Purpose
The primary aim of Elenasy CIC’s Safeguarding Policy and Procedures is to:
- Protect children, young people and adults at risk who receive Elenasy CIC services from harm, including children of the adults we serve.
- Provide staff, volunteers, children, and families with the fundamental principles that guide our safeguarding approach.
This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of Elenasy CIC, including trustees, senior managers, paid staff, volunteers, sessional workers, contractors, agency staff, and students. Failure to adhere to this policy and associated procedures will be taken seriously and may result in disciplinary action, including dismissal or removal from the role.
Legal Framework
This policy has been developed in accordance with current legislation, statutory guidance, and best practice for safeguarding children in England, including:
- Children Act 1989
- Children Act 2004 (Section 11)
- Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023)
- Care Act 2014
- Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (Prevent Duty)
- Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR
Further guidance and summaries of key legislation are available via the NSPCC Learning website: https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/
Definitions
Child
In line with the Children Act 1989, a child is defined as any person under the age of 18, regardless of living arrangements, legal status, or circumstances.
Child Abuse
Children may experience abuse or neglect within or outside their family setting. The four main categories of abuse are physical, sexual, emotional, and neglect. Specific forms of abuse include:
- Bullying and Cyberbullying
- Child sexual exploitation
- Child criminal exploitation
- Child trafficking
- Domestic abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Female genital mutilation (FGM)
- Grooming
- Neglect
- Non-recent abuse
- Online abuse
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
Safeguarding Children
As defined in Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023), safeguarding includes:
- Providing help and support to meet children’s needs at the earliest opportunity
- Protecting children from maltreatment, including online harm
- Preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development
- Ensuring children grow up in safe and nurturing environments
- Supporting children to be raised by their families where this is in their best interests
- Taking action to enable positive outcomes in line with the Children’s Social Care National Framework
Safeguarding Adults at Risk (Care Act 2014)
Purpose
Elenasy CIC recognises that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and extends to adults who may be at risk of abuse or neglect. In addition to safeguarding children, we are committed to protecting adults at risk who participate in or access our activities. This section applies to trustees, staff, volunteers, contractors, and anyone working on behalf of Elenasy CIC. Legal Framework. This section is informed by:
- Care Act 2014
- Care and Support Statutory Guidance (updated)
- Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR
Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities have a duty to make enquiries where an adult with care and support needs may be at risk of abuse or neglect and is unable to protect themselves.
Definition of an Adult at Risk
An adult at risk is a person aged 18 or over who:
- Has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting those needs), and
- Is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect, and
- As a result of those needs, is unable to protect themselves against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it.
Adults attending Elenasy CIC sessions may include parents, carers, or young people over 18, including those with additional needs.
Types of Adult Abuse
Abuse of adults may include:
- Physical abuse
- Domestic abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Psychological or emotional abuse
- Financial or material abuse
- Modern slavery
- Discriminatory abuse
- Organisational abuse
- Neglect or acts of omission
- Self-neglect
Safeguarding concerns relating to adults may arise within the community, family settings, or through disclosures during sessions.
Responsibilities
All trustees, staff, and volunteers must:
- Be alert to signs of abuse or neglect affecting adults
- Take any concern seriously
- Record concerns accurately and promptly
- Report concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead
The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is responsible for managing both child and adult safeguarding concerns.
Reporting Procedure
If there is an immediate risk of harm, emergency services should be contacted by calling 999.
Non-emergency adult safeguarding concerns should be reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead, who will assess the concern and make a referral where appropriate.
Cambridgeshire Adult Safeguarding Contact Details
Cambridgeshire County Council – Adult Safeguarding
Office hours team: [0345 045 5202](phone: 01733 234724)
Out of hours emergency duty team:[ 01733 234724](phone: 01733 234724)
Website: www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Referrals will be made in line with local safeguarding procedures.
Confidentiality and Information Sharing
Information relating to adult safeguarding concerns will be handled sensitively and in line with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Confidentiality will not prevent information sharing where there is a risk of significant harm.
Training and Awareness
Elenasy CIC is committed to ensuring that trustees, staff, volunteers, and contractors receive appropriate safeguarding training relevant to their role.
