Safeguarding Policy

Léa Morris Postnatal Doula

1. Purpose of This Policy

The safety and wellbeing of babies, children and adults are important considerations within my work as a postnatal doula.

I work in people’s homes and may support families during a particularly vulnerable period following the birth of a baby. I therefore have a responsibility to remain aware of safeguarding concerns and to respond appropriately if I believe someone may be at risk of harm.

This policy explains how I approach safeguarding, what I will do if I have a concern, and the limits of confidentiality.

My approach is intended to be supportive, respectful and proportionate. Safeguarding concerns are not automatically an indication that someone has done something wrong. My responsibility is to take concerns seriously and act appropriately when someone’s safety or wellbeing may be at risk.

2. What Safeguarding Means

Safeguarding means taking reasonable steps to protect people from abuse, neglect, exploitation and other forms of harm, while promoting their wellbeing, dignity and right to live safely.

My safeguarding responsibilities may relate to:

Babies and children
Parents and other adults I support
Adults who may be particularly vulnerable or at risk
Other people within the household where a concern becomes apparent during my work.

Safeguarding can involve recognising a concern, responding appropriately, recording relevant information and, where necessary, contacting an appropriate professional or safeguarding service.

3. Safeguarding Children

A baby’s safety and wellbeing are particularly important within postnatal doula work.

A safeguarding concern may arise from something I observe, something a parent or another person tells me, or information that becomes apparent during my work.

Possible concerns may include:

Suspected physical abuse
Suspected emotional or psychological abuse
Sexual abuse or exploitation
Neglect
Domestic abuse or violence affecting a child
Unsafe living conditions that place a child at significant risk
A child being exposed to serious or ongoing harm
Concerns about a caregiver’s ability to safely care for a child
A child or baby being deliberately harmed or placed at significant risk
Any other situation where I have reasonable concerns about a child’s safety or welfare

This list is not exhaustive.

A safeguarding concern does not require me to know or prove that abuse or neglect is taking place.

My responsibility is to recognise concerns and respond appropriately.

4. Safeguarding Adults

Safeguarding also applies to adults who may be at risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation.

An adult may be particularly vulnerable because of factors such as illness, disability, cognitive impairment, mental health difficulties, dependence on others or other circumstances affecting their ability to protect themselves from harm.

Possible concerns may include:

Physical abuse
Emotional or psychological abuse
Sexual abuse
Financial abuse
Domestic abuse
Neglect or acts of omission
Discriminatory abuse
Coercive or controlling behaviour
Exploitation
Self-neglect where there is a serious concern about safety or wellbeing
Unsafe living conditions presenting a serious risk
Any other situation where I have reasonable concerns about an adult’s safety or welfare

Again, this list is not exhaustive.

5. Recognising a Safeguarding Concern

A safeguarding concern may come from:

Something I see or hear
Something a parent or child tells me
Something another person tells me
A change in someone’s behaviour or presentation
Signs that someone may be experiencing harm or neglect
Information shared with me that causes me to be concerned about someone’s safety
A situation that appears to place someone at significant risk

I will avoid making assumptions or attempting to investigate matters myself.

My role is not to establish whether abuse has occurred. My role is to respond appropriately when I have a reasonable concern.

6. Responding to a Disclosure

If someone tells me that they have experienced or are experiencing abuse, neglect or another safeguarding concern, I will aim to:

Stay calm and listen
Take what they say seriously
Give them the opportunity to speak without unnecessary interruption
Avoid making promises that I can keep the information completely confidential
Avoid asking leading or unnecessary questions
Avoid investigating the situation myself
Explain, where appropriate, that I may need to share information if someone is at serious risk of harm
Record relevant information as soon as reasonably possible
Seek appropriate safeguarding advice where necessary

I will not pressure someone to disclose information they are not ready to share.

7. Confidentiality and its Limits

I respect the privacy of the families I support.

Information shared with me will normally be treated as confidential and handled in accordance with my Privacy Policy.

However, confidentiality is not absolute.

I may need to share relevant information if:

I have serious concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a child
I have serious concerns about an adult at risk
Someone is at immediate or significant risk of harm
There is a safeguarding concern that requires professional intervention
I am legally required to provide information
Sharing information is necessary to help protect someone from serious harm

Where it is safe and appropriate to do so, I will normally explain to the person concerned that information may need to be shared and why.

However, I may share information without their consent where seeking consent could increase the risk of harm, prejudice safeguarding action, or where the law requires information to be shared.

I will aim to share only information that is relevant and necessary for the safeguarding concern.

8. What I Will Do if I Have a Concern

If I become concerned about someone’s safety or welfare, I will consider:

Is anyone in immediate danger?
Does urgent medical or emergency assistance need to be contacted?
Is this a safeguarding concern requiring professional advice or referral?
Who is the appropriate service or professional to contact?
What information is necessary and proportionate to share?

I will not attempt to investigate, interview or establish the facts of an allegation myself.

Where appropriate, I will seek advice from the relevant safeguarding service or professional.

9. Emergency Situations

If I believe that someone is in immediate danger or requires urgent assistance, I will prioritise immediate safety.

This may include contacting 999 or another appropriate emergency or healthcare service.

Where there is an immediate medical concern involving a baby or adult, appropriate medical assistance should be sought without delay.

