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Policy statements

Our work conforms to these policies:

Data Protection

Parent Focus is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office number Z1915698 under the Data Protection Act 1998. We are registered to hold personal data under four categories:

  • Staff Administration
  • Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations
  • Accounts and Records
  • Consultancy and Advisory Services.

A copy of our registration is available on request.

Quality Assurance

Parent Focus makes every effort to ensure that all stages of a project, from the preparation and submission of a tender through to completion, are subject to quality assurance. We follow documented procedures agreed by the partners which define their responsibilities and agreed standards; compliance is monitored at a monthly reviews of all projects. We include the following steps:

  • Monitoring customer satisfaction and response
  • Internal audit to ensure projects are running to plan and within budget
  • Monitoring processes to ensure projects are working efficiently
  • Monitoring our outputs to ensure that they match or exceed equivalent outputs
  • Control and correction of sub-optimal outputs to ensure that where things go wrong we can respond appropriately
  • Analysis of data in order to create continual improvement

Project Management

All of our projects are managed in accordance with the following project management procedures:

  • An agreed precise specification for the project.
  • A project plan which includes time, team, activities, resources, financials.
  • A communication plan for the project.
  • A project action plan.
  • Regular monitoring and reviewing project progress with any necessary adjustments made to project plans.
  • Completion of project; review and report on project performance.

Subcontracting

The terms of any subcontracts are always within the terms of the main contract. Recruitment of any subcontractors are in line with other recruitment policies and include, where appropriate an open tendering process.

Health and Safety

Julie Campbell is the designated person with lead responsibility for health and safety. Our statement of general policy is:

  • To provide adequate control of the health and safety risks arising from our work activities;
  • To consult with anyone working with us on matters affecting their health and safety;
  • To provide and maintain safe equipment;
  • To ensure safe handling and use of substances;
  • To provide information, instruction and supervision for everyone working with Parent Focus;
  • To prevent accidents and cases of work-related ill health;
  • To maintain safe and healthy working conditions; and
  • To review and revise this policy as necessary at regular intervals.

Environmental Policy

Parent Focus is committed to being environmentally friendly in all of its business activities. We are committed to, and will:

  • Provide a safe and healthy workplace.
  • Be an environmentally responsible company.
  • Conserve natural resources by adopting appropriate practices (e.g recycling).
  • Develop and improve operations and technologies to minimize waste.
  • Ensure the responsible use of energy throughout our business, including conserving energy improving energy efficiency, and giving preference to renewable over non-renewable energy when feasible.
  • Participate in efforts to improve environmental protection and understanding.
  • Establish procedures for periodic review of environmental issues.
  • Promptly correct any practice or condition not in compliance with this policy.

Equal Opportunities

We aim to ensure that no-one working with Parent Focus receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of race, colour, gender orientation, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origin, age, gender, gender reassignment or marital status, sexual orientation or disability. Procedures are regularly reviewed to ensure that individuals are treated on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities. In addition, we are committed to offering family-friendly working practices in line with our business objectives. Where possible, this includes adding value to statutory requirements on maternity, paternity and parental leave entitlements.

Ethics

Parent Focus is committed to maintaining high ethical standards in their research. Participants are recruited to a specific recruitment brief and are provided with clear information about the nature of the research. Where participants receive an incentive they remain free to abstain from discussions which they feel uncomfortable with or would prefer not to take part in. Participants are informed about the nature and purpose of the research and their confidentiality is respected.

Emergency planning

Parent Focus ensure that appropriate staff cover is available in line with the requirements of any given project. Out of hours, contact Vicki Shotbolt on 07795 047 469.

Working with vulnerable people

Parent Focus is committed to taking all reasonable steps to safeguard the welfare of vulnerable people and children from physical, sexual and emotional harm while they are involved in activities organized by us, reducing the risk of abuse occurring.

  • Vetting: Prior to working in any capacity involving contact with vulnerable people or children all staff must undergo appropriate training
  • Reference check: Prior to working in any capacity involving contact with vulnerable people or children all staff will be asked to obtain an enhanced disclosure through police reference check. The appointed person will keep a record of the name of the person, the date of the application, the date on which the disclosure was made and the result. New disclosures will be required every 3 years where relevant.