Inspira is fully committed to its responsibility to safeguard and protect the interests of all clients. Inspira understands the benefits of a multi-agency approach to safeguarding and will work with organisations to provide support to clients where this will be of benefit. Inspira believes that no-one should suffer abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all clients and to keep them safe. We are committed to safe working practices.
Inspira will follow safeguarding guidance for work with all clients including young people (those aged under 18) and adults (those aged over 18).
Inspira supports the legal duty known as the prevent duty and will pay due regards to the need to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism including the rehabilitation and disengagement of those already involved in terrorism.
Inspira will comply with the duty under Section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (CTSA 2015) to maintain appropriate records to show compliance with the Prevent duty. This includes keeping track of any Prevent training being undertaken by staff and proportionate and appropriate record-keeping in reaction to Prevent referrals.
This policy applies to all colleagues, including paid staff, volunteers and temporary/associate staff, agency staff, students or anyone working on behalf of Inspira. All to whom the policy and procedure applies will be informed during their induction and at regular intervals thereafter.
This policy has been informed by the protocols and procedures provided on the Cumbria Local Safeguarding Children’s Board website and Lancashire Safeguarding Partnership and relevant laws and guidance, namely:
Relevant government guidance on safeguarding children, including “What to do if you are worried a child is being abused” (2015), “Working together to safeguard children” (DfE 2023) and “Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024”.
Counter-terrorism and Security act 2015
This policy aims to provide a framework to ensure the Charity’s procedures and working practices are consistent with its values and beliefs.
It is the duty of all employees, volunteers and associate staff to accept and understand their responsibilities for Safeguarding and to follow agreed procedures.
It is the responsibility of line managers to ensure that all employees, volunteers and associate staff are aware of and understand the charity’s policy and associated procedures.
It is the responsibility of all Inspira staff to co-operate with requests for information from Social Care in relation to clients about whom they are making enquiries.
It is the responsibility of all Inspira staff to, within the bounds of confidentiality, work with agencies to support clients.
It is the responsibility of the board to ensure this policy is reviewed annually and to make revisions as necessary including in response to legislative changes and major incidents.
Key Principles of Safeguarding
Inspira recognises and works to key principles relating to safeguarding:
The Welfare of the client should always be the paramount consideration.
All clients have equal rights to be protected from ill treatment and neglect and to experience a good standard of care.
All clients have the right to be heard. The wishes and the feelings of the client should be sought and influence decision-making.
The ethnic origin, culture, language and religion, ability and sexuality of the client should be taken into account.
Where a client is aged under 18 parents/carers rights should be fully respected. Parents should be involved in consultation and decision making unless this would act against the interests of the child. Clients should have access to file recording within the terms of the Data Protection Act.
The charity will work to safeguard people and communities we work with from all types of extremism and radicalisation and promote British values through all work.
If you have any concerns relating to the welfare of a client, you should speak with a manager at the earliest opportunity (see Procedure 13: Safeguarding, Prevent and Allegations of Abuse for more details).
All agencies should work together in partnership with the client to safeguard and promote welfare.
Further guidance can be found in the Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership Multi Agency Thresholds Guidance which is on the Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership website.
The Thresholds Guidance will help with:
For Adults at risk, section 42 of the Care Act 2014 defines an adult at risk as an adult who: Has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs) and; Is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect; and as a result of those needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect.
Where clients are aged over 18, Adult Social Care in the relevant local authority area should be contacted; client consent should be sought wherever possible.
1. Shared Responsibility and Duty to Co-operate:
Inspira understands that working in partnership with other agencies is crucial to the promotion of wellbeing for all clients and to their protection from harm. The charity will develop effective collaboration, understanding and information sharing with its partner agencies and will ensure staff work in partnership with other professionals and service users to plan and coordinate services.
Inspira has a duty, under the Children Act 1989, to co-operate with Local Authority enquiries into cases where there is reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm.
The charity will follow the principles of partnership working in safeguarding outlined in “Working Together to Safeguard Children” and “What to do if you are worried a child is being abused” described in the protocols and procedures on either the Cumberland Safeguarding Children’s Partnership website the Westmorland and Furness Safeguarding Children Partnership or the Lancashire Safeguarding Partnership. The charity will also follow the Statutory guidance on children who run away or go missing from home or care.
We will seek to keep clients safe by:
Online Safety is being aware of the nature of the possible threats that you could encounter whilst engaging in activity through the Internet. We will seek to keep clients safe by educating them on the risks associated with online activity and the strategies to employ to prevent or avoid these risks.
2. Recruitment and Selection of Employees
Inspira is aware that some people seek employment to work with people for negative reasons. The charity’s selection and recruitment procedures include clear systems to vet all applicants. This includes:
3. Staff Training and Development
Inspira will provide safeguarding training for staff that is relevant and appropriate to their role. This will include understanding and acceptance of our Safer Working Practices document, induction training for staff new to the charity and ongoing training to ensure staff are aware of new legislation and developments. All staff are given supervision appropriate to their role. For staff working directly with clients this provides the opportunity to discuss individual caseloads and any safeguarding concerns.
4. Maintaining Effective Records
Inspira understands the importance of effective record keeping where it is suspected or believed that a client may be subject to, or at risk of, harm. All staff will maintain accurate and relevant safeguarding records.
This Policy should be read alongside the following Related Documents:
Trustee with responsibility for safeguarding Alison Robinson reached through Head Office on 01931 711300.
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Sarah Harrington (Director) Sarah.Harrington@inspira.org.uk 01931 711 300 / 07919 220 198
For practitioner support contact the relevant Manager for your area:
North – Susan Watkins 01228 596 272 / 07720954251
West - Deborah Naylor 01900 604674 / 07919 220 194
Furness / South Lakes – Julia Winder 01229 824052 / 0781 222 4409
Blackpool / Lancashire – Restart: Helen MacNaughton 01228 596272 / 07720953692; National Careers Service and ASF: Adam Heath 07812224410 or Chris Gibson 07812224446; Lancashire Careers Hub Kay Vaughan 07812224458.
If you are concerned about a child who lives in the area of Cumberland Council:
If you are concerned about a child who lives in the area of Westmorland and Furness Council:
If you are concerned about an adult who lives in the area of Cumberland Council:
If you are concerned about an adult who lives in the area of Westmorland and Furness Council:
If you have concerns about a child or adult who lives in Lancashire, use the link here to find the correct reporting number depending upon the area and age of the person.