Get a Mentor Become a Mentor

Safeguarding Policy

This is the safeguarding policy of The Mullany Fund

Safeguarding & Reporting Allegations, Concerns & Disclosures Policy

Purpose of statement

The Mullany Fund works with children and young people as part of its activities. These include visiting schools, colleges and youth organisations to deliver careers and future options talks; arranging and coordinating online webinars, outreach workshops, workplace visits and  work experience placements for young people; leading an online mentoring service for young people aged 14-19; and managing a team of volunteers who help deliver our services.

The purpose of this policy statement is:

  • to protect children and young people who receive The Mullany Fund’s services; 

  • to provide parents, schools, staff and mentors/volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.

This policy statement applies to anyone working on behalf of The Mullany Fund, including senior managers and the board of trustees, paid staff, contractors, e-mentors/volunteers and interns. 

Legal framework

This policy has been prepared with reference to current safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance and good practice applicable in Wales. A summary of the key legislation and guidance is available from nspcc.org.uk/childprotection.

We believe that:

  • children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind;

  • we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them. 

We recognise that:

  • the welfare of the child or young person is paramount;

  • all children and young people, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, language, additional learning needs or immigration status, have a right to equal protection from all types of harm, abuse, neglect and exploitation;

  • some children and young people may be additionally vulnerable because of previous experiences, disability, additional learning needs, mental health needs, caring responsibilities, communication needs, being looked after or leaving care, homelessness, exploitation, online harm, discrimination or other personal or family circumstances;

  • working in partnership with children, young people, parents, carers, schools, colleges, placement providers, local authorities and other agencies is essential in promoting welfare and responding effectively to safeguarding concerns.

We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:

  • valuing, listening to and respecting them;

  • appointing a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and a lead Trustee for safeguarding, with clear responsibilities, cover arrangements and routes for escalation;

  • ensuring all staff, trustees, contractors, mentors/volunteers and interns receive appropriate safeguarding induction and regular training proportionate to their role, including online safeguarding and how to recognise and report concerns for 14–19-year-olds;

  • maintaining child protection and safeguarding procedures that reflect current legislation, statutory guidance and best practice in Wales;

  • using our safeguarding procedures to record concerns promptly, share relevant information lawfully and proportionately with those who need to know, make referrals to children’s social care, the police or adult safeguarding services where required, and involve children, young people, parents, families and carers where it is safe and appropriate to do so;

  • creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise;

  • developing and implementing effective online safety, digital communication and social media procedures, including safe boundaries for online mentoring, moderation of chat on the Mentora Platform, supervision, escalation and record keeping;

  • recruiting staff, trustees, interns and mentors/volunteers safely by using role descriptions, references, identity checks, suitability checks/recommendations and DBS checks at the appropriate level for the role, including enhanced DBS checks with barred list checks where the role is eligible and involves regulated activity;

  • providing effective management for staff and e-mentors/volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures;

  • implementing a code of conduct for staff and e-mentors/volunteers;

  • using our procedures to manage allegations or low-level concerns about staff, trustees, contractors, interns or e-mentors/volunteers appropriately, including referral to the relevant statutory agencies and DBS where required;

  • ensuring that we have effective complaints measures in place;

  • ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, staff and e-mentors/volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance;

  • recording and storing information professionally and securely. 

  • ensuring online e-mentoring, online webinars, outreach workshops, workplace visits and work experience placements, school and college activities, and youth organisation sessions are risk assessed and delivered with appropriate safeguarding arrangements, supervision, consent processes and emergency procedures.

Related policies and procedures

  • This policy statement should be read alongside our organisation policies and procedures, including:

  • Procedures for responding to allegations, concerns and disclosures, including referrals and emergency action (included in this policy, see below).

  • Role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead and lead trustee for safeguarding (included in this policy).

  • Safer recruitment policies and procedures.

  • Staff Code of Conduct Policy.

  • e-Mentor / Volunteer Code of Conduct Policy.

  • Online safety, digital communication and social media procedures (see Staff / Volunteer / e-Mentor / Volunteer Code of Conduct Policies).

  • Child protection records retention and storage policy (Data Protection and Privacy Policy). 

Contact details

Staff Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

Name: Katy Hodge

Email: katy@themullanyfund.org

Trustee Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) / Lead Trustee for Safeguarding

Name: Janine Roberts

Phone: 07814 423272 

Email: janine@themullanyfund.org

We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually. 

This policy was last reviewed on: 2nd August 2026

Signed:

Chair of Trustees

Date: 

Reporting Disclosures and Concerns Guidance

It is important for staff, trustees, contractors, e-mentors/volunteers and interns to be aware that the children or young people they are working with may choose to reveal sensitive information. Children and young people may disclose abuse, neglect, exploitation, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, eating difficulties, mental health concerns, harmful relationships, online harm or other welfare concerns. All disclosures and safeguarding concerns must be taken seriously, whether they are shared in person, online, by message, through behaviour or through a third party. In this policy, we share our key safeguarding contacts and procedures. 

A disclosure is when a child or young person tells, shows or otherwise indicates that they may be experiencing, have experienced, or are at risk of harm. Staff, trustees, contractors, e-mentors/volunteers and interns must follow this procedure promptly so The Mullany Fund can protect the young person, record the disclosure/concern/allegation properly and share information lawfully and proportionately with those who need to know.  

If a young person asks you to keep information secret, do not promise confidentiality. Explain calmly and before they continue, where possible, that you will only share information with people who need to know in order to help keep them or others safe.

