Our Safeguarding Policy

Safeguarding Policy for The Access To Justice For Families Foundation

Introduction

The Access To Justice For Families Foundation is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all individuals seeking Legal Consultancy and McKenzie Advocacy services through our website. We recognise our duty to protect the Constitutional Human Rights and well-being of our clients, staff, and volunteers. This policy outlines the measures we take to ensure that everyone who interacts with our organisation is safeguarded from harm.

Scope

This policy applies to all staff, volunteers, consultants, and anyone interacting with The Access To Justice For Families Foundatio, including clients and visitors to our website.

Definitions

  • Safeguarding: Protecting individuals from abuse, harm, or neglect.
  • McKenzie Friend: A person who provides moral support, takes notes, and offers advice to individuals in court but does not speak on their behalf or act as their legal representative.
  • Client: Any individual seeking advice or support from The Access To Justice For Families Foundation.
  • Staff and Volunteers: Individuals working for or on behalf of The Access To Justice For Families Foundation. 

Principles

  1. Dignity and Respect: We treat all clients, staff, and volunteers with respect and dignity.
  2. Confidentiality: We ensure that all personal and sensitive information is handled confidentially and in compliance with data protection laws.
  3. Empowerment: We support clients to make their own informed decisions.
  4. Prevention: We actively work to prevent harm, abuse, and neglect through education and training.
  5. Accountability: We maintain a culture of transparency and accountability, ensuring that safeguarding concerns are promptly addressed.
  6. Identity Verification: We ensure that all our clients, staff and volunteers are verified. We use enhanced due diligence verification checks and source of funds analysis, confirm the identity of an individual or business and protect your firm from potential risks and sanctions by utilising our innovative AML, KYB, KYC, PEPs and Sanctions and compliance Safeguarding Roles and Responsibilities
  • Safeguarding Officer: Responsible for implementing and overseeing safeguarding policies and procedures.
  • All Staff and Volunteers: Required to understand and comply with the safeguarding policy and report any concerns.

Recruitment and Training

  • Conduct background checks on all staff and volunteers.
  • Provide mandatory safeguarding training for all staff and volunteers.
  • Regularly update training to reflect changes in legislation and best practices.

Reporting and Responding to Concerns

  1. Raising Concerns: All staff, volunteers, and clients are encouraged to report any safeguarding concerns immediately to the Safeguarding Officer.
  2. Investigation: The Safeguarding Officer will promptly investigate all reported concerns, maintaining confidentiality and sensitivity.
  3. Action: Appropriate action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation, which may include contacting external authorities.
  4. Feedback: Provide feedback to the individual who raised the concern, ensuring they are informed about the outcome, where appropriate.

Data Protection

  • Adhere to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other relevant data protection laws.
  • Ensure that all client data is stored securely and accessed only by authorised personnel.
  • Obtain explicit consent from clients before collecting, using, or sharing their data.

Online Safety

  • Implement secure communication channels for clients seeking consultancy and advocacy through the website.
  • Regularly update website security features to protect against unauthorised access.
  • Provide guidance to clients on how to protect their personal information online.

Review and Monitoring

  • The safeguarding policy will be reviewed annually or in response to significant changes in legislation or organisational structure.
  • Regular audits will be conducted to ensure compliance with the policy and identify areas for improvement.

Contact Information

  • Safeguarding Officer: Sian Gissing-McMeel info@accesstojusticeforfamilies.com
  • Emergency Contact: If you believe someone is an immediate danger of serious harm, you must call the police. In an emergency call 999 or 101 for non-emergencies. 

 

Conclusion

The Access To Justice Foundation is dedicated to creating a safe environment for all clients, staff, and volunteers. We are committed to continuous improvement in our safeguarding practices and encourage open communication to foster a culture of safety and respect