Safeguarding policy

We are committed to safeguarding the wellbeing of all service users, employees and volunteers who are involved in or affected by our work.

All children and adults, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse and the right to be treated with respect and dignity.

What is safeguarding?

In the UK, safeguarding means protecting peoples’ health, wellbeing and human rights, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect.

At Cruse, we understand it to mean responding to all disclosures of abuse or suspected abuse whether current or historic. This includes information shared about possible abuse in the wider community, observations made by Cruse people in the course of their work and situations where a person might harm themselves or be at risk of harm from coming into contact with our staff or volunteers.

Who do we safeguard?

We seek to safeguard the wellbeing of our clients, our volunteers, our staff and anyone else who comes into contact with our organisation. We also have a duty to consider the wellbeing of the communities in which we work.
We work to comply with our legal obligations and to meet the requirements of the Charity Commission.

How do we safeguard?

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and we all have a role in managing safeguarding concerns.

  • People – every Cruse branch, service or project has a designated Safeguarding Officer and we have a National Designated Lead for Safeguarding.
  • Recruitment – all volunteers who support bereaved people and the majority of staff roles are required to complete DBS checks when joining Cruse and these are maintained throughout their time with us.
  • Training – all staff and volunteers are required to complete basic safeguarding training. Those who support or meet our clients have additional modules and are expected to complete annual refresher training in safeguarding adults and children.
  • Information – clear procedures to ensure our people know how to respond, report and where to go for advice and assistance.
  • Respect – understanding the importance of balancing choice, confidentiality and control with safety.