Creating a Safe Place

Practical Guidance for any organisation seeking to support Ukrainians arriving in UK

thirtyone:eight specialist guidance

Safeguarding is all about keeping you safe and those who visit your HUB, or who support the host family.

hosts

Currently Host families do not need a DBS to sign up to host. However, once a visa has been issued, your Local Government will get in touch with you. It may actually be after your guests have arrived. On the visit the LA will assess whether you need a DBS and if so will facilitate it and cover the cost.

Volunteers

LII is working with Ukrainians arriving in North Wales, and in particular CONWY County LA, under the Homes For Ukraine, the Ukraine Family and the Welsh Government Nation of Sanctuary Schemes.

Our current priorities are to reduce barriers to:

Language
Employment
Community integration
Housing

Although these arrivals are not considered to be refugees, as they are here on Visas, they are fleeing war and seeking safety and refuge. As a result many charities consider them to be vulnerable, as does LII.

Given the potential for vulnerability and emotional trauma, we are asking our volunteers to be vigilant and apply Safeguarding Procedures and report anything of concern to the Charity Chair, who will pass on, as necessary, to the County Safeguarding Team.

We are not permitting any of our volunteers to be working on their own and should always be accompanied by at least one volunteer with an Enhanced DBS. Our intention is that all our volunteers should have an Enhanced DBS Certificate.

In line with Welsh Government guidelines existing DBS certification can be accepted if it is the same type (Enhanced/ Basic; Children/ Adults). For example, if someone has a current DBS in place then that offers a level of assurance. It is for local authorities (and employers more generally) to decide what qualifies as a sufficient period of time remaining on a check and this will determine the need for preparations to undertake a new check. LII determines that a DBS should be dated within 2 years or less and renewed at 3 years unless on the Update Service.

Given the unusual situation great caution is being exercised. All Safeguarding Procedures fully apply.

If in any doubt please see these documents from ‘City of Sanctuary’ & ‘Welcome Churches’, the Welsh Government website, which are all very clear about how you need to approach safeguarding in this context.

WElsh government guidelines

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Accessing DBS checks

Only registered organisations are able to apply for an Enhanced DBS for you.

Learn More

Apply for DBS

You’re not allowed to apply for a DBS for yourself, the application has to come from your employer, or from the organisation you will be volunteering with. The process can be mostly completed online, but you will be asked to bring some paperwork such as passport, driving licence and utility bill to your employer to prove who you are. Once your employer has verified your identity, the form will be sent off to the DBS or other relevant body for checking. Certificates will then be sent out to the applicant’s home address.

DBS Update Service

As an individual once your DBS application is being processed, it mis advisable to register with the DBS Update Service - this is free for volunteers. Once you are registered and your DBS has been authorised, you will be able to use your BDS with most other organisations (ie it is transferrable). The other benefit is that you will not need to renew your DBS as this is kept up-to-date automatically by the service.

safeguarding training

The Welsh Government recommends everyone involved, in any regard, with volunteering to support Ukrainian Refugees should complete the Social Care Wales Group A Safeguarding e-learning course. This has just been made public and is accessible for all.

Keeping Children Safe has some excellent resources and from time to time free training courses