OUR SAFEGUARDING APPROACH
Safeguarding is centralised within the organisation; it is essential that we prioritise the safeguarding of our staff and volunteers, as well as the young people we support. All staff are inducted and trained in safeguarding theory and practice and are equipped to identify concerns that could indicate safeguarding issues. We ensure they understand vulnerability and risk, forms of abuse, signs and symptoms, responding to disclosure (including not probing), record keeping and reporting procedures (including differentiating between fact and opinion) and working with other agencies to ensure that incidents are managed professionally, compliantly and in a way that ensures that risk is minimised. All activities are risk-assessed.
OUR COMMITMENT TO SAFEGUARDING AND BEST PRACTICE
All staff are supervised by competent and suitably trained people and all engage in training, especially in core subjects such as safeguarding, diversity, equity and inclusion, communication, trauma-informed practice and ACEs, etc. We are in the process of aligning our safeguarding policies to the London ACEs Hub, which associates trauma-informed safeguarding.
All young leaders are supported by an adult and all appropriate ratios are applied in all instances.
We ensure that staff and volunteers are clear about who is the Designated Safeguarding Officer and our safeguarding policy is a ‘live’ document, that staff and volunteers refer to.
It is standard procedure that staff and volunteers engage in a rigorous recruitment process, including enhanced DBS and a risk assessment process in the instance where a potential staff member or volunteer has disclosed previous convictions, with an understanding that there is value in lived experience, balanced by ensuring safety of young people.
We integrate any complaints and compliments into our service improvement and affirmation and operate on a ‘no complacency’ basis.
HOW WE KEEP PEOPLE SAFE
We take a trauma-informed and preventative approach to safeguarding.
This means:
All activities are risk-assessed
Staff and volunteers are fully trained and DBS-checked
Appropriate adult-to-young-person ratios are applied
Everyone knows who to contact about concerns
Multi-agency collaboration ensures joined-up protection
We are aligning our policies with the London ACEs Hub, strengthening trauma-informed safeguarding across our programmes.
DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING LEADS
If you have a concern, please contact:
Lead DSL
Lois Ball
Email: info@refocusproject.co.uk
Phone: 07723 227444
Deputy DSL
Lois Ball
Email: info@refocusproject.co.uk
Phone: 0203 405 1787
If someone is in immediate danger, please call 999.
WORKING TOGETHER
We work with schools, community groups, and statutory partners across Kent and London to ensure high safeguarding standards. Our policies follow guidance from:
Working Together to Safeguard Children (2026)
Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE, 2025)
The Care Act (2014)
The Prevent Duty (2015)
We continuously review our practice to stay compliant, accountable, and informed.