Safeguarding Policy & Procedures

Purpose

The purpose of this document is to:

Ø set out how Your Signature Yoga protects children, young persons and adults at risk from harm during a yoga class or wellness session. This includes harm arising from abuse of all kinds, including sexual, physical and emotional abuse, neglect, bullying and any other forms of violence or exploitation.

Ø provide information on reporting mechanisms, to ensure that everyone know how to report a concern.

Ø lay out Your Signature Yoga’s responsibilities and support appropriate action to be taken that ensures that any allegations of abuse or suspicions are dealt with appropriately and the person experiencing abuse is supported.

This Policy should be read alongside our:

• Privacy Policy

Scope Of This Policy

This policy shall be effective and mandatory for all instructors. This policy shall also be effective for all students and visitors to Your Signature Yoga.

Safeguarding Policy Statement

YOUR SIGNATURE YOGA BELIEVE THAT EVERY CHILD, YOUNG PERSON OR ADULT SHOULD NEVER EXPERIENCE ABUSE OF ANY KIND. WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF ALL CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS AT-RISK TO KEEP THEM SAFE. WE ARE COMMITTED TO TEACHING AND PROMOTING YOGA & WELLNESS IN A WAY THAT PROTECTS THEM.

Your Signature Yoga believe that everyone we come into contact with, regardless of age, gender identity, disability, religion, sexual orientation or ethnic origin has the right to be protected from all forms of harm, abuse, neglect and exploitation. Your Signature Yoga will not tolerate abuse and exploitation by instructors, other students, visitors, or associated personnel. Your Signature Yoga remain committed to ensuring the effective prevention, reporting and response to any safeguarding concerns raised or detected.

The policy and procedures relate to the safeguarding of children (under 18) and adults at risk.

Adults at risk are defined as individuals aged over 18, who:

Ø are experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect; and

Ø have needs for care and support, and;

Ø as a result of those care and support needs are unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect. (Care Act, 2014)

Prevention

To provide vulnerable groups with the best possible experience and opportunities within Yoga and Wellness, Your Signature Yoga ensures that best practice is always met in relation to safeguarding and risk management. A core part of Your Signature Yoga’s preventative approach is to ensure that the following is met in terms of minimum best practice guidance at all times;

· Instructors must have a recognized qualification to competently and technically deliver the class in question, with additional qualifications as necessary for specialist styles or roles.

· Instructors must all hold the necessary Public Liability insurance and a valid first aid qualification, and an in-date safeguarding qualification relevant to any vulnerable group(s) being taught.

· Treat all young persons aged under 18 years of age, and all adults at-risk, with respect, dignity and courtesy.

· Treat all children and / or adults at-risk equally.

· Always put the welfare of children and / or adults at-risk first.

· Always work in an open environment avoiding any isolation, unobserved situations, encouraging an open and transparent club community.

· Never be alone with a child and / or adult at-risk.

· Keep physical contact to an absolute minimum, and request permission to make physical adjustments in classes.

· Not take identifiable photographs, videos or create any other forms of media featuring any children without written consent from the carer, guardian or parents in advance. For any adult at-risk, make sure you have written consent in advance from them and a carer if relevant.

· Ensure that any contact via social media or other digital formats are recorded and minimized with children or adults at risk. All communication between instructors and children and / or adults at-risk (once known) should always remain professional via any forms of social media.

· Implement safer recruitment practices for paid staff and volunteers, for example checks, references, and providing adequate training on safeguarding.

· Recognise the development needs and capacity of the children and / or adults at-risk in the class and not risk sacrificing welfare or safety for the instructor’s personal gain.

· Creating and maintain an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that the safeguarding policy and procedure is followed to deal effectively with any bullying that does arise.

· Ask participants before the start of a class if there is anything that impacts their practice so there is an opportunity for any medical conditions/injuries to be shared with the instructor.

· Keep thorough records of any injuries or near misses that have occurred, along with details of any treatment given and further communication had with parents / guardians and/or children and / or adults at-risk.

