Safeguarding Policy
1. Scope and purpose
1.1 Peak Walking Adventures is committed to safeguarding, promoting and supporting the protection and wellbeing of all children, young people and adults attending all of our group, individual, guided, corporate, navigation courses, mountain training courses and private guiding walks. This policy is intended to outline how Peak Walking Adventures safeguard the welfare of those who participate in all events.
1.2 The responsibility for the handling of safeguarding concerns rests with Peak Walking Adventures and any employed guide working on behalf of Peak Walking Adventures . Peak Walking Adventures will implement this policy, identifying possible problems, and disseminating good practice to others connected.
1.3 Peak Walking Adventures recognises our responsibility to promote safe practice and to protect children, young people and adults from harm, abuse and exploitation. We embrace difference and diversity and respect the rights of all children, young people and adults.
1.4 This policy recognises that the safety, welfare and interests of children, young people and adults are paramount. It aims to ensure that regardless of age, ability or disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, socio-economic background, all children, young people and adults will access:
- A guided walk or training day in a safe and participant centred environment; and
- Are protected from abuse whilst participating in any of our activities.
2. Safeguarding children and young adults
Although Peak Walking Adventures do not work specifically with children without being accompanied by an adult, as we work with families, we have included the following statements here:
2.1 As part of our safeguarding policy for children and young people, Peak Walking Adventures will:
- Promote and prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children and young people on our family run and other guided walks where children are present with a known adult; and
- Ensure appropriate action is taken in the event of reports of safeguarding concerns and support is provided to the individual/s who raise or disclose the concern.
2.2 On designated walks and courses:
- Peak Walking Adventures will follow a process for managing safeguarding concerns;
- Peak Walking Adventures will follow a code of conduct for all staff & participants;
- Peak Walking Adventures have a commitment to the principles of safe recruitment; and
- Peak Walking Adventures will regularly review safeguarding arrangements to reflect current and emerging threats including but not limited to radicalisation, child sexual exploitation, domestic violence, human trafficking.
2.3 Peak Walking Adventures will create a positive environment with children and young adults with relationships based on mutual respect, and gives and receives feedback in a constructive way:
- Peak Walking Adventures do not tolerate bullying and harassment;
- Peak Walking Adventures respects confidentiality whenever possible when issues are reported; and
- Peak Walking Adventures respects everyone’s dignity equally.
3. Safeguarding adults
Peak Walking Adventures is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and positive environment and accepts its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of adults involved in all our guided walks.
3.1 As part of our safeguarding policy for Adults, Peak Walking Adventures will:
- Promote and prioritise the safety and wellbeing of all adults on our guided walks and courses;
- Ensure appropriate action is taken in the event of reports of safeguarding concerns and support; and is provided to the individual/s who raise or disclose the concern.
3.2 On designated walks and courses:
- Peak Walking Adventures will follow a process for managing safeguarding concerns;
- Peak Walking Adventures will follow a code of conduct for both staff and participants;
- Peak Walking Adventures have a commitment to the principles of safer recruitment;
- Peak Walking Adventures will regularly review safeguarding arrangements to reflect current and emerging threats including but not limited to radicalisation, child sexual exploitation, domestic violence, human trafficking;
- Peak Walking Adventures will create a positive environment where adults have contact with children and young adults with relationships based on mutual respect, and gives and receives feedback in a constructive way;
- Peak Walking Adventures does not tolerate bullying and harassment;
- Peak Walking Adventures respects confidentiality whenever possible when issues are reported; and
- Peak Walking Adventures respects everyone’s dignity equally.
3.3 As well as putting appropriate policies and procedures in place, Peak Walking Adventures will create a learning environment which is positive and supportive and which:
- Values inclusivity, appreciates difference, welcomes learning from others, and considers all participants to be equal;
- Builds relationships based on mutual respect, and gives and receives feedback in a constructive way;
- Does not tolerate bullying and harassment;
- Respects confidentiality whenever possible when issues are reported; and
- Respects everyone’s dignity equally.
