We believe that nobody (either our people or the people we support) should experience harm of any kind, whatever their age, disability, gender, race, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity. This includes, but is not limited to, neglect and physical, sexual and emotional abuse.
Our main activities take place in hospitals within the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (the trust) and our local north-west London community, and involve patients, visitors, staff and members of the general public (including children and young people, as well as adults at risk). As such, we appreciate that you will regularly come into contact with some of the most vulnerable groups within our society. We understand how important it is that everyone who works on our behalf follows our code of behaviour and can identify and raise concerns about an individual’s safety. Within hospitals, our staff, volunteers, trustees and others who work on our behalf must keep to the trust’s policies and reporting procedures for safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk.
This policy sets out how we expect you to help us meet our obligations to recognise and report harm or suspected harm, both as an independent charity and a partner operating within the trust and under their safeguarding policies and procedures. Our code of behaviour (our Green Card) sets out the behaviour we expect from you and is designed to create a culture of transparency and safety. This will make sure that, as well as protecting people from harm, no one is put in a position where an allegation of inappropriate behaviour can be made against them
Imperial Health Charity Safeguarding Policy
Imperial Health Charity’s key method for prevention is our Code of Behaviour, which establishes clear expectations as to the behaviour of its staff, volunteers, trustees, associated personnel and recipients of our grant funding which supplements the NHS Trust’s policies. Imperial Health Charity will not tolerate abuse and exploitation by our staff, volunteers, trustees or associated personnel.
Our Code of Behaviour (The Green Card)
• Do treat everyone with dignity and respect in line
with our values – ‘kind, collaborative, aspirational and
expert’.
• Do remember you are a role model at all times –- be
accountable for your actions and accept constructive
feedback.
• Do wear your identification at all times and follow the dress code and infection control and health and safety arrangements for your location.
• Do provide excellent customer service and do your best to make sure that every patient, visitor or member of the community has the best possible experience when interacting with us.
• Do carry out appropriate tasks and activities within the boundaries agreed within your role description, even in difficult circumstances.
• Do treat everyone equally and encourage an open and transparent culture, where people can challenge inappropriate attitudes or behaviours – do not show favouritism.
• Do remember that you have been placed in a position of trust – do not abuse this.
• Do report all allegations, suspicions and concerns immediately.
• Do remember that someone may misinterpret your actions.
• Do respect everyone’s right to personal privacy.
• Do make everyone (volunteers, staff, family members and carers of patients) aware of our
safeguarding arrangements and share this code of behaviour – the ‘Green Card’.
• Do create an environment where people you interact with feel safe to voice their concerns.
• Do keep up to date with required training and procedures for your role and responsibilities.
• Do not plan to be alone with a young person, adult at risk or patient in one of our hospitals.
• Do not drink alcohol when you are directly responsible for young people or adults at risk, and never allow under 18s at our events or activities to drink alcohol.
• Do not trivialise abuse or bullying of any kind or let it go unreported.
• Do not take part in inappropriate physical contact or one-to-one activities with young people or adults at risk, other than providing support for them to take part (following appropriate training).
• Do not use inappropriate, suggestive or threatening language, whether verbal, written or
online.
• Do not overstep the boundaries between yourself and patients, young people or adults at risk involved in our work by forming friendships or sexual relationships.
• Do not allow activities that encourage bullying, including initiation ceremonies, dares or forfeits.
• Do not behave in a way which could damage our reputation or that of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust or one of our partners.
• Do not rely on your reputation or position to protect you from accusations or challenges for
inappropriate behaviour.
If you have any questions about our approach to keeping people safe please contact us on safeguarding@imperialcharity.org.uk or 020 3005 6391.