Bags of Taste Mentor Safeguarding Guidance
As a mentor, you may see things that concern you. This may be in relation to participants, or their dependent children. Should you have a concern, the most important thing is to contact your course coordinator as soon as possible.
Below we set out some of the information regarding both adults and children.
Adult Safeguarding Guidance
What is Adult Safeguarding?
Safeguarding is a legal protective framework that applies to people who have care and support needs, and who as a result of those needs, are unable to protect themselves from abuse or neglect.
This means that we have a legal responsibility to ensure safeguarding rules are followed
It does not apply to everyone – but better safe than sorry when the law is concerned
The point of the law is to stop, prevent, reduce risk or address the cause of abuse or harm wherever possible, within the context of allowing the person independence and choice
In your role as mentor, you may see things that concern you
The people that we work with have complex needs and are often highly exposed to the risk of abuse. For example care leavers may have limited understanding of healthy relationships; some people may be dependent on carers for certain basic needs; people may have learning difficulties or addiction issues which allows others to prey on them. Many of our participants are isolated from support, and ill health can cause emotional crises that can be exploited
Types of Abuse
There are many types of abuse but the last three on the list are the ones we are most likely to see in the context of our work. They are
There are some common indicators for the ones we are most likely to see, which are listed below. For further detailed information please see https://www.scie.org.uk/safeguarding/adults/introduction/types-and-indicators-of-abuse
Domestic & Psychological Abuse Indicators
Self Neglect indicators
If someone tells you something
What happens next?
Child Safeguarding Guidance
Because of the nature of our work, it is unlikely that we will be able to see many manifestations of abuse, unless information is directly disclosed to you.
You may also notice some concerning behaviour from adults who you know have children in their care, which makes you concerned for the child/children’s safety and wellbeing. Most specifically, the parent or carer
experiencing a mental health or substance misuse problem which has a significant impact on the tasks of parenting.
These concerns should be reported to your course coordinator immediately