We work with a wide range of children and young adults from an equally broad range of cultures, backgrounds and traditions. We exist so that they can meet new people and experience the very best that the world has to offer. This includes supporting them in environments with which they are unfamiliar and at times when they do not have access to the same support systems they enjoy at home.

In acknowledging these facts we recognise our very particular responsibility to establish a considered and informed approach to safeguarding that places the safety and wellbeing of those in our care at the heart of everything we do. This policy sets out how we do this.

1. This policy applies to all children and young adults for whom we assume a duty of care. In some cases, this may include the care of those aged 18 years or over who are part of groups that also include younger people.
2. We believe that no single method can eliminate the risk of harm. Therefore, our approach to safeguarding is multi-facetted.
3. We understand that different countries and cultures have different approaches to safeguarding. However, the philosophy behind out approach is based on the United Kingdom’s safeguarding expectations.
4. We understand that overseas partners (or others) may wish to include additional safeguarding measures. We invite all such requests and will do all that is reasonable to strengthen our ability to protect young people.

• We ensure enhanced criminal record checks are conducted for all UK based adults working on our behalf and who have direct, unsupervised access to young people. This includes all adult members of homestay households. Further details are available here.
• We make all reasonable efforts to apply equivalent principles to activity taking place overseas or involving overseas partners. However, it is necessary to acknowledge that direct equivalents may not exist in some cases.
• We publish clear and comprehensive advice to adults working on our behalf, including how to manage a position of trust with a young person and what to do it faced a safeguarding disclosure. This is available here.
• We ensure all those working with us are made aware of our safeguarding policy and have the chance to discuss this with a Hobstone representative.
• When working in an advisory capacity we will discuss apprporiate safety measures with organisations to promote good practice and risk management.
• For short duration residential projects it is normally the case that partner organisations take primary responsibility for the care of young people and provide chaperones for this purpose.
• When placing young people in the care of UK based schools, college’s and universities, we obtain a copy of each institutions published safeguarding policy to establish that it meets out needs.

Hobstone has an active presence on social media and believes that it is an important communication tool in the modern world. However, we also understand the challenge that this new technology poses, especially for young people. With this in mind, we take the following approach:

• Hobstone employees do not “befriend” the young people in their care on Facebook or other social media platforms. However, they may establish closed groups which can be used for communication purposes.
• Details of how Hobstone agree to publish or otherwise use photos and videos of young people is contained in out Data Protection Policy.

• NSPCC (Leading UK charity for the safeguarding and protection of Children).
• Links to Local UK Safeguarding Boards (safecic.co.uk).

Safeguarding Policy Version 4.01 – Published March 2023 – Review Date, 29th February 2024.