Heidi Dix, our Safeguarding Lead Trustees, a social worker and academic, shares how at Outreach youth, safeguarding is a central pillar of our work with LGBTQ+ children, their families and wider networks.
“At Outreach youth we are clear as an organisation that safeguarding is the action we take to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. Ensuring this safety, protection, and well-being is not just a responsibility but a commitment deeply embedded within the culture of our charity.”
“As a youth work charity we follow the the National Occupational Standards for Youth Work that state that safeguarding is taking all reasonable measures to ensure that the risks of harm to children’s, young people’s and vulnerable adult’s welfare are minimised.”
“At Outreach youth we work to achieve this through a number of key structures and practices.”
‘As the Safeguarding Lead Trustee, my expertise ensures that safeguarding is approached with the highest level of professionalism and insight, driving informed decisions that reflect best practices. Additionally, our Safeguarding Sub-group and standing safeguarding agenda items at Trustee meetings ensure that safeguarding is a constant focus of our governance.”
“This focus is echoed throughout the organisation, with safeguarding being a standing agenda item of team meetings and youth worker supervision sessions. These frequent touch-points enable ongoing dialogue, reflection, and improvement of our safeguarding practices.”
“Moreover, regular Trustee and staff development on safeguarding, safeguarding co-production work with children, and auditing our practice against the NSPCC standards ensure that our safeguarding approaches are both dynamic and responsive. By embedding these elements into the fabric of our operations, Outreach youth fosters a proactive, accountable, and informed safeguarding culture that ensures the safety of the LGBTQ+ young people we support.”
“Our youth work is underpinned by key values. These include being youth-led, and the active participation of children in shaping all of their experiences and decisions about their own lives. Children are experts in their own lives and lived experiences. At Outreach youth through the support of trusted youth workers they should, wherever possible, be equipped to make informed decisions about their own well being and safeguarding. All policies and procedures we have are accessible to children involved in our projects and work.”