Safeguarding

The Royal Institution (Ri) is committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk and promoting their wellbeing. All individuals associated with the Ri, such as staff, Trustees and volunteers, are required to share this commitment, to work together to help achieve the best possible outcomes for children and adults at risk and to protect them from harm.

Key contacts

The Ri’s Designated Safeguarding Officers (DSOs) are the first point of contact for anyone who has a safeguarding question or concern, needs to report a disclosure or who needs advice. If you are unsure, it is much better to ask than to risk not reporting something which may be a genuine safeguarding concern. 

Main contacts: Designated Safeguarding Officers

All safeguarding concerns or disclosures MUST be reported to the Ri’s Designated Safeguarding Officers or relevant responsible person (as detailed below) ASAP, within 24 hours.

  • Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO):
    • Samantha Durbin, 07741 657 952  
  • Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer(s) (DDSOs):
    • Jemma Naumann, 07734 449 268
  • DSOs’ contact email address: safeguarding@ri.ac.uk  

Emergencies

If anyone is at immediate risk of harm or you think a crime is being committed, you should call the appropriate emergency services on 999, without delay and without having to seek consent.  

You should then also immediately call the DSOs (or relevant responsible person at the Ri if you cannot reach the DSOs or if it is not appropriate to involve them). You can also seek advice via a national helpline. 

Additional responsible people

  • If a concern involves one of the DSOs, or you do not feel your concern has been acted on appropriately, you should contact the Ri’s Director of Strategy, Heritage and External Events, Emma Kelly.
  • If a concern involves the Ri’s Director of Strategy, Heritage and External Events, you can contact the DSO and the Director of the Ri, Katherine Mathieson.
  • If a concern involves the Director of the Ri, you can contact the DSO and with them will make a report to the Lead Trustee for Safeguarding and the Chair of Trustees.  
  • If the concern involves all of the above responsible people, you can report to the Lead Trustee for Safeguarding, Chair of Trustees and the most appropriate non-implicated director.  
  • The Trustee responsible for safeguarding is Professor Alison Woollard.
  • You can use the above email contacts to request a phone conversation about the concern being reported. 

Safeguarding helplines

If you cannot reach the DSOs or a relevant responsible person, you can also seek advice via national helplines for safeguarding children or adults at risk, as appropriate:  

Safeguarding concerns

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and you are obliged to report any genuine concern that you have. Remember that the welfare of the individual child or adult at risk is paramount.

What is a safeguarding concern?

This is anything which may indicate that there is a concern over the welfare of a child or adult at risk, or that there is a risk of abuse or harm. This may include:

  • A child or adult at risk disclosing abuse, or another child or adult sharing a concern
  • Something you see or overhear
  • Unusual behaviour by a child, including inappropriate behaviour for their age
  • Concerning behaviour of an adult

The key steps in dealing with any safeguarding concerns are known as the four Rs:

Recognise 

  • Recognise a concern, disclosure or accusation 

  • Take these seriously and do not dismiss them 

  • Listen to everything being shared 

  • Do not ask leading questions or investigate 

Respond 

  • Respond appropriately 

  • Reassure anyone sharing a concern, disclosure or accusation that they are doing the right thing in speaking up 

  • Do not promise confidentiality and don’t make judgements

Report

  • Report all concerns to the Ri Designated Safeguarding Officers (DSOs) or appropriate responsible person ASAP - see key contacts above

  • Tell anyone sharing concerns that you will pass them on to the appropriate people to help keep everyone safe

Record 

  • Record all the relevant information, in the person’s own words and  separating fact and opinion

  • This will be required so the Ri’s Designated Safeguarding Officers can assess what to do, and in case concerns need to be passed on to external organisations

Please see the Ri's Child and Adult Safeguarding Procedures for more details on what to do to deal with any safeguarding concerns.

Safeguarding policies and procedures

Our safeguarding policies and procedures are here to support and protect all individuals associated with the Ri as well as the people that we work with, and to help create a safe and secure environment for all, where safeguarding is paramount and inaction or silence around concerns of abuse or poor practice is not acceptable. 

Child Safeguarding Policy & Procedures

The Child Safeguarding Policy details the Ri’s approach to safeguarding children, which includes anyone under the age of 18 regardless of any other status.

The Child Safeguarding Procedures cover who you should talk to about any safeguarding questions or concerns, how you should behave to create a safe environment, and the key steps in dealing with any concerns raised.

Adult Safeguarding Policy & Procedures

The Adult Safeguarding Policy details the Ri’s approach to safeguarding adults (anyone aged 18 or older).

The Adult Safeguarding Procedures cover who you should talk to about any safeguarding questions or concerns, how you should behave to create a safe environment, and the key steps in dealing with any concerns raised. 

Child Safeguarding top tips

  • Avoid being alone with a child or group of children
  • Avoid any physical contact with children
  • Follow the Ri’s policies and procedures on taking and sharing pictures or recordings including children, and never do so without the appropriate written permission
  • Never share personal contact details with children (or vice versa) or connect on any social media

Establishing a safe environment

  • Listen to and take seriously any concerns or allegations reported to you
  • Know who to talk to and what to do if you have any safeguarding concerns
  • Challenge any poor or unsafe practices, taking action if you feel something isn’t right
  • Always behave professionally and avoid any conduct which may lead to a reasonable person questioning your motivation or intentions

This page was last updated on 2 February 2024.