Responding to safeguarding incidents

Everyone has a duty to look out for the safety and well-being of those around them. Depending on the nature of a safeguarding concern, you might report it to your line manager or a trustee. Trustees have a duty to report any serious incidents promptly to the Charity Commission.

If you’re not comfortable with raising the incident internally, issues can be raised externally by making a complaint to the Police, Information Commissioner’s Office, Fundraising Regulator, Charity Commission or the Adjudication Panel for Scotland, as relevant. The organisation should have a whistleblowing policy in place, which sets out an individual’s right to raise concerns in this way, without any fear of reprisal.

• Make sure you know what processes and policies are in place to determine how to handle any safeguarding issue (including whistleblowing).

• Report any safeguarding concerns promptly to your line manager or trustee, or raise the matter externally.

• Any criminal acts, allegations of abuse or serious incidents should be reported to relevant statutory authorities or regulators promptly. This responsibility sits with the charity trustee board.

• Prioritise safeguarding as a key governance priority (in line with the Charity Commission’s recently revised safeguarding strategy), protecting your staff, volunteers, beneficiaries and more.

• Keep records of any safeguarding incident and file them safely and securely.