Safeguarding Adults Policy

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Organisation: Disability Connect Mentoring Limited (trading as Disability Connect), company number 13268728
Policy owner: Steven Jones, Director
Approved by: Board of directors on 17th October 2026
Version: 2.0
Next review: October 2027

In an emergency, or if someone is in immediate danger, call 999 first. Then tell our Designated Safeguarding Lead, Steven Jones, on 07599 115615 or at info@disabilityconnect.org.uk.

Disability Connect Mentoring Limited (“Disability Connect”, “we”) is a not-for-profit social enterprise. We pair disabled mentors with leaders and employers through online mentoring, and we run training, focus groups and product reviews. Most of the people we work with are disabled adults. Some may, at times, be at risk of abuse or neglect.

This policy sets out how we keep people safe and what everyone must do if they have a concern.

• directors and staff
• mentors, while they take part in our schemes
• mentees and their organisations, while they take part in our schemes
• volunteers, freelancers and contractors who work with us
• partners who help deliver our projects

This policy applies to online sessions, training, events, phone and email contact, and any in-person meetings. It is based on the Care Act 2014, which applies in England. If an adult lives in Wales or Scotland, we follow the local procedures there, set by the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 and the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007.

Our schemes are for adults aged 18 and over, and we do not knowingly work with anyone under 18. If we become aware of a concern about a child, we report it to the local council’s children’s services or to the police (999 in an emergency).

We follow the six principles of adult safeguarding set out in the Care Act 2014 statutory guidance.

• Empowerment: People make their own decisions. We ask what outcome they want.
• Prevention: We act before harm happens, through training, clear boundaries and safe ways of working.
• Proportionality: We respond in the least intrusive way that matches the risk.
• Protection: We support people at risk and report concerns quickly.
• Partnership: We work with councils, the police and our partners, and share information safely.
• Accountability: Everyone knows their role, and we keep clear records.

We also follow Making Safeguarding Personal: we involve the person in decisions about them wherever possible. We assume adults can make their own decisions unless there is evidence otherwise, as the Mental Capacity Act 2005 requires.

Being disabled does not by itself make someone an adult at risk. Our mentors are experts in their own lives, and we respect their independence.

Under the Care Act 2014, an adult at risk is someone aged 18 or over who:

• has needs for care and support, whether or not these needs are being met
• is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect
• because of those needs, cannot protect themselves from the abuse or neglect, or the risk of it

You do not need to be sure someone meets this definition before raising a concern. If in doubt, speak to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

The Care Act 2014 statutory guidance recognises the types of abuse below. The list is not complete, and abuse can happen anywhere, including online.

• Physical: Hitting, rough handling, inappropriate restraint, misuse of medication
• Sexual: Any sexual activity the person has not agreed to, including online
• Psychological or emotional: Threats, humiliation, controlling behaviour, isolation
• Financial or material: Theft, fraud, scams, pressure over money or benefits
• Discriminatory: Harassment or abuse because of disability or another protected characteristic
• Domestic abuse: Abuse by a partner, ex-partner or family member, including coercive control
• Modern slavery: Forced labour, trafficking, domestic servitude
• Organisational: Poor care or practice within an organisation or service
• Neglect and acts of omission: Ignoring care needs, or withholding support, medication or food
• Self-neglect: Not caring for one’s own hygiene, health or surroundings

Because our work is mainly online, we also watch for online abuse and exploitation, such as harassment, grooming, scams, or sharing images without consent.

Possible signs include changes in behaviour, unexplained missed sessions, a sudden shortage of money, unexplained injuries, or someone else appearing to control the person’s contact with us.

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Steven Jones, Director
Receives and decides on all concerns, makes referrals, keeps records and makes sure this policy is followed.

Board of directors: All directors
Approves this policy and reviews anonymised safeguarding concerns at each board meeting.

Everyone: Everyone listed in section 1
Follows this policy and reports concerns to the DSL the same day.

• Mentors and staff apply in writing and talk with us before they start. We take up references for staff.
• We assess each role to decide whether a criminal record (DBS) check is needed. Mentoring between adults is not normally “regulated activity”, so enhanced checks are not usually available.
• Everyone agrees to our Code of Ethics and Conduct before they start.

• All mentors complete our mentor training before they start, including a session on safeguarding.
• Staff complete safeguarding training as part of their induction.

• Sessions take place on platforms we approve, such as Microsoft Teams.
• Sessions are not recorded unless both people agree in advance.
• Mentors and mentees keep professional boundaries. They do not lend or borrow money, or give or accept gifts worth more than £25.
• In-person meetings take place only if both people agree, we are told in advance, and they happen in a public place.
• Mentors are not counsellors. If someone needs more support, we help them find suitable services.
• Mentees and employers must never ask a mentor to share more about their disability or health than they choose to.
• Anyone can end a session or a mentoring relationship if they feel unsafe, and we will rematch them.

We check in with every mentor and mentee regularly during their mentoring relationship. These check-ins are a chance to raise worries early.

1. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.
2. Listen. Let the person speak, stay calm and take them seriously. Do not ask leading questions.
3. Do not investigate or confront anyone you think may be causing harm.
4. Do not promise to keep it secret. Explain that you may need to tell the DSL to keep them or others safe.
5. Record the facts as soon as possible: what was said or seen, in the person’s own words, with the date and time. Record facts, not opinions.
6. Tell the DSL the same day. If you cannot reach them, contact the Deputy DSL.

If a concern comes up during an online session, you can end the session politely and contact the DSL straight away.

• Acknowledge the concern within one working day.
• Talk to the adult about what they want to happen, unless this would put them or others at greater risk.
• Decide whether to refer the concern to the adult social care team of the council where the adult lives, the police, or both. Urgent concerns are referred the same day.
• Ask for the adult’s consent before sharing information. We may share without consent if there is a risk to other people, a crime has been or may be committed, the adult cannot make the decision, or someone’s life is at risk.
• Record every decision and the reasons for it, including decisions not to refer.
• Tell the person who raised the concern what is happening, as far as confidentiality allows.

If a concern is about a mentor, mentee, staff member, volunteer or partner:

• the DSL may pause the mentoring relationship while the concern is looked into
• we refer the concern to the council or the police where needed
• we follow our disciplinary or contract procedures, and may end the person’s involvement
• we tell funders about serious safeguarding incidents as our grant agreements require, sharing only what is necessary

• Safeguarding records are stored securely and separately from other files.
• We share information only with people who need it, following our Data Protection Policy.
• We keep safeguarding records for six years after our last contact with the person, or longer if an investigation is ongoing.

Partners who help deliver our projects, referral partners and evaluators, receive a copy of this policy. We agree with each partner that:

• they will tell our DSL straight away about any concern involving someone in our schemes
• they will also follow their own safeguarding procedures, where they have them
• we will tell them about concerns that affect their work, sharing only what is necessary

The board reviews this policy every year, after any serious incident, and whenever the law or guidance changes.

• Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): info@disabilityconnect.org.uk, 07599 115615
• Emergency (police or ambulance): 999
• Police (non-emergency): 101
• Anywhere else: The adult social care team of the council where the person lives
• National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (free, 24 hours)
• Modern Slavery and Exploitation Helpline: 08000 121 700
• Samaritans: 116 123 (free, 24 hours)
• Ann Craft Trust (adult safeguarding advice): anncrafttrust.org

This document is available in other formats, including Easy Read and large print. Contact info@disabilityconnect.org.uk.