Details Of Premises And Staffing

Lowick Village Hall is a stone building which was originally built as a school. It comprises a main hall, complete with stage, a smaller meeting room, a kitchen and eating area, and ladies, gents and disabled toilets. There are also 2 storage rooms and a metal storage container. There’s a large car park, a Parking Bay for disabled people and a ramp for easy access into the hall. The County Council has also installed recharging facilities for cars.

At Lowick Village Hall, committee members, staff, and volunteers have a duty to safeguard vulnerable users of the village hall and those who may come into contact with vulnerable users. They should report any concerns they may have regarding the physical, sexual, emotional or psychological safety of vulnerable persons, or concerns relating to discriminatory or financial violation or exploitation of a vulnerable person.

The village hall committee is made-up entirely of volunteers who are nominated by the the regular user groups in the hall. The whole committee is not involved in organising events, but works to ensure that the hall is a well managed and secure venue which is available for hire. All users are made aware of the vulnerable persons policy statement. They are given a copy, and asked to sign a form to say they comply with the policy. From time to time committee members can attend courses which they think are relevant to the safer running of the hall. The whole committee is committed to ensuring that those who hire the hall can do so in a safe and enjoyable environment.

Principles

The welfare of the child or vulnerable adult is paramount and is the responsibility of everyone. All children and vulnerable adults without exception have the right to protection from abuse, whether physical, verbal, sexual, bullying, exclusion, or neglect. Bullying, shouting, physical violence, sexism, and racism will not be permitted or tolerated.

Policy statement

This statement of policy and procedures applies to users of, and activities in, Lowick Village Hall and any ancillary activities which are the responsibility of the village hall committee. This policy is in place to protect all children and vulnerable adults regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, religion, or faith.

All people associated with the village hall and its use have a responsibility for the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. Any suspected abuse should be reported to a member of the village hall committee who will then pass the information to the Nominated Child Protection And Vulnerable Persons Representative. 

It is the responsibility of the village hall committee to endeavour to keep the premises safe for use by children and vulnerable adults. The committee recognises that a higher standard of safety is required where use is made by small children, those who cannot read safety notices, and physically disabled adults.

No member of the village hall committee, outside contractors, hirers or volunteers will have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults unless in possession of appropriate clearance such as DBZ. The hall cleaner who works for two hours a week, is given a weekly list of the bookings in the hall to ensure that she/he is not in the hall when it is in use, so as not to disturb those using the hall, and also avoids contact with hall users. Any work when needing access will only be allowed when it is not in use.

Hirers of the hall will be made aware of the fact that any safeguarding of children or vulnerable adults is the responsibility of the hirer. Adults booking the hall for private children’s parties will be made aware of their responsibility to ensure that children and young people are properly supervised. They will also be responsible for ensuring that permission has been granted from parents for the activities planned.

Reporting and reviewing incidents

The Nominate Child Protection And Vulnerable Adult Representative will have responsibility for reporting concerns that arise as a matter of urgency to the Local Authority Child Protection And Vulnerable Adult Lead Agency. The representative may choose to have a confidential discussion with others in order to clear up any misunderstandings or to corroborate and support any suspicions before reporting a concern to the lead agency. He/she should know who to contact in social services for advice and referrals. He/she should know about helplines and other sources of help for children and young people and vulnerable adults. The committee should ensure that there is an environment in which staff and volunteers have the opportunity to raise any child protection or vulnerable adult concern protection concerns. 

The Nominated Child Protection And Vulnerable Persons Representative is Mrs Yvonne Cryar. Her telephone number is 01289388464.

Acceptance of the village hall safeguarding policy is part of the agreed contracts taken out on hiring the hall. 

A copy of this policy is displayed for the attention of all on the hall notice board, and will be reviewed on a regular basis.

This policy will reviewed annually at the AGM.

Appendix A

Specific procedure in the event of a disclosure and responding to an allegation

It is important that children and vulnerable adults are protected from abuse. Committee members, key volunteers, and users of the hall, may receive disclosures of abuse. All complaints, allegations or suspicions, must be taken seriously when reported to, or witnessed by, any committee member, volunteer, or user of the hall. An initial cause for concern form should be completed and passed on to our nominated child protection and vulnerable persons representative.

Appendix B

Guidelines for responding to abuse or suspicion of abuse

Do……..

• Do make sure the individual is safe
• Do treat any allegations extremely seriously and act at all times towards the child or adult at risk as if you believe what he stroke she is saying
• Do listen patiently and stay calm new line do tell the child or adults at risk that they are right to tell you what has happened 
• Do reassure them that they are not to blame 
• Do ascertain and establish the basic facts. Write down everything said using their words and obtain agreement from the individual making the allegation. 
• Do be honest about your own position, who you have to tell and why.
• Do tell the child or adult at risk what you are doing and keep them up to date with what is happening.
• Do take further action - you may be the only person in a position to prevent future abuse. Tell your nominated person immediately.
• Do seek medical attention if necessary.
• Do inform in parents/carers unless there is suspicion of their involvement

Don’t……

• Don’t confront the alleged abuser 
• Don’t make promises you can’t keep
• Don’t interrogate the child or adult at risk - it is not your job to carry out an investigation, this will be up to the police and social services who have experience in this
• Don’t investigate beyond establishing the basic facts, 
• Don’t ask leading questions, assume information, or elaborate in the notes taken new line 
• Don’t be judgmental, voice your own opinion, ignore or be dismissive of the concern 
• Don't cast doubt on what the child or vulnerable adult risk has told you, 
• Don’t interrupt or change the subject 
• Don’t say anything that makes the child or others at risk feel responsible for the abuse 
• Don't do nothing dash make sure you tell your vulnerable persons representative immediately who will know how to follow up and where to go for further advice

Appendix C 

INITIAL CAUSE FOR CONCERN FORM 

section 1

to be completed by the person receiving a disclosure of abuse 

• Date of incident 
• Time of incident
• Location of incident 
• name of child or adult who has been allegedly abused 
• name of complainant if different from above 
• names of any others present who witnessed the alleged abuse 

• age if known 
• address if known 

• description of your concern or description of the nature of the alleged abuse and action taken 

• observations to support your cause for concern 

• description of any observed injuries, visible marks, bruising, etc 

• name of alleged abuser, 
  
   
• relationship with child or adult at risk [if known]

• signature of person completing the form 

• date

once complete this form must be given to the hall’s named child protection and vulnerable persons representative within 24 hours 

Section 2

to be completed by the hall’s of vulnerable persons representative 

• date and time and telephone number

• Name and provisional person to whom the matter reported 

• date telephone report was confirmed in writing to the relevant local services department