Types of abuse

Abuse includes:

· Discriminatory

· Domestic abuse or violence

· Financial or material

· Grooming

· Modern slavery

· Neglect and acts of omission

· Online abuse

· Organisational/institutional

· Physical

· Psychological/emotional

· Sexual abuse

· Self-neglect

· Exploitation:

o Criminal exploitation

o County Lines

o Sexual exploitation

Radicalisation

Your Signature Yoga also recognise the need to safeguard children and adults who can be at risk of radicalisation from extremist views

People who are vulnerable are more likely to be influenced. Their vulnerability could stem from a range of causes: loss of identity or sense of belonging, isolation, exclusion, mental health problems, sense of injustice, personal crisis, victim of hate crime or discrimination, or bereavement.

Raising Concerns Or Making A Disclosure

Your Signature Yoga will always ensure that in any case where a child or adult at-risk might directly confide to any form of abuse, that the organisation must take immediate steps to safeguard that person effectively. Where concerns are raised by a third party, or by suspicions held by an instructor, the below checklist shall be maintained wherever possible but in all instances, the organization will escalate and report in full on all occasions.

If a child or adult at-risk indicates that they are being abused, the instructor to whom the disclosure is made will;

• keep yourself and others safe (safety is paramount). Call the emergency services if feel you or others are in danger.

• stay calm so as not to frighten the child or adult at-risk.

• reassure the child or adult at-risk that they are not to blame and that it was right to inform.

• listen to the child or adult at-risk, showing that they are being taken seriously.

• keep questions to a minimum so that there is a clear and accurate understanding of what has been said. The law is very strict and child / adult at-risk abuse cases have been dismissed where it is felt that the child or adult at-risk has been led or words and ideas have been suggested during questioning. Accordingly, the instructor must only ask questions to clarify details – not to question further.

• inform the child or adult at-risk that the instructor will have to inform other people about what they have disclosed. The instructor must ensure the child or adult at-risk understands this is in confidence, on a needs-must basis and is to help stop the abuse continuing. NEVER say you are going to keep this confidential as you need to inform the relevant people / authorities, however, do not disclose this information to others.

• record securely all information in writing.

• report the incident to the Safeguarding Lead without delay.

Action should be taken by the Safeguarding Lead within one working day.

If there is a real or immediate threat to the child / adult at-risk, they should contact the Police on 999.

If it is a non-emergency situation to report or in need of more advice, the instructor should not delay by contacting the association, and should instead contact a relevant statutory authority (see contact details below):

To report a concern about a child, contact:

Gateshead Councils’ Children Services:

Tel: 0191 433 2653 (office hours: Monday - Friday, 8.30am to 5pm)

Tel: 0191 477 0844 (out of hours, at night, at weekends and bank holidays).

OR The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO):

Tel: 0191 433 8031; E-mail: LADO@gateshead.gov.uk

For more advice and support, you could also contact Childline on 0800 1111 (free 24-hour number).

To report a concern about an at-risk adult, contact:

Adult Social Care Direct on 0191 433 7033 (Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm),

OR online: Tell us about a safeguarding concern - Gateshead Council

The relevant Local Authority contact will then decide the next steps and feedback will be given to the person who made the safeguarding referral. If the concern relates to a significant risk of (or actual) harm the concern will progress to the next stage with the Safeguarding Enquiry and further information will be gathered. The Safeguarding Lead should offer relevant support to the person and process. This could be practical support e.g. providing a venue, or information and reports and emotional support.

Your Signature Yoga will ensure that any allegations made against instructors, visitors, or volunteers will be dealt with swiftly and appropriately. Where a member of staff/volunteer is thought to have committed a criminal offence the Police will be informed.

The safety of the individual(s) concerned is paramount, and the level of risk posed by the alleged perpetrator must be reviewed. Also, while going through the process of an allegation, the instructor/visitor/volunteer is also offered support.

The Safeguarding Lead will liaise with the relevant Local Authority to discuss the best course of action and to ensure that Your Signature Yoga’s disciplinary process is coordinated with any other enquiries taking place as part of the ongoing management of the allegation.

Key Contact

Key contact for Your Signature Yoga is as follows;

Owner and Safeguarding Lead:

Name: EMILY MALCOLM

Tel.: 07565 502554

Email: yoursignatureyoga@gmail.com

If there is immediate concerns for the safety of a child or adult at risk, please call the police on 999. Should you not be confident raising your concerns for a non-immediate danger with us or our association, the contact details for the local authority are found in red on the page above.

Disseminating / Reviewing Policy and Procedures

This document will be available on request. This policy and procedures document will be reviewed annually.

Your Signature Yoga Safeguarding Escalation Flow Chart: