Safeguarding Policy Statement

NZF is committed to safeguarding everyone involved in our charity and the work we do. We believe that everyone has an equal right to protection from harm, exploitation and abuse, especially those experiencing circumstances where they may be less able to protect themselves, regardless of age, race, religion, gender, ability, background or sexual identity.

At NZF, many of the individuals we encounter will be experiencing vulnerable circumstances due to financial difficulties. We promote a proactive response to keeping children and adults safe. We will take every reasonable step to provide safe environments for those involved in our charity and the work we do, whether online or over the telephone. This includes ensuring we act to prevent harm and promote safety in all aspects of our work and take appropriate steps if we have a worry about an adult or child, supporting them whenever this happens. We will encourage their active participation in keeping themselves and others safe.

Our safeguarding commitment

NZF will:

• Respect and empower those we work with regardless of their personal characteristics or life circumstances and promote and prioritise their safety and wellbeing.
• Take reasonable steps to manage risks and keep those involved in our charity and the work we do safe.
• Ensure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities in respect of safeguarding and is provided with appropriate learning opportunities to recognise, identify and respond to safeguarding concerns.
• Respond immediately and appropriately where there are concerns and complaints of harm, exploitation, or abuse.

To meet this commitment, we will ensure:

• We recruit all staff, volunteers and associates safely to prevent the employment or deployment of unsuitable individuals. This includes the use of criminal records checks (where appropriate), references and other appropriate forms of safer recruitment good practices
• All staff and volunteers have access to the Safeguarding Policy, understand their role and responsibilities and can access safeguarding training appropriate to their role
• We assess all our activities and services to identify how we can reduce or eliminate any risks of harm, exploitation or abuse
• Those we work with know-how to voice their concerns and where and how to seek help if needed
• Clear reporting procedures are in place for responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation, which adhere to safeguarding legislation, guidance and recognised good practice
• Confidential, detailed and accurate records of all safeguarding concerns are maintained and securely stored
• We work in collaboration with key statutory authorities and other partners when responding to a safeguarding concern
• Safeguarding practice and guidance is informed, strengthened and improved by on-going learning and review.

Our NZF staff, volunteers and associates will take care to:

• Always act in the best interests of individuals, respecting and involving those who use our services, providing them with safe and appropriate information that meets their needs and supports their rights.
• Not knowingly act or fail to act in a way that results in harm to others.
• Provide high-quality services to the best of their ability, acting within their competence and not taking on anything they do not believe they can safely do.
• Treat all safeguarding concerns and complaints seriously and report them to the Designated Safeguarding Officer.
• Work in partnership with other organisations, including statutory services like the police and social care to protect those who have been or are at risk of harm, exploitation or abuse.
• Protect confidential information except where the wider duty of care or the public interest might justify making it known.

What does this mean for those who use our services?

Those we work with will receive good quality services and support from people who have the skills and abilities to deliver them safely and to a professional standard. This includes our duty to protect them from harm.

Individuals will be treated with dignity and respect; we will be pro-active in seeking their consent to any safeguarding action that affects them, unless they lack the capacity to do so or it would put them at serious risk of harm, exploitation or abuse.

What should you do if you have a safeguarding concern?

A safeguarding concern is when you are worried about the safety or well-being of an adult or child because of something seen or heard, or information which has been given to you. A safeguarding concern can involve a NZF representative, or a representative from another organisation, endangering the safety or wellbeing of others.

If you have a safeguarding concern you would like to raise with NZF, please email [email protected] to ask for NZF’s Designated Safeguarding Officer.

If you are worried about the safety or welfare of an adult, you should call the police (999 in an emergency, 101 if it is not an emergency) or your local council’s adult social care team (at your local council).

If you are worried about the safety or welfare of a child, you should call the NSPCC adult helpline for confidential advice on: 0808 800 5000.