Children, Young Person and Adult Safeguarding Policies



Child Safeguarding Policy – Updated 1 August 2025 

1. Our Safeguarding Policy 
This policy applies to all staff, including the Board of Directors, volunteers, salaried staff, freelancers, session workers, students, or anyone working on behalf of It's Not Your Birthday But... (INYBB) in both live and online settings. 

The purpose of this policy is to; 
  • protect children and young people who receive INYBB's services. This includes the children of adults who receive our services; 
  • to provide staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding and child protection; 

INYBB believes that a child or young person should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people and to keep them safe. We are committed to practice in a way that protects them. 

Most of our work takes place in other settings as we do not have our own venue (e.g school, PRU, prison, hospital) and we will follow the safeguarding policy and procedures in these venues and places which is specified in partnership agreements. Any INYBB representatives will be asked to familiarise themselves with the host partner’s policy in relation to safeguarding before commencing and partnership activity and have contact details for the lead safeguarding officer.  

Our policy outlines the responsibilities of staff to identify risks, manage them and ensure a safe environment for all.  

2. Definitions 
Children and Young People 
Anyone under the age of 18, even if they are living independently. 

Legal framework 
This policy has been set up on the basis of English law and guidance that seeks to protect children from abuse and neglect. 

3. Recruitment Procedures 
All applicants for salaried and freelance positions must provide two referees; proof of identification; and original copies of any necessary qualifications before appointment where relevant. Everyone who works with us will need an Enhanced DBS check if they are, in sole charge of, or supervising or working with children. These will normally be Enhanced checks, unless the applicant is to be appointed to a ‘regulated activity’ when a barred check will be required.  

4. Induction & Training Procedures 
New staff and volunteers will be given copies of this policy and receive training about it, where relevant and appropriate, to ensure they understand safeguarding. Supervision and support of all volunteers and staff will include monitoring of safeguarding practice and reviews of progress. INYBB will access further training and learning about safeguarding issues when these are relevant and required to ensure knowledge is kept up to date and relevant.  

5. Safeguarding Online  
Our safeguarding policy stands in the context of remote workshops e.g. through Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams and other digital communication frameworks in light of changes to the ways in which we work. Before undertaking any online workshops with children, we work closely with all partners, staff members and volunteers to ensure that safeguarding best practice is followed in a digital context, in the same way as it would be for a face-to-face activity. 

Our measures for keeping online spaces and workshops safe include: 
- we commit to holding the ability to participate for all in a healthy way 
- we will not record sessions or permit screenshots unless everyone in the group gives their consent 
- working in host pairs wherever possible (e.g. partner organisation and INYBB artist or two INYBB artists) 
- parents/carers supervising children whenever they are using Zoom or other online platforms 
- ensuring all meetings are password protected 
- only the host can share their screen 
- ensuring the waiting list function is enabled and only letting people in who are expected 
- meeting codes and passwords are not shared publicly and only privately with attendees 
- all hosts must familiarise themselves with security features in the menu bar so they know how to lock the meeting, use the waiting room and remove participants 
- ensuring any concerns about a child are followed up in line with our safeguarding policy if we are hosting or our partners safeguarding policy if they are the host.  

6. Safeguarding during Creative Callouts 
If we are doing any creative callouts for artwork or writing from children and young people, which may be sent to us online or by post, they will have to supply contact details for both a parent/carer AND their school contact details. This gives us two points of contact to follow up with if anything of concern is submitted. 

7. Safeguarding Principles 

Our principles follow those of statutory guidance which include: 
  • Empowerment: The child or young person at risk will be placed at the centre of safeguarding activity to ensure the right outcome is achieved for them. Empowerment will also be a key component in staff training. 
  • Prevention: Consider any learning in relation to whether any preventative action could be taken in future. 
  • Proportionality: Consider the most effective and efficient courses of action and the biggest impact on safeguarding children. 
  • Protection: Action centred on protecting children and young people. 
  • Partnership: Working with and strengthening professional partnerships as well as relationships with families/carer where appropriate and the wider community. 
  • Accountability: Clear records of action, decision making and protocols and these being accessible to local councils, social workers and the police as appropriate.  
  • Participation: Advocating for the involvement of child and young people in safe ways, as well as their families/carers as appropriate, in assessments, investigations and processes.  

