Unitemps Warwick Safeguarding policy

Purpose

The purpose of this Safeguarding Policy is to set out our responsibilities and procedures for safeguarding. It outlines how we will:

• Provide a safe and supportive environment for our candidates and staff
• Provide a safe and supportive environment for children and vulnerable adults who engage with our staff and candidates in the course of our work
• Ensure that candidates engaging with children and vulnerable adults receive relevant safeguarding training and understand their role and responsibilities
• Ensure that there is a clear reporting and escalation route should staff or candidates become aware of a safeguarding concern

Scope

This Policy applies to our staff and our candidates engaging in Unitemps Warwick work whether on the University of Warwick campus or elsewhere. It covers our interaction with children and vulnerable adults who are participating in activities that Unitemps Warwick candidates are supporting.

The policy provides guidance on our internal procedures but acknowledges that it may be appropriate in certain circumstances to report safeguarding concerns about children or vulnerable adults to a range of external agencies.

Where candidates are working with a client, the client’s safeguarding policy and related procedures will normally take precedence. However, Unitemps Warwick candidates must also take note of, and act in accordance with, Unitemps Warwick’s Safeguarding Policy to the extent that this is possible in the particular circumstances.

Definitions

Candidate: References to “candidate” includes anyone applying for a role, or working as a temp, through Unitemps Warwick.
Child: References to “child” or “children” in this policy means anyone under the age of 18 years.
Regulated activity: Based on the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 and amended by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, an individual is undertaking regulated activity if any of the following are true:

• They are responsible on a regular basis for teaching, training, instructing, caring for or supervising children and/or vulnerable adults
• They work in a role with opportunity for contact with children and/or vulnerable adults on a regular basis.
• They engage in intimate or personal care or any overnight activity, even if this happens only once.
• They provide healthcare directly or under the supervision or direction of a regulated healthcare professional.

For reference, ‘regular’ has been defined as at least 3 times within 30 days, or approximately once a week.
Staff: References to “staff” includes our Unitemps Warwick consultants and admin staff who place candidates into roles.
Vulnerable adults: Anyone over the age of 18 years who may be unable to protect themselves from abuse, harm or exploitation, which may be by reason of illness, age, mental illness, disability or other types of physical or mental impairment. Those at risk may live alone, be dependent on others, elderly, socially isolated or have a history of health and social care.
Work with children or vulnerable adults: Within this policy “work with children or vulnerable adults” includes all engagement with children and vulnerable adults whilst working through Unitemps.

Role and responsibilities

Unitemps is committed to:

• Protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse, harm, or neglect
• Promoting safe working environments for everyone
• Ensuring that safeguarding concerns are reported and handled appropriately
• Complying with relevant UK safeguarding legislation and university safeguarding procedures

Our Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO):

Emma Durrant is responsible for:

• Acting as the main point of contact for all safeguarding concerns relating to Unitemps Warwick
• Providing advice and support to staff and candidates
• Liaising with the university’s safeguarding team or local safeguarding authorities when required

Our recruitment staff are responsible for:

• Ensuring that candidates are selected or recruited in line with Safer Recruitment best practice.
• Ensuring appropriate pre-employment and safeguarding checks (including DBS where required) are completed before placement
• Verifying identity, right to work, and professional references
• Making sure all candidates understand and comply with this policy
• Reporting any safeguarding concerns immediately to the DSO

Hiring managers are responsible for:

• Ensuring that candidates who work with children and vulnerable adults receive appropriate safeguarding training
• Ensuring that an appropriate Safeguarding Risk Assessment is carried out and that any actions identified by the risk assessment are completed before the activity commences
• Ensuring that candidates are familiar with their safeguarding procedures to report and escalate safeguarding-related concerns
• Ensuring that events or activities that meet the definition of regulated activity receive a higher level of scrutiny; candidates involved in these events may require Disclosure and Barring Service checks

Candidates are responsible for:

• Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults
• Maintaining professional boundaries at all times
• Undertaking appropriate safeguarding training before engaging in any activities involving children or vulnerable adults
• Following the safeguarding procedures of Unitemps and the client
• Reporting any safeguarding concerns, disclosures, or incidents immediately to the DSO or via the University’s online Safeguarding Concern reporting procedure if more appropriate

Training and awareness

All Unitemps Warwick recruitment and management staff will receive safeguarding awareness training appropriate to their role.

Candidates placed into roles with safeguarding responsibilities will receive:

• A safeguarding briefing before their placement
• Information about how to raise concerns and who to contact

Reporting a safeguarding concern

Any safeguarding concern must be reported immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Officer (Emma) and if working at the University of Warwick, via the University’s online Safeguarding Concern reporting procedure.

If you have immediate concerns about someone’s safety, please contact Community Safety on 02476 522083 and inform the DSO as soon as possible afterwards.

The DSO will record and manage all safeguarding concerns in line with this policy and may escalate to:

• The university safeguarding team, including the University’s Designated Safeguarding Lead, or
• The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) for concerns about a person working in a Position of Trust which may indicate that they are not suitable for working with children, or
• The Local Authority Safeguarding Children’s Team (often called MASH) for concerns about a child, or
• The Local Safeguarding Adults Board (LSAB) for concerns about vulnerable adults.

All concerns will be handled sensitively and in confidence, and records kept securely.

Record keeping and confidentiality

Safeguarding records will be kept:

• Securely and separately from other records
• Only accessible to the DSO and authorised personnel
• In accordance with the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018

We will only share information when it is necessary to protect a child or vulnerable adult, or as required by law.

Allegations against staff or candidates

If an allegation is made that a member of staff or a candidate has harmed or may pose a risk to a child or vulnerable adult, this will be reported immediately to the DSO.

The DSO will follow appropriate procedures, which may include:

• Referral to the University’s Designated Safeguarding Lead
• Referral to the Local Authority or DBS
• Internal investigation, where appropriate

Policy review

This policy will be reviewed annually or sooner if there are significant changes in legislation, best practice, or organisational structure.

Contact details

Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO):
Emma Durrant
Email: e.l.durrant@warwick.ac.uk
Phone: 07341 072434
Emergency contact:
If you have immediate concerns about someone’s safety, please contact Community Safety on 02476 522083.