Introduction

StoriBoard intends to provide a platform which is a safe place for individuals to share their lived experience to help others who are going through something similar. This policy document sets out our commitment to keeping vulnerable adults using the platform safe and how we will respond to safeguarding concerns. This document includes both a Safeguarding Policy Statement, and our Adult Safeguarding Procedures. StoriBoard is a UK registered company, therefore we will be following the adult safeguarding procedures and legislation of England. As the platform is designed to be accessible globally, there may be some variations in the safeguarding regulations for users who are outside of England and every case will be assessed and managed individually. However, this policy informs the standardised procedures of all safeguarding concerns for vulnerable adults who are accessing the platform. 

The practices and procedures within this policy are based on the relevant legislation and government guidance of England, which can be found here. 

Who does this policy apply to?

This policy is in place to stipulate our commitment to the safety of all adult users who access StoriBoard or the StoriBoard Academy, and to standardise our response to any safeguarding concerns. We believe that everyone has a responsibility to promote the online safety and welfare of all StoriBoard users. Therefore, we ask that all users help us to keep the community on the StoriBoard platform safe. Should any users of StoriBoard be aware of, or have a concern, regarding the safety of someone using the Platform, there is an expectation that such concern will be reported via the appropriate channel set out in the below Safeguarding Policy. Users, volunteers, academy learners, Experts by Experience (EbEs) or employees of the platform who are found to be causing harm to others will have their content deleted, account disabled or other restrictions that we consider appropriate, including following the StoriBoard disciplinary process and contacting the police where necessary. 

We recognise that

Safeguarding adults applies to everyone over the age of 18 and includes:

• Protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. 
• People and organisations working together to prevent and stop both the risks and experience of abuse and neglect, while at the same time making sure that the adult’s wellbeing is promoted taking fully into account their views, wishes, feelings and beliefs in deciding on any action.
• We recognise that some adults may have additional vulnerabilities because of the impact of discrimination, previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues. Extra safeguards may be needed to keep adults who are additionally vulnerable safe from abuse.

Our commitment to safeguarding

StoriBoard is committed to the six principles of safeguarding adults as outlined in the Care Act 2014 which includes: empowerment, protection, prevention, proportionality, partnership, and accountability. 

We will seek to keep adults using StoriBoard safe by:

• Accepting that we are required to fulfil our duty of care, which means that we must do everything that can be reasonably expected of us to help safeguard and protect people from harm, and to act when we suspect that someone is being harmed or is at risk of harm.
• Listening to, valuing, and respecting our users.
• Appointing a nominated Designated Safeguarding Lead and a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead who takes lead responsibility for safeguarding at the highest level in the organisation.
• Recruiting and selecting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are undertaken.
• Implementing the necessary procedures to appropriately manage any allegations made against staff and volunteers.
• Creating and regularly updating our detailed online adult safeguarding procedures to enable us to respond appropriately to any incidents of inappropriate online behaviour, whether by an adult or a child / young person.
• Making these policies accessible to our users and their families should they wish to read them and know what to do if they have a concern.
• Ensuring that all staff and volunteers of StoriBoard understand and follow the safeguarding procedures and understand how to behave online.
• Providing supervision, support and training for staff and volunteers about online safety.
• Having a suitable recording and storing process of safeguarding concerns in line with the Data Protection Regulation 2018 and GDPR.
• Enforcing safe use of StoriBoard via group rules that admins must follow.
• Monitoring of content both manually and through AI and including the ability of users to block others that they do not wish to communicate with.
• Building a culture where online safeguarding is a priority, so that our StoriBoard staff, volunteers and users know how they are expected to behave and promote a supportive environment towards sharing concerns.
• Using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with the necessary multi-agency professionals with the priority of the safety of vulnerable adults accessing StoriBoard. 
• We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of our staff and volunteers and will respond appropriately to any concerns that arise. 

What we are already doing to safeguard adults accessing the platform

• The ‘Report’ function of the app allows users to report any harmful, distressing, or illegal content to StoriBoard and we encourage all users to use this when needed. 
• We have a clear set of Community Guidelines to ensure that all users are aware of their requirements to keep StoriBoard a safe space.
• When a new group is set up, each administrator is required to read and agree to the rules of hosting a group.
• Where illegal or harmful content is identified via manual or AI monitoring, the content is removed.
• Anyone ascertained to be breaching our Community Guidelines, Terms, and Conditions and/or causing harm or distress to another will have their account suspended or deleted in order to protect other users of the platform.
• When a safeguarding concern is identified, a standardised response is posted to the user in order to signpost to additional support and services.
• StoriBoard staff receive Safeguarding training to support them in identifying and responding to concerns.
• Where an adult no longer wishes to be a part of a group, they are able to freely leave the group.
• We encourage self-advocacy skills and empower individuals to express their needs, interests, and goals.
• We provide resources and discussions around self-care, stress management techniques and strategies for promoting overall wellbeing.
• We have created an Emergency Resources page for anyone to access additional support and guidance.

