Our Commitment To Safeguarding

Policy Statement

Stick ‘n’ Step works with children and young people with disabilities as part of our activities, which comprise Conductive Education sessions in individual or group settings.

We believe that:

• children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind,
• we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them.

We recognise that:

• the welfare of the child is paramount,
• all children and young people, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation, have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse,
• some children and young people are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues,
• working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.

 We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:

• valuing, listening to and respecting them,
• appointing designated safeguarding leads and a lead trustee for safeguarding,
• using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately,
• sharing information about child protection and safeguarding best practice with children, their families, staff and volunteers via leaflets, posters, group work and one-to-one discussions,
• using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately,
• ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance. 

 

1. Designated Safeguarding Leads

 The Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) of Stick ‘n’ Step are:

• Zsoka Magyarszeky, Head of Conductive Education (zsoka@sticknstep.org)
• Sarah Smithson, Operations Manager (sarah@sticknstep.org)
• Becky Sparks, Senior Conductor – Runcorn (becky@sticknstep.org)

 The DSLs work jointly and cover both centres, ensuring that at least one of them is available to deal with concerns at all times. They can also be reached via telephone:

Wallasey: 0151 638 0888; Runcorn: 01928 573 777

 

2. Safeguarding Children Partnerships

We encourage you to talk to us directly if you have any concerns at all, but you may also contact local Safeguarding Children Boards for advice or to refer a matter. You will need to contact the local authority where the child or young person in question resides.

Wirral Safeguarding Children Partnership:

https://www.wirralsafeguarding.co.uk/concerned-about-a-child/

Integrated Front Door: 0151 606 2008

Emergency Duty Team (out-of-hours): 0151 677 6557

Email: IFD@wirral.gov.uk

 

Halton Children and Young People Safeguarding Partnership:

https://hcypsp.haltonsafeguarding.co.uk/

Integrated Contact and Referral Team: 0151 907 8305

Emergency Duty Team (out-of-hours): 0345 050 0148

Email: contactandreferralteam@halton.gov.uk

 

3. Allegations made against staff members or volunteers

 If you have concerns about one of our staff or volunteers, we ask that you contact our Interim Chief Executive, Sarah Smithson at sarah@sticknstep.org or any of the centre landlines above.

Allegations against staff members or volunteers may also be made with the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) of the Partnership where the centre in question is located:

Wirral LADO:   0151 666 5525 and safeguardingunit@wirral.gov.uk (Pamela Cope)

Halton LADO:  0151 511 7925 and safeguarding.adminteam@halton.gov.uk and/or LADO@halton.gov.uk

Please contact one of our Designated Safeguarding Leads if you require access to our full Safeguarding Policy and Procedures or need help finding the contact details of Safeguarding Partnerships in other local authorities.