Introduction
Safeguarding is about embedding practices throughout the organisation to protect children and vulnerable adults wherever possible. It differs from protection, which focuses on responding to specific incidents.
Definitions
Abuse
Abuse is a misuse of power that can take many forms, including:
Physical abuse
Sexual abuse
Emotional abuse
Bullying
Neglect
Financial or material abuse
Children
A child is anyone under the age of 18.
Vulnerable Adults
A vulnerable adult is someone aged 18 or over who may be unable to protect themselves, including individuals who:
Are elderly or frail
Have mental illness or dementia
Have physical, sensory, or learning disabilities
Have severe physical illness
Misuse substances
Are homeless
Responsibility of Staff
All staff and volunteers have a responsibility to:
Follow safeguarding procedures
Report concerns promptly
Promote good practice
Act as positive role models
Additional Responsibilities
The CEO or Clinical Director is responsible for:
Ensuring the policy is in place and accessible
Monitoring and reviewing the policy
Ensuring staff receive appropriate safeguarding training
Responding to safeguarding concerns promptly
Implementation
Safeguarding is implemented through related organisational policies, including:
Complaints and disciplinary procedures
Health and safety and lone working policies
Equal opportunities policy
Data privacy policy
Privacy, dignity, and respect policy
Staff induction and training policies
Safe Recruitment
Mind Meaning ensures safe recruitment by:
Including safeguarding statements in recruitment materials
Defining safeguarding responsibilities in role descriptions
Using formal application and interview processes
Conducting DBS checks where required
Obtaining references
Completing all checks before confirming appointments
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Gap Management
To prevent DBS gaps:
DBS checks are reviewed every 3 years
Staff moving into safeguarding roles must undergo DBS checks
Induction and Training
Safeguarding induction includes:
Review of safeguarding and related policies
Understanding reporting procedures
Initial safeguarding training
Ongoing training covers:
Safeguarding children and young people
Safeguarding vulnerable adults
Communication methods include:
Team meetings
Supervision sessions
One-to-one meetings
Multi-agency engagement where appropriate
Support for Staff
Mind Meaning provides:
Debriefing and reflective support
Access to further support such as counselling
Professional Boundaries
Staff must adhere to strict professional boundaries, including:
No giving or receiving gifts from clients
No personal relationships with current or recent clients
No sharing personal contact details
No financial transactions with clients
No accepting valuables or money
No social media relationships with clients
Reporting Safeguarding Concerns
The reporting process includes:
Reporting concerns to a lead clinician or manager
Seeking medical help if required
Discussing concerns with parents or vulnerable adults where appropriate
Seeking advice from relevant safeguarding authorities
Submitting safeguarding reports within required timescales
Recording and following up responses
Allegations Management
Concerns about staff must be:
Reported internally
Escalated to local authorities where necessary
Managed in line with legal safeguarding obligations
Monitoring
Safeguarding is monitored through:
Recruitment and DBS records
Supervision and training logs
Reporting and response tracking
Regular policy reviews
Managing Information
Information is handled in line with:
Data Privacy Policy
Privacy, Dignity, and Respect Policy
Staff must:
Share information on a need-to-know basis
Understand that safeguarding may override confidentiality
Never promise secrecy to service users
The Safeguarding Policy is:
Displayed on the website
Highlighted in training sessions