Contact details:

Designated Safeguarding Lead for StoriBoard:

Name Amy Shackleton

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead for StoriBoard: 

Name Sushila Ghose Coveney

Contact details for the safeguarding team: safeguarding@storiboard.co.uk

We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually. 

Date to be reviewed: 12 October 2024

Storiboard Safeguarding adult Procedures 

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide clear guidance to all those working for, volunteering for, or accessing, the StoriBoard platform and how to effectively safeguard ourselves and other users. It also ensures that our employees and volunteers are protected. This policy details our commitment to safeguarding adult users of StoriBoard, for our policies and procedures of safeguarding users under the age of 18, please view our StoriBoard Safeguarding Children Policy. 

The intention of this policy is to ensure that all those in the StoriBoard community have a common understanding of what is meant by the term ‘safeguarding’. This allows us to develop best practice across the diverse and complex areas in which our involvement with StoriBoard exists, promoting and increasing accountability for the safety of adults accessing the platform. We recognise that the platform is accessed globally where local safeguarding procedures may vary between countries. However, this policy constitutes StoriBoard’s global adult safeguarding policy and identifies our minimum safeguarding standards, which may exceed the requirements of local legislation.

A breach of this policy will be treated as a disciplinary matter which may result in immediate termination of employment, withdrawal of voluntary status, suspension or deletion of account or content, and may result in reporting to the police and other relevant regulatory authorities and agencies. 

Summary of useful information

The below information is included within this policy to help users, volunteers and staff understand different types of harm that an adult could be at risk of facing. This is to help them to appropriately identify safeguarding concerns. 

Platform: The word platform refers to StoriBoards app, website and any other services offered within the StroiBoard remit. 

Users: This refers to those who are accessing StoriBoard in some capacity that are not volunteers or staff.

Safeguarding: When using the term safeguarding, we are referring to the action that is taken to promote the welfare of StoriBoard users and protect them from harm. 

Adult: An adult is anyone 18 years old and over. 

The below are the different categories of abuse an adult can face, as stipulated in the Care Act 2014: 

Self-neglect: Neglecting ones own care for themselves, including personal hygiene, care, and surroundings. 

Modern Slavery: This encompasses slavery, human trafficking, forced labour, and domestic servitude.

Domestic abuse: This includes psychological, physical, sexual, financial, and emotional abuse perpetrated by anyone within a person’s family. It also includes so-called “honour” based violence.

Discrimination: Discrimination is abuse that centres around a difference or perceived difference, particularly with respect to race, gender, disability, or any of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act.

Financial: This includes theft, fraud, internet scamming, and coercion in relation to an adult’s financial affairs or arrangements, including in connection with wills, property, inheritance, or financial transactions. It can also include the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions, or benefits.

Bullying/Cyberbullying: Bullying is when individuals or groups seek to harm, intimidate, or coerce someone who is perceived to be vulnerable (Oxford English Dictionary, 2021). Cyberbullying can include but is not limited to the following behaviours and actions: sending threatening, abusive or upsetting messages, creating harmful content images or videos, trolling, setting up hate sites about an adult, stealing online identities to embarrass or cause trouble for an adult. 

Extremism: Extremism is defined in the Counter Extremism Strategy 2015 as the vocal or active opposition to our fundamental values, including the rule of law, individual liberty and the mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. We also regard calls for the death of members of our armed forces as extremist.

Radicalisation: Radicalisation refers to the process by which a person comes to support terrorism and extremist ideologies associated with terrorist groups.

For more information on extremism & radicalisation, refer to the Prevent Duty Statutory Guidance for England & Wales. 

Physical abuse: A form of abuse which may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to an adult. 

Sexual abuse: Involves forcing or enticing an adult to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, where the adult has not consented or was forced to consent. 

Emotional abuse: Emotional abuse includes the use of threats of harm, humiliation, blaming, controlling, harassing or verbal abuse. 

Sexual exploitation: Sexual exploitation involves a person profiting from the use of another person’s body in a sexual manner to benefit (financially or otherwise).  In general, the perpetrator of sexual exploitation takes advantage of their victim’s vulnerable or dependent state, including addictions to drugs or alcohol. The perpetrator can be male or female, an adult or a minor, and can act for their own personal gain or for the benefit of a criminal enterprise (street gang, organised crime).  The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual. Sexual exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology.

