Safeguarding Policy

Corporate |

Statement of Purpose

Coast Medic is committed to providing excellent, patient-centred care across a wide range of settings. Safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk of harm is at the heart of our work and underpins every service we provide. This policy sets out how we protect children and adults at risk from harm, abuse, neglect, exploitation, or radicalisation. It applies to all employees, volunteers, contractors, agency workers, trustees and anyone working on behalf of Coast Medic.

We recognise our statutory and regulatory duties under:

  • The Children Acts 1989 & 2004
  • Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018)
  • The Care Act 2014
  • Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (as amended by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012)
  • Equality Act 2010
  • Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS)
  • Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (Prevent Duty)
  • Care Quality Commission (CQC) Fundamental Standards

This policy must be read in conjunction with all Coast Medic policies, including: Whistleblowing, Complaints, Equality & Diversity, Confidentiality & Data Protection, Lone Working, and Health & Safety.

Commitment

At Coast Medic, we will:

  • Place safeguarding and the welfare of our service users at the centre of operations.
  • Ensure all staff and volunteers receive safeguarding training relevant to their role, updated annually.
  • Maintain safe recruitment practices, including Enhanced DBS checks for regulated activity roles.
  • Provide clear procedures for raising and managing safeguarding concerns, whistleblowing, and handling allegations against staff.
  • Work in partnership with statutory agencies (Police, Local Authority, NHS, MARU, LADO, Safeguarding Adults Boards).
  • Ensure subcontractors and partner organisations adopt Coast Medic’s safeguarding policy or demonstrate policies of equal standard.
  • Regularly review safeguarding incidents, complaints, and audits to drive continuous improvement.
  • Report safeguarding performance annually to the Board of Trustees and commissioning bodies as required.

Roles & Responsibilities

Trustees / Management Board

  • Hold ultimate accountability for safeguarding.
  • Receive quarterly safeguarding reports and review the annual safeguarding audit.
  • Ensure sufficient resources are allocated to safeguarding.

Operations Manager (OM)

  • Holds strategic responsibility for safeguarding within Coast Medic.
  • Provides oversight of policies, processes and implementation.

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

  • Day-to-day management of safeguarding, reporting to the OM.
  • Point of contact for staff, volunteers and external agencies.
  • Manages safeguarding registers (training, allegations, incidents).
  • Ensures all safeguarding concerns are recorded, escalated, and referred appropriately.
  • Liaises with MARU, LADO, Social Care, Police and NHS partners.

Deputy DSL

  • Supports DSL and acts in their absence.

All Staff, Volunteers and Contractors

  • Must read this policy, confirming understanding.
  • Must complete induction safeguarding training and annual refreshers.
  • Must report any safeguarding concern, allegation, or suspicion immediately to the DSL/Deputy DSL.
  • Must follow the Code of Conduct (Appendix A).

Safer Recruitment

Recruitment processes will follow safer recruitment principles:

  • Completion of application and self-declaration forms.
  • Face-to-face interview and verification of identity/qualifications.
  • Two written references verified prior to appointment.
  • Enhanced DBS checks for all regulated activity roles (children/adults).
  • Overseas applicants: equivalent criminal records and suitability checks.
  • Probationary period with supervision and peer feedback.
  • Ongoing personal development reviews and in-role risk assessments.

No appointment will be confirmed until all checks are completed.

Training, Induction & Supervision

  • Safeguarding induction delivered to all new starters.
  • Minimum training levels:
    • Non-healthcare staff: Level 2 (Children & Adults).
    • Healthcare staff: Level 2 Adults and Level 3 Children & Young People.
  • Prevent training mandatory for all staff.
  • Annual refresher safeguarding training required.
  • Central safeguarding training register maintained.
  • Regular supervision provided, including safeguarding discussions.

Training covers: recognising abuse, reporting concerns, whistleblowing, professional boundaries, digital safety, Prevent, lone working, and code of conduct.