I will not allow concerns about confidentiality to prevent appropriate emergency action where someone’s life or immediate safety is at risk.

10. Who I May Contact

Depending on the nature and urgency of the concern, I may contact or seek advice from an appropriate service, which could include:

Local Children’s Social Care / Children’s Services
Local Adult Safeguarding Team
Police
NHS services
GP or other healthcare professional
Midwife or health visitor
Appropriate specialist safeguarding service

Local Safeguarding Contacts

Lancashire / Lancaster

Children’s Safeguarding / Children’s Social Care:
Lancashire County Council Children’s Services
0300 123 6720
Out of hours: 0300 123 6722

Adult Safeguarding:
Lancashire County Council Adult Safeguarding
0300 123 6721
Out of hours: 0300 123 6722

South Cumbria / Westmorland & Furness

Children’s Safeguarding:
Westmorland and Furness Council – Multi Agency Children’s Hub (MACH)
0300 373 2734
This number also provides out-of-hours children’s social care support.

Adult Safeguarding:
Westmorland and Furness Council – Adult Social Care
0300 373 3301
Out of hours: 01539 768700

Police:
101 – non-emergency
999 – emergency or immediate danger

I will use the appropriate current local safeguarding procedures and contact details relevant to the area in which the concern arises.

11. Recording Safeguarding Concerns

If I have a safeguarding concern, I will make a factual record of relevant information as soon as reasonably possible.

Records may include:

Date and time
What I observed
What was said to me
Who was present
Any relevant actions undertaken
Who I contacted for advice or support
The information that was shared
Any decisions or recommendations made

I will aim to distinguish clearly between:

What I observed or was told and My personal interpretation or concerns

I will avoid unnecessary speculation or personal opinions.

Records will be stored securely and handled in accordance with my Privacy Policy and applicable data protection requirements.

12. Information Sharing

Safeguarding sometimes requires information to be shared between professionals or organisations.

Where information needs to be shared, I will aim to:

Share information only when there is a legitimate safeguarding reason
Share information with an appropriate person or organisation
Share only information that is relevant and necessary
Keep the amount of information shared proportionate
Record what information was shared and why
Follow applicable safeguarding and information-sharing guidance

I will not share safeguarding information casually or with people who do not have a legitimate reason to receive it.

13. My Responsibilities

As a postnatal doula, I will:

Take safeguarding concerns seriously
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries
Remain alert to signs that someone may be at risk
Respond calmly and respectfully to concerns or disclosures
Record relevant safeguarding information appropriately
Seek appropriate advice when I am unsure how to respond
Contact appropriate services when necessary
Maintain appropriate confidentiality while recognising its limits.
Work within my training, knowledge and professional competence.
Keep my safeguarding knowledge and training appropriately up to date.

14. My Limitations

I am a postnatal doula, not a safeguarding investigator, social worker, police officer, healthcare professional or mental health professional.

I do not:

Investigate allegations of abuse.
Determine whether an allegation is true.
Conduct formal safeguarding assessments.
Diagnose abuse or neglect.
Provide specialist safeguarding interventions.
Replace Children’s Social Care, Adult Social Care, the police, healthcare professionals or other safeguarding services.

Where a concern falls outside my role, I will refer or signpost to the appropriate service.

15. Professional Boundaries

Safeguarding is supported by maintaining clear professional boundaries.

I will:

Maintain an appropriate professional relationship with clients.
Respect the privacy and dignity of families.
Avoid becoming personally involved in family disputes.
Avoid making promises that I cannot keep.
Avoid taking on responsibilities that belong to healthcare or safeguarding professionals.
Seek appropriate support or advice when a situation is beyond my role.

I may end a visit or working relationship if I believe that continuing would place myself or another person at unreasonable risk.

16. Working in the Family Home

Because postnatal doula support often takes place in a family’s home, I may become aware of circumstances that I would not otherwise see.

This does not mean that I will monitor or judge the way a family lives. I respect that every household is different.

However, if I become aware of circumstances that create a serious or significant concern about the safety or wellbeing of a child or adult, I have a responsibility to respond appropriately.

17. Domestic Abuse

Domestic abuse can affect the safety and wellbeing of adults and children.

If someone discloses domestic abuse to me, or I have concerns that domestic abuse may be taking place, I will listen without judgement and consider what support or safeguarding action may be appropriate.

I will not pressure someone to leave a relationship or make decisions on their behalf.

Where there is an immediate risk of serious harm, appropriate emergency or safeguarding services may need to be contacted.

18. Working With Respect and Without Judgement

Safeguarding should not be confused with judging a parent’s choices or circumstances.

I recognise that families may have different parenting approaches, feeding choices, routines, living arrangements and support networks.

I will not treat a difference in parenting style as a safeguarding concern simply because it differs from my personal preferences.

Safeguarding concerns relate to safety, welfare and risk of harm, rather than whether I personally agree with someone’s choices.

19. Review of This Policy

This policy will be reviewed regularly and updated where necessary to reflect:

Changes in legislation or guidance.
Changes to local safeguarding procedures.
Changes to my role or services.
Learning from professional development or relevant training.

Contact

If you have questions about this Safeguarding Policy, please contact:

Léa Morris Postnatal Doula

Name: Léa Morris

Email: leamorrisdoula@gmail.com

Telephone: 07888472653

Policy effective from: 04.09.26

Policy review date: 04.09.27