Criminal exploitation: An individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive someone into any criminal activity (a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or (b) for the financial or other advantage of the perpetrator or facilitator and/or (c) through violence or the threat of violence. The victim may have been criminally exploited even if the activity appears consensual. Criminal exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology.

Process of responding to a safeguarding concern

You may become aware of a safeguarding concern through various ways. This can include through what you have seen on the StoriBoard platform, through posts or comments, or an adult may make a direct disclosure to you. If an adult discloses something to you, the process of how to respond to it is detailed below:

Users of StoriBoard: 

We believe that everyone has a responsibility to promote the online safety and welfare of our users. Therefore, we ask that all users help us to keep the community on the StoriBoard platform safe. Should any users of StoriBoard be aware of, or have a concern, regarding the safety of an adult using the platform, or of illegal or harmful content, there is an expectation that such concern will be reported via the appropriate channel set out below: 

If you have received a disclosure, identified a concern for an adult accessing StoriBoard or identified some harmful or illegal content, report these concerns via the ‘report’ function of the platform. We ask that you try to include as much detail as possible to ensure that we are able to appropriately assess the information. Ensure that you report facts and refrain from opinions. If you need to share yours or other opinions, make sure that there is a clear differentiation between the factual information and the opinion(s). 

Any concern that an adult is not safe is taken seriously, responded to promptly, and followed up. Due to GDPR, it is likely that you will not be updated on any further actions taken by the StoriBoard team. 

StoriBoard employees and volunteers:

If you are an employee of StoriBoard, you will follow the steps outlined below: 

Step 1: Once you have identified a safeguarding concern through AI or manual monitoring or from a user via the ‘report’ function, provide advice and guidance to the individual at risk of harm via the standardised safeguarding response. This may include directing the adult to the StoriBoard Help Hub and the Ann Craft Trust. 

Step 2: Following the identification and response to the concern, you are required to complete the Safeguarding Notification Form. Complete this form as soon as practicably possible and with as much detail as possible to ensure appropriate assessment of risk can be undertaken by the DSL. Ensure that you report facts and refrain from opinions. If you need to share yours or other opinions, make sure that there is a clear differentiation between the factual information and the opinion(s). 

Note: Consent – Where concerns are being shared internally with StoriBoard – for example between yourself and the DSL or DDSL, consent from the adult is not required. This is to allow for appropriate assessment of the information by the DSL or DDSL. However, once this information is required to be shared outside of the organisation, seeking consent from the adult in question will be required, except under certain circumstances. See the Confidentiality & Consent section of this policy for more information.  

Step 3: Once completed, email this form to the StoriBoard Safeguarding inbox (details below). This should always be undertaken in a timely manner to ensure that appropriate and prompt action can be taken. Where practicable, we would recommend that this concern is shared with the DSL or DDSL as soon as possible. Contact details: safeguarding@storiboard.co.uk

If you are ever in doubt as to whether something is a safeguarding concern or not, seek advice and guidance from the DSL or DDSL. Contact details: safeguarding@storiboard.co.uk

Step 4: Await further guidance from the DSL or DDSL. It is likely that no further action is required from yourself and that you have sufficiently fulfilled your responsibility to share the concern appropriately. Due to GDPR, you may not be updated on next steps. 

If you are not happy with the outcome, follow the escalation process detailed below. 

The role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead: 

When a concern is identified or shared with the DSL or DDSL the following steps may be taken by them:

Step 1: The DSL or DDSL monitors the safeguarding inbox during their standard working hours and receives the safeguarding concern via the Safeguarding Notification Form. The DSL or DDSL will then assess the concern to ascertain the risk level associated with it and gather any additional information required. This may include any information regarding the person(s) causing, or threatening to cause, harm to the adult if the harm is happening via the platform. 

Step 2: Following review of the concern, the DSL or DDSL will have assessed the level of risk. Where no further action is required and the standardised response was sufficient, the concern will be recorded securely for future records. In some instances, the concern may need to be shared with appropriate agencies such as the police. Any referrals or passing on of information will be done with the consent of the adult wherever possible. Where this is not possible, and the sharing of information is lawfully undertaken without consent (reasons stipulated in the confidentiality and consent section), clear justification of this decision-making process will be detailed in the Safeguarding Notification Form.  

Step 3: The DSL or DDSL may seek advice from external sources such as the police or Ann Craft Trust. Given the nature of information gathered and held by StoriBoard regarding our users, it is unlikely that detailed information about the individual will be available to make additional referrals, however if the concern relates to exploitation of sexual abuse such concerns may be reported via: the CEOP reporting platform or IWF.

