Stand Together Network Homelessness

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Policies

Our Safeguarding Policies

Our Complaint Policy

Our Prevent Extremism & Redicalisation Policy

Our Health and safety Policy

Our GDPR Policy

Our Modern Slavery Policy

Our Equal Opportunities Policy

Our Complaint Policy (Detailed Version)

Our Prevent Extremism & Redicalisation Policy (Detailed Version)

Our GDPR Policy (Detailed Version)

Safeguarding Policies

At Stand Together Network, we are dedicated to ensuring the safety and protection of every individual who benefits from our services or training programs. We are committed to safeguarding the well-being of all women we serve, believing firmly in their right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. 

This policy is designed to ensure that all staff, volunteers, and beneficiaries understand the concept of safeguarding and the responsibilities of the charity in this regard. It applies to all staff, volunteers, board members, and anyone working on behalf of Stand Together Network. 

In order to uphold this commitment, we will ensure the following: 

  • All our staff are comprehensively trained in safeguarding customers, including young people and vulnerable adults, to ensure they understand the safeguarding policy and procedures.
  • All employers and work placement providers offer safe working environments to clients.
  • We take all necessary steps during recruitment to ensure that new staff and volunteers are suitable, including conducting background checks. 

Our aim is to promote social inclusion and economic prosperity through the provision of education and learning. Above all, we strive to enhance the life experience of young people and adults and help them expand their aspirations in life. 

Call us on: 0740 069 9068

Email us on: info@sntnetwork.org.uk

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns. 

Complaint Policy

At Stand Together Network, we’re committed to providing excellent service and we value feedback from our customers. We encourage you to share your experiences, whether you’re satisfied with our service, have suggestions for improvement, or wish to complain about the service you’ve received. 

We take all complaints seriously and will promptly investigate and resolve any concerns. We’ll keep you informed about the progress of your complaint and use your feedback to continually improve our service. 

Our complaints policy covers complaints involving staff, external stakeholders, clients including apprentices and employers. For internal matters involving staff or contractors, we have separate disciplinary or grievance procedures. 

Here are the key principles of our complaints procedure: 

  • We aim for an informal resolution of complaints where possible. 
  • Our procedure is publicised and we promote open access to it. 
  • All staff receive information on this procedure during induction. 
  • We adopt a solution-focused approach in response to justified complaints. 
  • All complaints are subject to impartial review. 
  • Everyone is entitled to make complaints and have their concerns dealt with fairly. 

A complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction with a particular service or training. It could be about a delay, lack of response, discourtesy, failure to consult, or the standard of service you’ve received. We also welcome your feedback. 

We aim to resolve issues on the spot, including apologising where necessary. We’re committed to providing a high-quality, transparent, and accessible service to everyone we deal with. We handle any expression of dissatisfaction with our service which calls for a response as a complaint. 

We believe that complaints are a valuable source of feedback that we must act upon to ensure we meet the needs of all beneficiaries and the local community. We’re committed to providing the best possible service and positive experiences to all of our beneficiaries. 

Policy Against Extremism & Radicalisation

This is a policy to prevent extremism and radicalisation at STN Training. If you’re a staff member or learner and you have any concerns related to this policy, you should report them to our Safeguarding Lead, Sue Halawa, as soon as possible. 

We know that the threat from extremism in the UK is real and can affect vulnerable people, including children and young people. This policy helps us protect those who might be at risk from extremist messages. 

Radicalisation means the process where people start to support terrorism and extremism, and sometimes join terrorist groups. Extremism is when someone strongly opposes basic British values like democracy, the rule of law, individual freedom, and respect and tolerance for different faiths and beliefs. 

At Stand Together Network, we’re committed to creating a safe environment for everyone. Everyone has a responsibility to safeguard, no matter their role in our company. We don’t allow any kind of extremist views at Stand Together Network, whether they come from inside or outside our organisation. 

We believe that our customers have the right to a safe environment where they can discuss controversial issues. We recognise that being exposed to extremist materials can lead to negative outcomes, so we address this as a safeguarding concern. 

