Elayos Adult and Children Safeguarding Policy

1. Policy Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to protect children and vulnerable adults and to provide staff, volunteers, trustees and professionals the overarching principles that guide our approach in doing so.

Policy Commitment

Elayos primarily works with vulnerable women and birthing people and their babies. However, it is committed to safeguarding all children, young people and vulnerable adults that come into contact with our work. Children, young people and vulnerable adults who access or who are involved in our services should:

  • Be made aware of this policy.

  • Have alleged incidents recognised and taken seriously.

  • Receive fair and respectful treatment throughout.

  • Be involved in any process as appropriate.

Elayos will take every reasonable step to ensure that all children, young people and vulnerable adults are protected, where our staff, committee members, trustees, volunteers and students are involved in the delivery of our work. All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and investigations will be undertaken swiftly so that appropriate and required action is taken as soon as possible.

Elayos enables all our staff, committee members, trustees, volunteers and students who work with us to make informed and confident decisions regarding safeguarding. We expect everyone (staff, committee members, trustees, volunteers and students) to have read, understood and adhere to this policy and related procedures.

Equal Opportunities Statement

We believe that all children, young people and vulnerable adults have an equal right to protection from abuse, regardless of their age, race, religion, ability, gender, language, background or sexual identity and consider the welfare of the child/young person/ vulnerable adult is paramount. 

Comments and actions that contribute to discrimination, harassment or victimisation are not acceptable and will be challenged. Such incidents will be recorded and shared with parents, carers and the relevant agencies when necessary and appropriate. Please read our Equality and Diversity Policy for more information.

2. Roles and Responsibilities

Elayos has a Designated Person who is responsible for Safeguarding and Child Protection; this is Amelia Sommers (Co-Director) Email: amelia@elayos.co.uk Phone: 07915961754 and in their absence the role will be undertaken by the Deputy safeguarding officer, Hope Plumb (Co-Director) Email: hope@elayos.co.uk Phone: 07488356976 

The role of the Designated Person is to assume overall responsibility for safeguarding across the organisation. Responsibilities involve:

  • Monitoring and recording concerns

  • Making referrals to social care, or police, as relevant, without delay

  • Liaise with other agencies

Roles include:

  • To be familiar with Elayos policies and procedures

  • Support and advise staff and volunteers in fulfilling their roles

  • Provide a point of reference to advise on safeguarding issues

  • Liaise with the board safeguarding officer

  • Promote safeguarding best practice 

  • To ensure that the policies and procedures are reviewed annually and are fit for purpose

  • To ensure that any amendments and changes are communicated to the deputy, trustees, staff and volunteers

  • To ensure that safer recruitment policies are operated in the recruitment of all workers (both volunteers and paid), including that all relevant workers have up to date DBS checks. 

  • To keep a database of all DBS checks, and make sure that they are renewed every 5 years or using the update service. 

  • To be aware of the names and numbers of appropriate contacts within social care and the police in case a referral needs to be made. 

  • To be aware of when to seek advice, and when it is necessary to inform others

  • To ensure that appropriate records are kept and that they are handled and stored confidentially

  • To arrange and promote training in safeguarding to any relevant people

  • To keep up to date record of volunteer safeguarding training

  • To update their own safeguarding training every 3 years

  • To make arrangements for someone to take over when they leave, and to publicise throughout Elayos who this is

It is not the role of the Designated Person or Elayos to decide whether abuse has taken place or not. It is therefore vital that staff, committee members, trustees, volunteers and students raise all cases of suspected or alleged abuse in line with the procedures identified in this policy as there may already have been concerns expressed by other staff, committee members, trustees, volunteers or students and failure to report concerns may put children, young people, and vulnerable adults at risk. Details of concerns and actions taken should be shared with the board at the earliest convenience.

If the safeguarding concern is regarding either Amelia Sommers or Hope Plumb, the Elayos Safeguarding Board Representative Abi Vedder should be contacted who will adhere to the procedures listed in this document. 