Step 4: The DSL or DDSL will ensure that all information and actions taken are recorded appropriately and securely. The reason for this is to ensure that there is a clear record of the concerns and the actions taken. 

Step 4: If the DSL or DDSL has made a referral and concerns remain, they can follow this up by contacting the agency. For any additional services that offer support, signpost to the Ann Craft Trust and the StoriBoard Help Hub. 

Step 5: Action may be required against user(s), volunteer(s) or staff members of StoriBoard. This will be required in the event that they are causing, or threating to cause, harm to an adult. The DSL or DDSL will take prompt action to safeguard the adult and take the necessary steps to ensure that this harm is intercepted. Overstepping any boundaries set out in this policy or our Community Guidelines or Terms and Conditions may result in your content being deleted, your account being disabled or other restrictions that we consider appropriate, including contacting the police where necessary and following the StoriBoard disciplinary process. 

Preventing & responding to bullying 

We want the StoriBoard Platform to provide a safe place for individuals to share their lived experience to help others who are going through something similar. You should respect all users on the StoriBoard Platform. If you or your content is found or reported to be causing harm to others, this will result in appropriate action being taken to protect all of our users, employees and volunteers from harm. Action may include your content being deleted, your account being disabled or other restrictions that we consider appropriate, including following the StoriBoard disciplinary process and contacting the police where necessary. For further details regarding our guidelines and expectations surrounding this, see our Community Guidelines. 

Recruiting & training StoriBoard staff and volunteers

In the interest of safeguarding vulnerable adults, staff of StoriBoard are DBS checked. Further to this, staff receive necessary safeguarding training, and the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy receive annual safeguarding refresher training. 

Escalation process (whistleblowing)

Once you have flagged a safeguarding concern and have followed the appropriate reporting measures detailed in this policy, if you are not happy with the outcome for any reason, we advise following the escalation process. 

To escalate a concern, speak with your direct line manager. Your direct line manager will discuss the concern with you and the individual in the organisation that has managed the initial safeguarding referral (the DSL or DDSL). The DSL or DDSL will provide a justification for the actions taken, and this will be shared with yourself. Should you and your direct line manager remain unsatisfied with the outcome, a discussion will be sought with Karen Harris who will investigate the complaint and provide an outcome within 15 business days. 

Confidentiality & Consent

Information regarding any users, volunteers, or employees of StoriBoard will be treated with confidentiality and should only be shared with people who need to know. In the instance of a safeguarding or welfare concern, this information should only be shared with relevant agencies such as the DSL or DDSL, the police, and Local Authority agencies. is often the case that when concerns are shared with the DSL or DDSL, further action and updates are not able to be shared with the initial referrer for confidentiality reasons. 

All safeguarding concerns will be recorded appropriately and stored securely to protect the personal nature of the data and to ensure confidentiality. 

Should you make a disclosure to a volunteer or employee of StoriBoard, we cannot promise you that this information will remain confidential. Where it is believed that you or others are at risk of harm, all necessary information will be shared with the appropriate individuals within StoriBoard to allow them to take the necessary and lawful action to keep you and/or others safe. 

Where concerns are being shared internally with StoriBoard – for example between a staff member and the DSL or DDSL, consent from the adult is not required. This is to allow for appropriate assessment of the information by the Designated Safeguarding Lead. However, once this information is required to be shared outside of the organisation, seeking consent from the adult in question will be required, except under certain circumstances. 

The circumstances when we need to share information without the adult’s consent include those where: 

• it is not safe to contact the adult to gain their consent – i.e. it might put them or the person making contact at further risk.
• we believe they or someone else is at risk, including children.
• we believe the adult is being coerced or is under duress.
• it is necessary to contact the police to prevent a crime, or to report that a serious crime has been committed.
• the adult does not have mental capacity to consent to information being shared about them.
• the person causing harm has care and support needs.

It is very unlikely that the DSL or DDSL at StoriBoard will have sufficient information regarding an adult’s mental capacity, care and support needs or other information as stipulated above. Therefore, in the instance where a concern is significant and the DSL or DDSL is unclear what is best to do with the information, they may seek advice from the Ann Craft Trust. In line with the Data protection Act 2018 and GDPR, no personal details of the adult in question will be shared during this consultation. 

Contact details:

Designated Safeguarding Lead for StoriBoard:

Name Amy Shackleton

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead for StoriBoard: 

Name Sushila Ghose Coveney

Contact details for the safeguarding team: safeguarding@storiboard.co.uk

We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually. 

Date to be reviewed: 12 October 2024