Safeguarding Policy

Sunflower Sisters for Ukraine believes that it is never acceptable for a child or vulnerable adult to experience abuse of any kind and is committed to the safety of all members of the Sunflower Sisters community, including hosts and the members of their households, guests, home visitors, and our volunteers. This is everyone’s responsibility.

Sunflower Sisters for Ukraine recognises that the welfare of children and vulnerable adults is paramount and that children and vulnerable adults, without exception, have the right to equal protection from abuse regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

This policy applies to all board members, volunteers, including hosts and home visitors, and volunteers of Sunflower Sisters. 

Guests

Sunflower Sisters for Ukraine arranges hosting for adults who are, in the main, refugees and asylum seekers. Sunflower Sisters for Ukraine referral policy states that we do not host unaccompanied minors, people with substance abuse problems or those with severe mental health issues.  Nevertheless, we recognise that the people we are hosting are in a vulnerable position, sometimes in ways that are not immediately apparent. That doesn’t mean they aren’t articulate, intelligent, determined human beings with personal agency, but they are also in a complicated legal, financial, and personal situation, often having endured very difficult circumstances that have left them with very complex things to work through, and all this in an alien country and culture.

Hosts

All hosts are assessed during a home visit by their local council who are asked to discuss, as part of the information sharing and assessment conducted by the local council, the issue of the power differential between the host(s) and their guest, and bear this power differential in mind in all their dealings with their guest. Local council officials are qualified to conduct home assessments and will have a professional working background to reflect this.

Sunflower Sisters for Ukraine recognises that hosts and guests are ultimately responsible for their hosting relationship, but we are committed to supporting the safety of hosts and guests.

Volunteers

Sunflower Sisters for Ukraine recognises that its volunteers may also be vulnerable, and is committed to practice which protects them.  

Abuse

Abuse may include:

  • Physical abuse
  • Domestic violence or abuse
  • Sexual abuse
  • Psychological or emotional abuse
  • Financial or material abuse
  • Modern slavery
  • Discriminatory abuse
  • Organisational or institutional abuse
  • Neglect or acts of omission
  • Self-neglect

Abuse can take place in any setting, public or private, and can be perpetrated by anyone.

Rights & Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Sunflower Sisters for Ukraine board members, directly or by delegation to

the Executive Director, include:

  • Ensuring all volunteers are aware of the importance of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.
  • Ensuring all volunteers and employees are aware that our guests are in a vulnerable position while being hosted.
  • Recruiting and selecting volunteers responsibly.
  • Providing guidance and/or training to our volunteers as appropriate.
  • Ensuring that all volunteers understand that, if abuse is identified or suspected, they must inform one of the ‘identified individuals’. For Sunflower Sisters the identified individuals are the Executive Director, the Safeguarding Trustee or the Chair of the Board.
  • Notifying the appropriate agencies if abuse is identified or suspected.
  • Ensuring that members of the Sunflower Sisters community are informed of the safeguarding policy and procedures as appropriate.
  • Supporting the safety of guests and ensuring that referrers are encouraged to help us identify individuals at particular risk.
  • Supporting the safety of all other individuals who are part of the Sunflower Sisters community.

The responsibilities of Sunflower Sisters for Ukraine volunteers include:

  • Being familiar with this safeguarding policy.
  • Offering guidance on boundaries and behaviour where appropriate.
  • Taking appropriate action in line with this policy.
  • Declaring any existing or subsequent convictions that are not “protected” as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (as amended)

Support for those who report abuse

Anyone making a complaint or allegation or expressing concern about safeguarding should be reassured that:

  • Their complaint or allegation will be recognised, taken seriously and responded to appropriately by the board members and volunteers of Sunflower Sisters.
  • Their complaint or allegation will be treated confidentially, subject to Sunflower Sisters’s responsibilities to notify the appropriate agencies if abuse is identified or suspected.

In particular, guests whose hosting is arranged through Sunflower Sisters for Ukraine have the right:

  • To be made aware of this policy as appropriate.
  • To have any complaint or allegation recognised and taken seriously.
  • To receive fair and respectful treatment throughout.
  • To be involved in any process as appropriate.
  • To receive information about the outcome.

Any safeguarding concerns or complaints which guests or hosts may have can be raised with their local council in the first instance (or with any other volunteer of Sunflower Sisters for Ukraine). Any concerns or complaints raised must then be escalated as soon as possible to the ‘identified individuals’ noted above. We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.

Updated 08/09/2023