Safeguarding

Children and Adults at Risk Policy

Policy STATEMENT

The Brillianta Foundation is committed to protecting the welfare, dignity, and rights of children and adults at risk. As an organisation built on unity, compassion, and community wellbeing, we recognise our duty of care and ensure that our safeguarding practice reflects UK legislation, statutory guidance, and best practice.

We believe the safety and wellbeing of children and adults at risk are paramount. Regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, or life circumstance, every individual involved in Brillianta Foundation activities should:

Have a safe, positive, and inclusive experience
Be protected from harm, neglect, exploitation, or abuse

We recognise that some groups may be particularly vulnerable. We therefore take proactive, reasonable, and responsible steps to safeguard everyone we engage with.

The Brillianta Foundation interacts with children and adults at risk in four main ways:

Community projects and research
Advisory groups, commissions, and events
Storytelling, lived-experience sessions, and interviews
Volunteer placements and developmental opportunities

As part of our safeguarding commitment, the Brillianta Foundation will:

Prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children and adults at risk
Ensure all staff, volunteers, and representatives understand their safeguarding responsibilities
Respond appropriately to all concerns, disclosures, or allegations
Maintain secure, confidential, and accurate safeguarding records
Ensure safe recruitment practices, including DBS checks where required
Maintain strong safeguarding arrangements across all work

In an emergency where someone is at immediate risk of harm, call 999, then notify the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Anyone with safeguarding concerns or suggestions to improve our safeguarding practice should contact:

Designated Safeguarding Lead: Email: support@brilliantafoundation.com

This policy applies to everyone representing the Brillianta Foundation in any capacity.

1. Introduction

1.1 The Brillianta Foundation’s work may bring staff, volunteers, storytellers, or researchers into contact with children, young people, and adults at risk. All representatives must understand how to respond if concerns arise.

1.2 Safeguarding is relevant across all areas of our work , not only where we engage directly with vulnerable groups. Sharing lived experiences, taking part in interviews, or contributing to community projects can make individuals vulnerable. Safeguarding considerations must therefore be included during the planning of any relevant project.

2. Definitions

2.1 Child: Anyone under 18.

2.2 Adult at Risk: An adult who is unable to protect themselves from abuse or neglect due to their care, support needs, or circumstances.

3. Scope

This policy applies to:

3.1 All individuals working on behalf of the Brillianta Foundation — including employees, contractors, partners, volunteers, trustees, and associates.

3.2 All children and adults at risk engaged in our work.

Covers concerns relating to:

3.3 Abuse or neglect by someone outside the organisation
3.4 Abuse or neglect by anyone representing the Brillianta Foundation

4. Roles & Responsibilities

4.1 All staff and volunteers must read and follow this safeguarding policy.

4.2 The Executive Leadership Team and Board hold overall responsibility for safeguarding.

4.3 Partner organisations must demonstrate safeguarding procedures that meet or exceed our standards.

5. Research and Consent with Children and Adults at Risk

5.1 Extra care is required when working with children or vulnerable adults.

5.2 Before beginning work, staff must review best practice and prepare appropriate consent processes, communication tools, and risk mitigation.

5.3 Consent must be:

Informed
Voluntary
Given by someone with capacity
Ongoing and revisited throughout the project

5.4 Participants can withdraw at any time.

5.5 For children, parental/guardian consent is normally required.

5.6 For adults with cognitive impairments, additional “gatekeeper” consent may be needed.

6. Procedures for Interacting with Children Under 16

6.1 A parent, carer, teacher, or trusted adult must accompany any child under 16 at events.

6.2 All digital communication involving children must copy a responsible adult.

6.3 When taking photographs or videos:

Written consent is required from parents/carers and the child
Use of images must be clearly explained
Pseudonyms should be used where possible
Consent withdrawal will be honoured moving forward, though previously published materials may not be retractable

7. Recruitment

7.1 Safe recruitment will include:

Application and interview
DBS checks where appropriate
References
Induction and safeguarding training
Probation and supervision

8. Training

8.1 Relevant staff and volunteers will receive safeguarding training, updated at least every two years.

9. Understanding Safeguarding Allegations

A safeguarding concern includes any behaviour that:

Harms or risks harm
Indicates unsuitability to work with vulnerable groups
Involves criminal behaviour or exploitation

Concerns may arise from:

Disclosures
Third-party reports
Observed behaviour
Police or authority notifications
DBS updates

10. Responding to Concerns or Disclosures

When a child or adult at risk raises a concern, Brillianta Foundation staff must:

Listen and give them space
Avoid judgment or interruption
Not promise confidentiality
Reassure them
Record their exact words
Report immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead
Minimise the need for the person to repeat their story

11. Reporting & Record Keeping

11.1 Safeguarding concerns must be reported at the earliest opportunity.

11.2 Staff must not act alone; they must escalate appropriately.

11.3 External advice (local authority or NSPCC) will be sought promptly.

11.4 Emergencies require calling 999.

11.5 Records will be confidential, secure, and shared only on a need-to-know basis.

12. Managing Allegations Against Staff

12.1 Allegations will be reported to the Local Authority Designated Officer within 24 hours.

12.2 Internal disciplinary or investigation procedures may follow.

12.3 Support will be provided to staff involved.

13. Review

The policy will be reviewed annually, and every three years formally, or sooner if:

Legislation changes
Safeguarding concerns arise
Feedback suggests improvements

Complaints will be reviewed by senior leadership and the Board.

14. RELEVANT LEGISLATION

• Children’s Act 1989
• The UNCRC
• The Data Protection Act 1998
• General Data Protection Regulation
• The Human Rights Act 1998
• Sexual Offences Act 2003
• The Children’s Act 2004
• Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
• Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
• Children and Families Act 2014
• Special Educational Needs and Disability code of practice 2014
• Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015
• Information Sharing 2015
• Mental Capacity Act 2005
• The Care Act 2014
• Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014
• Getting it Right for Every Child (Scotland)
• Safeguarding Board Act (Northern Ireland) 2011
• Revised regional core child protection policies and procedures for Northern Ireland
2018
• The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995
• Co-operating to Safeguard Children and Young People in Northern Ireland 2017
• Children’s Services Co-operation Act (NI) 2015

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