Relevant Compliance:

Public Protection is about preventing harm to vulnerable groups within society. It is an issue of fundamental importance to The Centred Occupational Therapy Practice Ltd. This policy applies to all staff in The Centred OT Practice Ltd regardless of whether they come into contact or work directly with vulnerable groups. Specific procedures and guidelines are in place for child protection and for adult support and protection. This policy complies with the relevant procedures and the law:

• The Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007
• Scottish Government (2021) Adult Support and Protection Code of Practice
• National Guidelines for Child Protection in Scotland 2021
• Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) continuum
• The Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Act 2019

Policy Purpose:

All children, young people and adults at risk have a fundamental right to be protected and safe. This policy aims to clearly set out the roles and responsibilities of all staff working with The Centred OT Practice Ltd if they have a public protection concern to raise.

The Centred Occupational Therapy Practice Ltd Public Protection Policy 2021-2024

The Centred Occupational Therapy Practice Ltd Statement of Intent:

The Centred Occupational Therapy Practice Ltd does not directly provide services for children or adults at risk. However, there may be activities that we undertake that may bring us into contact with those who are vulnerable to abuse because of their age, physical or mental ability or ill health. Types of relevant activity include:

1. provisionoftrainingservicestoorganisationsthatworkwithchildrenoradultsat risk;

2. access to either personal or confidential data/information that relates to children or adults at risk.

The Centred Occupational Therapy Ltd is committed to good practices which protect children and adults at risk from harm. All Staff and volunteers accept and recognise their responsibility to provide an environment which always promotes safety and protection.

Policy Responsibilities:

The Centred Occupational Therapy Practice Ltd including staff, contractors, suppliers, and volunteers recognise and accept the responsibility to develop and raise awareness of the issues involved in working with children, young people, and adults at risk.

Definitions
Child Protection: protecting a child from child abuse or neglect. For this policy a child is aged less than sixteen years.

Adult at Risk: is a person aged sixteen years or over who: (a) Is unable to safeguard their own well-being, property, rights, or other interest; (b) is at risk of harm, and (c) because they are affected by disability, mental disorder, illness or physical or mental infirmity, is more vulnerable to being harmed than adults who are not so affected.

Objectives

The Centred Occupational Therapy Practice Ltd

• –  provide an environment in which children and adults at risk feel safe and valued;
• –  ensure that members of the The Centred Occupational Therapy Practice Ltd including staff and volunteers take responsibility to protect children and adults at risk from harm at all times;
• –  elect a member of staff (the Director) as the designated representative for all children and adults at risk matters, and to identify appropriate training opportunities;
• –  develop and adopt a set of guidelines/code of conduct for working with children and adults at risk, which all members of The Centred Occupational Therapy Practice Ltd including staff and volunteers are aware of and adhere to;
• –  exercise a Duty of Care and, when necessary, share information and/or concerns in a confidential manner with the appropriate with outside agency e.g. Social Services, emergency services if there is immediate danger of harm;
• –  ensure that all staff and volunteers who work with, or have responsibility for, children or adults at risk undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS);
• –  ensure recruitment of volunteers is thorough and includes a minimum of two character references to support an application;
• –  develop a time specific induction period when all new staff and volunteers are introduced to guidelines for working with children and adults at risk and policy and procedures;
• –  ensure volunteers are supervised during a designated probationary period with ongoing regular supervision opportunities;
• –  review and update this policy and practice annually.