Safeguard Young People Policy
Last Updated: 1st February 2025
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1. Policy Statement
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As an organisation, The Men’s Coach is committed to creating a safe and secure environment for all young people participating in our talks, training sessions, and mentoring programmes.
We believe that safeguarding their well-being and promoting their emotional and mental health is paramount.
We prioritise the welfare and well-being of young people and will take reasonable steps to protect them from harm, abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
2. Purpose
The purpose of this Safeguard Young People Policy is to:
Ensure the safety and protection of young people involved in our programmes.
State the responsibilities and expectations of staff and volunteers regarding young people’s safeguarding.
Establish procedures for reporting and responding to safeguarding concerns.
3. Definitions
Young People: Individuals under the age of 18 participating in services provided by The Men’s Coach.
Safeguarding Young People: The process of promoting the welfare of young people, preventing harm, and responding to concerns about harm or abuse.
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): The individual responsible for implementing and overseeing this policy.
Responsible Adult: A parent, guardian, or teacher responsible for the welfare of a young person, who will be involved in communications and notified of any safeguarding concerns.
Staff/Volunteer: Any person employed by or volunteering with The Men’s Coach.
4. Responsibilities
4.1. The Men’s Coach
All staff and volunteers who work with young people will receive appropriate safeguarding training for working with young people.
The Men’s Coach will make reasonable efforts to ensure that staff and volunteers are not included on any barred lists for working with young people. Enhanced checks with the UK Government’s Disclosure and Barring Service will be conducted, and anyone found unfit for such work will not be engaged.
This policy will be reviewed and updated regularly to remain effective and compliant.
4.2. Staff and Volunteers
All staff and volunteers must adhere to this Safeguard Young People Policy.
Any safeguarding concerns must be reported immediately to the DSL.
Professional boundaries with young people must be maintained at all times.
Staff and volunteers who work with young people are required to participate in safeguarding training. Refusal to complete this training, after reasonable rescheduling, will result in termination of their role with The Men’s Coach.
5. Code of Conduct
All staff and volunteers working with young people are expected to adhere to a strict code of conduct, which includes:
Treating all young people with respect and dignity.
Maintaining professional boundaries.
Avoiding any form of physical, emotional, or verbal abuse.
Reporting any concerns to the DSL.
Ensuring that a Responsible Adult is present during interactions with young people unless exceptions are pre-approved by the DSL (e.g., in group workshops held in public settings).
When communicating with young people, ensuring that a Responsible Adult is involved in the conversation. For instance, when sending emails, a Responsible Adult must be CCed.
6. Transparency
To uphold transparency, The Men’s Coach will ensure that a Responsible Adult is informed about the topics to be discussed during sessions. Prior to each session, the Responsible Adult will receive an overview of the planned topics. This ensures:
Responsible Adults understand the content to be covered.
Opportunities for open conversations between guardians and young people about the material.
A collaborative and supportive environment for the young person’s mental health development.
7. Contact Details
To ensure safety and effective communication, The Men’s Coach will collect contact details for both the young person and their Responsible Adult. This information will be handled with strict confidentiality in compliance with our privacy policies.
8. Confidentiality
To foster trust and create a secure environment:
Mentoring sessions will never be recorded. Audio and video recordings are strictly prohibited.
Safeguarding concerns will be handled confidentially and shared only on a need-to-know basis, in line with legal requirements and best practices.
Written records of safeguarding reports will be securely stored and accessed only by authorized personnel.
9. Reporting and Responding to Safeguarding Concerns
9.1. Reporting
The DSL is responsible for receiving and recording concerns.
All concerns about the welfare of a young person must be reported immediately to the DSL.
In the event of a young person disclosing harm, staff/volunteers will support the young person before promptly informing their Responsible Adult, emergency contact, and/or emergency services.
The Men’s Coach will follow the Government Reporting Procedure: https://www.gov.uk/report-young-person-abuse-to-local-council.
9.2. Responding
The safety and well-being of the young person involved will remain the primary concern.
Local laws and regulations will guide responses to safeguarding concerns.
The Men’s Coach will cooperate fully with authorities and agencies investigating protection matters.
Confidentiality will be maintained to the fullest extent possible.
10. Review and Monitoring
This policy will be reviewed annually and updated as needed to remain compliant with current legislation and best practices. Interim reviews will be conducted if significant legislative or organizational changes occur.
11. Acknowledgment
All staff and volunteers will be required to read and acknowledge this Safeguard Young People Policy.
12. Contact Information
YKIWYSI Limited (The Men’s Coach)
Designated Safeguarding Lead Contact: Emma@TheMensCoach.co.uk
By implementing this Safeguard Young People Policy, The Men’s Coach aims to create a safe and nurturing environment for young men participating in our mentoring, talks, and workshops, while also promoting their mental health and well-being.