Keeping You Safe

Safeguarding Policy

Keeping You Safe

At Trauma Research UK, your safety and well-being are our highest priority. We are committed to creating a safe, supportive and respectful environment for everyone who accesses our services, whether through mentoring, online support, events or volunteering.

We work with people who may be experiencing distress, trauma, or vulnerability, and we take our safeguarding responsibilities seriously.

What Safeguarding Means

Safeguarding means protecting people from abuse, neglect, exploitation and harm, while promoting their safety, well-being and right to live free from abuse. Safeguarding also means recognising concerns early, responding appropriately and taking action where necessary to help keep people safe.

Safeguarding applies to:

• Children: anyone under the age of 18.
• Adults at risk: anyone aged 18 or over who has needs for care and support, whether or not those needs are being met, and who is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect and is unable to protect themselves because of those needs.

Recognising Abuse and Harm

The Care Act 2014 recognises ten categories of abuse that may affect adults at risk. These include:

• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Emotional or psychological abuse
• Neglect and acts of omission
• Financial or material abuse
• Domestic abuse
• Discriminatory abuse
• Organisational abuse
• Modern slavery
• Self-neglect

We also recognise that safeguarding concerns may include situations involving children, online harm, exploitation, stalking, coercive or controlling behaviour, self-harm or concerns that someone may be at risk of suicide. Every concern is considered individually and responded to appropriately.

What Happens if There Is a Concern

If a safeguarding concern is raised or someone makes a disclosure:

• The person will be listened to with care, respect and without judgement.
• We may ask open and appropriate questions to gain a better understanding of the situation so we can determine whether there is a safeguarding concern and how best to support the individual.
• The concern will be taken seriously and recorded appropriately.
• The information will be passed to our designated safeguarding lead.
• Where appropriate, we may seek advice from safeguarding professionals or make referrals to statutory agencies, such as social services, the NHS, the police or emergency services.
• We will always act in the best interests of the individual’s safety and well-being.

Confidentiality and Information Sharing

We respect people’s privacy and treat information shared with us confidentially wherever possible.
However, there are circumstances where we may need to share information without consent. This may happen where:

• There is a concern that someone is at risk of significant harm
• There is a risk to the safety of another person
• A child or adult at risk requires safeguarding
• A serious crime has been disclosed, or there is a risk that a serious crime may be committed
• We are required to do so by law

Any information shared will be limited to what is necessary, shared only with those who need to know and handled in accordance with data protection legislation and safeguarding guidance.

Our People and Training

Our mentors and volunteers play an important role in helping to create a safe and supportive environment. Everyone involved with Trauma Research UK:

• Receives safeguarding guidance and appropriate training for their role.
• Is required to follow our safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Works within clear professional boundaries at all times.
• Is supported through supervision and good practice standards.
• Undertakes appropriate recruitment and suitability checks where required, including DBS checks where applicable.

In an Emergency

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, or requires urgent medical assistance, call 999 (UK) immediately or your local emergency services if you are outside the UK.