1. Preliminary

1.1 The Charity Commission has stated that safeguarding should be a key governance priority for all charities, regardless of size, type, or income, not just those charities working with children or vulnerable adults. It has also stated that it is essential for charity trustees to have and implement safeguarding policies and procedures and that they have to be adequate and appropriate for Neuroharmony's particular circumstances.

1.2 This Policy applies to all staff and volunteers of Neuroharmony. In this Policy, "volunteers" means and includes Neuroharmony's trustees and all other volunteers.

2. Commitment to safeguarding

2.1 Those who receive services or participate in the activities provided by Neuroharmony or are beneficiaries of Neuroharmony or who come onto Neuroharmony's premises are referred to in this Policy as its "Clients"

2.2 Clients may be at risk due to age, illness or disability. Neuroharmony is committed to working in their interests, to promote their welfare, and to put in place safeguards and measures to protect them. In providing services and activities and benefits for Clients. Neuroharmony will endeavour at all times to minimise risk to them and to ensure that they are as safe as Neuroharmony can make them.

2.3 Neuroharmony aims to protect all of its Clients from any act or behaviour of any member of staff or volunteer which, whether deliberately or unknowingly on the part of that member of staff or volunteer, gives rise to harm or ill treatment.

2.4 Such harm or ill treatment includes abuse (physical, sexual, emotional, discriminatory, institutional or organisational, financial or material), neglect, or impairment of the health or development of Neuroharmony's Clients

2.5 Neuroharmony also aims to ensure the provision to them of safe and effective care and to promote the well-being and welfare of its Clients

2.6 Neuroharmony recognises that it has a duty to act on reports or suspicions of abuse or neglect. It adopts a "zero-tolerance" policy of abuse within Neuroharmony.

2.7 Neuroharmony maintains a Safe Working Practice Guidance. It includes: [(1) details about when and how risk assessments for: a) volunteering roles; and b) particular circumstances or activities should be carried out. (2) guidance on use of ICT related activites such as use of social media, email and internet. Neuroharmony will ensure that the Guidance is implemented by all within Neuroharmony and, for that purpose, it will ensure that its staff and volunteers have read and understood it.

2.8 Neuroharmony will work in partnership with local / national agencies to put in place appropriate procedures for reporting, making referrals, and accessing training and specialist support, as and when required.

3. Safe recruitment

3.1 To aim to protect its charity, Neuroharmony will seek to recruit staff and volunteers using appropriate procedures, safeguards and checks.

3.2 Neuroharmony will take up references for all staff posts and volunteer roles prior to appointment.

3.3 Neuroharmony will provide an induction programme for all new volunteers and staff, and appropriate training and ongoing/refresher training for them at regular intervals, to enable all volunteers and staff to undertake their roles safely, effectively and confidently. The induction will make it clear to them that they have an obligation to implement this Policy and to learn about protection issues and their related responsibilities.

3.4 Neuroharmony will use the Disclosure & Barring Service ("DBS") checks to help it to assess suitability of a candidate for a particular volunteer or staff role which is treated by the DBS as Regulated Activity and is therefore subject to a barring list check.

3.5 Neuroharmony will regularly review its recruitment and other human resources procedures in response to changes in legislation and systems external to Neuroharmony, e.g. DBS and barring list checks.