Safeguarding policy

Frontline recruits and develops outstanding individuals to be social workers and leaders to transform the lives of the most vulnerable children and families. As such, safeguarding is at the heart of what we do. And not just for vulnerable children and their families, but also for our staff, our participants, our partners and all those that come into contact with the charity. We act to protect everyone who encounters Frontline from harm and strive to make every encounter with Frontline a positive one.

Frontline has a specific duty to protect children and adults at risk and this policy primarily sets out how Frontline keeps them safe and responds to any safeguarding concerns. However, most of the principles are relevant for application more widely, beyond just children and adults who meet the statutory definition of being at risk, to everyone the charity works with.

Whilst this policy covers safeguarding in relation to both children and adults at risk, Frontline recognises that the procedures required for managing safeguarding in relation to children differ to those in relation to adults at risk. Frontline places equal importance on safeguarding both groups, and the key differences in approach are highlighted below.

This policy applies to all Frontline staff (including contractors, volunteers and our experts by experience group), trustees, participants on any of Frontline’s programmes, fellows and partner organisations. These are collectively referred to as “stakeholders” for the duration of this policy. It will be implemented when a safeguarding concern arises in connection with Frontline activity. Concerns that are unconnected to Frontline are outside the scope of this policy. 

When a participant has a safeguarding concern in relation to a case they are handling as part of their practice learning experience or subsequent employment by the local authority, they should follow their local authority’s policies and procedures instead of Frontline’s policies and procedures.

When a safeguarding concern has been raised in a Local Authority context that involves a participant, the Local Authority will follow their own statutory safeguarding procedures and will notify Frontline. In such instances Frontline has a responsibility to engage with the Local Authority and support the participants as deemed appropriate.