Abi Vedder Email: abi@vedder.com - Phone 07971488395

3. Definitions and Signs of Abuse

Abuse can take many forms the Government Care Act 2014 lists them as; 

Physical abuse

  • Assault

  • Hitting

  • Slapping

  • Pushing

  • Misuse of medication

  • Restraint

  • Inappropriate physical sanctions 

Domestic violence including:

  • Psychological

  • Physical

  • Sexual

  • Financial

  • Emotional abuse

  • So called ‘honour’ based violence

Sexual abuse

  • Rape

  • Indecent exposure

  • Sexual harassment

  • Inappropriate looking or touching

  • sexual teasing or innuendo

  • sexual photography

  • subjection to pornography or witnessing sexual acts

  • indecent exposure

  • sexual assault

  • sexual acts to which the adult has not consented or was pressured into consenting

Psychological abuse including:

  • emotional abuse

  • threats of harm or abandonment

  • deprivation of contact

  • humiliation

  • blaming

  • controlling

  • intimidation

  • coercion

  • harassment

  • verbal abuse

  • cyber bullying

  • isolation

  • unreasonable and unjustified withdrawal of services or supportive networks

Financial or material abuse including:

  • theft

  • fraud

  • internet scamming

  • coercion in relation to an adult’s financial affairs or arrangements, including in connection with wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions

  • the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits

Modern slavery encompasses:

  • slavery

  • human trafficking

  • forced labour and domestic servitude.

  • traffickers and slave masters using whatever means they have at their disposal to coerce, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment

Discriminatory abuse including forms of:

  • harassment

  • slurs or similar treatment:

    • because of race

    • gender and gender identity

    • age

    • disability

    • sexual orientation

    • religion

Organisational abuse

Including neglect and poor care practice within an institution or specific care setting such as a hospital or care home, for example, or in relation to care provided in one’s own home. This may range from one off incidents to on-going ill-treatment. It can be through neglect or poor professional practice as a result of the structure, policies, processes and practices within an organisation.

Neglect and acts of omission including:

  • ignoring medical emotional or physical care needs

  • failure to provide access to appropriate health, care and support or educational services

  • the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating

Self-neglect

This covers a wide range of behaviour neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviour such as hoarding. 

Evidence of any one indicator from the following lists should not be taken on its own as proof that abuse is occurring. However, it should alert practitioners to make further assessments and to consider other associated factors. 

A list of possible indicators and examples for child abuse can be found in Appendix A. 

A list of possible indicators and examples for adult abuse can be found in Appendix B. 

4. Reporting Incidents

All allegations or suspicions must be treated seriously and reported appropriately. 

Step 1: 

Inform the Safeguarding Lead or Deputy as soon as possible and log it accordingly via our client log and safeguarding form

Step 2: 

The designated person for safeguarding will then devise an appropriate plan of action. The exact nature of the action taken will be determined by the individual circumstances, but it may include the involvement of external authorities, such as the Children’s Advice and support service (CASS) or the Birmingham Adult Social services team. This will then be followed up in a written report within 24 hours. 

Any allegation made against a Person in a Position of trust (group leader, volunteer, staff member) should be reported to the designated person for safeguarding immediately. The matter will be investigated and the appropriate action taken. The designated person for safeguarding should inform the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) who will advise of next steps.

If a disclosure of abuse is made by a group user, care should be taken to explain to them the procedure that will be followed and they should be told that it may not be possible for Elayos to maintain confidentiality.

4. Good Practice

Recruitment, Induction and Training

All staff, committee members, trustees, volunteers and students working or volunteering directly with children, young people or vulnerable adults are: Carefully recruited in line with good recruitment practice, to include:

  • At least two verified references

  • Have full and up to date Criminal Record checks if their role meets the eligibility criteria outlined by the Disclosure and Barring Service.

  • Familiarisation with the Safeguarding Policy and Procedure.

  • Receive appropriate training and are provided with up to date and relevant information and guidance.

  • Are provided with support appropriate with their responsibilities in relation to Safeguarding, and their requirement to maintain safe relationships.

  • Are aware of their role in respect of the disclosure or discovery of abuse, the procedure for doing so and report the disclosure or discovery of abuse to the Designated Person for Safeguarding

Record Keeping

  • Any concerns will be recorded in writing on the database to comply with data protection legislation and shared with the safeguarding officer who will take the relevant action.

  • Records should only include contacts and referrals made including date, time, reason and referral agency. Elayos will assist other relevant organisations, as far as it is able, during any investigation of abuse or neglect. This will include disclosing written and verbal information and evidence.

5. Contact Details Emergency

Contact Number

If a child / vulnerable adult is in immediate danger you should contact the police on 999 or 101.

Birmingham contact numbers

For concerns for a child or young person, Birmingham's Children’s advice and support team (CASS) Team here

If you are unsure about who to contact then please read the Right help, right time information here

In the event of concerns for a vulnerable adult within Birmingham, the matter should be reported to the Adult Social Care Team here

Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board Procedures Manual can be found via this link:   http://westmidlands.procedures.org.uk

6. Policy Review

Adapted: 10/02/25

Next Policy Review Due: 02/26