Equality and Safeguarding Policy

Equality and Safeguarding Policy 

Discrimination Policy
Dean Chapple T/A Integrity Plumbing and Heating is committed to encouraging equality and 

diversity among our consumers and eliminating unlawful discrimination. 

Dean Chapple T/A Integrity Plumbing and Heating ’s policy purpose is to: 

- provide equality, fairness and respect for all our consumers including vulnerable consumers. 

Definition of a Vulnerable Consumer 

An industry accepted definition is “someone who, due to their personal circumstances, is especially susceptible to detriment, particularly when a business is not acting with appropriate levels of care” 

A vulnerable consumer could be an individual that: 

Suffers from a physical or mental impairment that may or may not be visible Has a lack of knowledge about a complex product or service
Is purchasing something at a time of stress or distress
Whose first language is not English 

Whose age may put them at risk of making an incorrect or inappropriate decision 

Vulnerability is fluid, meaning that consumers can drift in and out of vulnerability.- Must not unlawfully discriminate or exclude consumers based on individual characteristics and circumstances such as: 

age
disability
caring or dependency responsibilities
gender or gender identity
marriage or civil partnership status
political opinion
pregnancy or maternity
race, colour, caste, nationality, ethnic or national origin
religion or belief
sexual orientation
or other distinctions
act in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 which has the following protected characteristics: age,
disability,
gender reassignment,
marriage and civil partnership,
pregnancy and maternity,
race (including colour, nationality, and ethnic or national origin),
religion or belief,
sex (gender) and sexual orientation 

Dean Chapple T/A Integrity Plumbing and Heating may consider socio-economic factors when carrying out credit worthiness assessments in accordance with the Financial Conduct Authority guidelines. (Disregard if no credit agreements offered). 

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Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy 

Purpose 

The purpose of this policy is to protect people, particularly children, at risk adults and beneficiaries of assistance, from any harm that may be caused due to their coming into contact with Dean Chapple T/A Integrity Plumbing and Heating. This includes harm arising from: 

The conduct of workers or personnel associated with Dean Chapple T/A Integrity Plumbing and Heating
The design and implementation of Dean Chapple T/A Integrity Plumbing and
Heating programmes and activities 

The policy lays out the commitments made by Dean Chapple T/A Integrity Plumbing and Heating and informs workers and associated personnel of their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding. 

What is Safeguarding? 

In the UK, safeguarding means protecting peoples' health, wellbeing and human rights, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. 

In our sector, we understand it to mean protecting people, including children and at-risk adults, from harm that arises from coming into contact with our workers. 

Scope
All workers contracted by Dean Chapple T/A Integrity Plumbing and Heating. 

Associated personnel whilst engaged with work or visits related to Dean Chapple T/A Integrity Plumbing and Heating including but not limited to the following: consultants; volunteers and contractors. 

Policy Statement 

Dean Chapple T/A Integrity Plumbing and Heating believes that everyone we come into contact with, regardless of age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or ethnic origin has the right to be protected from all forms of harm, abuse, neglect and exploitation. Dean Chapple T/A Integrity Plumbing and Heating will not tolerate discrimination, abuse and exploitation by workers or associated personnel. 

This policy will address the following areas of safeguarding customers and their family members, child safeguarding and adult safeguarding. Dean Chapple T/A Integrity Plumbing and Heating commits to addressing safeguarding throughout its work, through the three pillars of prevention, reporting and response. 

Prevention
Dean Chapple T/A Integrity Plumbing and Heating responsibilities Dean Chapple T/A Integrity Plumbing and Heating will: 

Ensure all workers have access to, are familiar with, and know their responsibilities within this policy Design and undertake all its programmes and activities in a way that protects people from any risk of harm that may arise from their coming into contact with Dean Chapple T/A Integrity Plumbing and Heating. This includes the way in which information about individuals in our programmes is gathered and communicated 

Implement stringent safeguarding procedures when recruiting, managing and deploying workers and associated personnel
Ensure workers receive training on safeguarding at a level commensurate with their role in the 

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organisation
Follow up on reports of safeguarding concerns promptly and according to due process 

Workers Responsibilities
Child Safeguarding
Dean Chapple T/A Integrity Plumbing and Heating workers and associated personnel must not: 

Engage in sexual activity with anyone under the age of 18
Sexually abuse or exploit children
Subject a child to physical, emotional or psychological abuse, or neglect
Engage in any commercially exploitative activities with children including child labour or trafficking 

Adult Safeguarding 

A vulnerable adult is a person aged 18 years or over who may be unable to take care of themselves or protect themselves from harm or from being exploited. 

This may include a person who: 

Is elderly and frail
Has a mental illness including dementia Has a physical or sensory disability
Has a learning disability
Has a severe physical illness
Is a substance misuser 

Dean Chapple T/A Integrity Plumbing and Heating workers and associated personnel must not: 

Inflict harm or fail to act to prevent harm
Sexually abuse or exploit at risk adults
Subject an at-risk adult to physical, emotional or psychological abuse, or neglect 

Additionally, workers and associated personnel are obliged to: 

Contribute to creating and maintaining an environment that prevents safeguarding violations and promotes the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy
Report any concerns or suspicions regarding safeguarding violations by workers or associated personnel to the appropriate senior manager 

Refrain from promising children or vulnerable adults that they will keep secrets 

Enabling Reports 

Dean Chapple T/A Integrity Plumbing and Heating will ensure that safe, appropriate, accessible means of reporting safeguarding concerns are made available to workers and the communities we work with. 

