Safeguarding

Last updated September 2024

Safeguarding describes measures to protect the health and wellbeing of all individuals. Whether working online or in person, it is about taking reasonable steps to protect people who come into contact with us through our work from abuse or mistreatment of any kind. 

As a charity itself, the Foundation has a responsibility to have a safeguarding policy and procedure in place to ensure that safeguarding concerns are effectively managed, and that safeguarding is effectively promoted throughout the Foundation. We are required to be confident that our partners deliver their services safely and have appropriate systems, policies, and procedures in place to safeguard those with whom they work.  It is not our role to regulate safeguarding for the organisations we support or ‘approve’ their safeguarding policies or make referrals on their behalf.  

 

Jump to a section:

Introduction

Who this applies to

Our roles and responsibilities

Everyone

Trustees

Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs)

Our expectations of our partners

Our expectations and procedures for external suppliers (including our Development Support Partners)

How do I raise a safeguarding concern with the Foundation

What happens when the Foundation received information about a safeguarding concern?

Concerns linked to our funded partners

 

Introduction

The Foundation recognises that the safety and welfare of children and adults is paramount, and we do not tolerate the abuse of any person in any form. We are committed to:

• safeguarding, and recognising our duty of care to children, adults, the organisations that we work with and to those who work for or on behalf of the Foundation;
• creating a safe and secure environment where everyone can work together confidently and with mutual respect;
• considering how safeguarding concerns may become apparent within a ‘think family’ approach. For example, safeguarding concerns about a child may lead to worries about the safety of their adult carer, or a concern about an adult may lead to worries about the wellbeing of their child. This safeguarding policy and procedure applies to both children and adults;
• promoting the safeguarding of all individuals, both in the Foundation and in the organisations that we work with. We recognise that the individuals who use the services of organisations that we support may be particularly vulnerable or at risk of harm and we take our responsibility seriously to promote safeguarding with those we commission to work on behalf of the Foundation with those organisations.

 

Who this applies to

This safeguarding policy sets out the Foundation's commitments and obligations and applies to:

• all staff
• Trustees and committee members
• Volunteers and interns
• Agencies, individuals or organisations employed to deliver services on our behalf
• Individuals and organisations who interact with children or adults in vulnerable circumstances as part of their engagement with the Foundation (such as visitors to charity partners or any Foundation event or site visit).

 

Our roles and responsibilities

Everyone

Everyone is responsible for safeguarding. Everyone should:

• read and apply this safeguarding policy and procedure;
• abide by the LBF code of conduct and be aware of our position of trust;
• be alert to potential indicators of abuse or neglect; aware of the risks which abusers, or potential abusers may pose;
• respond to any safeguarding concerns in the course of their work, however small they may appear using the procedures in this document;
• undertake safeguarding training;

 

Trustees

The Trustees are responsible for the governance of safeguarding at the Foundation, ensuring that the organisation is legally compliant and delivering services safely. Their responsibilities include ensuring:

• a culture of safeguarding is promoted whereby anyone can raise concerns and be supported;
• a safeguarding policy and procedure are in place (which includes how to deal with allegations against staff) which is reviewed at least annually, is available to and understood/applied by staff;
• other policies are in place including a staff code of conduct, whistleblowing and recruitment (which includes information about statutory checks on the suitability of staff);
• safeguarding concerns are managed effectively with people, systems and processes in place and safeguarding work is adequately resourced;
• they receive and review regular feedback on safeguarding activity (such as gaps, threats, risks) and oversee a risk register in which safeguarding is included;
• overseeing safeguarding concerns which may have wider implications for the work and reputation of the Foundation. The Chair of Trustees undertakes enquiries in the event of an allegation being made against the Chief Executive;
• compliance with the Charity Commission serious incident notification requirements, and other bodies such as regulators and insurance companies;
• a Lead Safeguarding Trustee is nominated who liaises with the DSL to oversee safeguarding arrangements. The Lead Safeguarding Trustee champions safeguarding and assists the Board to ensure that safeguarding is well-managed, and compliant with legislation and statutory guidance.

 

Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs)

The DSL has strategic and operational responsibilities for safeguarding at the Foundation and oversees safeguarding on behalf of the Senior Leadership Team.