We recognise that 
  • the welfare of the child is paramount, as enshrined in England as part of the Children’s Acts of 1989 and 2004, and the Children and Social Work Act of 2007 and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 
  • all children have a right to protection from all types of harm, abuse and neglect 
  • some people are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues 
  • working in partnership with children, young people, parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people's welfare. 

We seek to keep children and young people safe by; 
  • valuing them, listening to them and respecting them 
  • appointing a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) and lead board member for safeguarding 
  • adopting safeguarding practices through procedures and a code of conduct for staff and volunteers 
  • providing effective management for staff and partners 
  • recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made 
  • recording and sharing information professionally and securely 
  • using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns with relevant agencies who need to know 
  • using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately 
  • ensuring we have a safe physical environment for all service users, staff and volunteers. 

8. Recognising Abuse 

There are four recognised types of abuse. Most types of abuse can take one or several of these forms, for example bullying and domestic violence are often both physical and emotional forms of abuse.  

Physical Abuse 
This is when a child is hurt or injured by a child or an adult. Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm. It also includes giving a child harmful drugs or alcohol. Female genital mutilation is a form of physical abuse which is illegal in the UK. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer feigns the symptoms of or deliberately causes ill health to a child they are looking after. A person might do this because they enjoy or need the attention they get through having a sick child.  

Emotional Abuse 
This is when adults deny children love or affection, or constantly threaten or humiliate them. Sarcasm, degrading punishments and ignoring a person are also forms of emotional abuse and undermine a person's confidence and sense of self-worth. Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on their emotional development. It may involve serious bullying, causing children to frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, though it may occur alone. 

Sexual Abuse 
This is when a child used sexually by an adult or young person. Sexual abuse can include kissing, touching the of genitals or breasts, vaginal or anal intercourse and oral sex. Encouraging a child to look at pornographic magazines or videos is also sexual abuse. Bullying, racism and other types of discrimination are forms of child abuse. Like other kinds of abuse, they can harm a child physically and emotionally. Sexual abuse includes sexual exploitation, such as forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, including prostitution. Boys and girls can be sexually abused by males and/or females, by adults and by other young people. 

Neglect 
Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child's basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child's health or development. Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse. Once a child is born it may involve a parent or carer failing to provide adequate food, shelter and clothing, failing to protect a child from physical harm or danger, failure to ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate care givers) or the failure to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child's basic emotional needs. 

Possible Signs of Abuse 

Physical signs of abuse 
  • Any injuries not consistent with the explanation given for them 
  • Injuries which occur to the body in places which are not normally exposed to falls or games 
  • Unexplained bruising, marks or injuries on any part of the body 
  • Bruises which reflect hand marks or fingertips (from slapping or pinching) 
  • Cigarette burns 
  • Bite marks 
  • Broken bones 
  • Scalds 
  • Injuries which have not received medical attention 
  • Neglect-under nourishment, failure to grow, constant hunger, stealing or gorging food, untreated illnesses, inadequate care 
  • Repeated urinary infections or unexplained stomach pains.  

Changes in behaviour which can also indicate physical abuse: 
  • Fear of parents/carers being approached for an explanation 
  • Aggressive behaviour or severe temper outbursts 
  • Flinching when approached or touched 
  • Reluctance to get changed, for example, wearing long sleeves in hot weather 
  • Depression 
  • Withdrawn behaviour 
  • Running away from home. 

Emotional signs of abuse 

The physical signs of emotional abuse may include: 
  • A failure to thrive or grow particularly if a child puts on weight in other circumstances e.g. in hospital or away from their parents/carers’ care 
  • Sudden speech disorders 
  • Persistent tiredness 
  • Development delay, either in terms of physical or emotional progress. 

