Child Protection Policy Statement
Fitzrovia Youth in Action (“FYA”) believes that all children and young people have the right to take part in activities without suffering any form of harassment or abuse, and has a duty of care to provide its activities and services in a way that will safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
All those involved with FYA have a moral and legal responsibility to protect all children and young people, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial origin, and sexual orientation or identity, from abuse. By the very nature of the work undertaken by FYA, many staff and volunteers have contact with young people during the course of their work, either directly or indirectly.
This policy statement sets out the policy of FYA and is based on the following principles:
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The welfare of children and young people is the prime concern;
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All children and young people, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief and sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse;
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It is the responsibility of the child protection experts to determine whether or not abuse has taken place but it is everyone's responsibility to report any concerns;
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All incidents of suspected abuse, suspicious poor practice and allegations should be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately; and
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Confidentiality should be upheld under applicable data protection laws and the Human Rights Act 1998.
FYA will take appropriate steps to ensure that safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people is embedded within all our activities. We require all our staff to be aware of, and alert to, all forms of abuse, know how to deal with suspected abuse or a disclosure or allegation, undertake appropriate training and keep themselves updated, be aware of reporting procedures and share information about concerns in a timely way.
FYA will provide adequate and appropriate resources to implement this policy statement and will ensure it is communicated and understood.
FYA will review their safeguarding policy annually to reflect new legal and regulatory developments and ensure good practice.