Immediate danger: Call 999. Wheezy Does It email and social accounts are not continuously monitored and must not be used as emergency safeguarding services.
1. Purpose
This policy covers concerns arising through email, social media, stories, volunteering, events or other charity activity.
2. Principles
- Take concerns seriously and respond without judgement.
- Do not promise complete confidentiality.
- Record only information needed to understand and escalate the concern.
- Share information only with people or authorities who need it for safeguarding.
- Do not investigate allegations independently.
3. Responding to a disclosure
- Listen and remain calm.
- Clarify immediate safety without conducting an interview.
- Explain that the concern may need to be shared.
- Record the person’s own words as accurately as possible.
- Contact the designated safeguarding lead.
- Use emergency services or the appropriate local safeguarding authority when required.
4. Online and community safety
Public comments or stories containing personal data, threats, abuse or dangerous medical claims may be hidden or removed while concerns are reviewed.
5. Record keeping
Safeguarding records should be access-controlled, factual, dated and retained according to an approved schedule.
Approval needed: Appoint a safeguarding lead and deputy, define local escalation contacts, training requirements and retention periods.