Background
Aberystwyth Students’ Union (AberSU) is an inclusive organisation that represents, supports and provides activities and services for all students of Aberystwyth University. This includes students under the age of 18 and adults at risk.
AberSU should be a safe environment for all children, young people and adult of risk regardless of age, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, disability and faith.
The Children’s’ Act 1989 legally defines a child as “a person under the age of 18”. This includes an unborn child.
The ‘No Secret’s’ report 2012 by the Department of Health legally defines an adult at risk as “a person aged 18 or over who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is or may be unable to take care of himself or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation”.
Scope
All staff and volunteers of AberSU are required to ensure that activities conducted by the Union are supportive of the needs and security of young people and adults at risk. Deviation from this policy may result in disciplinary action.
AberSU is committed to ensuring that all members have the ability to participate safely in our activities. All AberSU activity will be required to consider the needs of young people and adults at risk in the approved Risk Assessment.
Implementation
This policy will constitute part of the induction process of all staff and volunteers of AberSU. Managers will be required to demonstrate that they have taken all reasonable efforts to ensure that this occurs.
All club and society committee members and volunteer project leaders shall receive induction on this policy and their obligation to ensure members are safeguarded.
This policy shall be published on the AberSU website. It will be subject to regular review of the Board or a designated sub-committee.
Values
AberSU recognises that the welfare of the young person or adult at risk is paramount and that they should be listened to and heard.
AberSU shall ensure that staff and volunteers involved in protracted relationships of trust with young people and adults at risk are recruited appropriately and that all reasonable checks are in place prior to appointment.
AberSU will consider whether a role falls into this category prior to recruitment.
Designated Safeguarding Officers
AberSU shall designate a safeguarding officer who will undertake regular training to carry out their role.
The safeguarding officers shall make an annual report to the Board of Trustees on occasions when the policy has been invoked, making recommendations as to any changes that should be made.
Process
Any incident that causes concern that a young person or adult at risk is at risk of significant harm is required to be reported under this policy. Significant harm can constitute physical or emotional abuse, neglect and self-harm. The concern may relate to the development of inappropriate relationships with a young person or adult at risk.
Staff or volunteers who feel that there is a risk of significant harm to a young person or adult at risk should complete a referral form and contact a safeguarding officer within 24 hours of the concern becoming apparent. Where the concerns raised involve the safeguarding officer the concern should be raised with the Chief Executive Officer.
Where the perception is that the risk of significant harm is immediate the safeguarding officer should be contacted immediately.
The safeguarding officer will consider the referral, possibly with the added input of the Chief Executive Officer, and shall be responsible for any referral to an external agency.
The safeguarding officer will ensure that regardless of the outcome their decision is recorded on the referral form.
Staff and volunteers should not normally make a referral to any external organisation. Nor should they attempt to investigate any concern. Their duty is to be diligent and report. This duty to report extends to the duty to ‘whistle blow’ should the employee or volunteers have reasonable grounds to believe that an internal disclosure would not be acted upon by the safeguarding officer or AberSU.