Education is a powerful tool against extremism. It gives people the knowledge, skills and critical thinking they need to challenge and debate in an informed way. We aim to provide a broad and balanced curriculum so that our customers can understand and tolerate difference and diversity. 

We’re aware that young and vulnerable people can be exposed to extremist influences or prejudiced views from an early age, from various sources including the internet. Sometimes, customers might express views that are discriminatory, prejudiced or extremist. We challenge any prejudice, discrimination or extremism. 

Health and safety Policy

STN is committed to ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all our employees, volunteers, and the women we serve. We will ensure that we comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and best practices.

1 Responsibilities

  • Ensuring all aspects of the policy on health, safety and welfare at work, rules, processes and procedures are observed and applied at their respective centres.
  • Providing necessary resources for the implementation and continuous improvement of the health and safety policy.
  • Regularly reviewing and updating the policy to ensure it remains effective and compliant with current legislation.

Stand Together Network acknowledges its responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and associated laws. As far as is feasibly possible, Stand Together Network will: 

  • Safeguard the health and safety of its workforce and any others who might be impacted by its operations.
  • Minimize negative impacts on the physical environment where these operations take place.

Stand Together Network understands that its employees’ skills and energies are among its most valuable resources, and it is committed to their welfare, as well as that of its beneficiaries and visitors. As far as is feasibly possible, Stand Together Network will:

  • Establish and uphold safe work environments and practices that pose no health, safety, or welfare risks;
  • Develop standards and policies that meet relevant legal requirements concerning health, safety, welfare, and the environment, as they pertain to employees, beneficiaries, and the public;
  • Proactively foster a positive health and safety culture by encouraging good practice;
  • Carry out risk assessments of facilities, training areas, and work tasks;
  • Incorporate health and safety into learning to continually provide beneficiaries with pertinent knowledge and experience;
  • Inform all staff, visitors, and beneficiaries about the health & safety policy and procedures, ensuring they comply with these as part of their induction;
  • Protect employees, beneficiaries, and all others from foreseeable hazards related to health, safety, or the environment in current processes, practices, and working systems;
  • Offer training to staff to make them aware of their own responsibilities regarding health, safety, welfare, and environmental issues, and to ensure they actively engage in good practice that prevents accidents and occupational and non-occupational injuries and diseases.

2.1 Management

Management is responsible for implementing this policy and ensuring that all staff and volunteers are aware of their responsibilities. They will provide the necessary resources to implement the policy and will review it regularly to ensure it remains effective. 

2.2 Employees and Volunteers

All employees and volunteers are required to cooperate with the management in the implementation of this policy and to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others. 

3. Training

We will provide all necessary training to our employees and volunteers to ensure they are aware of their health and safety obligations, and are equipped to handle situations involving domestic violence sensitively and safely. 

4. Risk Assessment

We will carry out regular risk assessments to identify hazards and implement necessary control measures. This includes assessing the risks associated with domestic violence situations and ensuring that our services are delivered in a way that minimizes risk to all involved.

5. Confidentiality and Data Protection

We will ensure that all personal information is handled in accordance with data protection laws and our confidentiality policy. This is particularly important given the sensitive nature of the work we do. 

6. Review

This policy will be reviewed annually or whenever there is a significant change in our activities or relevant legislation. 

2.3 Employees and Volunteers 

All employees and volunteers have a responsibility to: 

  1. Cooperate with the management in the implementation of the health and safety policy.
  2. Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.
  3. Report any health and safety concerns to their immediate supervisor or manager.

7. Incident Reporting

All incidents, no matter how minor, should be reported to the management as soon as possible. This includes near misses, which can provide valuable information and help prevent future incidents. 

 

8. Support for Beneficiaries

We recognize that the women we serve may be in a vulnerable situation. We are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for them. This includes: 

  1. Ensuring confidentiality and respect for their personal circumstances.
  2. Providing appropriate support and referrals to other services if needed.
  3. Ensuring that all interactions are conducted in a manner that respects their dignity and autonomy.

