Equal Opportunities Policy
South Hampshire Branch of the National Autistic Society is committed to promoting an environment for its children, young people, adults, parents and visitors that is free from discrimination on the grounds of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, disability and sexual orientation. It aims to make its support and services available to all.
All those involved in the work of the charity are expected to demonstrate a commitment to equality of opportunity by implementing the principles of our equal opportunities policy. No individual should experience discrimination, harassment or victimisation on any grounds.

Child Protection Policy
The committee of the South Hampshire Branch of the National Autistic Society (hereafter referred to as the Branch) will follow, at all times, the guidance contained in the National Autistic Society’s Safeguarding Children Policy.

The Branch accept that:

• all children have a right to be protected at all times;
• child abuse occurs in all religions, cultures and social classes;
• responsibility for a child or children working with the Branch always rests with their parents/carers and not with the members of the Branch; and
• every person involved in the Branch has a responsibility both for ensuring the safety and well-being of the children they work with and for reporting all cases of suspected child abuse.

Nevertheless, the committee of the Branch are responsible for:

• preventing the physical, sexual and emotional abuse of children while working with the Branch;
• listening to concerns expressed by the children and advising them how to report any abuse; and
• reporting abuse themselves in certain circumstances.

Where there is an allegation of or suspected child abuse the interests and safety of the child always come first. This means that if there is any conflict of interest between a member of the Branch and a child, the interests of the child must always be put first.

In view of the above, the committee of the Branch will ensure that:

• The members of the committee have a copy of the Branch Child Protection Policy and take responsibility for seeing that it is sensibly followed at all times.
• The risk of members being perpetrators of child abuse is reduced by the following procedures:
  • Parents/carers of children wishing to work with the Branch must take responsibility for their own child’s welfare, for example, by bringing them to, staying with them at and taking them home from Branch activities/events.
  • Children aged ten or under must be accompanied by a parent/carer at all times.
  • The committee of the Branch are not put in compromising positions at any time. For example, children will work with a minimum of two adult members at all times.
  • Basic training in child protection, or evidence of such training, will be needed by all of those working directly with children and young people, appropriate to their role.
• Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks:
  • Although parents/carers must take responsibility for their own child’s welfare, all members of the committee and any other volunteers who will work within the Branch with children and young people must be checked by the CRB.
  • For new committee members and volunteers, the checking process will commence at the earliest opportunity. However, before working within the Branch, they must sign a written statement saying that they have no relevant convictions and provide a suitable reference.
  • Committee members and volunteers who have not yet been checked by the CRB will not work alone with children and young people, and will be supervised at all times by someone who has been checked by the CRB.
  • The Branch Officer is the child protection representative for the Branch. The Treasurer is the deputy child protection representative.

What to do when child abuse is disclosed or alleged

The committee of the Branch will take responsibility for dealing with and following up any disclosed or alleged incident of child abuse.

These policies are to be reviewed annually.

Policies last revised 29 November 2009