If the young person chooses to continue, respond calmly, give them time, take them seriously and avoid expressions of shock, disbelief or judgement. Do not investigate, challenge what they say, contact the alleged person responsible for harm or ask leading questions. Only ask open questions if needed to clarify immediate safety, such as “Is there anything else you want to tell me?” or “Do you feel safe right now?” Reassure the young person that they have done the right thing by telling you, and that they are being taken seriously. Explain that in order to help them you will now have to pass this information to someone who is in a better position to help them.

If there is an immediate risk of significant harm, risk to life, urgent medical need, or a crime has been / is being committed, call 999 immediately. Do not wait to speak to The Mullany Fund’s DSL before taking emergency action. The NSPCC is a further source of safeguarding help and advice. They can be contacted on 0808 800 5000 between 10am-4pm Monday to Friday or by email (help@nspcc.org.uk) 11am-4pm Monday to Sunday. As soon as it is safe to do so, inform The Mullany Fund’s DSL and make a safeguarding record. 

For all other disclosures or concerns (see guidance below), report the matter to The Mullany Fund’s DSL as soon as possible and on the same day. Provide clear factual information, including the young person’s name, age, contact details if known, what was disclosed or observed, any immediate risks and any action already taken. The DSL will decide whether a referral is required to children’s social care, the police, the young person’s school or college safeguarding lead, and, for 18–19-year-olds where relevant, adult safeguarding services. 

Please note: if the disclosure is made online to an e-mentor via the Mentora Mullany app, you will not have access to the child’s full name, contact details etc but the Mullany Fund will have this information. Additionally, a record of the disclosure on the app will already be accessible to Mullany Fund staff. Once you have directed us to the disclosure there is no need to make separate notes regarding the disclosure. 

If the concern or allegation involves the DSL, report it directly to the Chair of Trustees or lead trustee for safeguarding. If the concern involves the Chair or lead Trustee, or if you cannot contact an appropriate senior person and the young person may be at risk, contact children’s social care, the police or the NSPCC Helpline for advice. 
 

Recording and reporting a disclosure:
 

A) In-person disclosure:

1. Disclosure is made by a child - keep calm, take your time, give the child your full attention, let them speak.

2. Explain that you cannot keep the disclosure a secret and that you will need to tell someone who can help them.

3. Reflect back what they have said by checking you understand using their exact words. 

Do not investigate or ask leading questions. You can use TED:

Tell me more about what’s been happening

Explain what’s been happening

Describe what’s been happening

4. Reassure them, tell them they have done the right thing in telling you.

5. Write notes as soon as possible after the disclosure: include the child’s name, age, time, place and exact words, including any action you have taken.

6. Contact the DSL at The Mullany Fund ASAP with this information

7. The DSL will then decide what action to take and liaise with the relevant authorities

8. If an illegal act has been committed phone 999 / contact social services immediately
 

B) E-mentoring disclosure:

1. Disclosure is made by a child - keep calm, take your time.

2. Explain that you cannot keep the disclosure a secret and that you will need to tell someone who can help them.

3. The written disclosure will already exist as messages are retained, you do not need to write a report.

4. Reassure them, tell they they have done the right thing in telling you.

5. Contact the DSL at The Mullany Fund ASAP directing them to this information.

6. The DSL will then decide what action to take and liaise with the relevant authorities.

7. If an illegal act has been committed phone 999 / contact social services immediately.

Reporting wider safeguarding concerns

Staff and e-mentors/volunteers must remain alert to signs that a young person may be experiencing abuse, neglect, exploitation, mental health crisis, online harm or other safeguarding concerns. Concerns may arise gradually, from patterns of behaviour, from online communication, from work experience or mentoring activity, or from information shared by another person.

You do not need proof that harm has occurred before reporting a concern. If something causes you to worry about a young person’s safety or wellbeing, report it to the DSL so that the concern can be assessed and, where necessary, referred to the appropriate statutory service.

Possible indicators may include, but are not limited to:

  • A direct or indirect disclosure of abuse, neglect, exploitation, self-harm, suicidal thoughts or risk from another person.

  • Descriptions of controlling, coercive, exploitative, harmful or age-inappropriate relationships.

  • References to unsafe, unsuitable or unstable living conditions, homelessness or being unable to return home safely.

  • Appearing isolated from friends and family.

  • Messages suggesting grooming, sexual or criminal exploitation, bullying, harassment, threats, coercion, radicalisation, image-based abuse or other online harm.

  • Dramatic changes in the tone of their messages.

  • Sudden disengagement from school.

  • Sudden disinterest in goals they previously showed interest in.

  • Indicators of mental health crisis, eating difficulties, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, substance misuse or escalating distress.

Where a direct disclosure is made, follow the disclosure guidance above. Where other indicators cause concern, report the concern to the DSL as soon as possible and on the same day. The DSL will assess the information, make any required referrals and liaise with statutory agencies.

If the concern is serious and occurs outside normal working hours, contact the DSL using the agreed out-of-hours route (telephone number(s) above). If the DSL is unavailable and delay may place the young person or another person at risk, contact 999 in an emergency, local children’s social care or the NSPCC Helpline for advice (details above). Record what you were advised to do and any action taken.

This document makes up part of your Trustee / Staff / e-Mentor / Volunteer Training. Receipt of this document assumes you will abide by this policy. You must acknowledge that you have read and understood this document and agree to abide by it by electronically signing and dating the section relating to this document in your personal Trustee Induction / Staff Induction or e-Mentor / Volunteer Training Checklist.