3.4 Safeguarding Adults in all UK home nations is compliant with United Nations directives on the rights of disabled people and commitments to the rights of older people. It is covered by:
- The Human Rights Act 1998
- The Data Protection Act 2018
- General Data Protection Regulations 2018
3.5 The practices and procedures within this policy are based on the relevant legislation and government guidance.
- England – The Care Act 2014
Care and Support Statutory Guidance (especially chapter 14) 2014 - Wales – Social Services and Well Being Act 2014
Wales Safeguarding Procedures 2019 - Scotland – Adult Support and Protection Act 2007
Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 Code of Practice 2014 - Northern Ireland – Adult Safeguarding Prevention and Protection in Partnership 2015
3.6 Many other pieces of UK and home nation legislation also affect adult safeguarding. These include legislation about different forms of abuse and those that govern information sharing. For example, legislation dealing with:
- Murder/attempted murder
- Physical Assault
- Sexual Offences
- Domestic Abuse/Coercive control
- Forced Marriage
- Female Genital Mutilation
- Theft and Fraud
- Modern slavery and Human exploitation
- Hate crime
- Harassment
- Listing and Barring of those unsuitable to work with adults with care and supp
4.1 Definition of an adult at risk
The England (Care Act 2014) states that an adult at risk is an individual aged 18 years and over who:
- Has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority (Social Services ) is meeting any of those needs) AND;
- Is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect, AND;
- As a result of those care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect.
Each home nation also has legislation about the circumstances in which decisions can be made on behalf of an adult who is unable to make decisions for themselves. As follows:
- England and Wales – Mental Capacity Act 2005
- Scotland – Adults with Incapacity Act 2000
- Mental Capacity (Northern Ireland) 2016
There are specific offences applying to the mistreatment of and sexual offences against adults who do not have Mental Capacity and specific offences where mistreatment is carried out by a person who is employed as a carer: e.g., wilful neglect and wilful mistreatment
5. Abuse and Neglect
5.1 Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by another person or persons. It can occur in any relationship and may result in significant harm to, or exploitation of, the person subjected to it. Any or all of the following types of abuse may be perpetrated as the result of deliberate intent, negligence, omission or ignorance.
5.2 There are different types and patterns of abuse and neglect and different circumstances in which they may take place. Safeguarding legislation in each UK home nation lists categories of abuse differently however, they all include the following types of abuse:
- Physical;
- Sexual;
- Psychological;
- Neglect; and
- Financial.
5.3 Abuse can take place in any relationship and there are many contexts in which abuse might take place; e.g. Institutional abuse, Domestic Abuse, Forced Marriage, Human Trafficking, Modern Slavery, Sexual Exploitation, County Lines, Radicalisation, Hate Crime, Mate Crime, Cyber bullying, Scams. Some of these are named specifically within home nation legislations.
Abuse or neglect could be carried out by:
- A spouse, partner or family member;
- Neighbours or residents;
- Friends, acquaintances or strangers
- People who deliberately exploit adults they perceive as vulnerable; and
- Paid staff, professionals or volunteers providing care and support.
Often the perpetrator is known to the adult and may be in a position of trust and/or power.
6. Signs and Indicators of Abuse and Neglect
An adult may confide to a walk leader, support leader or another participant that they are experiencing abuse. Similarly, others may suspect that this is the case.
6.1 There are many signs and indicators that may suggest someone is being abused or neglected. There may be other explanations, but they should not be ignored. The signs and symptoms include but are not limited to:
- Unexplained bruises or injuries – or lack of medical attention when an injury is present;
- Person has belongings or money going missing;
- A regular walk participant losing or gaining weight / an unkempt appearance;
- Self-harm;
- A fear of a particular group of people or individual; and
- They may tell you / another person they are being abused – i.e. a disclosure.