We believe that protecting young people is based upon building positive relationships and encouraging and supporting young people to value themselves.
Our staff are aware of the potential for vulnerable young people to be groomed by adults or by other young people in preparation for Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE). They are aware of the responsibilities of professional colleagues including social workers, Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs) and Local Authority Designated Officers (LADOs) The Police to work together to safeguard young people.
Once a young person moves into our service, a risk assessment and support plan will be developed. These documents will be updated quarterly or after any significant change in circumstances in the young person’s life. Our assessments are not just holistic but an ongoing process reviewing and responding to the needs of the young people.
We will support our young people in developing their skills in keeping safe, building their self esteem and making informed and positive choices. Our on-site 24-hour staffing and use of controlled access to the building for residents and visitors will ensure the safety of our young people.
We will ensure that appropriate visitor restrictions are implemented to safeguard our young people, this includes the use of photo identity cards, signing in and out of the home, no overnight visitors allowed, and refusal of under 16 visitors into the home.
We will expect all young people to have returned back to placement by their curfew time which will be agreed with the allocated social worker during the placement planning meeting. Permission to stay out overnight with friends or relatives must also be on the consent of the social worker.
Management will ensure that individual staff members and staff teams are fully familiar with the protocols of the relevant local Safeguarding Children Board and understand their professional responsibilities to safeguard the young people in our care.
Absence from our care is an important matter and we endeavour to be active in promoting the benefits of young people keeping to appropriate boundaries for their own personal safety.
Whenever young people are absent without the proper authority they are considered to be at some level of risk of either criminal, sexual, physical exploitation or abuse by others, or to be a risk to others.
In a situation where consent has not been given, we will report the young person as missing to the police and work closely with both the police and out of hours emergency duty service to ensure every young person’s safety.
Young people will always be welcomed back on their return and we will ensure they are warm, have eaten and are physically well.
All incidents of missing/absence without authority will be debriefed with the young person and a relevant member of staff, as soon as is reasonable after the young person’s return. The purpose of this meeting will be to explore how the young person can be kept safe and to prevent further absences. We equally expect placing authorities to undertake/facilitate Independent Return Home Interviews in keeping with the statutory guidance.
Where there are frequent missing episodes/absences without authority, we will call a planning meeting with the young person and the social worker to review the placement plan.
We will make note of unusual behaviours within and outside of the placement to ensure young people are not engaging in dangerous activities. This can include young people entering vehicles where they may be at risk or associations with individuals whom the staff consider may pose a risk to the young person or other residents. Where possible vehicle registration numbers will be noted and passed on to relevant authorities and we will ensure to establish links with relevant community safety groups in the area.
Our young people are not allowed to have visitors in their bedrooms as this may negatively impact on their safety or that of their visitors. Visitors may use the communal areas with permission from the staff and staff reserve the right to refuse any visitor or ask them to leave if they feel such visitor present a risk to any of the resident. Young people may be allowed in each other’s rooms but only with permission from the staff and staff reserve the right to refuse to grant such permission if they believe safeguarding policy may be compromised as a result. Safe Haven Services take safeguarding seriously and we strive to ensure all young people in our care are safe from harm.