Changes in behaviour which can also indicate emotional abuse include:  
  • Obsessions or phobias 
  • Sudden under-achievement or lack of concentration 
  • Inappropriate relationships with peers and/or adults 
  • Being unable to play 
  • Attention seeking behaviour 
  • Fear of making mistakes 
  • Self-harm 
  • Fear of parents/carers being approached regarding their behaviour. 

Sexual Abuse  

The physical signs of sexual abuse may include: 
  • Pain or itching in the genital/anal area 
  • Bruising or bleeding near genital/anal areas 
  • Sexually transmitted disease 
  • Vaginal discharge or infection 
  • Stomach pains 
  • Discomfort when walking or sitting down 
  • Pregnancy.  

Changes in behaviour which can also indicate sexual abuse include:  
  • Sudden or unexplained changes in behaviour e.g. becoming withdrawn or aggressive 
  • Fear of being left with a specific person or group of people 
  • Having nightmares 
  • Running away from home 
  • Sexual knowledge which is beyond their age or developmental level 
  • Sexual drawings or language 
  • Bedwetting 
  • Eating problems such as over-eating or anorexia 
  • Self-harm or mutilation, sometimes leading to suicide attempts 
  • Saying they have secrets they cannot tell anyone about 
  • Substance or drug abuse 
  • Suddenly having unexplained sources of money or expensive gifts 
  • Not allowed to have friends (particularly in adolescence) 
  • Acting in an inappropriate sexually explicit way with adults.  

Neglect  

The physical signs of neglect may include: 
  • Constant hunger, sometimes stealing food from other children 
  • Constantly dirty or smelly 
  • Loss of weight or being constantly underweight 
  • Inappropriate dress for the conditions.  

Changes in behaviour which can also indicate neglect include: 
  • Complaining of being tired all the time 
  • Not requesting medical assistance and/or failing to attend appointments 
  • Having few friends 
  • Mentioning being left alone or unsupervised. 

9. Guidance  

INYBB will follow the following guidance in response to a person disclosing abuse  

WE WILL: 
  • Treat any allegations seriously and act at all times towards the child or young person as if we believe what they are saying 
  • Tell the child they are right to tell us 
  • Reassure them that they are not to blame 
  • Tell the child what we are doing, when, and who we have to tell, and keep them up to date with what is happening 
  • Take further action – we may be the only people in a position to prevent future abuse – we will tell our nominated person immediately 
  • Write down everything that was said and what was done.  

WE WILL NOT:  
  • Make promises we can’t keep 
  • Interrogate the child or young person – it is not our job to carry out an investigation – this will be up to police officers or social workers, who have experience in this 
  • Cast doubt on what the child or young person has told us,  we won’t interrupt them or change the subject 
  • Say anything that makes the child or young person feel responsible for the abuse 
  • Do nothing – we will make sure we tell our nominated Safeguarding Children person immediately – they will know how to follow this up and who to contact for further advice. 

10. INYBB Safeguarding Leads 

Designated Safeguarding Officer for Children 
Name: Wendy Shepherd – Director 
Tel: 0208 079 2938
Email: wendy@itsnotyourbirthdaybut.com 

Senior Board Lead for Safeguarding Children 
Name: Nicole Cowan - Director 
Tel: 0208 079 2938
Email: nicole@itsnotyourbirthdaybut.com 

11. Action for concerns 

INYBB will report concerns directly to the Police on 101 if necessary or call 999 if a child or young person is in immediate danger.  

