Introduction – We are all accountable for Safeguarding others!

In common with all organisations, IWA is required to maintain robust safeguarding policies. Trustees are jointly and severally responsible to ensure such policies are in place and that employees and volunteers are aware of their individual responsibility to take appropriate action if they suspect someone is at risk.  IWA’s Safeguarding Policy and the supporting procedures should be used as working reference documents that are intended to help your decision making. A key factor in safeguarding is to act on suspicion if you have a concern.

The following statements give an overview of why and what:

While local authorities have statutory duties, ordinary citizens must act on their concerns to trigger the formal safeguarding process, promoting wellbeing and ensuring rights to live free from harm are upheld.

UK citizens don’t have a direct legal duty to safeguard adults in the same way professionals do, but the Care Act 2014 establishes that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

Who is an “Adult at Risk”?

Under the Care Act, an adult at risk is someone over 18 who:

• Has care and support
• Cannot protect themselves from abuse or neglect due to those needs
• Is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect.

Focus on Wellbeing: Safeguarding is about promoting on the right of all adults to live safely, respecting their dignity, and ensuring their views are considered. Safeguarding legislation applies to all forms of abuse that harm a person’s well-being.

Report Concerns: If you suspect an adult is at risk of abuse or neglect, you must report it.

Know Who to Tell: Use this IWA procedure as a guide.

What You Don’t Need to Do:

• You are not responsible for deciding if abuse has happened
• You are not expected to investigate

What You Must Do:

• Act on your concerns: It’s your responsibility to raise the alarm so statutory bodies can investigate.
• Support the principles: Aim for empowerment (letting the person choose), prevention, and proportionality (least intrusive response).

For more information see: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/safeguarding-for-charities-and-trustees

IWA’s Lead for Safeguarding is Dave Chapman ([email protected]).

IWA Safeguarding Adults Policy 

• IWA (The Inland Waterways Association) believes everyone has the right to live free from abuse or neglect regardless of age, ability or disability, sex, race, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, marital or gender status.
• IWA is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and positive environment and an open, listening culture where people feel able to share concerns without fear of
• IWA is committed to the six principles of safeguarding adults which includes: empowerment, protection, prevention, proportionality, partnership and accountability. (England)
• IWA is committed to Safeguarding Adults in line with national legislation and relevant local guidelines by ensuring that our activities are delivered in a way which keeps all adults safe by creating and maintaining a safe and positive environment and an open, listening culture where people feel able to share concerns without fear of
• IWA recognises that health, well-being, ability, disability and need for care and support can affect a person’s resilience. We recognise that some people experience barriers, for example, to communication in raising concerns or seeking We recognise that these factors can vary at different points in people’s lives.
• IWA recognises that there is a legal framework within which organisations need to work to safeguard adults who have needs for care and support and for protecting those who are unable to take action to protect themselves and will act in accordance with the relevant safeguarding adult legislation and with local statutory safeguarding procedures.
• Actions taken by IWA employees and volunteers will be consistent with the principles of adult safeguarding ensuring that any action taken is prompt, proportionate and that it includes and respects the voice of the adult concerned.

Note: – IWA (The Inland Waterways Association) includes all employees, contractors and volunteers including those involved with Waterway Recovery Group (WRG).

Scope

IWA’s Safeguarding Adults policy and associated procedures apply to all individuals involved in IWA including trustees, employees, volunteers and members and to all concerns about the safety of adults whilst taking part in our organisation, its activities and in the wider community. We should always be aware that whilst we do not have a direct legal duty to safeguard adults in the same way professionals do, the Care Act 2014 (England and Wales) establishes that safeguarding is the responsibility of everyone.

To implement this policy IWA must ensure that: 

• Everyone involved with IWA is aware of the safeguarding adult procedures and knows what to do and who to contact if they have a concern relating to the welfare or wellbeing of an adult.

• Any concern that an adult is not safe is taken seriously, responded to promptly, and followed up in line with IWA Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedures.

• The well-being of those at risk of harm will be put first and the adult actively supported to communicate their views and the outcomes they want to.  Those views and wishes will be respected and supported unless there are overriding reasons not to (see the Safeguarding Adults Procedures).

• Any actions taken will respect the rights and dignity of all those involved and be proportionate to the risk of harm.

• Confidential, detailed and accurate records of all safeguarding concerns are maintained and securely stored in line with our Data Protection Policy and Procedures.

• IWA uses safe recruitment practices and is aware of the need to assess the suitability of volunteers and employees to avoid the employment/deployment of unsuitable individuals.

• IWA shares information about anyone found to be a risk to adults with the appropriate bodies – for example: Disclosure and Barring Service, Services, Police, Local Authority/Social Services.

• When planning activities and events, IWA will consider the Safeguarding Adults Policy when making risk assessments.

Guidelines for policy application

(Note: – the term IWA is used throughout this document, IWA includes all employees, contractors and volunteers including those involved with Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) whether or not they are members of IWA).

These links provide a great deal more detailed information:  

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/safeguarding-for-charities-and-trustees 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safeguarding-policy-protecting-vulnerable-adults/sd8-opgs-safeguarding-policy

Processing a Concern

Download the diagram here

Report Concerns Form (18+ years)

Download the editable form here

Supporting information

Safeguarding Adults Legislation

Safeguarding Adults in all home nations is compliant with United Nations directives on the rights of disabled people and commitments to the rights of older people. It is covered by:

• The Human Rights Act 1998
• The Data Protection Act 2018
• General Data Protection Regulations 2018

The practices and procedures within this policy are based on the relevant legislation and government guidance.

