How to report a Safeguarding concern

Josie Cook (General Manager) is Green Hub’s Designated Safeguarding Lead

If you suspect someone is being abused, someone confides in you, someone has a concern or complaint about any adult or about you, it is your duty to report it.

You also need to report when a teen doesn’t attend a session (without prior notice) and you aren’t able to connect with their emergency contacts. This gives us the opportunity to follow up in the following days.

For reference, a copy of the most up-to-date Safeguarding Policy can be found here>>

Raising a Safeguarding Concern – online form

• Complete the Raising a Safeguarding Concern online form, with your detailed notes.
  • This is immediately distributed to the DSL and a team of Deputy DSLs.
  • One of them will make contact with you to ask you more about your report.

Safeguarding in specific scenarios

What to do if a teen doesn’t attend (without notice)

ASAP after the start of the session:

• Call ‘emergency contact 1’ – if you can’t get through, leave a message.
• Call ‘emergency contact 2’ – if you can’t get through, leave a message.
• If the teen does not arrive at all during the session, notify the office staff via the session group WhatsApp so this can be followed up by the staff or parent liaison team.
• Add to garden report so that Parent Liaison can follow up in the following days.

If you see or hear something

If you see something, or overhear a teen speaking about something potentially harmful.

The only instance where you should approach the teen for more information, is if you believe they are in imminent danger.

• Tell the Manager of the session you are attending and/or the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• In all cases, so that the concern is properly recorded, complete the online form, detailing your notes of what was said, using the actual words wherever possible.
• Where relevant, you / the Garden Leader should also add a comment to the weekly online Garden Report, so that the Parent Liaison team are immediately aware of a possible concern.
• Make sure that the activity you are involved in poses no further risk to the welfare of the people taking part in it.

Disclosure

If a teen or adult discloses something to you.

• Where someone reports information to you that you consider to be a concern:
  • Allow them to speak without interruption and accept what they say.
  • Be understanding and reassuring but do not give your opinion.
  • Tell them that you will try to offer support but that you must pass the information on.
• Tell the Manager of the session you are attending and/or the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• In all cases, so that the concern is properly recorded, complete the  online form, detailing your notes of what was said, using the actual words wherever possible.
• Where relevant, you / the Garden Leader should also add a comment to the weekly online Garden Report, so that the Parent Liaison team are immediately aware of a possible concern.
• Make sure that the activity you are involved in poses no further risk to the welfare of the people taking part in it.