominated safeguarding Trustee.
• adopting safeguarding best practice through our policies, procedures and code of
behaviour for staff and volunteers
• developing and implementing an effective online safety policy and related procedures
• providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision,
support, training and quality assurance measures so that all staff and volunteers
know about and follow our policies, procedures and behaviour codes confidently and
competently.
• recruiting and selecting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are
made
• recording, storing and using information professionally and securely, in line with data
protection legislation and guidance
• making sure that children, young people, adults at risk and their families know where
to go for help if they have a concern
• using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with
agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families
and carers appropriately
• using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers
appropriately
• creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a
policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise
• ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place
• ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people,
adults at risk, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in
accordance with the law and regulatory guidance
• building a safeguarding culture where staff and volunteers children, young people,
adults at risk and their families, treat each other with respect and are comfortable
about sharing concerns.
Contact Details
Name of Safeguarding Officer: Janice Brown
Email: info@lcct.org.uk
Telephone number: Tel: 0113 3508622
Name of Safeguarding Trustee: Theo Sheridan-Watts
Email: theosheridanwatts@gmail.com
Mobile Number: 07557023789
Emergency Contact No: 07557023789
Useful Contacts
• Leeds Social Care. For an issue about a child call 0113 3760336 During Office hours
and provide them with as much information as possible
• If you need to call Leeds Social Care about a child outside of normal office hours call
0113 5350600 or email childrensedt@leeds.gov.uk
• For an issue about a vulnerable adult call 0113 222 44 01 during office hours.
• If you need to call Leeds Social Care regarding an adult at risk out of office hours call
0113 3780644 Or email edt.ss@leeds.gov.uk
• NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk
• Childline 08001111
• British Sign Language: www.leeds.gov.uk/accessibility
• If urgent action is needed because you suspect an immediate risk of harm call the
police on 999
General
• The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-and-barring-service
• Leeds Safeguarding Children Partnership – www.leedsscp.org.uk
• Thirtyone:eight (formerly known as CCPAS) thirtyoneeight.org 03 03 003 11 11
• Leeds Safeguarding Adults Board www.leedssafeguardingadults.org.uk
This policy statement was reviewed on 25/04/2024
Signed……. TSWatts
Date………25.04.24
Date of next review April 2025