REGISTERED CHARITY 1213936 • BASED IN COUNTY DURHAM • WELCOMING FAMILIES FROM ACROSS THE NORTH EAST AND BEYOND
Safeguarding

Everyone deserves to feel safe, heard and respected.

Unique Abilities SEND Group is committed to protecting children, young people and adults at risk and to responding appropriately whenever a safeguarding concern arises.

View all policies
Unique Abilities SEND Group logo

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility

Concerns should be listened to, recorded accurately and passed to the right person or service without avoidable delay.

Welfare comes first
Concerns taken seriously
Safer people and activities
Report without delay
Our safeguarding commitment

Safe, inclusive charity activity.

Safeguarding runs through planning, recruitment, delivery, partnerships, online communication and the way concerns are managed.

1

Child-centred practice

The welfare, voice, dignity and individual needs of each child or young person should remain central to decisions.

2

Safer recruitment and conduct

Trustees and volunteers should be selected, checked, trained and supervised appropriately for their responsibilities, including DBS checks where the role requires them.

3

Safe activities and environments

Activities should be risk assessed, appropriately staffed and supported by clear boundaries, codes of conduct and procedures for incidents or concerns.

4

Inclusive communication

Children and families should know who they can speak to, be listened to without judgement and receive information in a way they can understand.

Responding to concerns

Recognise, respond, record and report.

A person does not need proof before sharing a concern. Information should be passed promptly to those responsible for safeguarding decisions.

1

Listen and reassure

Stay calm, listen carefully, avoid leading questions and never promise to keep a safeguarding disclosure secret.

2

Record accurately

Write down what was seen, heard or disclosed as soon as possible, using the person’s own words where relevant.

3

Report internally

Pass the concern promptly through the charity’s safeguarding procedure to the designated safeguarding contact or responsible trustee.

4

Refer when needed

The charity should contact children’s social care, police or another appropriate safeguarding body where the concern requires external action.

Concerns about the charity

Speak up safely.

Safeguarding concerns about an activity, trustee, volunteer, partner or another attendee should be reported as soon as possible to the charity through the Contact page or by emailing info@uniqueabilitiessendgroup.org.uk.

Information is shared only with people who need it to protect someone, manage the concern or meet legal and regulatory duties.

Report a concern
1

No retaliation

Anyone raising a genuine concern in good faith should be treated respectfully.

2

Confidentiality is limited

Safeguarding information cannot be kept private where sharing is necessary to protect someone.

3

Partners and venues

Concerns may also need to follow the safeguarding arrangements of a venue or partner organisation.

4

Review and learning

Incidents and near misses should be reviewed so practice, training and risk controls can improve.

Need to discuss a concern?

Contact the team for a non-emergency safeguarding concern. Use emergency or statutory services where immediate action is needed.

Contact the team