Sara Canullo, Head of Grant Management

scanullo@lloydsbankfoundation.org.uk 

André Clarke, Director of Charity Development (Senior Leadership Team)

AClarke@lloydsbankfoundation.org.uk 

Their responsibilities include:

• promote a safeguarding and listening culture;
• keep updated about changes in safeguarding law and best practice across England and Wales;
• advise and support staff on safeguarding matters;
• support managers to carry out or participate in safeguarding enquiries, and oversee decision-making;
• manage individual safeguarding cases, including decision making, seeking specialist advice, referring to police or social care when necessary, working with external agencies, escalating concerns if required, managing record keeping;
• alerting the Senior Leadership Team to specific safeguarding concerns relating to allegations against staff, poor practice concerns, staff training needs or any other matters relating to the management of safeguarding;
• setting the safeguarding policy and procedure in line with statutory guidance, annually reviewing it and being responsible for its effective implementation across the Foundation;
• ensuring effective safeguarding systems and processes are in place, including secure recording and retrieval systems;
• ensuring all staff receive safeguarding induction and training.
• carrying out internal safeguarding audits and quality assurance safeguarding practice; drawing upon feedback and complaints to ensure the Foundation continually improves safeguarding policy and practices;
• overseeing the management of safeguarding allegations against staff including escalating any serious incidents (as per Charity Commission guidance) to Trustees;
• briefing Trustees on a regular basis about safeguarding activity, including providing an annual report to trustees on safeguarding.

 

Our expectations of our partners

Learn about our approach to safeguarding at each stage of our funding process.

You can also see our full Safeguarding Policy here, which includes information about the Lloyd Bank Foundation for England and Wales responsibilities for safeguarding.

If you have any questions about our approach or want to raise an issue with us, please email: enquiries@lloydsbankfoundation.org.uk

 

Application:

We expect all organisations applying for funding to have a Safeguarding Policy in place.

You must also have a Designated Safeguarding Lead/ Officer (DSL/O). This person will be trained to Level 3 or equivalent and is accountable for your safeguarding practice.

 

Assessment

Drawing on the Charity Commission’s guidelines, we require all applicants to demonstrate adequate safeguarding measures are in place. We will explore what safeguarding means to your organisation, how it fits with your mission and values and your approach to safeguarding across your organisation. For example,

• what safeguarding training your Trustees, staff, and volunteers undertake
• when you last recorded a safeguarding incident
• the process you underwent to manage your last safeguarding incident

We are also interested in how you safeguard people either as paid staff or volunteers who may have care and support needs themselves.

If an organisation is turned down at the assessment stage and there are concerns about safeguarding practice, those concerns will be communicated back to the organisation, signposting which organisations/agencies may be able to help them address the issue.

 

During the life of our partnership

In line with Charity Commission guidance, our partners are required to notify the Foundation of incidents that have resulted in, or risk, significant harm or abuse:

• Where the harm was caused by someone connected with the partner organisation
• Where the harm or risk of harm was created by a breach or serious failure in organisational safeguarding procedures.

Safeguarding incidents may be reported to a Foundation member of staff, identified during visits, or shared as part of monitoring reports. The responsibility for responding to the concern, including notifying relevant authorities and the regulator, rests with the partner and should be undertaken in line with their own safeguarding procedures.

Upon receiving the report, the Foundation staff member (usually the Regional Manager) will notify the Designated Safeguarding Lead to seek guidance on what further information is required from the partner. This may include offering development support, acknowledging with the partner that nothing further is required or seeking further information.

 

Our expectations and procedures for external suppliers (including our Development Support Partners

Our expectations of suppliers

As a supplier you may find yourself working directly with partner or community agencies that work with children (defined as anyone aged under 18 years) and adults, many of whom will have vulnerabilities or be at risk. In doing so, you will be representing the Foundation. All suppliers must always conduct themselves and practice in ways that demonstrate the highest professional standards. In addition, it is expected that you will act in accordance with the safeguarding policy of the partner or community agency you are supporting through the course of the consultancy. It is your responsibility to ensure that you familiarise yourself with these policies before you commence working with a new organisation.  

As a supplier, you may encounter safeguarding concerns in the course of your work with a partner or community agency. You are most likely to become aware of a safeguarding incident because:   

1. A funded organisation has reported a safeguarding incident that has taken place at their organisation directly to you.    
2. A ‘whistle-blower’ has raised concerns about a safeguarding incident or concerns about an organisations culture and approach to safeguarding.    
3. An individual makes a disclosure to you directly, about themselves or a family member or friend or other party.   
4. You may see or hear practices that leave you with concerns that people are placed at risk or that risk is not being managed effectively.  

All suppliers should be aware of the Foundation’s safeguarding policy and procedures, and which apply to agencies, individuals or organisations contracted to deliver services on our behalf. All suppliers must follow the Foundation’s safeguarding procedure, and this summary as set out in this schedule.   

Unless safeguarding is the expertise that you have been commissioned for by the Foundation, you are not expected to be an expert in effective safeguarding practice. In any event, suppliers are not expected to investigate safeguarding concerns or make safeguarding referrals. However, everyone is responsible for safeguarding, and you are expected to raise any concerns that you may encounter.  

