Safe Families UK Approved Resource Friend Agreement

General

I confirm that I understand the objectives and principles of Safe Families and am in support of them.
I agree to conduct myself according to the expectations detailed in this document.
I agree to inform Safe Families if there are any changes to my circumstances, family life, home environment or other aspects included in the process of my recruitment. For example: contact details, significant change in work or professional status, any relevant professional enquires/disciplinary actions which may impact suitability to provide a resource.
I agree to adhere to the professional advice of Safe Families staff and understand that final decisions relating to the escalation or closure of support for a family remain with Safe Families.
I agree to accept and follow advice from Safe Families relating to ongoing personal relationships with supported families and understand such relationships do not come under the umbrella of support from Safe Families.
I agree to notify Safe Families of any concerns I may have for the family I provide a resource for and understand my role in Safeguarding children and families.
I agree to complete the resource request I have volunteered for and to not go beyond the agreed activity. If additional activity is deemed necessary to complete the job to a safe and satisfactory standard, I will not progress without having first received consent from the family and, where possible, sought approval from a member of the Safe Families staff team.
I understand that Safe Families are unable to provide any expenses for my volunteering, but I can contact the Safe Families team about providing any necessary resources for the family.
I agree that in the event of a pandemic or national/local emergency my volunteering activity may be limited as a result of any national or local restrictions that are put in place and that I will be guided by Safe Families to ensure any support is provided safely.

Confidentiality

I agree to treat all information regarding referred children and referred families with respect and with careful consideration for confidentiality.
I agree to follow Safe Families procedures and guidance for information sharing and will only share personal information I have received in accordance with consents given to me to do so, or within circumstances specified from time to time by Safe Families.
Unless specific consent is given I will not disclose the reasons why a child and/or parents are receiving Safe Families support to anyone outside of the Safe Families network.
I will not disclose to the child information that the parents/carers have specifically requested to be kept confidential from the child, unless changes in circumstances or the safety of the child determine otherwise, and advice given by Safe Families agrees to this.
I acknowledge that it is wholly inappropriate and a breach of Safe Families policy to display any photograph of Safe Families children in my care on the internet or any form of social media.
I agree to seek advice from Safe Families if I am uncertain regarding questions of confidentiality and information sharing.
I agree that Safe Families will disclose my address to parents/carers for the purposes of overnight hosting.

Use of own transport

I agree that all private vehicles that I use during involvement with Safe Families will be correctly insured, taxed and with valid MOT, according to the legal requirements for the vehicle and the purposes for which they are being used.
I agree that I will not transport any Safe Families parent/carers or children without prior consultation with Safe Families.
I agree that, were it to be necessary to transport any Safe Families families, they shall only be transported in vehicles driven by an individual holding a valid driver’s license and appropriate insurance and following current regulations for transporting children of different height, weight and age.

Volunteer Roles

What you are allowed to undertake in volunteering will depend on the role(s) you are approved in. You will be informed of this at approval.

Resource Friend – Approved to provide practical support to a family in or around their home.
If you wish to become a Family Friend or Host Friend, you will need to undertake the full Safe Families’ volunteer approval process prior to beginning a befriending role.

I hereby agree with the terms of this agreement:

Please enter your name:

Code of Conduct

Staff and volunteers acting on behalf of Safe Families must:

Always behave with honesty and integrity, making sure that their behaviour does not damage the public's confidence in them or in Safe Families.
Act in the best interests of children and families referred to Safe Families.

Make decisions according to the best interests of the referred child and family, with their safety as of paramount importance.
Treat all with respect and dignity, committed to the highest standard of Safe Families support, irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, sexuality, social or economic status, lifestyle, culture, religion or beliefs.

Be familiar with and abide by Safe Families procedures, with particular care to be taken in all aspects of safeguarding.
Respect the confidentiality of those referred to Safe Families, sharing information only when necessary and only with relevant and appropriate people and seeking to maintain the dignity of the subject of the information.
Communicate respectfully and effectively with referred children and parents/carers, with other Safe Families workers, and with workers of partner agencies, choosing the method of communication appropriately.

e.g. some matters are best dealt with by email, other matter by telephone or sometimes through a face to face conversation.

Not to allow someone who has been identified as a risk to children to have contact with a Safe Families child.
Keep Safe Families informed of any issues or incidents arising relating to conduct or competence.

e.g. any criminal offences, police cautions, disciplinary proceedings or work suspensions.

Maintain an appropriate level of knowledge and competency.
- i.e. make use of available training, and request further support and/or training as needed
Act within the limits of their knowledge, skills and experience, referring matters on to Safe Families management if a situation becomes problematic
Limit their work or stop if their performance or judgment is affected by their health.
Keep accurate and timely records, using the notes function on the Safe Families database as appropriate.
Make sure that any promotion / advertising of Safe Families services is accurate.
Remain in regular contact with the allocated family support manager being clear about challenges, concerns and any accidents or incidents of concern during care of a child or engagement with a referring parent or carer.
Effectively supervise tasks delegated to others.
Exercise care regarding any risks of infection.
Seek advice if any expectations for conduct are unclear.

Adapted from: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics Health and Care Professions Council 2012.