Safeguarding Policy

OUR COMMITMENT TO SAFEGUARDING

The CPA strictly prohibits all CPA personnel (employee, contractor, or volunteer) from engaging in any form of child or vulnerable adult abuse, exploitation, or neglect. The CPA is committed to creating and maintaining an environment which prevents sexual exploitation and abuse, particularly with respect to children and vulnerable adults.

1. Policy Statement

1.1. The Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (the CPA) recognises safeguarding as a key governance priority for all charities, regardless of size, type or income, and not just those working with those groups who have traditionally been considered to be vulnerable or ‘at risk’; namely children and young people and vulnerable adults. The CPA is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all its employees, contractors, beneficiaries, Trustees, volunteers, and those connected to the activities of the CPA and as such is committed to its safeguarding statement:

The CPA strictly prohibits all CPA personnel (employee, contractor, or volunteer) from engaging in any form of child or vulnerable adult abuse, exploitation, or neglect. The CPA is committed to creating and maintaining an environment which prevents sexual exploitation and abuse, particularly with respect to children and vulnerable adults.

1.2. This statement is publicly available on the CPA website, along with the Safeguarding Incident Reporting Form for the reporting of safeguarding issues.

1.3. The policy aims to:

Promote and prioritise the safety and wellbeing of all employees, contractors, beneficiaries, Trustees, volunteers, and others who come into contact with the CPA.
Provide assurance that the CPA take. reasonable steps to manage safeguarding risks
Ensure that everybody understands their roles and responsibilities with regards to safeguarding matters.
Ensure that appropriate action is taken in the event of any allegations or suspicions of harm from contact with the CPA’s staff, contractors or volunteers.

1.4. This policy applies to all who work with and volunteer for the CPA.

2. Principles

1.1. Legislative protection exists to ensure the safeguarding of those who are typically considered to be vulnerable or at risk of abuse or neglect. This includes:

Children and young people under 18 years of age
Adults (aged 18 and over) who are vulnerable or at risk

1.2. The CPA does not provide support services to members of the public and will not usually work with those who fall within the remit of the legislation, though CPA employees, contractors and volunteers may have access to healthcare environments as part of their work. In these circumstances, the CPA’s Vulnerable Person Risk Assessment must be completed ahead of a project where this type of access is possible. From time-to-time the CPA may come into contact with young people under 18 years of age, such as hosting a student for work experience or in a voluntary capacity. In these circumstances, the CPA’s Young Person Risk Assessment process must be completed ahead of engagement with the young person.

1.3. The CPA will take all reasonable steps to safeguard and protect all beneficiaries and other connected people, from abuse or mistreatment by those working or volunteering for the CPA.

1.4. The CPA will also take all reasonable steps to protect from harm all beneficiaries, employees, volunteers, those connected with the activities of the CPA, and those who come into contact with the CPA.

1.5. The CPA will take a risk-based approach to managing safeguarding concerns. Issues of safeguarding will be considered as part of the risk assessment process. Safeguarding will be included on the CPA’s Health & Safety Risk Registers as a stand-alone risk and will be kept under review by the Executive.

1.6. The CPA will ensure appropriate due diligence is undertaken on its partners, grant recipients, donors and when recruiting staff, volunteers, and Trustees.

1.7. The CPA will ensure a member of its Board of Trustees, is nominated to act as the trustee with responsibility for whistleblowing across the charity.

3. Taking Action

2.1. Anyone who has come into contact with the CPA who has suspicions or concerns that safeguarding malpractice has occurred, including our staff, contractors, and volunteers, shall complete the Safeguarding Incident Reporting Form which can be found on the CPA website. If the individual feels unable to raise their concerns with the CPA directly, they may raise the issue with the Charity Commission.

2.2. On submission of the form, the data about the incident will be submitted to the appointed Safeguarding Officer within one business day.

2.3. Investigations into safeguarding concerns will be carried out within 20 working days.

2.4. The CPA will ensure serious safeguarding incidents are reported adequately and appropriately to the Charity Commission via a Serious Incident Report (SIR). Reports to other external authorities, police and regulators will be made as is appropriate to the safeguarding incident. Decisions regarding whether reports to external authorities, other than the Charity Commission, will be fully risk assessed and not made if they are likely to cause further harm to the victim/survivors, or due process or the rule of law is not reasonably assured. An SIR will be made in any event and will include an explanation of the CPA’s decisions on other external reporting.

3.1. This policy sits alongside the CPA’s the following key policies: