- Role of Safeguarding Lead Trustee (Board Member)
The board of trustees will have a designated safeguarding trustee. The role of the safeguarding trustee lead is:
- Consider the organisation’s strategic plans and make sure they reflect safeguarding legislation, regulations specific to (insert organisation’s) activities, statutory guidance, and the safeguarding expectations of the regulatory body and its donors.
- Be responsible for all safeguarding governance, management and performance as guided by the Chair of the Board.
- Check the organisation’s risk register reflects safeguarding risks properly and plans sensible measures to take, including relevant insurance for organisational liability.
- To ensure that safeguarding is maintained as a priority for the board of trustees.
- To ensure that safeguarding is a standing agenda item and safeguarding activity is included in management reports to the board.
- To ensure that the CEO and Designated Safeguarding Lead Implement (insert organisation’s) safeguarding policy.
- Oversee safeguarding allegations against staff or volunteers, together with CEO and designated safeguarding lead.
- To provide safeguarding supervision to the CEO.
- To ensure that a serious incident is reported reflecting (insert organisation name) protocol to appropriate accountable bodies such as the Charities Commission, donors, and other relevant regulatory bodies.
- Be a point of contact for staff or volunteers if someone wishes to complain about a lack of action in relation to safeguarding concerns.
- Champion safeguarding throughout the organisation.
- Attend relevant safeguarding training events and conferences.
- Make sure there is an annual review of safeguarding policies and procedures and that this is reported to Board of Trustees.
- Operational Level
At the operational level, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible for ensuring a working environment and promoting a culture conducive to the implementation of (organisation’s) safeguarding policy framework.
The DSL and/or CEO will report on safeguarding matters to the safeguarding lead trustee and the board. The CEO is accountable to the board of trustees and will keep the board fully informed of any safeguarding situation and will recommend the appropriate course of action in response to any reported incident. In addition, (insert organisation’s name) will report any serious incident and action taken to the regulatory and our donors. Any reviews of our safeguarding policy framework will be presented to the board of trustees for approval by the CEO.
- The role of the CEO
- To ensure that the organisational culture is conducive to facilitate the implementation of the safeguarding framework.
- Be the accountable officer for the management of all safeguarding concerns and must be informed of complaints and allegations by the Designated Safeguarding Lead
- To include safeguarding activity in reports to the board.
- To provide supervision and support to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
- Managing Safeguarding
The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is responsible for managing all safeguarding reports made to (insert organisation’s name). The DSL is also responsible for ensuring that (insert organisation’s name) is compliant with all safeguarding requirements along with facilitating managing safeguarding reports, training and awareness raising according to levels of responsibility. The DSL is accountable to the CEO.
- The role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) (can also be called the Focal Point
The Designated Safeguarding Lead is appointed within (insert organisation name) to be the first point of contact for all safeguarding concerns.
The DSL will:
- Operate within (organisation name) Safeguarding Policy guidelines.
- Ensure (insert organisation name) Safeguarding Framework is easily accessible, including reporting pathways for raising concerns, to all stakeholders (staff, volunteers, consultants, service users) is easily accessible and visible at key venues for operations.
- Provide/facilitate safeguarding training according to levels of responsibility.
- Support HR/hiring manager in safer recruitment.
- Create and maintain links with the statutory authorities, protection networks, and other relevant agencies and resource groups.
- Refer all media queries in relation to safeguarding to the CEO and agree action.
- Be a first point of contact to refer safeguarding concerns or complaints, to document and assess concerns for further action.
- Report suspicions and allegations of child and adult safeguarding concerns to the statutory authorities in the country of operation where relevant.
- Facilitate the provision of support to any victim making a report and to the person against whom an allegation has been made.
- Facilitate/conduct a safeguarding investigation where necessary.
- Maintain proper records on all cases referred to him/her in a secure and confidential manner.
- Keep up to date on current developments regarding provision, practice, support services, legal obligations/requirements, and policy. This will include attending mandatory safeguarding training.
- Advise the CEO and, at his/her discretion, the allocated safeguarding trustee of a case or suspicion of abuse. In the case of serious incidents, the allocated safeguarding trustee must be informed of the details so to follow the appropriate protocol regarding reporting to the regulatory body and donors.
- Advise on good safeguarding practice utilising guidance and resources from national and international lead agencies.
The DSL reports to the CEO on a regular basis and keeps him/her informed on any safeguarding concerns which may arise in (insert organisation name)
Date 10 Sep 2025