Safeguarding Statement

Our safeguarding position

In Your Corner (IYC) is an independent, volunteer-led parent advocacy project supporting families with SEND, education access, neurodevelopmental pathways and selected NHS/public-service issues. Our work can sometimes reveal information suggesting that a child, young person or adult at risk may be experiencing, or may be at risk of, abuse, neglect or other harm.

IYC is not a local authority children's social care service, police service, emergency service or statutory safeguarding partnership. We nevertheless take safeguarding concerns seriously and use the appropriate statutory routes when action is needed.

How we respond to a concern

• We listen, take the concern seriously and do not promise absolute secrecy.
• We do not conduct our own child-protection or criminal investigation.
• We record the source of information and distinguish known facts, allegations, professional findings and IYC observations.
• We ask only enough questions to understand immediate safety and what action may be required.
• We do not confront an alleged person where doing so could increase risk or prejudice an external investigation.
• Where necessary, we seek advice or make a referral without avoidable delay.

Information sharing and confidentiality

Ordinary advocacy and safeguarding are not the same thing. IYC normally uses agreed consent and authority for routine casework. A genuine safeguarding concern may require information to be used or shared without ordinary casework consent where the law allows this and the safeguarding tests are met.

• Information is shared for a clear safeguarding purpose and on a need-to-know basis.
• We aim to share information that is relevant, adequate and proportionate - not an entire case file unless the wider material is genuinely necessary.
• Where safe and appropriate, we are open with the family or adult about what is being shared, why and with whom.
• We do not seek or insist on consent where doing so could increase risk, prejudice a safeguarding or police enquiry, or cause harmful delay.
• Material safeguarding decisions and disclosures are recorded.

Children, SEND and communication

A child's disability, autism, ADHD, communication difference or behaviour must never be treated as a reason to discount a disclosure or lower safeguarding vigilance.

An additional need must not be used to assume that behaviour explains possible harm.

• We allow additional time and use accessible communication where possible.
• We avoid leading questions and repeated retelling.
• We consider the child's age, understanding, wishes and communication needs where appropriate.
• Where interpretation or communication support is required for safeguarding, an independent/professional route should be used where possible.

Concerns about people working with IYC

A safeguarding concern about a person working or volunteering with children must not be reduced to an ordinary service complaint simply because it involves IYC.

Where relevant, concerns or allegations about an adult who works or volunteers with children may be referred to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO). A LADO referral does not replace emergency child-protection or police action where a child is at immediate risk.

Local safeguarding routes

Contact routes were checked against Kent County Council and Medway Council information on 24 September 2026. Always use the latest official local-authority information if a route or number changes.

LADO routes — adults working or volunteering with children

For concerns about someone working with adults at risk, use the adult safeguarding routes above for advice. These are distinct from the children’s LADO arrangements.

Safeguarding records and privacy

Safeguarding records are stored in IYC's approved Microsoft 365 business environment with access restricted to people who need it. They are handled under IYC's UK GDPR & Data Protection Framework and internal safeguarding procedure.

Safeguarding records are reviewed when a case closes and at least annually if retained. They are normally kept no longer than three years after case closure unless a continuing safeguarding, legal, complaint or accountability reason requires longer retention.

Training and accountability

IYC maintains safeguarding training appropriate to the role and keeps this statement and its internal safeguarding procedure under review. Training supports safe practice but does not replace referral to statutory services when a concern requires external action.

Current framework

• Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026 - Department for Education.
• Information Sharing to Safeguard Children and Young People - Department for Education, September 2026.
• UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018.
• Care Act 2014 and Care and Support Statutory Guidance for adult safeguarding.
• Kent and Medway local safeguarding procedures and LADO arrangements.

The September 2026 information-sharing guidance describes the statutory duty commencing on 30 September 2026 for organisations within its legal scope. This statement does not claim that IYC automatically falls within that duty. IYC follows lawful and proportionate safeguarding information-sharing principles.

Further information

The full IYC internal Safeguarding Children & Adults at Risk Policy & Procedure is an operational governance document and is not published as a public casework manual. This statement explains the safeguarding position families, professionals and website users need to understand.

Safeguarding/contact enquiries: hello@inyourcorner.org.uk

Download the Safeguarding Statement (PDF)