CO-COACH© provides parental coaching for neurodiverse children; CO-COACH© is a coaching programme that offers 1 hour a week direct/virtual coaching, regular sms communication facilitated by registered OT to embed training, goals, and strategies in the home environment.

The purpose of this policy statement:

• A duty of care for  children and young people, this includes the children of the adults who use CO-COACH© services
• A duty of care to the parents engaged in the CO-COACH© programmes who may be at risk of abuse.
• To provide any staff or volunteers as well as children and young people and their families , with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection

This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of CO-COACH©, including associate therapists, paid staff, and volunteers.

This policy has been drawn up based on legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England. A summary of the key legislation and guidance is available from www.nspcc.org.uk/childprotection   

CO-COACH© has a zero-tolerance approach to abuse. CO-COACH© recognises that under the Care Act 2014 it has a duty for the care and protection of adults who are at risk of abuse. It also recognises its responsibilities for the safety and care of children under the Children Act 1989 and 2004 and the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

It is committed to promoting wellbeing, harm prevention and to responding effectively if concerns are raised. It is also committed to inter agency collaboration on the development and implementation of procedures for the protection of adults vulnerable from abuse, and children vulnerable from abuse. 

There can be no excuses for not taking all reasonable action to protect adults and children at risk of abuse, exploitation, radicalisation and mistreatment. All citizens of the United Kingdom have their rights enshrined within the Human Rights Act 1998. 

We will seek to keep children, young people and adults at risk safe by:

• Valuing, listening and respecting all users and staff involved in CO-COACH©
• Creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring we deal with any bullying that does occur.
• Adopting Core legal safeguarding requirements and staff’s responsibility to keep children and adults at risk safe. 
• Appointing a nominated safe guarding lead
• Providing  A GDPR policy and procedure to individuals information see Data Protection policy 
• Recording and storing information professionally and securely, in line with data protection legislation and guidance. more information available on ico.org.uk/for-organisations 
• Adopting the requirement to share appropriate information with agencies that need to know in a timely way. Involving children, young people and parents/carers appropriately
• Ensuring issues of capacity, consent and decision making are considered in relation to safeguarding adults. 
• All staff has a responsibility to keep up to date with safeguarding training yearly and participate in supervision.
• Ensuring relevant documentation of safeguarding concerns
• All staff will be recruited and selected safely with all necessary checks made.
• Using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff or safeguarding concerns 
•  Building a safeguarding culture where staff and volunteers, children, young people and families treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns.

Contact Details:

• Nominated Child Protection Lead:
• Caroline Jacques
• Phone: 077 515 4451
• Email: caroline.jacques@co-coach.co.uk
• NSPCC Helpline
• 0808 800 5000

We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually

This policy was last reviewed on 10.01.2024.

Caroline Jacques