 

Safeguarding procedure for suppliers  

At the start of any engagement with a funded organisation or community agency, clarify what may be required of you by way of that organisation’s safeguarding policy should you have a safeguarding concern whilst working with them and identify the name and contact details of the organisation’s safeguarding designated person.   

If you have a safeguarding concern, you must alert the designated safeguarding lead of the partner or community agency immediately (and on the day that the concern came to light), following up any verbal communication in writing to them. In an emergency, where the partner/community agency staff are not available to do so, call emergency services.  

In an emergency, where people are in immediate danger, staff should call 999.   

Clarify with the designated safeguarding lead that they will address the concern themselves, using their own safeguarding policy and procedure.  

You must advise your Foundation contact person (the person who commissioned your service) within 24 hours that you have raised a safeguarding concern with the partner or community agency designated safeguarding lead. If the Foundation member of staff who commissioned you is not available, then tell one of the Foundation’s Designated Safeguarding Leads. All information that is verbally communicated, should be put in writing immediately afterwards.  

The Foundation member of staff who commissioned you or the Foundation DSL will make further enquiries as required.   

The supplier may be required to provide further information to either the designated safeguarding lead at the partner or community agency or the Foundation contact person.  

If a supplier thinks that the safeguarding concern has not been adequately addressed either by the partner, community agency or by the Foundation, they are able to make safeguarding referrals themselves (for example to police or local authority) using the multi-agency procedures for the relevant local authority area. The Foundation link staff member should be informed that this has been done. The supplier will thereafter be responsible for all follow up work related to that referral.  

 

How do I raise a safeguarding concern with the Foundation?

Safeguarding concerns or allegations come to light from a wide variety of sources. Foundation staff as well as external stakeholders, such as members of the public or the organisations we fund, can raise a safeguarding concern related to the Foundation’s work or an organisation we fund or contract with in two ways:

• By emailing our Safeguarding Lead (details above)
• By contacting the Foundation and asking to speak to our Safeguarding Lead

Ideally you should include the following information, although we accept that this is not always possible.

• Basic details about the person affected by the concern, as far as it is known. This includes the person’s name, address and contact details.
• If the person affected is a child, then details of parents/guardians should also be recorded. Similarly, if the person is an adult at risk (with care and support needs), details of carers should also be recorded.
• Basic details of the individual against whom the concern is perceived. This includes their name, relationship/role within their organisation and relationship to the person affected by the concern.
• Dates when the concern arose, or when the incident occurred.
• A factual description of the concern and the risks or potential risks, wherever possible using the person’s own words to describe the event or incident as this helps avoid assumptions about the intended meaning of the words used.
• What action, if any, have you already taken about the concern.
• The views and wishes of the person affected about what action they would like taken, including whether the safeguarding concern should be passed to the statutory agency or not.

If your concern relates to the Safeguarding lead you can ask to speak to our SLT Safeguarding Lead and vice versa.

 

What happens when the Foundation receives information about a safeguarding concern?

We are responsible for responding to concerns and ensuring that they have been appropriately acted upon in a timely way. If relevant, information will be shared with relevant colleagues and other statutory agencies, including the police. All our staff and Trustees co-operate fully with statutory authorities where applicable. We follow our safeguarding procedures which detail how concerns are managed and investigated.

It is important that even low-level safeguarding concerns are reported. Low level concerns may relate to poor practice or behaviour, rather than abuse, but it is important that these issues are addressed as this can help prevent further, more serious concerns in the future. If you are unsure whether something constitutes a safeguarding concern, you must still raise this with the Safeguarding Lead. It is the responsibility of the Safeguarding Lead to determine whether information supplied is to be considered a safeguarding concern and to determine what action is required. The Safeguarding Lead will make notes of the discussion.

 

Concerns linked to our funded partners

For concerns relating to partners, the Safeguarding Lead will where appropriate, discuss the concern with the relevant designated safeguarding person for the partner organisation. In most cases, where the concern relates to a project tor organisation that we are funding, information will be passed to our partner organisation and any investigation will be carried out by them with regular check-ins with the Foundation until the investigation is complete and appropriate action has been taken. Where appropriate, the Local Authority Designated Officer will be contacted directly by the Foundation.

For concerns relating to the Foundation’s staff, an investigation will be carried out by the Safeguarding Lead, an HR representative and Executive Directors as required. Further information is available in our Safeguarding Procedures.

In an emergency where an adult or child has been seriously hurt or is in imminent danger you should ring 999 and ask for the emergency service required - police and/or ambulance. Alert the DSL as soon as possible. Record all actions as soon as possible afterwards.

• The rationale for the immediate communication to the statutory agency.
• People involved in the communication, their contact details and any reference numbers.
• Details of the discussion, any decisions and the outcome of the conversation.