Safeguarding policy

Age Related Diseases & Health Trust (“AgeTrust”) works with older people, many of whom live alone or are living with a long-term condition. Everyone we support has the right to live free from abuse, neglect and exploitation. This policy sets out how we keep people safe and what we do if we are worried about someone.

Our commitments

• The welfare of the people we support comes first in every decision we make.
• Every volunteer who visits or calls people is interviewed, provides two references and has an enhanced DBS check before being matched.
• Every volunteer completes a safeguarding induction and knows who to contact if they are concerned.
• Each befriending match has a named coordinator who checks in regularly with both people.
• We respect people's choices and independence, and we involve them in decisions about their own safety wherever possible.

What volunteers can and cannot do

Befrienders and shed helpers offer company, conversation and practical help with everyday things. They do not provide personal care, handle money or valuables, give medical, legal or financial advice, or accept gifts beyond a token of thanks. These boundaries protect both the person being visited and the volunteer.

Recognising abuse and neglect

Abuse can be physical, emotional, financial, sexual or discriminatory, and it can include neglect and self-neglect. Signs might include unexplained injuries, sudden money worries, fear of a particular person, a home that has become unsafe, or someone who seems withdrawn or frightened. Volunteers are trained to notice changes and to report them rather than investigate.

What we do if we are worried

1. If someone is in immediate danger, we call 999.
2. The volunteer tells their AgeTrust coordinator the same day. We write down what was seen or heard, in the person's own words where possible.
3. Our safeguarding lead decides, with the person wherever possible, whether to make a referral to the local authority adult safeguarding team or another agency.
4. We keep a confidential record of concerns and the action taken, and we share information only with those who need it to keep the person safe.

Raising a concern with us

Anyone can raise a safeguarding concern, including the people we support, their families, volunteers and members of the public. Contact our safeguarding lead by phone on 0121 820 3901 or by email at info@agetrust.co.uk. You can also contact your local council's adult social care team directly, or the police.

Volunteers and staff

We also have a duty of care to our volunteers and staff. Volunteers can decline any task that makes them feel unsafe, and they will never be left without support. Concerns about the conduct of a volunteer or member of staff are taken seriously, investigated and, where necessary, reported to the Disclosure and Barring Service and the Charity Commission.

Review

This policy is approved by the trustees and reviewed every year, or sooner if the law or guidance changes. Our charity number is 1124019.