INYBB works predominantly in Surrey and SW London and will contact the following services if necessary for support, guidance and reporting.  
  • Surrey based children: 
    We will call the C-SPA child protection line. The line is for professionals working with children and families who live in Surrey. (0300 470 9100, option 3). The line is open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Out of hours the Emergency Duty Team can be contacted on 01483 517 898. 
  • Kingston and Richmond based children: 
    We will contact the SPA team to request support or report a concern. (020 8547 5008 and out of hours 020 8770 5000). The line is open Monday to Thursday 8am to 515pm and 8am to 5pm on Fridays.  
  • Hounslow based children: 
    We will contact the Hounslow Council Child Protection team on 020 8583 6600 Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Out of hours we will call 020 8583 2222. 
  • Concerns about adults working with children: 
    Every local authority has a statutory responsibility to have a local authority designated officer (LADO), who is responsible for coordinating the response to concerns that an adult who works with children may have caused them harm. 
    - Surrey Duty LADO Can be called on 0300 123 1650 (option 3) or emailed at LADO@surreycc.gov.uk
    - Kingston & Richmond Duty LADO Can be called on 07774 332 675 or 020 8891 7370 or emailed at LADO@achievingforchildren.org.uk
    - Hounslow Duty LADO Can be called on 020 8583 5730 or emailed at lado@hounslow.gov.uk

12. Safeguarding Policy Review 

We are committed to reviewing our policy and practice at least annually or more frequently if required. 

This policy was last reviewed on 1 August 2025. Our next review is due on or before 1 Aug 2026. 


Adults Safeguarding Policy – Updated 1 August 2025 

1. Our Safeguarding Policy 
This policy applies to all staff, including the Board of Directors, volunteers, salaried staff, freelancers, session workers, students, or anyone working on behalf of It's Not Your Birthday But... (INYBB) in both live and online settings. 

The purpose of this policy is to; 
  • Protect adults who receive INYBB's services.  
  • To provide staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to the safeguarding and protection of adults; 

INYBB believes that an adult should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all adults we work with and to keep them safe and are committed to best safeguarding practice and to upholding the rights of all adults to live a life free from harm from abuse, exploitation and neglect. 

Our commitment to creating a culture of zero-tolerance of harm to adults necessitates;
  • the recognition of adults who may be at risk and the circumstances which may increase risk 
  • knowing how adult abuse, exploitation or neglect manifests itself; and being willing to report safeguarding concerns. This extends to recognising and reporting harm experienced anywhere, including within our activities, within other organised government-led, community or voluntary activities, in the community, in the person’s own home and in any care setting.  

Most of our work takes place in other settings as we do not have our own venue (e.g prison, hospital) and we will follow the safeguarding policy and procedures in these venues and places which is specified in partnership agreements. Any INYBB representatives will be asked to familiarise themselves with the host partner’s policy in relation to safeguarding before commencing any partnership activity and have contact details for the lead safeguarding officer. In some cases (e.g. Art at Home which happens in people’s houses) we will follow our own policies as stipulated in this document. 

Our policy outlines the responsibilities of staff to identify risks, manage them and ensure a safe environment for all. 

2. Definitions
Vulnerable Adults
The Care Act 2014 defines a Vulnerable Adult as: 

An individual aged 18 years and over who: 
a) has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority or other      government department or agency is meeting any of those needs) 
b) is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect 
c) as a result of those care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect.  

This could include, but is not limited to, adults in prison, people with learning disabilities or additional needs, mental health problems, neurodivergence, older people and people with a physical disability or impairment. It is important to include people whose condition and subsequent vulnerability fluctuates. It may include an individual who may be vulnerable as a consequence of their role as a carer, in relation to any of the above. It may also include victims of domestic abuse, hate crime and anti-social abuse. The persons’ need for additional support to protect themselves may be increased when complicated by additional factors, such as, physical frailty or chronic illness, sensory impairment, challenging behaviour, drug or alcohol problems, social or emotional problems, poverty or homelessness. 

Legal framework 
This policy has been set up on the basis of English law and guidance that seeks to protect adults from abuse and neglect and is covered by the following legislation: 
  • Human Rights Act 1998 
  • Equalities Act 2010  
  • The Care Act 2014 
  • Public Disclosure (Whistleblowing) Act 1998  
  • Mental Capacity Act 2005 
  • The Data Protection Act 2018 
  • General Data Protection Regulations 2018  

3. Recruitment Procedures 
All applicants for salaried and freelance positions must provide two referees; proof of identification; and original copies of any necessary qualifications before appointment where relevant. Everyone who works with us, including volunteers, will need an Enhanced DBS check if they are, in sole charge of, supervising or working with vulnerable adults. These will normally be Enhanced checks unless the applicant is to be appointed to a ‘regulated activity’ when a barred check will be required.  

