VÕS HELP SAFEGUARDING POLICY
Last updated: 2 September 2026
1. Purpose
VÕS HELP is committed to protecting children, young people and adults at risk from abuse, neglect, exploitation and avoidable harm.
Safeguarding is a core responsibility of VÕS and of professionals providing services through the platform.
This policy applies to VÕS personnel and professionals providing services through VÕS.
2. Age
VÕS is available to users aged 13 and over.
Anyone aged 13 to 17 is treated as a young person for safeguarding purposes.
VÕS does not permit children under 13 to independently register for or use the service.
3. Our Safeguarding Principles
We will:
• prioritise the welfare and safety of users
• take safeguarding concerns seriously
• respond proportionately to identified risks
• maintain appropriate confidentiality
• share information where necessary and lawful to protect someone from harm
• maintain appropriate safeguarding records
• cooperate with statutory authorities where required
• apply additional safeguards when working with children and adults at risk
4. Professional Requirements
Professionals providing services through VÕS must meet the qualification, identity, suitability and safeguarding requirements established by VÕS for their role.
Where required by VÕS, this may include:
• identity verification
• qualification verification
• professional registration or membership checks
• enhanced DBS or equivalent checks where applicable
• safeguarding training
• professional insurance
• continuing professional development
Professionals must immediately report serious safeguarding concerns in accordance with VÕS procedures.
5. Safeguarding Lead
VÕS will maintain an appropriately trained Designated Safeguarding Lead or equivalent safeguarding leadership arrangement.
The safeguarding lead is responsible for overseeing safeguarding procedures, supporting decision making, reviewing serious concerns, maintaining appropriate records and coordinating with external agencies where required.
VÕS will also maintain appropriate cover arrangements when the principal safeguarding lead is unavailable.
6. Recognising Safeguarding Concerns
Concerns may include:
• suicidal intent or immediate risk of self harm
• abuse or neglect
• child sexual or criminal exploitation
• domestic abuse
• sexual violence
• trafficking or modern slavery
• grooming
• coercive or controlling behaviour
• risk posed by another person
• risk posed to another person
• serious deterioration in a vulnerable person's safety
• other circumstances suggesting a child or adult may be at significant risk of harm
7. Immediate Danger
Where a professional reasonably believes that a person faces an immediate or serious risk of harm, protecting life and safety takes priority.
Appropriate action may include:
• maintaining communication with the user where possible
• seeking relevant identifying or location information
• escalating internally to the safeguarding lead
• contacting emergency services
• contacting children's or adult safeguarding services
• contacting police
• sharing relevant information where necessary and lawful to protect life or prevent serious harm
Professionals must not promise absolute confidentiality where a serious safeguarding risk exists.
8. Confidentiality
VÕS is designed to provide users with a confidential environment.
However, confidentiality has safeguarding and legal limits.
Information may be shared without the user's agreement where there is a lawful and proportionate reason, including where necessary to protect a child, protect a person at serious risk, prevent serious harm or comply with legal requirements.
Only information reasonably necessary for the safeguarding purpose should be disclosed.
9. Young People Aged 13 to 17
Young people are entitled to be treated with dignity and have their privacy respected.
A young person's information will not automatically be disclosed to a parent or guardian simply because they are under 18.
Professionals must consider the young person's understanding, circumstances, welfare and applicable safeguarding obligations.
Where there is a serious concern about a young person's safety, information may be shared with appropriate safeguarding services, emergency services, a parent or guardian, or another appropriate person where lawful and necessary.
The child's best interests and safety will be central to safeguarding decisions.
10. Anonymous Users
VÕS may permit users to limit the identifying information visible during ordinary use.
Users must understand that anonymity cannot be guaranteed in every safeguarding or emergency situation.
Where there is an immediate or serious threat to life or safety, VÕS or the professional may ask the user to provide identifying or location information and may take other lawful and proportionate steps to facilitate emergency safeguarding action.
11. Recording Concerns
Significant safeguarding concerns and actions must be appropriately documented.
Records should include, where appropriate:
• date and time
• nature of concern
• relevant information disclosed
• assessment of risk
• advice sought
• decisions made
• action taken
• information shared and with whom
• rationale for the decision
Safeguarding records must be stored securely with access restricted appropriately.
12. Allegations Against Professionals
Any allegation that a VÕS professional has harmed, exploited, abused or behaved inappropriately towards a user will be taken seriously.
VÕS may immediately restrict or suspend access to the platform while an allegation is investigated.
Where appropriate, VÕS may refer concerns to police, safeguarding authorities, the Disclosure and Barring Service, professional bodies, regulators or other appropriate organisations.
Protecting users takes priority over continued access to the platform by a professional while serious concerns are investigated.
13. Safeguarding Incidents
Serious safeguarding incidents will be reviewed to identify whether changes are required to:
• policies
• training
• technology
• professional requirements
• escalation procedures
• clinical safety controls
Lessons identified through incidents should be incorporated into VÕS's risk and clinical governance processes.
14. International Users
Where a user is outside the United Kingdom, VÕS and professionals should consider the emergency and safeguarding services applicable to the user's location.
Users should contact the emergency services applicable to the country in which they are physically located where immediate assistance is required.
15. Emergency Service Disclaimer
VÕS is not an emergency service and should not be used as a substitute for emergency medical, psychiatric or police assistance.
In the UK, anyone in immediate danger should call 999 or attend an appropriate emergency department.
16. Training and Review
Relevant VÕS personnel and professionals must receive safeguarding information and training appropriate to their responsibilities.
This policy will be reviewed regularly and following significant safeguarding incidents, regulatory changes or material changes to the VÕS service.
VÕS HELP Limited
United Kingdom
www.voshelp.com
