Aylesham Business Network – Safeguarding Policy

All those working with children and vulnerable adults must promote their welfare, health, wellbeing and development and take every reasonable precaution to protect them.

Policy Statement 

Aylesham Business Network seeks to provide an environment where all can work safely together.  Aylesham Business Network is a membership group of local businesses based in Aylesham Kent and the surrounding district, whose ethos is to provide support to our members and to the community. 

We are committed to ensure that all, and specifically those who are vulnerable, are kept safe from harm while they are participating in Aylesham Business Network activities or collaborating with our members during the course of their normal business. 

All service users have a personal responsibility for safeguarding the welfare and wellbeing of all children and vulnerable adults by protecting them from abuse and to support them wherever this happens. 

The term service user means anyone who attends Aylesham Business Network activities. 

The term child has the specific legal meaning of anyone below the age of 18 years and the term adult refers to anyone aged 18 and over. 

A vulnerable adult is someone who has needs for care and support, is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect and is unable to protect him or herself. 

 

Our Commitment 

Aylesham Business Network is committed to: 

• To stop abuse or neglect whenever possible; 

• To prevent harm and reduce the risk of abuse and neglect; 

• To promote the general welfare, health, wellbeing and development of all service users and take every reasonable precaution to minimise risk; 

• To protect, maintain and uphold the human rights of all service users; 

• To eliminate discrimination; 

• To take steps to deal with bullying or exploitation of any kind whenever or wherever it may be found. 

To meet this commitment, the chair and committee of Aylesham Business Network will ensure that: 

• All service users are familiar with Aylesham Business Network safeguarding policy; 

• That all children and vulnerable adults (if any) will not be working in one-to-one situations; 

• If considered appropriate by the Committee that all members have been checked using DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service); 

• That all service users under the age of 18 will be accompanied by parent or carer at all times if this is relevant to any members in the course of their usual business activities; 

• There are effective procedures in place for service users to voice their concerns and obtain help if they are unhappy or worried about anything; 

• There are effective procedures in place for responding to complaints, concerns and allegations of suspected or actual abuse. 

• That everyone knows how to report any alleged malpractice or negligence and will be supported when speaking out.  Any initial reports can be made to the Chair od Aylesham Business Network or to any of the Committee if more appropriate, and if appropriate reports may be made to the appropriate statutory agencies; 

• That there are appropriate risk assessments in place for all activities when participating in community events, which will be made available upon request from service users; 

• Maintain a record of any concerns raised in a confidential and secure manner for no longer than necessary – this will be maintained by the Chair; 

• Regularly review this policy to ensure that it remains current and in accordance with the legal and moral obligations of the committee of Aylesham Business Network. 

Approved by the authorised signatories of Aylesham Business Network following a discussion with all members of Aylesham Business Network.