Identifying Abuse

Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights. Coast Medic recognises the following categories of abuse (children and adults):

  • Physical
  • Sexual
  • Emotional/Psychological
  • Neglect and acts of omission
  • Financial/Material
  • Discriminatory
  • Organisational/Institutional
  • Domestic abuse
  • Radicalisation/Extremism

All staff must be alert to additional vulnerabilities, including disability, dependency, communication needs, or previous trauma.

Responding to Safeguarding Concerns

If a child or adult discloses abuse:

  • Reassure, listen, and remain calm.
  • Record facts promptly and accurately. If a patient, document the disclosure on the patient clinical record and ensure that the safeguarding component is completed.
  • Do not promise confidentiality.
  • Report immediately to DSL/Deputy DSL.

If abuse is witnessed or suspected:

  • Ensure immediate safety of victim.
  • Call 999 for emergency services if required.
  • Preserve evidence.
  • Notify DSL/Deputy DSL as soon as possible.

Allegations against staff:

  • Immediately reported to DSL, OM, and (for children) the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).
  • Procedures follow South West Safeguarding Child Protection Procedures & Cornwall’s Multi-Agency Safeguarding Adults guidance.
  • DSL maintains central allegation register.

Whistleblowing

Staff may raise safeguarding concerns outside their management line via Coast Medic’s Whistleblowing Policy, directly with regulators (CQC), or with any partner organisation. No staff member will suffer victimisation for raising a genuine safeguarding concern in good faith.

Information Governance & Record Keeping

  • Safeguarding records are stored securely and separately from personnel files.
  • Access is restricted to DSL/Deputy DSL and authorised senior managers.
  • Records are kept in line with GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018, and statutory retention periods.
  • Information will only be shared with other agencies where lawful, proportionate and necessary to safeguard.

Subcontracting & Partner Organisations

All subcontractors and partner agencies must:

  • Adopt Coast Medic’s safeguarding policy or demonstrate a policy of equal standard.
  • Ensure all staff/volunteers have completed safeguarding training and DBS checks.

Ultimate responsibility for compliance remains with Coast Medic.

Code of Conduct

All Coast Medic personnel (staff, volunteers, contractors, subcontractors) must comply with the Code of Conduct (Appendix A).

Key requirements:

  • Work safely, transparently, and responsibly.
  • Never give personal contact details or connect with service users on social media.
  • Never be alone with a child unless role/DBS checks authorise it.
  • Use appropriate language and behaviour.
  • Wear Coast Medic identification at all times.
  • Dress appropriately, avoiding offensive or revealing clothing.

Restraint

Restraint may only be used:

  • When necessary to prevent harm.
  • Proportionate to risk.
  • In line with CQC guidance and Coast Medic procedures.

All incidents must be recorded via the Incident Reporting System.

Protected Characteristics

In line with the Equality Act 2010, no service user will be discriminated against on the basis of:
Age, Disability, Gender, Gender reassignment, Pregnancy & Maternity, Race, Religion or belief, Sexual orientation.

Monitoring & Governance

  • DSL to maintain safeguarding registers (training, allegations, incidents).
  • DSL to report safeguarding activity quarterly to Trustees and annually to commissioning bodies.
  • Statutory safeguarding reports forwarded to Council within 48 hours.
  • Policy reviewed annually or sooner if legislation changes.

Deprivation of Liberty

Coast Medic staff will follow the Mental Capacity Act 2005, including DoLS procedures.
Where deprivation of liberty is required, applications will be made via the Court of Protection.

Lone Working

  • Risk assessments undertaken for all lone working situations.
  • Staff must log in/out of shifts and carry appropriate communications.
  • Safeguarding concerns heightened for lone working are reported directly to DSL.

Continuous Improvement

Safeguarding incidents, complaints, and audits will feed into lessons learned. Recommendations will be actioned and reviewed by the Board of Trustees.

