Last updated – June 2025
Due for review – February/March 2026
Why is safeguarding important? Effective safeguarding work keeps people safe from abuse, harm, neglect, manipulation, bullying or exploitation. Those we seek to support will have experienced trauma, may have PTSD, and so may be more vulnerable to both abuse and abusing others. Everyone working on Host Abingdon’s behalf must understand the basics of how they can play their part in keeping people safe.
Key safeguarding actions
The following list of key safeguarding actions is helpful:
- Reduce the Risk – How can I work in ways that reduce the risk of abuse or neglect happening in the first place
- Recognise – What do I need to watch out for?
- Respond – What should I do?
- Report – Who do I tell within Host Abingdon and its wider safeguarding network?
- Record – What records are needed of what happened and actions taken
- Refer – Which other agencies, services and individuals should we consult and refer to?
Reduce the Risk
We do not work directly with children.
Children might be involved in households where we support adults, but volunteers should not engage with children unless other adults are around. If asked to care for a child by a parent (e.g. Can you keep an eye on my child while I go into a shop/GP appointment?) we should refuse.
Volunteers offering lifts to parents and children will have a DBS check.
We do work directly with vulnerable adults, and we reduce the risk by:
- Avoiding lone working where we can.
- Using volunteers who have been through a selection process and an induction covering guidelines on safeguarding with examples of possible situations.
- Offering ongoing training and support meetings to help volunteers recognise, respond and report appropriately if they see accidents waiting to happen or unsafe situations for children or adults. Online safety issues should be highlighted.
- Supervision for Coordinators available when needed from Refugee Resource.
- Checks made on appropriate recording and sharing with other agencies at Committee meetings, where Safeguarding is a standing item, and at annual Compliance Audit.
Host Abingdon’s Safeguarding Lead – Liz Azzopardi
Compliance Auditor – Hazel Knott
Emergency Support Group (ESG) created to provide back up expertise when needed.
Recognise
What do I need to watch out for?
All volunteers should know that if any conversation or incident leaves them feeling a little worried or uneasy they should share it with their supervisor immediately.
Sample scenarios related to our work should be highlighted at volunteer induction.
There should be ongoing discussion and training on awareness of abuse.
A folder of useful information and training material is available for Coordinators and Committee.
Respond
What should I do?
Immediate danger? If you think a child or adult is in immediate danger call the Police on 999. No need for consultation – call 999.
For concern about risk, rather than immediate danger, consult with others.
Take concerns reported by others or any unease felt by yourself seriously. Trust your instincts.
Listen if concerns are being shared. Reassure it is important to share concerns. Avoid making judgements, keep listening.
If concerns are being shared by someone we are supporting explain you will need to share with someone else in Host Abingdon who can help think about what steps to take. Assure them you will keep them involved.
Never promise you will keep a secret if asked – say that you will not gossip or share unnecessarily, but that you will need to share if something leaves you concerned for someone’s safety.
Report
Who do I tell?
Volunteers should share with a Volunteer Coordinator, Sue Colclough or Julie Kemp-Harper or other committee member.
Coordinators will share with each other, with Janice Gordon, Chair, and with Liz Azzopardi, Safeguarding Lead. The Emergency Support Group may be asked for guidance.
These people will decide when to contact outside agencies such as Asylum Welcome, Refugee Resource, Migrant Help, ReadyHomes and Care4Calais. These people will decide when immediate referral to MASH (the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub) is needed.
MASH in office hours – 0345 050 7666
MASH out of office hours – 0800 833 403
Helpful links for concern about risk:
- For children – Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership
What to do if you think a child is at risk of abuse or neglect – oscp.org.uk/concerned-about-a-child/ - For adults – Oxfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board
How to report concerns – osab.co.uk/how-to-report-concerns/
Those reporting safeguarding concerns will be supported by others in the team.
Record
Any safeguarding concerns, even if they prove to be false alarms, should be recorded on an Incident and Accident Report and shared with the Safeguarding Lead and the Chair. The report should be brought to the next committee meeting.
Refer
As already stated we will consult as appropriate with Asylum Welcome, Refugee Resource, Migrant Help, ReadyHomes and Care4Calais, as well as with MASH, Police and other statutory services.
What to do if there are concerns that a Host Abingdon volunteer or representative has abused a child or vulnerable adult
Concerns that a volunteer or other representative of Host Abingdon has harmed or abused, or is abusing, a child or vulnerable adult or that their conduct towards a child or vulnerable adult has been inappropriate, should be reported in the first instance to the appropriate Volunteer Coordinator.
In all cases the individual will be suspended from their role with Host Abingdon without prejudice, pending conclusions of an investigation.
Referral should be made to LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) by Coordinators/ESG members after consultation.
Email –
Telephone – 01865 810603
Reports will be made to the Committee.
An investigation will be instigated under the Host Abingdon Complaints Policy.
Throughout the process the individual whom the allegation has been made against has the option of being supported by a colleague. The supporting colleague will keep them up to date with information and developments and where the allegation is unsubstantiated facilitate their return to work or volunteering.
The Sexual Offences (Amendments) Act 2000 made it a criminal offence for an adult in a position of trust, for example a teacher, social worker, first aid trainer, volunteer coordinator etc., to develop a sexual relationship with a person under 18 years old. A sexual relationship within a relationship of trust in this context is unequal and is unacceptable and must be reported.
Supporting Host Abingdon volunteers
All Host Abingdon volunteers who raise issues of safeguarding and/or who are involved in referrals to statutory agencies, will be supported by the volunteer co-ordinator or another designated person.
Support for individuals managing a safeguarding concern
In instances where the concern about someone’s welfare leads to an external referral, the individual who identified the concern and other individuals involved in the case, will be offered a debriefing and support.