Safeguarding

Updated March 2020

We believe that:

• No-one should ever experience abuse or harm of any kind.
• We have a responsibility to promote the welfare and best interests of all people to keep them safe and to carry out our work in ways that protect them.

We are committed to:

• Protecting all service users, including children and young people, who are offered or receive Victim Support’s services, from any type of abuse or harm. This includes the children and families of adults who use our services or any vulnerable adult, child or young person that comes to our notice in the course of our work.
• Protecting anyone working for, or on behalf of VS, whether staff (including sessional or agency staff, secondees or students) or volunteers, from any type of abuse or harm.
• Ensuring that all our activity is undertaken within the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding and that those working for Victim Support undergo appropriate checks and continually uphold our commitments to safeguarding.

We recognise that:

• The welfare of our service users, their children and family is paramount in the work we do and in all the decisions we take when offering a service.
• All services users, regardless of race, colour, ethnic origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/trans status, marriage or civil partnership status, disability, religion or belief have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse.
• Some service users, their children and families are more vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues.
• Working in partnership with our service users, their children and families and other agencies is essential in the protection against abuse or harm.