Useful Contacts

Coast Medic

  • DSL: Laura Hesketh – 01326 755120 Ext. 201 – safeguarding@coastmedic.org.uk
  • Deputy DSL: Luke Tudor – 01326 755120 Ext. 200 – luke@coastmedic.org.uk

Emergency Services

  • Police: 999 (emergency) / 101 (non-emergency)
  • NHS Direct: 111

Cornwall Council

  • MARU (Multi-Agency Referral Unit): 0300 1231 116
  • Adult Social Care: 0300 1234 131
  • Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO): 01872 326536
  • HR Safeguarding Team: 01872 324130 / hrsafeguardingteam@cornwall.gov.uk

Partner Agencies

Appendices

  • Appendix A – Code of Conduct for Contractors and Staff
  • Appendix B – Definition of Regulated Activity (Children and Adults)
  • Appendix C – Safeguarding Reporting Flowchart

Appendix A – Code of Conduct for Contractors and Staff

All Coast Medic staff, volunteers, contractors, and subcontractors must comply with this Code of Conduct to safeguard and promote the welfare of service users.

General Conduct

  • Work safely, responsibly, and transparently.
  • Take responsibility for your actions and behaviour.
  • Avoid situations where your actions could be misinterpreted.
  • Do not use profane, discriminatory, or inappropriate language.
  • Dress professionally and appropriately:
    • Clothing must not be offensive, revealing, or sexually provocative.
    • Clothing must not display political or contentious slogans.
    • Clothing must be culturally sensitive.

Professional Boundaries

  • Do not give service users personal contact details, including mobile numbers or social media accounts.
  • Do not contact service users via social networking platforms.
  • Always work in an open and transparent manner.
  • Never be alone with a child or vulnerable adult unless your role specifically requires it and you have completed the necessary pre-employment checks.

Safeguarding Practices

  • Keep colleagues informed of your whereabouts and activities.
  • Report any safeguarding concerns immediately to the DSL or Deputy DSL.
  • Sign in and out of work locations as required.
  • Wear Coast Medic identification at all times.

Remember: Your actions, however well intended, could be misinterpreted. Always act professionally and protect yourself as well as service users.

Appendix B – Definition of Regulated Activity (Children and Adults)

Regulated activity excludes family or personal non-commercial arrangements.

Children

Regulated activity relating to children includes:

  • Unsupervised activities: teaching, training, instructing, caring for, or supervising children; providing advice/guidance on well-being; or transporting children.
  • Specified places: working in schools, children’s homes, childcare premises, with opportunity for contact (not including supervised volunteers).
  • Frequency: activities are regulated if done frequently (once a week or more), on 4+ days in a 30-day period, or overnight.
  • Personal care: washing, dressing, or healthcare by or under supervision of a professional.
  • Registered roles: childminders, foster carers.

Adults

Regulated activity relating to adults focuses on the activities provided, not the setting or frequency. It includes:

  • Healthcare: any health professional providing healthcare, or anyone under their supervision.
  • Personal care: support with eating, drinking, toileting, washing, bathing, dressing, mouth/skin/hair/nail care.
  • Social work: provision of social work services.
  • Financial affairs: assistance with cash, bills, shopping, or personal finances.
  • Conducting affairs: acting under Power of Attorney or Court of Protection authority.
  • Transport: conveying adults to receive health, personal, or social care (excluding family/friends and taxis).

Appendix C – Safeguarding Reporting Flowchart

Step 1 – Concern arises

  • Abuse is disclosed, witnessed, suspected, or an allegation is made.

Step 2 – Immediate action

  • Ensure safety of the person at risk.
  • If urgent risk of harm or life-threatening situation → call 999.
  • Preserve evidence if a crime is suspected.

Step 3 – Report

  • Report concern to DSL (or Deputy DSL if DSL unavailable).
  • If concern relates to a member of staff → notify DSL and Operations Manager immediately.

Step 4 – DSL response

  • DSL reviews concern, records it, and determines next steps.
  • DSL may consult:
    • MARU (children)
    • Adult Social Care (adults at risk)
    • Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) (allegations against staff)
    • Police (if crime suspected)

Step 5 – Referral

  • DSL makes referral to statutory agencies within 24 hours.
  • Statutory safeguarding report forwarded to commissioning body within 48 hours.

Step 6 – Support & Follow-up

  • Provide support to the victim and staff involved.
  • DSL logs concern in safeguarding register.
  • Review and implement lessons learned.