People and safeguarding

Child Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

Sets conduct, consent and mandatory reporting rules for work involving children.

Applies to

Governing Body members, employees, consultants, volunteers, interns, facilitators and contractors where the subject relates to their role.

Core duty

Punjabi Samvad puts a child's safety, dignity and best interests first. Every representative must prevent abuse, exploitation, neglect, grooming, corporal punishment and humiliating treatment.

Safe conduct

Use respectful, age-appropriate language.
Avoid isolated one-to-one contact unless the programme has approved safeguards.
Do not exchange sexual messages or images with a child.
Do not use programme access to form a personal or exploitative relationship.
Do not give secret gifts, money or favours.
Use approved consent, attendance, transport and photography procedures.

Report without delay

Section 19 of POCSO requires a person who knows or apprehends that a POCSO offence will occur or has occurred to report it to the Special Juvenile Police Unit or local police. Informing Punjabi Samvad does not replace that legal report. Staff must also alert the Safeguarding Focal Person so the organisation can protect the child and preserve records. Staff must not investigate the alleged offence or confront the alleged offender.

Child-centred response

Listen without pressing for details. Record the child's words, explain the next safety step in language the child understands, and share information only with people responsible for protection or legal reporting. Do not promise secrecy.

Images and identity

Obtain the required parent or guardian consent and the child's assent where the child can give it. Do not publish content that identifies a child connected to an offence, exposes sensitive information or creates a safety risk.

Residential care

Punjabi Samvad does not present itself as a child care institution. If it starts an institution that houses children in need of care and protection or children in conflict with law, it must complete the registration required by section 41 of the Juvenile Justice Act before operating that service.

Emergency support

Call local police or the Special Juvenile Police Unit for a POCSO report. Child Helpline 1098 and emergency number 112 also connect children in crisis to public support.

Official references

These government sources support the legal points in this policy.

POCSO Act, section 19 reporting duty Juvenile Justice Act, section 41 Government Child Helpline 1098

Punjabi Samvad follows applicable law where it sets a stricter rule or a different process. This public page does not replace a statutory committee order, employment term, funding agreement or signed internal procedure.