Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy
Given the work that we do which by default involves children, young people, and vulnerable adults, we take safeguarding and child protection extremely seriously. Therefore, we have introduced several measures to ensure that all services are not only compliant with statutory guidance, but also follow best practices.
Safeguarding is overseen by the RJ4All Director and monitored regularly by the RJ4All Board. It is recorded on our Risk Register and any changes in legislation or the operating environment are immediately included in our mitigation measures.
The Director and senior management are responsible for ensuring that the RJ4All Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is implemented at all times. As per this Policy, reviews must take place every 3 months and appropriate staff training will need to be provided on a regular basis. We also work with external experts to review our practices regularly. For example, we recently hired experts from (a) What Works for Children’s Social Care (b) Kings College London to review our existing policies and practices, and create a CPD certified ecourse that is now part of all our staff, interns and Board’s induction.
Applies to all adults including the Board, volunteers, paid staff, agency staff, and anyone working on behalf of The Institute
Aims to ensure that all children and young people have a positive and enjoyable experience in a safe and child-centred environment and are protected from abuse whilst participating in our activities and otherwise
Recognises that the welfare and interests of children and young people are paramount in all circumstances
We believe that high quality youth activities need to meet six key principles. They should be youth-led and challenging, while also creating social impact. They should provide young people with opportunities to progress further, be embedded in their everyday lives, and encourage reflection on the value and impact of the activities they take part in.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks
All of our staff, board members, and volunteers undergo DBS checks as part of our Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy.
We carry out regular Enhanced DBS checks for all our staff, interns and volunteers who come into contact with children or vulnerable adults. The details of these checks and procedures are outlined in our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy. This policy applies to all activities of RJ4All where children and young people under 18 years of age as well as vulnerable individuals are present, and to all working in such activities, whether as an employee, volunteer, management representative, or otherwise. The policy is governed under UK law, and specifically The Children Act 2004 and The Children Act 1989. Furthermore, RJ4All works within the legal framework of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, The Equality Act 2010 and the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015.
The RJ4All Safeguarding Policy is implemented in conjunction with the RJ4All Safeguarding Declaration and following the RJ4All mandatory training on safeguarding. We also offer to all our staff our CPD Certified ecourse “Safeguarding children advanced Level 2”.
RJ4All has a Designed Safeguarding Officer who has been trained to deal with any safeguarding issues that might arise. We follow best practices such as the one provided by the UK Safe Network and the UK government Department of Education.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion at RJ4All
RJ4All was founded upon the restorative justice principles of power-sharing, equality, involvement in decision-making, dignity and respect. Everything we do is guided by these principles and all our project ideas are driven and quality controlled by our users.
We take matters of equality and diversity extremely seriously whether these relate to our project and service delivery, recruitment and training. We have an Equality, Diversity, and Gender Mainstreaming Policy, which covers all RJ4All employees, volunteers, interns, board members and users irrespective of their status, level or grade.
To employees, interns and volunteer
RJ4All is dedicated to equal opportunities, actively preventing discrimination, and fostering equality, diversity, and mutual respect in all aspects of its operations. We strive to cultivate a working environment where individuals can utilise their skills without fear of discrimination or harassment, ensuring that all decisions are merit-based.
To services and service users
RJ4All is committed to countering disadvantages and treating all users and prospective users equally. Practical measures are taken to enable representatives and members of local organisations to attend RJ4All events and participate if sufficient notice is given and funds are available. Services will be publicised in a variety of ways and places. Publicity materials will be, as far as possible, clear, simple and widely accessible.
Health and Safety Policy
RJ4All aims to take reasonable steps to ensure the health and safety at work of all employees, volunteers and users.
This Policy is intended to set out how that will be achieved. RJ4All will endeavour to ensure that all relevant statutory requirements are complied with, that risk assessments will be carried out and monitored periodically, and, where risks cannot be completely eliminated, suitable personal protective equipment will be provided.
This Policy is for guidance only. Neither this Policy nor any part of its contents forms part of an employment contract. RJ4All may alter, add to or depart from
this Policy at any time. In addition, RJ4All is not bound to follow any particular procedural step in this Policy and may omit or jump steps at its absolute discretion. However, RJ4All may, if it considers it necessary, impose even more stringent health and safety standards if it deems this necessary. It is important that you read this Policy carefully and comply with its terms.
Behaviour Policy and GDPR & Data Protection Policy
RJ4All’s Behaviour Policy is designed to foster a healthy, inclusive community environment where individuals and their property are valued and respected. This policy emphasises the importance of treating others courteously, working together to solve differences, and considering the needs of others. Unacceptable behaviors, such as bullying, harassment and violence, are identified and measures are outlined to address them, including moderation, reporting to authorities if necessary, and potential sanctions such as temporary or permanent bans from the center. Restorative Justice practitioners may also be involved in extreme cases to ensure the safety and well-being of the community.
We process personal data and sensitive personal data (also known as ‘special categories’ of personal data) relating to our team members and service users in accordance with the RJ4All Data Protection Policy as well as in accordance with the relevant data protection legislation including the EU GDPR.
With the assistance of data protection experts at the Data Protection Officer (DPO), we have conducted a comprehensive audit of our data protection processes to enhance our compliance with GDPR. As a result, we have updated our privacy policies and procedures, strengthened our cybersecurity systems, and developed mandatory GDPR training for all members of staff. Please view our detailed policy here.