Safeguarding

To fulfil Marvellous Times’ commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, all organisations that provide services for, or work with, children must have:

  • Clear priorities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children explicitly stated in strategic policy documents
  • A clear commitment by senior management to the importance of safeguarding and promoting the welfare
  • A clear line of accountability and defined roles and responsibilities within the organisation for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.
  • Recruitment and human resources management procedures that take account of the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, including arrangements for appropriate checks on new staff. E.g. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service), Registration via LSCB and the use of the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) (when operational)
  • Safe working practice guidance that staff/coaches have read and understood
  • Procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse against members of staff, including a Named Senior Officer to whom allegations and concerns are reported
  • Arrangements to ensure that all staff undertake appropriate training to equip them to carry out their responsibilities effectively, and keep this up-to-date by refresher training at regular intervals; and that all staff, including temporary staff and volunteers who work with children, are made aware of the establishment’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and their responsibilities for that
  • Policies for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children including a child protection policy, and procedures that comply with Marvellous Times Holiday Club Safeguarding children policy and procedures for safeguarding.
  • Arrangements to work effectively with other organisations to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, including arrangements for sharing information.
  • A culture of listening to, and engaging in dialogue, with children in seeking children’s views in ways that are appropriate to their age and understanding, and taking account of those views in individual decisions and in the establishment or development of services
  • Appropriate whistle-blowing procedures, and a culture that enables issues about safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults to be addressed.
  • Safeguarding of online, social media and generic ICT activities by and for learners and staff and stakeholders.

Consult us about your concern

In good practice, we ask a child and/or vulnerable adult why they are upset or how a cut or bruise was caused, or respond to a child wanting to talk to you. This practice can help clarify vague concerns and result in appropriate action.

If your child is concerned about a child you must share your concerns. Initially, you should talk to one of the people designated as responsible for a child within our organisation.

In this organisation, this person is Martina Barnett.

If that person is implicated in the concerns you should discuss your concerns directly with Kennisha

You should consult with your local Social Care Duty & Investigation Team in the area where the child and/or vulnerable adult resides, in the following circumstances:

  • When you remain unsure after internal consultation as to whether child concerns exist
  • When there is disagreement as to whether child protection concerns exist
  • When you are unable to consult promptly or at all with your designated internal contact for child protection
  • When the concerns relate to any member of the organising committee

Consultation is not the same as making a referral but should enable a decision to be made as to whether a referral to Social Care or the Police should progress.

Useful Telephone Numbers:

  • Marvellous Times Holiday Club Main Office: 07425 549927
  • Lewisham Council (Local Authority Designated Officer) via the LSCB
  • Metropolitan Police Service: 0300 123 1212
  • London Safeguarding Children Board: 020 7934 9714