Safeguarding

RDA UK is committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk, who engage with RDA UK activities. Their safety shall be regarded as a fundamental and overriding priority in all aspects of the organisation’s operations, policies and decision-making processes.

Additionally, no one should come to any harm through their contact with the charity and, as part of that commitment, RDA UK does everything it can to ensure everyone feels safe and protected from any form of harm, abuse, neglect or exploitation, and can take part in all activities in a safe, positive and enjoyable environment.

Our approach is guided by the RDA UK Safeguarding Children, Young People and Adults at Risk Policy , which all groups must adopt where relevant.

Please click here to view our Safeguarding policy

Safeguarding Children

RDA UK adheres to the key principles prioritising a shared responsibility and emphasising the importance of a child-centred focus to safeguarding children (as supported by legislation across England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland). The needs and rights of the child concerned must always be prioritised in all safeguarding efforts and it is important that a safeguarding multidisciplinary approach is adopted to ensure the right professionals from across relevant sectors are engaged.

Safeguarding Adults

RDA UK adheres to Making Safeguarding Personal (MSP) which aims to develop a person-centred and outcome-focused approach to safeguarding work for adults. The adult concerned must always be at the centre of adult safeguarding enquiries, and their wishes and views sought at the earliest opportunity.

In pursuit of our vision to safeguarding children and adults, RDA UK is committed to ensuring that:

• A person-centred approach is taken in all interactions.
• Every individual, irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, ethnicity, nationality, religious affiliation, size or sexual orientation, is entitled to be protected against harm.
• All allegations, concerns and suspicions of harm will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
• Comply with the GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018, which provides a framework for the appropriate sharing of information, whereby the individual in possession of information believes that failure to share may result in somebody being at risk of harm.
• Collaboratively, everyone across the organisation will strive to promote the welfare, safety, health and development of children and adults taking part.

If a child or adult at risk is in immediate danger…..

If a person is in immediate danger, DO NOT DELAY – call the Police on 999.

To find out how to make a report if there is not an immediate danger or to make a report after an incident, this section contains information to support you.

If you’re concerned…

If you have a concern about the welfare of a child or adult at risk and they are not in immediate risk of harm, or you are in need of some guidance, you should:

1. Contact your Group Safeguarding Officer (GSO) in the first instance (if known)
2. Contact the RDA UK Safeguarding Team at safeguarding@rda.org.uk or tel: 01926 492915. The phone line will be available during office hours only: 09:00 – 17:00 Monday- Friday, 09:00 – 16:00 on Fridays
3. If you cannot contact either of the above, you can call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 for advice and guidance relating to safeguarding children and young people.

If you are in any doubt, report your concern – no matter how minor it may seem