Dean Chapple T/A Integrity Plumbing and Heating will also accept complaints from external sources such as members of the public, partners and official bodies. 

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How to Report a Safeguarding Concern 

Workers who have a complaint or concern relating to safeguarding should report it immediately to the directors. If the worker does not feel comfortable reporting to directors (for example if they feel that the report will not be taken seriously, or if that person is implicated in the concern) they may report to any other senior manager or a member of the HR Team. 

Response
Dean Chapple T/A Integrity Plumbing and Heating will make a safeguarding report to our local 

authority safeguarding board. 

Dean Chapple T/A Integrity Plumbing and Heating will follow up safeguarding reports and concerns according to policy and procedure, and legal and statutory obligations. 

Dean Chapple T/A Integrity Plumbing and Heating will apply appropriate disciplinary measures to workers found in breach of policy. 

Confidentiality 

It is essential that confidentiality in maintained at all stages of the process when dealing with safeguarding concerns. Information relating to the concern and subsequent case management should be shared on a need-to-know basis only and should be kept secure at all times. 

Vulnerable Consumers Policy 

Dean Chapple T/A Integrity Plumbing and Heating 

As a HIES member we are obliged to identify a vulnerable consumer and treat them appropriately and sympathetically before, during and after purchase. 

Definition of a Vulnerable Consumer 

An industry accepted definition is “someone who, due to their personal circumstances, is especially susceptible to detriment, particularly when a business is not acting with appropriate levels of care” 

A vulnerable consumer could be an individual that: 

Suffers from a physical or mental impairment that may or may not be visible Has a lack of knowledge about a complex product or service
Is purchasing something at a time of stress or distress
Whose first language is not English 

Whose age may put them at risk of making an incorrect or inappropriate decision 

Vulnerability is fluid, meaning that consumers can drift in and out of vulnerability. 

How we will Identify Vulnerable Consumers 

Although not every vulnerability is immediately noticeable and not every consumer will find it comfortable or necessary to declare a vulnerability, the following questions may help: 

1. Does the consumer appear to have physical, mental health and/or language problems?
    
2. Does the consumer appear not to understand the transaction?
   Are they answering “yes” to questions when it is clear they don’t understand?
    

1. Does the consumer need advice in an alternative format which you cannot immediately provide? 

How we will Support Vulnerable Consumers before Purchase 

We will provide important information in an accessible format upon request 

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We will take time to carefully explain the details of the installation and will answer any questions you have, patiently
We will inform you of your legal right to cancel the contract
You will be given time and space to consider our quotation, and we will not put you under any pressure to sign contracts 

We will not use any unfair or hidden terms and conditions
We will not mislead you, or mis-sell you any products or services
We will ask if there is someone you would like present during the consideration of the purchase 

How we will Support Vulnerable Consumers during Purchase 

We will be mindful of how we carry out work in your home
We will happily explain to you or any other person in the premises what we are doing We will, where possible, carry out work with the minimal of disruption 

How we will Support Vulnerable Consumers after Purchase 

We will answer any of your questions and deal with any complaints promptly and courteously We will be happy to explain, in further detail, how to use the equipment
We will work with you and any other person to help with any issues that arise 

Glossary of Terms Beneficiary of Assistance 

Someone who directly receives goods or services from Dean Chapple T/A Integrity Plumbing and Heating programme. Note that misuse of power can also apply to the wider community that theDean Chapple T/A Integrity Plumbing and Heating serves, and also can include exploitation by giving the perception of being in a position of power. 

Child 

A person below the age of 18. 

Harm 

Psychological, physical and any other infringement of an individual’s rights. 

Psychological Harm 

Emotional or psychological abuse, including (but not limited to) humiliating and degrading treatment such as bad name calling, constant criticism, belittling, persistent shaming, solitary confinement and isolation. 

Safeguarding 

In the UK, safeguarding means protecting peoples' health, wellbeing and human rights, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect[1] 

In our sector, we understand it to mean protecting people, including children and at-risk adults, from harm that arises from coming into contact with our workers or programmes. One donor definition is as follows: 

Safeguarding means taking all reasonable steps to prevent harm, particularly sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment from occurring; to protect people, especially vulnerable adults and children, from that harm; and to respond appropriately when harm does occur. 

This definition draws from our values and principles and shapes our culture. It pays specific attention to 

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preventing and responding to harm from any potential, actual or attempted abuse of power, trust, or vulnerability, especially for sexual purposes. 

Safeguarding applies consistently and without exception across our programmes, partners and workers. It requires proactively identifying, preventing and guarding against all risks of harm, exploitation and abuse and having mature, accountable and transparent systems for response, reporting and learning when risks materialise. Those systems must be survivor-centred and also protect those accused until proven guilty. 

Safeguarding puts beneficiaries and affected persons at the centre of all we do. 

Sexual Abuse 

The term ‘sexual abuse’ means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. 

Sexual Exploitation 

The term ‘sexual exploitation’ means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. This definition incudes human trafficking and modern slavery. 

At Risk Adult 

Sometimes also referred to as vulnerable adult. A person who is or may be in need of care by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation.