Safeguarding policy
Better Days UK is committed to protecting the welfare of all children, young people, and adults at risk who access our services. We recognise that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and that all employees, clinicians, managers, and contractors have a duty to act promptly on any concerns about abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
Better Days UK operates in accordance with the Care Act 2014, Children Act 1989 and 2004, and Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023), ensuring that all safeguarding concerns are addressed in a timely, proportionate, and professional manner.
We promote a culture of transparency, safety, and accountability, where clients are listened to, respected, and empowered, and where staff feel confident to report any concerns.
This policy aims to:
- Safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people, and adults at risk who receive support from Better Days UK.
- Provide clear guidance to clinicians and management on recognising and responding to signs of abuse or neglect.
- Define the roles and responsibilities of staff in safeguarding and reporting concerns.
- Ensure compliance with statutory duties and best practice frameworks in the UK.
- Support a safe and transparent organisational culture where safeguarding is prioritised in all decision-making.
- This policy applies to:
- All Better Days UK employees, including occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, assistants, and administrative staff.
- Contractors, agency staff, students, and volunteers delivering services on behalf of Better Days UK.
- All service settings — including clinics, homes, schools, and community environments.
Responding to a Disclosure or Concern
If a client discloses abuse or a clinician suspects abuse or neglect:
Listen carefully and stay calm. Do not promise confidentiality; explain you must share the concern for their safety.
Record what has been said using the person’s own words.
Report immediately to your Line Manager or the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
Do not investigate the matter yourself or confront the alleged perpetrator.
If a child or adult is in immediate danger, call 999.
Staff must remember that it is not their role to investigate, but to observe, record, and report.
Reporting Safeguarding Concerns
All concerns must be recorded in Splose within 24 hours of discovery.
The DSL will review the concern and determine next steps, which may include referral to:
- Local Authority Safeguarding Adults Team (Care Act 2014)
- Children’s Social Care / Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) (Children Act 1989 & 2004)
- Police, if a crime is suspected.
The DSL must maintain a written record of the referral, advice given, and any follow-up actions.
If the DSL is unavailable and the concern is urgent, the clinician should contact the Local Authority Safeguarding Team directly and inform the DSL as soon as possible.
Record Keeping
Good record keeping is essential and should include:
- Date, time, and location of the incident or disclosure.
- Names of all persons involved.
- Exact words used by the individual (in quotation marks).
- Your observations — factual only, not assumptions.
- Details of who you reported to and when.
- Any follow-up actions or advice received.
Records must be stored securely in Splose, restricted to authorised safeguarding personnel.
Escalation, Feedback and Whistleblowing
If a staff member believes that safeguarding concerns are not being taken seriously or appropriately handled, they should:
- Escalate to the National Manager or Director.
If internal escalation is ineffective, they may contact: Local Authority Safeguarding Adults Board or Children’s Social Care, or
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) – 03000 616161, or
The Whistleblowing Helpline for NHS and Social Care – 08000 724725.
Better Days UK fully supports staff who raise safeguarding concerns in good faith under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.
Confidentiality and Data Protection
Safeguarding information will be shared only on a need-to-know basis. Better Days UK complies with the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR.
Do not discuss concerns with colleagues, family, or friends. Only share with authorised safeguarding personnel or statutory agencies.
Training and Competency
- All new staff complete Safeguarding Induction Training within their first month.
- Annual refresher training is mandatory for all staff.
- Clinicians, Team Leaders, and Managers must complete Level 2–3 safeguarding training.
- The DSL and deputies must complete advanced (Level 3+) training and regular updates.
- Training completion is tracked by the Learning & Development Coordinator via the LMS.
Learning and Continuous Improvement
- All safeguarding incidents are reviewed by the Compliance Manager / DSL and discussed at the Risk and Quality Committee.
- Lessons learned are used to improve policies, procedures, and staff training.
- Trends and data are reported quarterly to the Directors for review.
Review
This policy will be reviewed annually, or earlier if there are changes in legislation, CQC requirements, or Better Days UK operational practices. The review will be led by the Compliance Manager (DSL) and approved by the Clinical Governance Committee.
Legislation and Guidance
This policy aligns with:
- Children Act 1989 and 2004
- Care Act 2014
- Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
- Working Together to Safeguard Children (HM Government, 2023)
- Keeping Children Safe in Education (DfE, 2023)
- Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014
- Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS)
- Equality Act 2010
- Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (Whistleblowing)
- Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR
- CQC Fundamental Standards and Safeguarding Guidance
- Local Safeguarding Adults and Children Partnership Protocol