GDPR Policy

Stand Together Network  is committed to protecting personal data and respecting the rights of our customers and business contacts . This policy outlines our obligations under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Data Protection Principles Under GDPR, we must ensure that personal data is: 

  • Processed lawfully, fairly, and transparently.
  • Collected for specific, clear, and legitimate purposes.
  • Adequate, relevant, and limited to what is necessary. 
  • Accurate and up-to-date. 
  • Stored in a way that allows identification of data subjects for no longer than necessary. 
  • Processed securely to prevent unauthorised access, loss, or damage. 

Rights of Data Subjects Under GDPR, data subjects have the following rights:

  • To be informed about how their data is used. 
  • To access their data. 
  • To correct their data if it is inaccurate. 
  • To request deletion of their data. 
  • To restrict processing of their data. 
  • To move their data from one service provider to another. 
  • To object to their data being processed. 
  • To not be subject to automated decision-making without consent. 

Lawful, Fair, and Transparent Data Processing Data processing is lawful if the data subject has given consent, if it’s necessary for a contract, if there’s a legal obligation, if it protects vital interests, if it’s in the public interest, or if there’s a legitimate interest. 

Contact For any concerns or questions, please contact our Designated Senior Person for Safeguarding,  

ANTI-SLAVERY & HUMAN TRAFFICKING POLICY STATEMENT

1. Introduction

1.1 This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes Stand Together Network t/a STN’s slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ending 31 July 2017  

1.2 Stand Together Network t/a STN is committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in its supply chains or in any part of its services. This statement sets out the preventative steps that the Company is taking (and intends to take) to avoid the risk of modern slavery occurring within our services.  

2. Due Diligence processes

2.1 As part of our initiative to identify and mitigate the risks of modern slavery occurring in any part of Company services, Stand Together Network t/a STN will adopt due diligence processes that are proportionate to any risk areas identified (dependent on the severity of the risk and other relevant factors). These processes will be subject to on-going assessment and review.  

2.2 Stand Together Network t/a STN has in place systems to: 

  • Identify and assess the potential risk areas in our supply chains. 
    • Mitigate the risk of slavery and human trafficking occurring in our supply chains.   
    • Protect whistle blowers.  

2.3 Stand Together Network t/a STN identifies the following as the principal areas of potential risk:  

  • Supply Chains for goods and services – particularly IT equipment and uniforms; outsourced cleaning and security services  
  • Recruitment agencies for temporary staff  

3. Supply chains

3.1 In its supply chains, Stand Together Network t/a STN has identified the following business areas as carrying material risks of modern slavery occurring:  

  • IT equipment
    • Clothing and uniforms 
    • Outsourced cleaning
      • Outsourced security services  

3.2 When tendering any types of goods or services, Stand Together Network t/a STN requires any potential third-party suppliers to evidence that they operate a high level of corporate social responsibility and comply with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 during any tendering and selection process, including through contracting with suppliers from approved procurement frameworks.  

3.3 When procuring any types of goods or services identified as carrying material risks of modern slavery occurring (4.1) the Company requires any supplier to evidence that that they operate a high level of corporate social responsibility and comply with the Modern Slavery Act 2015.  

3.4 Any supplier or potential supplier, identified in 4.2 or 4.3, wishing to supply to or partner with Stand Together Network t/a STN that does not comply with the Modern Slavery Act 2015, or Stand Together Network t/a STN’ own policies and procedures, will be removed from Stand Together Network t/a STN list of suppliers and will not be considered for future supply to the Company unless they can demonstrate that these compliance requirements are met.  

3.5 In terms of future steps, Stand Together Network t/a STN will review the viability of introducing other due diligence processes for monitoring and managing identified risks, including risks associated with particular countries and products  

4. Training

4.1 To ensure an appropriate level of understanding of the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains and our business, we provide training to our staff responsible for recruitment, procurement and contract management. We also require our business partners to provide training to their staff and suppliers and providers. 

5. Recruitment practices

5.1 Temporary staff and staff recruited indirectly by Stand Together Network t/a STN are recruited through agreed, reputable recruitment agencies. To mitigate the risk of any potential occurrences of modern slavery, Stand Together Network t/a STN conducts checks on such agencies before they are approved.  