4. Induction & Training Procedures 
New staff and volunteers will be given copies of this policy and receive training about it, where relevant and appropriate, to ensure they understand safeguarding. Supervision and support of all volunteers and staff will include monitoring of safeguarding practice and reviews of progress. INYBB will access further training and learning about safeguarding issues when these are relevant and required to ensure knowledge is kept up to date and relevant. All staff working with vulnerable adults in the criminal justice system will undertake Prevent Awareness training.  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prevent-duty-training

5. Safeguarding Online  
Our safeguarding policy stands in the context of remote workshops e.g. through Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams and other digital communication frameworks in light of changes to the ways in which we work. Before undertaking any online workshops with vulnerable adults, we work closely with all partners, staff members and volunteers to ensure that safeguarding best practice is followed in a digital context, in the same way as it would be for a face-to-face activity. 

Our measures for keeping online spaces and workshops safe include: 
- we commit to holding the ability to participate for all in a healthy way 
- we will not record sessions or permit screenshots unless everyone in the group gives their consent 
- working in host pairs wherever possible (e.g. partner organisation and INYBB artist or two INYBB artists) 
- carers supervising vulnerable adults where relevant whenever they are using Zoom or other online platforms 
- ensuring all meetings are password protected 
- only the host can share their screen 
- ensuring the waiting list function is enabled and only letting people in who are expected 
- meeting codes and passwords are not shared publicly and only privately with attendees 
- all hosts must familiarise themselves with security features in the menu bar so they know how to lock the meeting, use the waiting room and remove participants 
- ensuring any concerns about a vulnerable adult are followed up in line with our safeguarding policy if we are hosting or our partners safeguarding policy if they are the host.  

6. Safeguarding during Creative Callouts 
If we are doing any creative callouts for artwork or writing from adults, which may be sent to us online or by post, we will give an option to also supply contact details for a carer or support worker. This gives us two points of contact to follow up with if anything of concern is submitted. 

7. Safeguarding Principles 
Our principles follow those of statutory guidance which include: 
  • Empowerment: The adult at risk will be placed at the centre of safeguarding activity to ensure the right outcome is achieved for them. Empowerment will also be a key component in staff training. 
  • Prevention: Consider any learning in relation to whether any preventative action could be taken in future. 
  • Proportionality: Consider the most effective and efficient courses of action and the biggest impact on safeguarding adults. 
  • Protection: Action centred on protecting vulnerable adults. 
  • Partnership: Working with and strengthening professional partnerships as well as relationships with families/carers where appropriate and the wider community. 
  • Accountability: Clear records of action, decision making and protocols and these being accessible to local councils, social workers and the police as appropriate.  
  • Participation: Advocating for the involvement of adults at risk in safe ways, as well as their families/carers as appropriate, in assessments, investigations and processes.  

We seek to keep vulnerable adults safe by;
  • valuing them, listening to them and respecting them 
  • appointing a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) and lead board member for safeguarding 
  • adopting safeguarding practices through procedures and a code of conduct for staff and volunteers 
  • providing effective management for staff and partners 
  • recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made 
  • recording and sharing information professionally and securely 
  • using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns with relevant agencies who need to know 
  • using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately 
  • ensuring we have a safe physical environment for all service users, staff and volunteers 

8. Recognising Abuse 
There are five recognised types of abuse. Most types of abuse can take one or several of these forms, for example bullying and domestic violence are often both physical and emotional forms of abuse.  

