Child Protection Policy 

Salento Km0 is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people. It recognises its responsibility to take all reasonable steps to promote safe practice and to protect children from harm, abuse and exploitation. 
Salento Km0 acknowledges its duty to act appropriately to any allegations, reports or suspicions of abuse. Paid staff and volunteers will endeavour to work together to encourage the development of an ethos, which embraces difference and diversity and respects the rights of children, young people and adults. 

The purpose of the Child Protection Policy is: 
-    To provide protection for the children and young people who use Inter Alia’s services; 
-    To inform staff and volunteers about principles they should adopt in their work with children and young people; 
-    To provide staff and volunteers with guidance on procedures they should adopt in the event that they suspect a child or young person may be experiencing, or be at risk of, harm. 
The Child Protection Policy applies to all staff, including senior managers, the Board of Members, paid staff, volunteers, students or anyone working on behalf of Inter Alia. 

In implementing this Child Protection Policy Salento Km0 will: 
-    Ensure that all workers understand their legal and moral responsibility to protect children and young people from harm, abuse and exploitation; 
- Ensure that all workers understand their responsibility to work to the standards that are detailed in the organisation's Child Protection Policy and work at all times towards maintaining high standards of practices; 
- Ensure that all workers understand their duty to report concerns that arise about a child or young person, or a worker’s conduct towards a child / young person, to the organisation’s named person for child protection;

- Ensure that the named person understands their responsibility to refer any child protection concerns to the statutory child protection agencies (i.e. Police and /or Children and Young People’s Social Care);

- Ensure that any procedures relating to the conduct of workers are implemented in a consistent and equitable manner;

- Provide opportunities for all workers to develop their skills and knowledge, particularly in relation to the welfare and protection of children and young people;

- Ensure that children and young people are enabled to express their ideas and views on a wide range of issues and will have access to the organisation’s named person for child protection;

- Ensure that parents and carers are encouraged to be involved in the work of the organisation and have access to all guidelines and procedures;

- Keep up to date with national developments relating to the welfare and protection of children and young people.

Salento Km0 believes that it is always unacceptable for a child or young person to experience abuse of any kind and recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and young people. 

We recognise that: 
-    The welfare of the child / young person is paramount; 
-    All children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm and abuse; 
-    Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare. 

We will seek to safeguard children and young people by: 
-    Valuing them, listening to and respecting them; 
-    Adopting child protection guidelines through procedures and a code of conduct for staff and volunteers; 
-    Recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made; 
-    Sharing information about child protection and good practice with children, parents, staff and volunteers; 
-    Sharing information about concerns with agencies who need to know, and involving parents and children appropriately. 

In case of suspicions of a child at risk 
When worrying changes are observed in a child’s or young person’s behaviour, physical condition or appearance, staff will: 
-    Initially find a quiet place to talk to the child/young person about what they are observing. 
-    Ask questions, for example: “I’ve noticed that you don’t appear yourself today, is everything okay?” But never use leading questions. 
-    Listen carefully to what the young person has to say and take it seriously. 
- Never promise to keep a secret. Always explain to the child / young person that any information they give will have to be shared with others if it indicates that they, and/or other children, are at risk of harm. 

If a child makes a disclosure 
The actions that a member of staff should take can be divided into four stages: 
1.  Dealing with the disclosure as it happens; ensuring that the child’s immediate needs are met and that they feel supported. 
2.  Ensuring that the designated member of staff is immediately informed. 
3.  Ensuring that details are recorded as soon as possible; that they feel satisfied that the disclosure has been followed up and is acted upon appropriately. Immediate notes should include: 
a.  date and time 
b.  place and context of disclosure or concern 
c.   important facts provided, e.g. names mentioned. 
4.  Inform the named person for child protection.

Managing allegations made against a member of staff or volunteer 
Regardless of whether a police and/or Children and Young people’s Social Care investigation follows, Salento Km0 will ensure that an internal investigation takes place and consideration is given to the operation of disciplinary procedures. This may involve an immediate suspension and/or ultimate dismissal depending on the nature of the incident. 

Named Person for Child Protection 
Inter Alia has an appointed individual who is responsible for dealing with any child protection concerns. The named person for Child Protection within Salento Km0 is Tommaso Faggiano (Co-founder and Administrator of Salento Km0).