5.2 Through its recruitment processes, Stand Together Network t/a STN ensures that all approved recruitment agencies conduct all relevant pre-recruitment checks and provide evidence that all such checks have been conducted.  

6. Company policies

6.1 Stand Together Network t/a STN already implements the following policies, which embed good practice and providing remedies for individuals concerned about any potential instances of modern slavery in any part of Charity. Stand Together Network t/a STN operates the following policies:  

Grievance and Whistleblowing policies – these policies allow employees, students and others to raise concerns, which would include circumstances giving rise to a risk of modern slavery, without fear of retaliation.  

Employee Code of Conduct – this code sets out the actions and behaviour expected of them whilst employed by Stand Together Network t/a STN. The Company strives to maintain the highest standards of employee conduct and ethical behaviour when managing its supply chain  

Anti-bribery and corruption policy – Stand Together Network t/a STN is committed to the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity in its business activities. Stand Together Network t/a STN will not tolerate any form of bribery or corruption by its employees or any person or body acting on its behalf  

Procurement policy – this policy reflects Stand Together Network t/a STN’s commitment to acting ethically and with integrity in its business relationships, as well as implementing and enforcing effective and proportionate safeguards and controls.  

Recruitment policy- this policy ensures that Stand Together Network t/a STN follows transparent recruitment processes, including measures to prevent illegal working and compliance with other relevant statutory requirements.  

7. Performance indicators

7.1 Where Stand Together Network t/a STN has identified risks of modern slavery occurring in any part of its services, it will aim to introduce performance indicators (KPis) to measure progress against reducing such risks. The Company will consider setting and reviewing KPis in the following contexts: 

  • use of grievance and whistleblowing procedures by staff to raise concerns about instances of modern slavery
    • assessment of third-party suppliers of relevant goods and services and their supply chains  

7.2 This statement will be made available to all staff members, stakeholders and the general public. We will also seek to raise awareness of the risks of modern slavery amongst staff by other measures, including discussion of this statement during the induction process for new employees.  

7.3 Having assessed the training needs for all staff operating in the charity, Stand Together Network t/a STN will look at devising and implementing training and awareness­ raising methods attuned to relevant staffing groups. Training courses may be devised in cooperation with external, specialist training providers.  

Document Review Plans

This document is subject to a scheduled annual review. Updates shall be made in accordance with business requirements and changes. 

Equal Opportunities Policy

At Stand Together Network (STN), we are steadfast in our commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity in all our operations. We strive to create a working environment where all learners, staff, and employers are treated equally, without any form of discrimination. 

Our aim is to eliminate any barriers that may hinder the progress of any individual, regardless of their race, religion, beliefs, sex, age, sexual orientation, etc. We frequently address clients who have been subject to discrimination and are fully equipped to help individuals succeed, irrespective of their background. 

We encourage and welcome people with disabilities and learning difficulties to participate in our training programmes. We are committed to adjusting our services to meet every individual’s unique needs. If you have a disability or learning difficulty, we aim to foster new aspirations and a greater sense of social inclusion in the communities.

Our goal is to develop learners’ personal, economic, and social status and to enhance the level of service given to their customers and clients. This commitment is reflected in the success of our learners and the quantifiable improvements and benefits for their employers. 

To achieve this, we: 

  • Engage with beneficiaries beforehand to determine the best course and the support needed to complete it.
  • Promote cultural diversity, equality of opportunity, and environmental responsibility to create opportunities for all.
  • Foster a real sense of community and team spirit.
  • Create hope and success for ALL learners, increasing aspirations irrespective of ability and individual learning needs.
  • Place people at the heart of everything that we do.
  • Enhance the life experiences of young people and adults to help them expand their aspirations in life.
  • Design and deliver unique solutions tailored to the individual to enable them to fulfill their potential and achieve their goals.

In addition, we are committed to providing ongoing training to our staff to ensure they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to uphold these principles. We also have a robust system for handling any complaints or issues related to equal opportunities, ensuring that they are dealt with promptly and effectively. 

By adhering to this policy, we aim to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and respected, and where diversity is celebrated. We believe that by doing so, we can contribute to a more equitable and inclusive society.