keeping people safe

Safeguarding statement.

True You Together CIC works with neurodivergent people, parents and families, including people who may be vulnerable. This page explains how we keep people safe, what we do if we are worried about someone, and how to raise a concern.

Last updated: [REVIEW: insert date this statement is approved.] Next review due: [REVIEW: set a review date, normally 12 months on.]

If someone is in immediate danger.

This website is not an emergency service and is not monitored around the clock. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, or at risk of serious harm right now, call 999. If you need urgent mental health support, the crisis lines listed at the top of every page are available day and night.

What we mean by safeguarding.

Safeguarding means protecting a person’s right to live in safety, free from abuse, harm and neglect. It applies to children and to adults who may be at risk because of their circumstances. We take this responsibility seriously in everything we do.

Our commitment.

We treat everyone who contacts us with dignity and respect, whatever their situation.
We follow safeguarding policies appropriate to working with vulnerable adults, children and families.
Anyone working or volunteering with us in a role that involves contact with people at risk is recruited safely and checked at the appropriate level, including a DBS check where one is required.
Our people receive safeguarding training appropriate to their role and know how to recognise and report a concern.
We keep clear, secure records of any safeguarding concern and the action we take.

What we do, and what we cannot do.

We offer support, guidance, education and signposting. We are not a crisis service, a counselling service or a replacement for the police, the NHS, or local authority social care. If your situation needs urgent or specialist help, we will say so and point you to the right service.

Our safeguarding lead.

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is responsible for handling concerns and deciding what action to take.

Name and role: [REVIEW: insert named Designated Safeguarding Lead and their role.]
How to reach them: [REVIEW: insert a safeguarding contact email or route. Default Info@trueyoucic.co.uk marked for the attention of the Safeguarding Lead.]
Deputy or cover arrangement: [REVIEW: insert who covers when the lead is unavailable, or remove this line if not applicable.]

How to raise a concern.

If you are worried about the safety or wellbeing of yourself, a child, or an adult at risk, you can tell us. Email Info@trueyoucic.co.uk marked for the Safeguarding Lead, or use the form on our contact page. Tell us what has happened, who is involved, and how we can reach you. We aim to respond to safeguarding concerns within [REVIEW: confirm response time, for example one working day.].

Because this inbox is not monitored around the clock, please do not rely on it in an emergency. Use 999 or the crisis lines at the top of the page if someone is at immediate risk.

What happens when we receive a concern.

The Safeguarding Lead reviews the concern and decides what action is needed.
Where there is a risk to a child or an adult at risk, we may need to share relevant information with the appropriate authority, such as the police or local authority social care, even without consent.
We will tell the person concerned if and when we share information, unless doing so would increase the risk of harm or interfere with an investigation.
We record what was reported, what we decided, and why.

Information and confidentiality.

We handle personal information in line with our privacy and cookies policy. We keep safeguarding records secure and share them only with those who need to know in order to keep someone safe. Records held for safeguarding reasons are kept for [REVIEW: confirm retention period, normally as long as the relevant safeguarding policy requires.] and then securely destroyed.

Useful contacts.

If you would rather contact a statutory or national service directly, the following can help.

Emergency, immediate danger: 999
Police, non-emergency: 101
Worried about a child (NSPCC): 0808 800 5000, or nspcc.org.uk
Childline (for children and young people): 0800 1111, or childline.org.uk
Worried about an adult at risk: contact your local council’s adult social care team. [REVIEW: insert the local authority covering your area and its safeguarding line if you wish to name it.]
Samaritans (emotional distress, any time): 116 123, or samaritans.org

Reviewing this statement.

We review this statement at least once a year, and sooner if our work or the relevant guidance changes. This statement sits alongside our internal safeguarding policy and procedures, which are available on request.

This statement is provided as a working draft. For a CIC supporting vulnerable people, we strongly recommend a suitably qualified safeguarding professional reviews and signs it off before launch. [REVIEW: obtain safeguarding sign-off and complete every placeholder above before promoting this page.]