Voluntary, charity, social enterprise (VCSE) and private sector organisations and agencies play an important role in safeguarding children through the services they deliver. Some of these will work with particular communities, with different races and faith communities and delivering in health, adult social care, housing, prisons and probation services. They may as part of their work provide a wide range of activities for children and have an important role in safeguarding children and supporting families and communities.
Like other organisations and agencies who work with children, they should have appropriate arrangements in place to safeguard and protect children from harm. Many of these organisations and agencies as well as many schools, children’s centres, early years and childcare organisations, will be subject to charity law and regulated either by the Charity Commission and/ or other “principal” regulators. Charity trustees are responsible for ensuring that those benefiting from, or working with, their charity, are not harmed in any way through contact with it. The Charity Commission for England and Wales provides guidance on charity compliance which should be followed. Further information on the Charity Commission’s role in safeguarding can be found on: the Charity Commission’s page on Gov.uk.
Some of these organisations and agencies are large national charities whilst others will have a much smaller local reach. Some will be delivering statutory services and may be run by volunteers, such as library services. This important group of organisations includes youth services not delivered by local authorities or district councils.
All practitioners working in these organisations and agencies who are working with children and their families are subject to the same safeguarding responsibilities, whether paid or a volunteer. (Working together to safeguard children; a guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children – July 2018)
Access further information about Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 [External Website]
It is difficult to acknowledge that abuse or harm could take place within your organisation but any group working with children is vulnerable. It is the responsibility of all of us to put the welfare of children and young people first, and to recognise behaviours that can put children at risk. Under the terms of the Children Act 2004, anyone up to the age of 18 is considered to be a child/young person.
All Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector (VCSE) including the faith sector, need to have appropriate arrangements in place for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
These arrangements should include –
- Procedures for staff (paid and unpaid) and others to report concerns they may have about the children and young people they meet or work with, that are in line with their Local Safeguarding Children Partnership’s procedures
- Appropriate codes of practice for staff (paid and unpaid), particularly those working directly with children and young people
- Recruitment procedures in accordance with Working Together to Safeguard Children Guide to Inter Agency Working, and the East Riding Safeguarding Children Partnership (ERSCP).
- Training and appropriate supervision of staff (both paid and unpaid).
Access the ERSCP website [External Website]
For more information on what support you might need for your group or organisation to keep children safe, please contact Detty Tyler, Children and Young People’s Services Co-ordinator on 01482 871 077 (option 4) or email detty@ervas.org.uk.
Local Safeguarding Children Partnerships For information on the local Safeguarding Children Partnerships please visit the following – Other Websites Relating to Safeguarding Children and Young People