SafeguardingPolicy
Protecting children, young people, and vulnerable adults is at the heart of everything we do.
Our Commitment
Basildon Parents4Parents (BP4P) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people, and vulnerable adults who engage with our charity. We believe that every person has the right to be safe from harm, abuse, and neglect, and we take our responsibility to protect those in our care extremely seriously.
As a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Registered Charity No. 1176284), we recognise that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. All trustees, staff, and volunteers are expected to share this commitment and act in accordance with this policy at all times.
Our Approach
BP4P works directly with vulnerable families and children across the Basildon borough. Our projects support parents and carers who may be experiencing difficulties with wellbeing, school issues, housing, debt, or cost-of-living challenges. Many of the families we work with include children and young people who may be at greater risk of harm.
We are committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment where families feel supported. To achieve this, we ensure:
- DBS checks for all volunteers— every volunteer who works with us receives a funded Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before they begin any role involving contact with children or vulnerable adults.
- Safeguarding Level 1 training— all volunteers complete Safeguarding Level 1 training as part of their induction. This ensures everyone understands how to recognise the signs of abuse or neglect and knows what to do if they have a concern.
- Clear reporting procedures— all team members know who to contact and how to escalate a safeguarding concern quickly and appropriately.
- Regular policy review— our safeguarding policy is reviewed annually by the management committee to ensure it remains current and effective.
Named Safeguarding Lead
Our designated Safeguarding Lead is Debbie Boukriss, who serves as Project Manager and Safeguarding Lead for BP4P. Debbie brings over 25 years of experience working with families across education and social care, and is responsible for:
- Receiving and managing all safeguarding concerns within the charity
- Making referrals to statutory agencies where appropriate
- Ensuring all volunteers receive adequate safeguarding training
- Keeping up to date with safeguarding legislation and best practice
- Maintaining accurate and confidential records of any concerns
How to Report a Concern
If you have a safeguarding concern about a child, young person, or vulnerable adult connected to BP4P, please report it immediately. You do not need to be certain that abuse is taking place — it is always better to share a concern so it can be properly assessed.
Within BP4P, you can:
- Contact our Safeguarding Lead, Debbie Boukriss, directly by phone or email
- Speak to our Chair, Amanda Farley, if Debbie is unavailable or if the concern involves the Safeguarding Lead
- Speak to any BP4P trustee or volunteer, who will pass the concern to the Safeguarding Lead
Key Contacts for Reporting
Amanda Farley — Chair
Email: basildonp4p@outlook.com
External Reporting
If you believe a child or vulnerable adult is in immediate danger, please call 999 without delay.
You can also contact the following organisations directly:
- Essex County Council — Children's Services— contact your local authority safeguarding team to report a concern about a child
- Essex County Council — Adult Social Care— for concerns about a vulnerable adult
- Essex Police (non-emergency) — call 101
- NSPCC Helpline — call 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk
- Childline — call 0800 1111 (for children and young people)
Policy Review
This safeguarding policy is reviewed annually by the BP4P management committee to ensure it reflects current legislation, guidance, and best practice. All volunteers are made aware of any changes through updated training and induction materials.