British Thyroid Foundation Safeguarding Policy

This policy applies to all staff, including CEOs, senior managers, paid staff, volunteers and or anyone working on behalf British Thyroid Foundation.

The purpose of this policy is to:

• To protect children and vulnerable adults who use or are involved in British Thyroid Foundation’s services and events. This includes the children and relatives of persons who use our services
• To provide staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding and child protection

The British Thyroid Foundation believes that children and vulnerable adults should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and vulnerable adults and to keep them safe.

We are committed to operating in a way that protects them.  

Legal framework

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of law and guidance that seeks to protect children and vulnerable adults namely: 

• Children Act 1989
• United Convention of the Rights of the Child 1991
• Data Protection act 1998
• Sexual Offences Act2003
• Children Act 2004
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
• Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
• Children and Families ACT 2014

We recognise that:

The welfare of the child is paramount, as enshrined in the Children Act 1989

All children and vulnerable adults regardless of age, disability, gender, race, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation or identity have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse.

 We will seek to keep children, young people, and vulnerable adults safe by:

• Ensuring that children under 18 and vulnerable adults are accompanied by a responsible adult at all times
• Encouraging all employees and volunteers working on behalf of the British Thyroid Foundation to raise concerns they may have a senior member of BTF staff and complete the incident sheet immediately (incident sheet attached)
• Using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately (the BTF complaints procedure is available on the BTF website)
• Ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place
• Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for children and vulnerable adults in accordance with law and regulatory guidance
• Recording and storing information professionally and securely and in line with GDPR

We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually

 This policy was last reviewed in March 2022