Your statutory duty

Your statutory duty

Safeguarding is the responsibility of every adult working with people. As an SPLWSPLW— Social Prescribing Link WorkerA role that supports people to access community-based services, groups and activities to meet practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing. Used internationally; equivalents in some countries include 'link worker', 'community connector' or 'health navigator'., you have a clear duty to recognise abuse, neglect or exploitation and to act on it — for both children and adults at risk.

Different countries express this duty in different laws. The principles are the same everywhere; the exact thresholds, mandatory reporting rules, and named bodies vary. Always apply your local jurisdiction's framework.

What the WHIS competency framework expects

The framework (Domain 4) requires SPLWsSPLW— Social Prescribing Link WorkerA role that supports people to access community-based services, groups and activities to meet practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing. Used internationally; equivalents in some countries include 'link worker', 'community connector' or 'health navigator'. to:

• Understand their responsibility to safeguard children and adults, and the importance of that when working with vulnerable individuals.
• Apply knowledge gained through mandatory and statutory safeguarding training to identify those at risk of harm.
• Follow appropriate processes — including escalation to a named supervisor when relevant.
• Understand the risks and implications of not acting.

Mandatory and statutory training

Every SPLWSPLW— Social Prescribing Link WorkerA role that supports people to access community-based services, groups and activities to meet practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing. Used internationally; equivalents in some countries include 'link worker', 'community connector' or 'health navigator'. must complete and keep current — at the level required in your jurisdiction:

• Safeguarding Children (level depends on local assessment)
• Safeguarding Adults
• Capacity-to-consent awareness
• Information governance and data handling
• Domestic abuse awareness
• Lone working (most SPLWsSPLW— Social Prescribing Link WorkerA role that supports people to access community-based services, groups and activities to meet practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing. Used internationally; equivalents in some countries include 'link worker', 'community connector' or 'health navigator'. work with lone-working risk).

This is non-negotiable and your employer must fund and release time for it.

Where the duty starts and stops

Starts: the moment you have a reasonable concern that a child or adult is being abused, neglected, or exploited — whether or not they have told you directly.

Doesn't stop because:

• the person asks you not to tell anyone
• the person is an adult with capacity
• you are not "sure" yet
• it is at the end of a Friday afternoon.

You may need to share information without consent in safeguarding situations — your safeguarding training covers when and how. If you are unsure, call your safeguarding lead.

Working with adults with capacity who refuse intervention

Adults with capacity have the right to make unwise decisions about their own lives. But where there is risk of serious harm, where other people are at risk (e.g. children in the home), or where coercion is suspected, escalate anyway. Your supervisor and safeguarding lead can help you navigate the line.

Practical commitments to make to yourself

• I have a named safeguarding lead. I know how to contact them within an hour.
• I record concerns factually and promptly, in the right system.
• I never not escalate because I don't want to be wrong.
• I bring difficult cases to clinical supervision so I am not carrying them alone.

Linked competencies

• Obligation to safeguard individuals from harm (Domain 4)
• Maintains compliance with mandatory and statutory training (Domain 4).