At Your Advice Hub, safeguarding holds a paramount position in our operations, and this dedication is evident through the implementation of the Your Advice Hub Quality Standards and the alignment of our organization's values.

These guidelines and principles serve as the foundation for all our safeguarding endeavours, ensuring that we consistently prioritise the safety and well-being of those we serve which inform and support all of our safeguarding activities:

• We are respectful
• We are integral
• We treat others as they would want to be treated
• We are inclusive
• We show empathy
• We work together, we are involved, we consult and collaborate
• We are solutions-focused with continuous improvement
• We ensure that what we do makes a real difference
• We are expert
• We strive to be the best at what we do and innovative.
• We are empowering
• We support others to achieve their goals

OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Everyone's responsibility - At Your Advice Hub, it is the duty of every individual to ensure the safety and protection of children and vulnerable adults who require advice and support, by preventing any form of abuse or neglect.

Prevention – We will put sensible measures in place to prevent abuse, including the use of safe recruitment practices, promoting safe working practices and raising awareness of safeguarding.

Protection – To prevent abuse, we will implement effective measures including safe recruitment practices, promoting safe working practices, and raising awareness about safeguarding. Our goal is to create a secure environment and protect individuals from harm or exploitation.

Partnership - To ensure the appropriate response to safeguarding concerns, Your Advice Hub will establish collaborative partnerships with statutory, regulatory, and other pertinent organizations. By working closely with these entities, we aim to address and tackle any safeguarding issues effectively.

Empowerment – Our safeguarding practices are rooted in a person-centred approach that places the individual's rights and well-being as the top priority.

Accountability - At our core, we prioritise accountability by implementing measures to ensure transparency in our operations. We understand the importance of constantly evolving and learning from our experiences, which drives us to continuously improve our practices.

OUR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

All staff and Volunteers

At Your Advice Hub, we believe that every member of our team, regardless of their position, plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and well-being of children and vulnerable adults. To ensure this, all our staff members are required to undergo comprehensive training and familiarize themselves with our Safeguarding Policy and Procedures. By doing so, we can collectively create a secure environment for those who rely on our Advice and Guidance services and support.

Trustees

The Safeguarding Policy has been approved by the trustees of Your Advice Hub, who are responsible for ensuring the well-being and protection of individuals at risk of abuse. In addition to this, they are also entrusted with managing potential risks and upholding the organisation's reputation.

Directors

In order to fulfil their duty, directors must integrate safeguarding measures into their Directorate's operations, including strategic plans, risk assessments, communication, and quality assurance processes. Directors demonstrate their commitment to creating a safe environment by including safeguarding considerations in strategic plans.

Risk assessments help identify potential hazards, and directors must consider safeguarding in this process. Directors must effectively communicate safeguarding measures to all staff and stakeholders to promote awareness and accountability. Safeguarding should also be incorporated into quality assurance processes to continuously review and improve protection efforts. In complex cases, directors should collaborate with the Head of Safeguarding.

Heads of Department - Other Managers

Heads of Department and Managers are crucial in implementing and enforcing Your Advice Hub's safeguarding policy. They must familiarise themselves and their staff with the policy and provide training on recognising abuse, reporting procedures, and responding to concerns. They should promote safeguarding discussions in team meetings and address concerns in supervision meetings. In complex cases, they will need to make decisions to protect individuals and will need to seek guidance from the Head of Safeguarding where required.

Head of Safeguarding

The Head of Safeguarding is the Designated Person for Safeguarding at Your Advice Hub and has the responsibility of supervising the creation and execution of safeguarding initiatives. They consistently assess and revise policies and procedures, offer assistance and guidance to staff members, and work together with external parties. They remain informed about current research and laws to guarantee that the organisation adheres to the most effective methods. Their role is crucial in establishing best practices, and a safe and protected environment for external stakeholders and everyone associated with the organisation.

Your Advice Hub Partners

Your Advice Hub Partners will make their own arrangements for safeguarding, in partnership with their local Adult and Children's (where required) Safeguarding Boards and in accordance with the Your Advice Hub Quality Standards for safeguarding.

Your Advice Hub Partners are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals involved in their services. They will make their own arrangements for safeguarding, in partnership with their local Adult and Children's Safeguarding Boards (where required) to implement measures for safeguarding. The Partners adhere to the Your Advice Hub Quality Standards for safeguarding to ensure comprehensive and effective practices. Overall, they will strive to create a safe and supportive environment for all individuals accessing their services.

Breaches of Policy

Failure to comply with Your Advice Hub's safeguarding policy can lead to different management approaches, which are determined by the unique characteristics and outcomes of each incident. In order to effectively address the issue, a combination of responses may be required, depending on the specific situation.

• Local authority co-ordinated safeguarding investigation
• Police investigation
• Referral to the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)
• People & Performance disciplinary process
• Serious incident reporting to The Charity Commission
• Internal review or co-operate with an external review

Associated Documents

• Your Advice Hub Guidance & Procedures for Adult Safeguarding
• Your Advice Hub Guidance & Procedures for Child Safeguarding
• Your Advice Hub Recruitment & Selection Procedure
• Your Advice Hub Whistleblowing Policy
• Your Advice Hub Health and Safety Policy Statements
• Your Advice Hub Values

Your Advice Hub Incident Management Procedures

At Your Advice Hub, we prioritise the well-being of our customers, especially those in vulnerable circumstances. Our incident procedure, aptly named 'Putting People First', reflects our commitment to providing exceptional Advice and Guidance services and support. We understand the importance of addressing the unique needs and challenges faced by individuals in vulnerable situations, and our approach is designed to ensure their safety, comfort, and overall satisfaction. By putting people at the forefront of our operations, we strive to create a compassionate and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and supported.

Equality Statement

Your Advice Hub is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. Everyone who accesses our services or works for us in a paid or voluntary capacity should be safe, empowered to play a part in promoting their own welfare and that of others and able to live a life free from abuse. This will apply to all, regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, disability, sexuality or belief.

At Your Advice Hub, we are dedicated to offering inclusive services that embrace diversity and promote equality of opportunities. We strive to create a safe environment where everyone, whether they access our services or work with us in a paid or voluntary capacity should be safe, and can actively contribute to their own well-being and the well-being of others. Our goal is to ensure that individuals can live a life free from any form of abuse, irrespective of their age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or beliefs.