As a minimum, all individuals working or volunteering with children or adults must complete safeguarding awareness training covering:
- An understanding of safeguarding and individual responsibilities
- The difference between safeguarding and child protection
- Recognising signs and indicators of abuse and neglect
- Appropriate responses to concerns and disclosures
- Maintaining children’s dignity and well-being
- Familiarity with Elenasy CIC’s Safeguarding Policy and Procedures
Safeguarding training will be refreshed at least every two years, or sooner if guidance changes. Designated Safeguarding Lead training will be updated in line with statutory expectations. Training may be accessed through the Cambridgeshire safeguarding partnership learning platform or the NSPCC.
Safe Recruitment and Selection
Elenasy CIC complies with Section 11 of the Children Act 2004 by implementing safe recruitment practices that reduce the risk of harm to children.
All trustees, staff, and volunteers are subject to appropriate recruitment checks, which may include application forms, references, interviews, DBS checks, and safeguarding declarations, depending on role.
Further details are set out in the Elenasy CIC Safe Recruitment and DBS Policy.
Confidentiality and Information Sharing
All trustees, staff, and volunteers are expected to maintain confidentiality in line with data protection legislation, including the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018.
Confidentiality will not prevent information sharing where there is a concern that a child may be at risk of significant harm or where a child is in immediate danger. In such cases, information will be shared with Children’s Social Care or the police as appropriate.
Further guidance is provided in the Elenasy CIC Privacy and Data Protection Policy.
Recording and Record Keeping
All safeguarding concerns, disclosures, or allegations must be recorded accurately and promptly. Records will include:
- Details of the child or adult at risk and individuals involved
- The nature of the concern
- Actions taken and decisions made
- The rationale for decisions
- Any follow-up actions
Records must be signed, dated, and stored securely in line with data protection requirements.
Further detail is set out in the Elenasy CIC Safeguarding Recording and Record-Keeping Procedure.
Thresholds
Elenasy CIC follows the Threshold Framework provided by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Safeguarding Partnership (CPSP). This framework supports decision-making around the level of need and the most appropriate response for children and families.
Further information is available via the CPSP website.
The Prevent Duty
Under Section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, Elenasy CIC has a duty to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.
Any concerns relating to radicalisation will be treated as safeguarding concerns and reported through local safeguarding channels in line with Cambridgeshire guidance.
Further information is available via the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Safeguarding Partnership.
Whistleblowing
Elenasy CIC is committed to creating a culture where individuals feel able to raise concerns about unsafe, illegal, or unethical conduct without fear of reprisal.
Whistleblowing concerns may include safeguarding failures, inappropriate behaviour, or breaches of policy.
Further details are set out in the Elenasy CIC Whistleblowing Policy.
Use of Mobile Phones and Digital Technology
All trustees, staff, and volunteers must adhere to Elenasy CIC policies relating to the use of mobile phones and digital technology.
Images, videos, or digital content involving children must not be taken, stored, or shared without written consent from a person with parental responsibility.
Further guidance is set out in the Elenasy CIC Mobile Phones, Photography and Digital Technology Policy.
Social Media
Trustees, staff, and volunteers must follow the Elenasy CIC Social Media Policy, ensuring that children’s safety, privacy, and dignity are maintained at all times when using digital platforms.
Escalation Procedures
All professionals have a duty to work cooperatively to safeguard children and adults. Where disagreements arise regarding a child’s welfare or that of an adult at risk, concerns should be escalated appropriately to ensure the child’s or adult’s safety is prioritised.
Unresolved concerns should be escalated to the Designated Safeguarding Lead and, where necessary, to the local authority in line with Cambridgeshire procedures.
Important Contacts
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Name: Faith Oyepeju
Email: faith@elenasy.org
Telephone: 07388870954
Safeguarding Trustee
Name: Faith Oyepeju
Email: faith@elenasy.org
Telephone: 07388870954
Cambridgeshire Children’s Social Care
Office hours: 0345 045 5203
Out of hours (Emergency Duty Service): 01733 234724
Email: referralcentre.children@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Police
Emergency: 999
Non-emergency: 101
NSPCC Hotline
0808 800 5000
Policy Last Updated: Jan 2, 2026 12:00 AM
Signature: Faith Oyepeju
Name: Faith Oyepeju
Date: Jan 2, 2026 12:00 AM
