Safeguarding Statement

HerCommunity C.I.C. is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk who engage with our services. We believe that every child and young person has the right to be safe, heard, respected and protected from harm.

All HerCommunity activities are delivered within a safeguarding framework informed by:
 

• Children Act 1989 and 2004

• Working Together to Safeguard Children

• Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE)

• Education Act 2002

• Equality Act 2010

• Human Rights Act 1998

• Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR

• Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (Prevent Duty)

• Relevant local safeguarding partnership procedures
   

HerCommunity operates a trauma-informed, child-centred and strengths-based approach. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, and all staff, volunteers and associates are expected to act immediately if they have concerns about a child's welfare.

As a community-based, non-clinical organisation, HerCommunity recognises the limits of its role and will seek advice, share information and make referrals to statutory services where concerns indicate that a child or young person may be at risk of harm.

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Jodie Jasmin
Director & Designated Safeguarding Lead
HerCommunity C.I.C.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead is responsible for:

• Receiving and managing safeguarding concerns and disclosures.

• Maintaining safeguarding and child protection records.

• Making referrals to Children's Social Care, Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH), police or other safeguarding agencies where necessary.

• Providing safeguarding guidance to volunteers and associates.

• Ensuring safeguarding policies, procedures and risk assessments remain up to date.

• Liaising with schools, family support services, health professionals and social care teams where appropriate.

• Monitoring safeguarding concerns and ensuring appropriate follow-up action is taken.

• Ensuring HerCommunity remains compliant with safeguarding legislation and guidance. 
   

How We Manage Safeguarding Concerns

Step 1 – Recognise

A concern may arise through:
 

• A direct disclosure

• An observation

• A behavioural change

• Information from a parent, professional or third party

• A concern raised during programme delivery
   

Examples may include:
 

• Abuse or neglect

• Domestic abuse

• Child criminal exploitation

• Child sexual exploitation

• Online harm

• Self-harm

• Suicidal ideation

• Missing episodes

• Grooming

• Radicalisation concerns

• Peer-on-peer abuse

• Emotional wellbeing concerns that exceed a community support threshold
   

Step 2 – Respond

Staff and volunteers will:

✅ Listen calmly
✅ Reassure the child or young person
✅ Avoid leading questions
✅ Avoid making promises of confidentiality
✅ Explain that information may need to be shared to keep them safe

This approach aligns with your current safeguarding procedures.

Step 3 – Record

The concern will be recorded as soon as possible, including:

• Date and time

• Individuals involved

• Factual observations

• Exact words used where possible

• Immediate actions taken
   

Only factual information is recorded.

Safeguarding records are stored securely and accessed only by those with a legitimate safeguarding need. 

Step 4 – Report to the DSL

All safeguarding concerns must be shared immediately with:
Jodie Jasmin
Designated Safeguarding Lead

Concerns must never be delayed until the next session or meeting.

Escalation Process (Birmingham & West Midlands)
Immediate Risk of Harm

If a child or young person is in immediate danger:
📞 Call 999
📞 Contact emergency services
📞 Inform Children's Social Care as soon as possible

Examples include:
 

• Immediate threat to life

• Serious injury

• Sexual assault

• Active suicidal intent

• High-risk missing child situations

• Immediate risk from exploitation or abuse
  
  Significant Safeguarding Concerns, where a child may be suffering or is likely to suffer significant harm, the DSL will consider referral to:
   

• Birmingham Children's Trust / Children's Social Care

• Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)

• West Midlands Police

• Relevant Local Authority Safeguarding Teams

• Early Help services
   

Examples include:

• Physical abuse

• Emotional abuse

• Sexual abuse

• Neglect

• Child exploitation

• Domestic abuse exposure

• Serious online harm

• Harmful sexual behaviour
   

Additional Needs / Early Help
Where concerns do not meet statutory thresholds but support is required, the DSL may support access to:

• School safeguarding teams

• Family support services

• Early Help services

• GP services

• Mental health support services

• Community organisations

• Domestic abuse support agencies

Information Sharing

HerCommunity may share safeguarding information without consent where:

• There is concern that a child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm.

• There is risk to life.

• A crime may have been committed.

• Information sharing is necessary to safeguard a child.
   

Where appropriate and safe to do so, children, young people and parents/carers will be informed about information sharing decisions.

Keeping Children Safe in Education (Current Position)

The current statutory guidance remains Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025, which applies until 31 August 2026. The Department for Education has published KCSIE 2026 in advance, which comes into force from 1 September 2026. [gov.uk]
Relevant current safeguarding themes include:

• Online safety

• Misinformation and disinformation risks

• Use of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies

• Filtering and monitoring expectations

• Child-on-child abuse

• Exploitation

• Attendance as a safeguarding issue

• Mental health and wellbeing considerations within safeguarding practice

Immediate Help
If a child or young person is in immediate danger:
Call 999
If urgent safeguarding advice is needed outside of HerCommunity services:
NHS 111
Children's Social Care
West Midlands Police
Samaritans (116 123)
Shout (Text SHOUT to 85258)
Website Disclaimer

HerCommunity C.I.C. is not a crisis service, emergency service or clinical mental health provider. If there is immediate risk of harm, emergency services should be contacted without delay.