Safeguarding Policy
Introduction
Inkling is an organisation which prioritises inclusive practice. We recognise that ‘Safeguarding’ is a much wider concept than child protection and refers to promoting the welfare of children and protected adults. It encompasses protection from maltreatment, preventing impairment of their health or development, the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all children and protected adults to have the best outcome.
This policy supports any work undertaken in Inkling with
- Children; those under the age of 18 years old;
- Young people; inclusive of those under the age of 18 and this may be extended to those up to the age of 25 if considered vulnerable;
- Any individual who is deemed (within the legal sense) to not have ‘capacity’ to make decisions for their own welfare;
- And, may be extended to include individuals who are vulnerable to abuse due to their circumstances.
This policy acts as guidance for all aspects of Inkling’s work with these individuals, designing and maintaining services for them.
Scope
This policy applies to anyone acting on behalf of Inkling and is designed to keep children and vulnerable adults safe. By ‘child’ we mean all young people who have not yet reached their 18th birthday. By ‘vulnerable adult’ we mean anyone who may have reduced capacity for their own decision making, for example due to age, illness or disability.
Context
The following legislation and guidance support this policy statement and the more detailed actions and procedures to which it refers:
o The Children Act (1989)
o Getting It Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) (2018)
o National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland (2014)
o Children (Scotland) Act 1995 / Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014
o The Equality Act (2010)
o Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007
Policy Statement
Inkling believes that everyone has a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, young people and vulnerable adults, to keep them safe and undertake work activities in a manner that protects them.
o We will make sure that all children and vulnerable adults have the same protection regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
o We recognise that children and vulnerable adults may face barriers to communication, access and/or other additional needs and may require additional support which should not exclude or limit participation in any way.
We do this by:
o The safe training of facilitators who will be in contact with children, young people and/or vulnerable adults
o Following good practice guidelines to ensure the safety and welfare of children, young and vulnerable people at all times
o Responding quickly and thoroughly to concerns, reports or allegations of any abuse harm or neglect
Supporting Procedures
The services Inkling provides are not considered ‘regulated work’ within the guidelines of Disclosure Scotland. Therefore, in accordance with basic disclosure regulations, Inkling members should not:
• meet with a child or vulnerable adult on their own
• send/give out material that could be considered offensive, which includes material on social media sites
• take an aggressive or bullying tone
• have physical contact
• offer or accept personal gifts
• travel alone with a young and/or vulnerable person
Members may also be asked to undergo specific training related to the specific requirements of their work.
Raising or Reporting Concerns
If any person, member or participant, has any concerns about a child or vulnerable adult they must alert either Morvern Odling or Rachel Cannings immediately. It is their joint responsibility to take appropriate action to safeguard the child or vulnerable adult. This may include contacting the relevant local authority social care service or the local police child abuse investigation team.
The above may include concerns about a member of Inkling, a suspicion that a child or vulnerable adult is being abused or neglected elsewhere, or a suspicion that an activity is taking place that could place a person at risk.
If the concern relates to a member of Inkling , Odling/ Cannings should contact the local authority designated officer responsible for providing advice and liaison in such cases. In any situation where there is a suspicion of abuse, the welfare needs of the child or vulnerable adult must come first even where there may be a conflict of interest (e.g. where the suspected perpetrator may be a known party).
Contact Details
The Designated Safeguarding Officer within our organisation:
Morvern Odling
August 2025
Contact details for the NSPCC Helpline 0808 800 5000
Implemented August 2023 - updated August 2025