Safety and Welfare Policy Statement
The Baytree Centre (DHEF) will take all reasonable steps, through its policy guidelines and procedures, to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all beneficiaries involved in its activities. It is committed to providing a safe and enjoyable environment that enables beneficiaries to develop their full potential as individuals while protecting them from all physical, sexual and emotional harm.
Code of Good Practice
All adults working with young people and children must maintain the highest professional standards in their work and in their relationships with young people and children. Set out below is The Baytree Centre (DHEF) code of good practice to be followed by all involved in this valuable work with young people and children. Before participating in activities carried out on behalf of the Baytree Centre (DHEF) within the Centre and elsewhere, leaders and volunteers must agree to abide by this code. Leaders are adults who have an ongoing role in the provision of The Baytree Centre’s (DHEF) activities for young people and children, while volunteers are those over the age of 16 involved only in specific activities.
- Leaders and volunteers working for The Baytree Centre (DHEF) will treat each young person and child with equal respect and consideration, without favouritism, and ensure her safety and welfare at all times.
- Leaders and volunteers will endeavour to familiarise themselves with all guidelines distributed by The Baytree Centre (DHEF) on child protection and safety issues while involved in running activities carried out on behalf of The Baytree Centre (DHEF). The Baytree Centre Child Protection Coordinator will ensure that details of all developments reach each leader and volunteer working with young people and children.
- Leaders and volunteers working for The Baytree Centre (DHEF) will take great care over whatever they say to young people and children and also the way in which they say it at all times.
- All situations, actions and language that compromise a relationship of trust with young people and children are to be avoided.
- Leaders and volunteers are to: a) think and act carefully about taking risks with the safety of young people and children; and b) avoid situations that could lead to difficulties, temptations or accusations of abuse. Training will be made available on practical applications of these principles.
- Leaders and volunteers are to be clear about what is appropriate and inappropriate physical contact with young people and children, avoiding any contact that could be misunderstood. Practical examples will be outlined in their training on such issues.
- Leaders and volunteers are to avoid physical horseplay. They shall also avoid taking part in contact games where there is a danger that others might misinterpret their actions, no matter how innocently intentioned. Practical examples will be outlined in their training on such issues.
- All leaders and volunteers will have a clearly specified role within each activity, to be understood by both them and the young people and children in attendance. In this way, no one will be in contact with young people and children who does not have a reason to be present at the activity in an official capacity.
- If a young person or child wishes to speak exclusively with a leader or volunteer, or vice versa, this one-to-one conversation shall take place in a public place or in rooms designed so as to be open to view by others.
- Sleeping accommodation, shower and changing facilities for young people and volunteers under 18 will always be separate from those for leaders and volunteers over 18.
- All activities are to be planned thoroughly by the leaders, so as to eliminate any times or situations where it may be possible for young people or children to be abused, such as when contact is unobserved.
- The leader of the activity will ensure that a risk assessment is carried out in the planning stage of each activity and that safety procedures (including those for first-aid provision) are followed at all times.
- The leader of the activity will ensure that all in attendance know of safety and emergency procedures in each location where activities take place.
- There will be at least two leaders involved in each activity, however few young people participate. A minimum ratio of 2 : 10 (two leaders and volunteers to ten young people) will be maintained for all activities.
- A clear indication of start and end times for each programmed activity will be published within information sheets by the leaders so that young people and children can arrive and leave promptly.
- Parents or Guardians are to fill out: a) a consent and contact form and b) and dietary and medical details from either annually or before any residential activity away from the centre.
- No personal details of young people, including photographs with identifiers such as first name and surname, or close-up photography, shall be published on websites or in publications. Other photographs of young people may be published, only with the signed consent of parents or guardians.
Further details
The full policy documents for Child Protection, Health
and Safety and Equal Opportunities are
available from the Baytree Centre on request. For further details contact:
Ana Martinez-Leon
Child Protection Coordinator
Anyone with concerns about child protection issues should contact The Baytree Centre Child Protection Coordinator.
Ana Martinez-Leon