Physical Abuse 
This is when a vulnerable adult is hurt or injured by a child or an adult. Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm. It also includes giving an adult harmful drugs or alcohol. Female genital mutilation is a form of physical abuse which is illegal in the UK. Physical harm may also be caused when a carer feigns the symptoms of or deliberately causes ill health to an adult they are looking after. A person might do this because they enjoy or need the attention they get through having a sick dependent.  

Emotional Abuse 
This is when vulnerable adults are constantly threatened or humiliated by others. Sarcasm, degrading punishments and ignoring a person are also forms of emotional abuse and undermine a person's confidence and sense of self-worth. Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional maltreatment of an adult such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on their emotional state. It may involve serious bullying, causing adults at risk to frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of adults.  

Sexual Abuse 
This is when a vulnerable adult is used sexually by an adult or young person. Sexual abuse can include kissing, touching the of genitals or breasts, vaginal or anal intercourse and oral sex. Encouraging a vulnerable adult to look at pornographic magazines or videos is also sexual abuse. Bullying, racism and other types of discrimination are forms of abuse. Like other kinds of abuse, they can harm a vulnerable adult physically and emotionally. Sexual abuse includes sexual exploitation, such as forcing or enticing a vulnerable adult to take part in sexual activities, including prostitution. Vulnerable adults can be sexually abused by males and/or females, by adults and or by young people.  

Neglect
Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a person’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of their health or wellbeing. It may include inadequate food, shelter and clothing, failing to protect a vulnerable adult from physical harm or danger, failure to ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate care givers) or the failure to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a person’s basic emotional needs. 

Financial or material abuse 
Financial or material abuse can include theft, fraud, exploitation, pressure in connection with wills, property or inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits.  

Possible Signs of Abuse
Physical signs of abuse 
  • Any injuries not consistent with the explanation given for them 
  • Injuries which occur to the body in places which are not normally exposed to falls or games 
  • Unexplained bruising, marks or injuries on any part of the body 
  • Bruises which reflect hand marks or fingertips (from slapping or pinching) 
  • Cigarette burns 
  • Bite marks 
  • Broken bones 
  • Scalds 
  • Injuries which have not received medical attention 
  • Neglect-under nourishment, constant hunger, stealing or gorging food, untreated illnesses, inadequate care 
  • Repeated urinary infections or unexplained stomach pains.  

Changes in behaviour which can also indicate physical abuse:
  • Fear of carers being approached for an explanation 
  • Aggressive behaviour or severe temper outbursts 
  • Flinching when approached or touched 
  • Reluctance to get changed, for example, wearing long sleeves in hot weather 
  • Depression 
  • Withdrawn behaviour 
  • Running away from home. 

Emotional signs of abuse
The physical signs of emotional abuse may include: 
  • A failure to thrive, particularly if they do thrive away from their home or carers 
  • Sudden speech disorders 
  • Persistent tiredness 

Changes in behaviour which can also indicate emotional abuse include:  
  • Obsessions or phobias 
  • Sudden under-achievement or lack of concentration 
  • Inappropriate relationships with peers and/or adults 
  • Being unable to play 
  • Attention seeking behaviour 
  • Fear of making mistakes 
  • Self-harm 

Sexual Abuse  
The physical signs of sexual abuse may include: 
  • Pain or itching in the genital/anal area 
  • Bruising or bleeding near genital/anal areas 
  • Sexually transmitted disease 
  • Vaginal discharge or infection 
  • Stomach pains 
  • Discomfort when walking or sitting down 
  • Pregnancy.  

Changes in behaviour which can also indicate sexual abuse include:  
  • Sudden or unexplained changes in behaviour e.g. becoming withdrawn or aggressive 
  • Fear of being left with a specific person or group of people 
  • Having nightmares 
  • Running away from home 
  • Sexual knowledge which is beyond their developmental level 
  • Sexual drawings or language 
  • Bedwetting 
  • Eating problems such as over-eating or anorexia 
  • Self-harm or mutilation, sometimes leading to suicide attempts 
  • Saying they have secrets they cannot tell anyone about 
  • Substance or drug abuse 
  • Suddenly having unexplained sources of money or expensive gifts 
  • Not allowed to have friends 
  • Acting in an inappropriate sexually explicit way.  

