Safeguarding Policy

The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) supports the training and development of talented and aspiring makers across the UK, we are committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved in our organisation and the work we do. We believe that everyone, especially children, young people, and anyone in vulnerable circumstances, has the right to be kept safe from harm, abuse, and exploitation.

Our safeguarding policy and procedures outline how we will fulfil our duty of care to safeguard those we work with and those that work on our behalf including staff, volunteers, trustees, and partner agencies.

The purpose of this policy is:

• to protect all those who engage with QEST’s work from harm, particularly those who may be most vulnerable, including children, young people, and adults at risk.
• to provide staff, volunteers, and project partners, as well as external participants and their families, with the overarching principles that guide our approach safeguarding.

Scope:

This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of QEST, including senior managers and the board of trustees, paid staff, volunteers, and agency staff.

For the purposes of our policies and procedures, a child is anyone under the age of 18 and an adult at risk may need additional services by reason of mental or other disability, age, or illness; or they may be unable to protect themselves against significant harm or exploitation.

Our commitment to safeguarding:

We believe that:

• we have a responsibility to promote the general safety and well-being of all.
• we have a responsibility to protect children, young people, and adults at risk from abuse or neglect of any kind.
• we have a responsibility to keep all children, young people, and adults at risk safe and to practise in a way that protects them.
• we have a responsibility to only partner with organisations that share our commitment to safeguarding.

We recognise that:

• everyone, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation has an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse.
• some children and adults are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues.
• extra safeguards may be needed to keep children and adults who are additionally vulnerable safe from abuse.
• working in partnership is essential in promoting the welfare of children, young people, and adults at risk.

We will:

• develop trusting and respectful relationships with those we work with, treating all with dignity to provide a safe and supporting environment.
• appoint a designated safeguarding officer and a lead trustee for safeguarding.
• adopt child protection and safeguarding best practice through our policies, procedures, and code of conduct for staff and volunteers.
• develop and implement an effective online safety policy and related procedures.
• provide effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, and training, so that all staff and volunteers know about and follow our policies, procedures, and behaviour codes confidently and competently.
• recruit and select staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made.
• record, store, and use information professionally and securely, in line with data protection legislation and guidance.
• make sure that everyone in contact with our organisation knows where to go for help if they have a concern.
• use our safeguarding and child protection procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know.
• use our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately.
• create and maintain an anti-bullying environment and ensure that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise.
• ensure that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place.
• ensure that we provide a safe physical environment by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance.
• build a safeguarding culture where staff, volunteers and our partners, as well as the children, young people, and adults we work with, treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns.

Legal statement:

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy, and guidance in England, with reference to legislation and guidance in the other nations of the UK. A summary of the key legislation and guidance is available from www.nspcc.org.uk

Contact details:

If you have a safeguarding concern relating to QEST or one of our representatives please contact our safeguarding leads: