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Safeguarding Policy
Through cultivating mindfulness, TCMW has the intention to:
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Reduce human suffering
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Promote wellbeing
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Create the conditions in which people can flourish
TCMW acknowledges that some of the people we work with and those associated with them may be at risk from harm, abuse and neglect. TCMW is fully committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults who come in to contact with the organisation.
We will work in partnership with other local and national agencies to continually develop appropriate procedures for reporting concerns and making referrals where there has been a disclosure. The organisation’s staff, associates and volunteers are all required to keep their practice up to date and are expected to access specialist support as and when required.
Legislative Background
Safeguarding is about protecting children and adults from abuse or neglect and educating those around them to recognise the signs and dangers. TCMW is committed to sharing responsibility for wellbeing with those individuals who have needs for care and support and their carers. The legislation that underpins this policy includes:
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1989 The Children’s Act
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2004 The Children’s Act
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2014 The Social Services & Wellbeing (Wales) Act
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2014 The Care Act (England)
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2014 Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act
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2014 Children & Young People (Scotland) Act
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2007 Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order
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1998 Human Rights Act
TCMW will operate its Safeguarding Policy and Procedures in accordance with the relevant regional legislative framework, with awareness of possible cross-boundary issues, e.g. where a person may live in one region but attend a course, retreat, CPD training course or be in supervision in another.
Good Practice in Mindfulness Based Teaching, Training and Supervision
TCMW and its staff and associates all comply fully with the Good Practice Guidelines for Mindfulness-Based Teachers and Trainers, including the requirement for full adherence to the ethical framework appropriate to each teacher’s professional background or working context.
Safer Recruitment
TCMW will seek to recruit all paid staff and volunteers using appropriate procedures, safeguards and checks. We will identify whether any roles are eligible for enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks and will take up references for all posts and roles within the organisation. There are no roles within the organisation that are deemed to be Regulated Activity, though if this changes, we will ensure that Barring List checks are undertaken. We will ensure that everyone working within the organisation has access to Safeguarding Awareness Training and we will review our recruitment procedures in response to changes in legislation and systems external to our organisation e.g. the Disclosure and Barring Service
Safeguarding Officer
The TCMW Safeguarding Officer is: Lucy Harrison
The Safeguarding Officer will be available to staff, associates, volunteers and any individual in contact with the organisation who has a concern about any aspect of safeguarding, and/or who wishes to report a disclosure and/or who wishes to make a disclosure. The Safeguarding Officer will have access to appropriate training to support them in these roles. They will also:
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Liaise with appropriate local and national agencies
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Contribute to the development of appropriate policy and procedures
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Maintain records and keep confidentiality
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Adhere to and promote this safeguarding policy within the organisation
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Support or provide access to support for any individual suffering harm, abuse or neglect
Awareness of harm, abuse and neglect
Harm is caused by accidents, deliberate abuse (physical, sexual, emotional/psychological and financial) neglect (deliberate or not) or factors such as bullying, prejudicial attitudes or a failure to enable an individual to participate in activities that are open to most of their peers.
All incidents of harm to any individual in contact with the organisation will require an appropriate response to safeguard the individual and to reduce risks. Deliberate acts of harm (physical, sexual, emotional/psychological and financial), exploitation and neglect are abuses against the person and will incur disciplinary proceedings and require a report and referral to Social Services, the Police, other professional bodies and the DBS (where appropriate). To encourage everyone involved in our organisation to understand that safeguarding is everybody’s business, we will hold regular awareness raising training sessions, invite discussions about best practice in reporting and recording concerns and disclosures and offer consultations on updating this policy and refining the associated procedures. All these activities will be conducted with the intention of reflecting on, reviewing and continually learning and improving our Safeguarding responsibilities.
Risk of Harm
Where there is risk of harm to staff, associates, volunteers and individuals in contact with the organisation, the Safeguarding Officer is empowered to act accordingly:
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To log all conversations regarding the issue
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To sign and request signatures on reports and statements
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To seek advice from expert sources
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To share concerns (with consent where required and appropriate) internally with others in senior positions within the organisation
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To share concerns and make referrals to external agencies such as Social Services, the Police, or the NSPCC as appropriate
Confidentiality
All reports will be kept confidential and held securely in accordance to the TCMW Privacy policy until, or unless, it is necessary to share this material with the agencies named above. Information will be shared on a need-to-know basis only.
Confidentiality, sharing information only on a need-to-know basis, is very important. Under data protection legislation nobody has a right to know about an issue– except, for Safeguarding purposes. Normally it is illegal to share personal information about a person without that person’s permission. However, if there are Safeguarding concerns it may be necessary, and therefore legally justifiable, to report without consent, for the prevention of harm.
Communication and Reporting Concerns
TCMW will link this policy to the TCMW website so that all staff, associates, volunteers and any individuals in contact with the organisation and their families and carers have access to it. TCMW encourages all staff, associates, volunteers and any individuals in contact with the organisation to speak up where they have:
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A concern- a worry, issue or doubt about practice or treatment of an individual or colleague, or their circumstances
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A disclosure – information about an individual at risk of or suffering from harm, abuse or neglect
and to report concerns and disclosures to the named Safeguarding Officer or their Deputy.
Reports of concerns or disclosures should be made to the Safeguarding Officer promptly, to ensure that the matter is addressed. All documents will be stored securely and in accordance with GDPR regulations. Those reporting concerns or disclosures are required to maintain confidentiality whilst the Safeguarding Officer is investigating the issues raised.
Whistleblowing
TCMW encourages staff, associates and volunteers to report any practice that:
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Doesn’t seem right
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Is illegal represents negligence in undertaking their duties, leading to a risk of putting another individual’s health and safety in danger
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Appears to be covering up wrongdoing in anyway
In the first instance, they should speak to the Safeguarding Officer. Although TCMW would prefer staff, associates and volunteers to use internal processes for making a report wherever possible, this does not prevent them from making a report or referral to Social Services, the Police or the NSPCC (if appropriate) in their own right as a private individual.
Allegations about TCMW Staff or Volunteers
TCMW recognises that there may be rare occasions when an individual in contact with the organisation may have concerns about inappropriate conduct by a member of the TCMW Staff team or a Volunteer. The person raising the concern must discuss their allegations with the Director or Safeguarding Officer and not address the Staff member or Volunteer directly.
In circumstances where an individual is concerned about the conduct of the Director, the person raising the concern must discuss their allegations with the Safeguarding Officer.
Mindfulness Courses, Retreats, Training & Supervision of Mindfulness Teachers
The activities of TCMW include providing secular face to face and online:
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Mindfulness-based courses
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Secular face to face and online mindfulness retreats
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Mindfulness workshops
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Mindfulness training
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Personal practice mentoring
Mindfulness-Based Courses, Training Programmes and Retreats
Individuals accessing Mindfulness-Based courses and Retreats through TCMW will complete a pre-course application, through which they will be given the opportunity to share with teachers and retreat lead any information about their mental and physical health needs, as well as any difficult life circumstances. The individual and the teacher/retreat lead will decide together whether the course or retreat is suitable.
The importance and limitations of confidentiality will be openly discussed with course and retreat participants and those taking part in CPD programmes, including ensuring understanding that teachers and retreat lead have a responsibility to act on their Safeguarding concerns and to raise them with the Safeguarding Officer.
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