• England – The Care Act 2014

Care and Support Statutory Guidance (especially chapter 14) 2014

• Wales – Social Services and Well Being Act 2014 Wales Safeguarding Procedures 2019
• Scotland – Adult Support and Protection Act 2007

Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 Code of Practice 2014

• Northern Ireland – Adult Safeguarding Prevention and Protection in Partnership framework guides practice

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/safeguarding-for-charities-and-trustees

 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safeguarding-policy-protecting-vulnerable-adults/sd8-opgs-safeguarding-policy

Defining the Risk

Abuse and Neglect

Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by another person or persons. It can occur in any relationship and may result in significant harm to, or exploitation of, the person subjected to it. Any or all of the following types of abuse may be perpetrated as the result of deliberate intent, negligence, omission or ignorance.

There are different types and patterns of abuse and neglect and different circumstances in which they may take place.

Safeguarding legislation in each home nation lists categories of abuse differently however, they all include the following types of abuse:

• Physical – Sexual – Psychological – Neglect – Financial

Abuse can take place in any relationship and there are many contexts in which abuse might take place, e.g. Institutional abuse, Domestic Abuse, Forced Marriage, Human Trafficking, Modern Slavery, Sexual Exploitation, County Lines, Radicalisation, Hate Crime, Mate Crime, Cyber bullying, Scams. Some of these are named specifically within home nation legislations.

Whilst not in IWA’s sphere, recent cases of abuse within sport have included:

• Harassment of a person because of their (perceived) disability or other protected
• Not meeting the needs of the participant, g. training without a necessary break.
• A coach intentionally striking an athlete
• One elite participant controlling another athlete with threats of withdrawal from their partnership
• An official who sends unwanted sexually explicit text messages to a participant with learning disabilities.
• A participant threatens another participant with physical harm and persistently blames them for poor performance.

Abuse or neglect outside sport could be carried out by:

• A spouse, partner or family member
• Neighbours or residents
• Friends, acquaintances or strangers
• People who deliberately exploit adults who they perceive as vulnerable
• Employees, professionals or volunteers providing care and support

Appendices 

Appendix 1 – Safeguarding Lead 

IWA’s Lead for Adult Safeguarding is accountable to the board of trustees to provide a process and information to enable governance of safeguarding concerns.

IWA’s Safeguarding Lead will:

• Provide IWA employees and volunteers with guidance to enable action to minimise adult Safeguarding risks.
• Ensure IWA Adult Safeguarding policy and processes are consistent with current legislation and best practice.
• Coordinate the dissemination of the safeguarding adult policy, procedures and resources throughout the organisation.
• Contribute to ensuring other policies and procedures are consistent with the organisation’s commitment to safeguarding adults.
• Advise on the organisation’s training needs and the development of its training
• Receive reports of and manage cases of poor practice and abuse reported to the organisation – including an appropriate recording system.
• Be a central point of contact for internal and external individuals and agencies concerned about the safety of adults within the organisation.

Appendix 2 – Sources of Further Information and Support

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/safeguarding-for-charities-and-trustees

Action on Elder Abuse
A national organisation based in London. It aims to prevent the abuse of older people by raising awareness, encouraging education, promoting research and collecting and disseminating information. – Tel: 020 8765 7000
Email: [email protected]   www.elderabuse.org.uk

Ann Craft Trust
A national organisation providing information and advice about adult safeguarding. ACT have a specialist Safeguarding Adults in Sport and Activity team to support the sector. – Tel: 0115 951 5400
Email: [email protected]   www.anncrafttrust.org

Men’s Advice Line
For male domestic abuse survivors – Tel: 0808 801 0327

National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline
Tel: 0800 999 5428

National 24Hour Freephone Domestic Abuse Helplines 

England – Tel: 0808 2000 247  www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Contact-us
Northern Ireland – Tel: 0808 802 1414  www.dsahelpline.org  Twitter: www.twitter.com/dsahelpline   Facebook: www.facebook.com/dsahelpline
Scotland – Tel: 0800 027 1234  Email: [email protected] Web chat: sdafmh.org.uk
Wales: Llinell Gymorth Byw HebOfn/ Live free from fear helpline   Tel: 0808 8010 800   Type Talk: 18001 0808 801 0800   Text: 078600 77 333

Rape Crisis Federation of England and Wales

Rape Crisis was launched in 1996 and exists to provide a range of facilities and resources to enable the continuance and development of Rape Crisis Groups throughout Wales and England.
Email: [email protected]   www.rapecrisis.co.uk

Respond
Respond provides a range of services to victims and perpetrators of sexual abuse who have learning disabilities, and training and support to those working with them. Tel: 020 7383 0700 or 0808 808 0700 (Helpline)
Email: [email protected]   www.respond.org.uk

Stop Hate Crime
Works to challenge all forms of Hate Crime and discrimination, based on any aspect of an individual’s identity. Stop Hate UK provides independent, confidential and accessible reporting and support for victims, witnesses and third parties.  24 hours service: Telephone: 0800 138 1625
Web Chat: www.stophateuk.org/talk-to-us/   E mail: [email protected]   Text: 07717 989 025  Text relay: 18001 0800 138 1625  By post: PO Box 851, Leeds LS1 9QS

Susy Lamplugh Trust
The Trust is a leading authority on personal safety. Its role is to minimise the damage caused to individuals and to society by aggression in all its forms – physical, verbal and psychological.  Tel: 020 83921839
Email: [email protected]   www.suzylamplugh.org

Victim Support
Provides practical advice and help, emotional support and reassurance to those who have suffered the effects of a crime. Tel: 0808 168 9111  www.victimsupport.com

Women’s Aid Federation of England and Wales
Women’s Aid is a national domestic violence charity. It also runs a domestic violence online help service.
www.womensaid.org.uk/information-support

Policy and Procedures approved by trustees on 11th April 2026