Safeguarding Policy

Last updated: 12 October 2026 · Next review: October 2027

Our commitment

Every student we support has the right to be safe and treated with respect. Many of the students we work with are autistic, have ADHD or have mental health conditions, and some may be at greater risk of exploitation, abuse, self-harm or crisis. We take this seriously while respecting that students are adults who make their own decisions.

Who is responsible

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)	The owner of Neurodivergent Minds, nmh@neurodivergentminds.com
Safeguarding adviser	An experienced, safeguarding-trained colleague outside Neurodivergent Minds, who the DSL consults (without sharing names) on difficult decisions. Their name is kept on file and given to DfE or Student Finance England on request.
If the DSL is unavailable, or the concern is about the DSL	Contact the student's university safeguarding or disability team, or the adult safeguarding team at the local council where the student lives (for a child, the council's children's services). In an emergency, call 999.

Neurodivergent Minds is run by a sole trader, who is also the DSL and the only support worker. When the DSL is away, no sessions take place, so there is no cover arrangement to manage. All support workers complete safeguarding training (adults at risk, and the Prevent duty) before working with students and refresh it every year. Every year they also update their knowledge of suicide risk and of supporting people at risk. This can be a course, or structured self-study, such as reading BPS publications and checking current guidance on risk and safety planning. Either way, it is recorded in their CPD log. All support workers hold a current enhanced DBS check and are registered with the DBS Update Service.

What counts as a safeguarding concern

• A student tells us, or we notice signs, that they are being harmed or abused (physical, emotional, sexual, financial, domestic abuse, coercive control, neglect or self-neglect, modern slavery, discrimination, or exploitation including online).
• A student is at serious risk of harming themselves, including suicidal thoughts with a plan or intent.
• A student is a risk to someone else.
• A child (under 18) is at risk of harm. This includes a student who is under 18, or a child the student tells us about.
• Someone is being drawn into terrorism or extremism (the Prevent duty).

What a support worker does

1. Listen calmly, without judging, and without asking leading questions.
2. Be honest that we can't promise to keep it secret if someone is at risk, and explain what will happen next.
3. Act on immediate danger: call 999 if someone is in immediate danger or needs urgent medical help.
4. Report to the DSL the same day.
5. Record what was said and seen, in the student's own words where possible, with the date and time, and stick to facts.

What the DSL does

The DSL decides what action is needed. Wherever it's safe and possible, we will talk to the student first and seek their consent before sharing information. Where there is a serious risk to the student or others, or the law requires it, we may share information without consent with:

• the university's disability, wellbeing or safeguarding team;
• emergency services, the student's GP or crisis mental health team;
• the local authority Adult Social Care or Children's Services;
• Prevent / Channel through the local authority or police.

We share only what is necessary, and record what we shared, with whom, and why.

Students in crisis

Our support workers are not a crisis or emergency service. We give students these contacts and help them make a plan with their university for out-of-hours support:

• Emergency: 999, or go to A&E.
• NHS 111, option 2 (mental health crisis).
• Samaritans: 116 123 (free, any time).
• Shout: text SHOUT to 85258.

Allegations against a support worker

Any concern about a support worker's behaviour is reported to the DSL. If it is about the DSL, report it directly to the student's university safeguarding team or the local council's adult safeguarding team, as above. We will act promptly, which may include pausing that worker's sessions while we look into it, and we'll refer to the DBS, the professional body or the police where required. We'll tell Student Finance England / DfE where appropriate.

Safer working

Support workers follow our Professional Boundaries and Code of Conduct, Lone Workers Policy and Remote Support Policy.

Questions about this policy

Email nmh@neurodivergentminds.com. You can ask for this policy in another format (large print, plain text, or read through together in a session).

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