The North York Moors National Park Authority (NYMNPA) provides a variety of services for children and young people in order to increase awareness, understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the National Park.
These services include:
- Educational Visits and including outreach work
- Youth Engagement
- Work Experience
- Modern Apprenticeships
- Clubs and volunteering – Explorer Volunteers, Young Rangers, Youth +, Youth Voice, Fishing Club and River Rangers
- Residentials
- Children’s Events
The purpose of this policy statement is:
- To protect children and young people who receive North York Moors National Park Authority’s services from harm.
- To provide staff and volunteers, as well as children and young people and their families, with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.
The policy applies to anyone working on behalf of the North York Moors National Park Authority, including senior managers and Members, paid staff, volunteers and contractors that we may employ to work with children and young people.
Legal framework
The policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to project children in England. A summary of the key legislation and guidance is available from nspcc.org.uk/childprotection.
Supporting documents
This policy statement should be read alongside our organisational policies, procedures, guidance and other related documents, including:
- Safeguarding policy for the protection of children
- Photography, Video and YouTube policy
- Whistleblowing
- Health and safety
For the copy of these documents, or to see our safeguarding policies in full, please contact Heather McNiff, Head of Outdoor Learning and Engagement on 01439 772700 or email h.mcniff@northyorkmoors.org.uk
We believe that:
- Children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind
- We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them.
We recognise that:
- The welfare of children is paramount in the work we do
- All children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse
- Some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues
- Extra safeguards may be needed to keep children who are additionally vulnerable safe from abuse
We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:
- Valuing, listening to and respecting them
- Appointing a nominated child protection lead for children and young people and two deputies, one of which will be from the Senior Leadership Team
- Adopting child protection and safeguarding best practice through our policies, procedures and code of conduct for staff and volunteers
- Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures so that all staff and volunteers know about and follow our policies, procedures and behaviour codes confidently and competently.
- Recruiting and selecting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
- Recording and storing and using information professionally and securely, in line with data protection legislation and guidance
- Sharing information about safeguarding and good practice with children and their families
- Making sure that children, young people and their families know where to go for help if they have a concern
- Using our safeguarding and child protection procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately
- Creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a co-designed code of behaviour and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bulling that does arise
- Ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place
- Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance
- Building a safeguarding culture where staff and volunteers, children, young people and their families, treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns
Contact details
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Heather McNiff, Head of Outdoor Learning and Engagement
Phone: 01439 772700
Email: h.mcniff@northyorkmoors.org.uk
Deputy Safeguarding Officer (Senior Leadership Team)
Ian Nicholls, Director of Corporate Services
Phone: 01439 772700
Email: n.nicholls@northyorkmoors.org.uk
Deputy Safeguarding Officer
Mary-Jane Alexander, Youth Engagement Officer
Tel: 01439 772700
Email: m.alexander@northyorkmoors.org.uk