Neglect  
The physical signs of neglect may include: 
  • Constant hunger, sometimes stealing food from others 
  • Constantly dirty or smelly 
  • Loss of weight or being constantly underweight 
  • Inappropriate dress for the conditions.  

Changes in behaviour which can also indicate neglect include: 
  • Complaining of being tired all the time 
  • Not requesting medical assistance and/or failing to attend appointments 
  • Having few friends 
  • Mentioning being left alone or unsupervised. 

Financial or material signs of abuse  
The signs of financial or material abuse may include: 
  • Unexplained or sudden inability to pay bills 
  • Unexplained or sudden withdrawal of money from accounts 
  • Disparity between assets and satisfactory living conditions 
  • Extraordinary interest by family members and other people in the vulnerable adult’s assets 

9. Information Sharing 
Concerns are likely to include personal data so we will ensure everything stored is accurate, necessary, relevant and confidential. Information will not be shared unless there is a need to know and it will only be shared with consent of those involved unless: 

- it is not safe to contact the adult to gain their consent because it might put them or the person making contact at further risk 
- we believe they or someone else is at risk, including children or other vulnerable adults 
- we believe the adult is being coerced or is under duress 
- it is necessary to contact the police to prevent a crime, or to report that a serious crime has been committed 
- the adult does not have mental capacity to consent to information being shared about them 
- the person causing harm has care and support needs.  

When information is shared without the consent of the adult it will be explained to them, when it is safe to do so, and any further actions will still fully include them. Any decision to share or not to share information with an external person or organisation will be recorded together with the reasons to share or not share information.  

In some instances, such as when working with the Ministry of Justice, we will have a specific Information Agreement in place which will be followed. Any prison concerns will be reported directly to the prison safeguarding Lead and an Intelligence Report completed where necessary. When discussing or sharing personal information about people we work with in prison or on probation, we will use the INYBB CJSM secure email addresses and system not our Microsoft email addresses. 

10. Guidance  
INYBB will follow the following guidance in response to a person disclosing abuse. 

WE WILL: 
  • Treat any allegations seriously and act at all times towards the adult at risk as if we believe what they are saying 
  • Tell the adult they are right to tell us 
  • Reassure them that they are not to blame 
  • Tell the adult what we are doing, when, and who we have to tell, and keep them up to date with what is happening 
  • Take further action – we may be the only people in a position to prevent future abuse – we will tell our nominated person immediately 
  • Write down everything that was said and what was done.  

WE WILL NOT:  
  • Make promises we can’t keep 
  • Interrogate the adult at risk – it is not our job to carry out an investigation – this will be up to police officers or social workers, who have experience in this 
  • Cast doubt on what the adult has told us,  we won’t interrupt them or change the subject 
  • Say anything that makes the adult feel responsible for the abuse 
  • Do nothing – we will make sure we tell our nominated Safeguarding Adults person immediately – they will know how to follow this up and who to contact for further advice. 

11. INYBB Safeguarding Leads 
Designated Safeguarding Officer for Adults 
Name: Wendy Shepherd – Director 
Tel: 0208 079 2938
Email: wendy@itsnotyourbirthdaybut.com 

Senior Board Lead for Safeguarding Adults 
Name: Nicole Cowan - Director 
Tel: 0208 079 2938 
Email: nicole@itsnotyourbirthdaybut.com 

12. Action for concerns 

INYBB will report concerns directly to the Police on 101 if necessary or call 999 if a vulnerable adult is in immediate danger.  

INYBB works predominantly in Surrey and SW London and will contact the following services if necessary for support, guidance and reporting.  

12. Safeguarding Policy Review 
We are committed to reviewing our policy and practice at least annually or more frequently if required. 

This policy was last reviewed on 1 August 2025. Our next review is due on or before 1 Aug 2026. 

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Call us on: 
020 8079 2938
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