Safeguarding Policy

Futures has a responsibility to ensure the safety of children, young people and adults at risk and is committed to ensuring that our people have the knowledge and resources necessary to confidently handle and report allegations or suspicions of abuse or neglect.

Abuse or neglect may include:

Physical abuse
Domestic violence
Sexual abuse
Emotional/Psychological abuse
Financial or material abuse
Neglect and acts of omission
Self-neglect
Discrimination
Modern slavery
Organisational abuse
Encouraging and grooming for radicalisation or terrorism

Further to this, Futures also holds an important role within the Prevent framework, designed to identify and minimise the risk of radicalisation among people at risk.

The policy is designed to flesh out the two key rules which all staff (both paid professionals and volunteers) must follow:

The safeguarding of children, young people and adults at risk is the responsibility of all staff.
If abuse or neglect is reported or suspected, doing nothing is not an option. It is the duty of all staff to take action when such issues are identified.

The Safeguarding Policy is in place to protect:

All children under 18
Unborn children who may be at risk of harm at birth
Adults at risk who fall within the Futures remit
Any young person or adult who has shown vulnerability to radicalisation

To enable the company and staff to uphold these responsibilities, training and resources are provided and support given to ensure that all individuals feel able to act accordingly, should they suspect or be told about, instances of abuse or neglect.

Key staff members have designated roles within safeguarding practice, including Designated Safeguarding Officers for each demographic, who should be notified immediately of any concerns or allegations.

If you are in immediate danger, contact the police on 101 or the terrorist hotline on 0800 789321.

Read the full Safeguarding policy (175 KB)

Email the Safeguarding team

Harrassment and Bullying Policy

Futures does not tolerate any form of harassment or bullying. Our Harassment and Bullying Policy is in place to ensure that employees, learners and customers understand what types of behaviour are unacceptable and to provide the victims of incidents of harassment and bullying with a means of redress. Any case of harassment and bullying will be dealt with promptly and thoroughly.

Prevent is part of a Government initiative to develop a robust counter terrorism programme – CONTEST.

The UK faces a range of terrorist threats. All the terrorist groups who pose a threat to us seek to radicalise and recruit people to their cause. The Prevent strategy seeks to:

Respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism and aspects of extremism and the threat we face from those who promote these views
Provide practical help to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure they are given appropriate advice and support
Work with a wide range of sectors where there are risks of radicalisation, which needs to be addressed.

As a training provider and organisation which comes into contact with customers and learners of all ages who may be vulnerable, especially those who may come from ethnically diverse, and socially and economically disadvantaged areas, it is essential that futures be part of this strategy and that we make a commitment to recognise and reduce the risks of radicalisation within the community.

The Prevent Duty affects all staff and individuals who use the company’s services and is included in our Safeguarding policy. It includes regular training exercises and ensures all staff know how to handle circumstances where radicalisation may be suspected.