Settle has a duty of care to protect residents from abuse, harm or neglect.

This policy review is now closed.

Settle has a duty of care to protect our residents from abuse, harm or neglect. Our Safeguarding Adults and Safeguarding Children policies are aligned to our Landlord Resident Strategy and set out our approach and responsibilities, including how we work with partner agencies, to safeguarding.

Update: Final review published - 27th October

Your feedback was key in this policy review, helping us ensure that it reflects what’s important to you.

🔍 You Said...

• You felt the policy could be easier to understand
• You'd like clearer information on how Settle will respond to safeguarding concerns
• You'd like clearer guidance on where to go for support when you're concerned about safety or wellbeing.

🎯 We did...

• Created two separate policies, one for Adults and one for Children, to make our approach and responsibilities easier to understand, including how we respond to safeguarding reports with our partner agencies.
• We've made it clearer what the Safeguarding policies cover, and how they differ from other policies such as domestic abuse and anti-social behaviour - so you can easily see the types of support available.
• Restructured several sections, improving the wording and order to make the language clearer and more accessible.

You can read more about the changes we've made in the updated policies - Safeguarding Adults and Safeguarding Children.

Update: Under review - 18th July

Thank you for the feedback we received on our Safeguarding Policy! We're pleased to share that we received a total of 42 comments from 41 survey responses. Your contributions are essential to improving this policy, and we're currently reviewing your suggestions.

📢 Here's what we heard:

• 82% of residents thought the language in the policy was clear
• 77% of residents thought the policy was easy to understand.

There were three core themes raised by residents around our Safeguarding Policy:

1. Residents would value clearer information on how Settle will respond to safeguarding concerns
2. Residents would like easier access to safeguarding support and contact details
3. Residents would like the policy to use clearer language and be more straightforward.

We're now reviewing all feedback and revising the policy based on your input. We will publish the updated version reflecting your thoughts soon.

We want to make sure this policy truly reflects residents' priorities.

You can follow this project at the bottom of this page to stay informed.

All Settle colleagues, including contractors and Board members, have a responsibility to adults at risk of abuse and for the safety and welfare of children living in our homes who may be at risk. Any concern or suspicion of abuse, neglect or risk should be reported as soon as the concern is identified in every case.

The rights of adults at risk of abuse do not fall away because they are at risk. At risk includes those who are unable to take care of, or protect themselves, and whose independence and wellbeing is at risk without support because they are vulnerable e.g. due to age, physical or mental health, having been in care, prison or other institution.

This policy sets out Settle’s responsibilities to safeguarding adults and children to ensure all colleagues and residents are clear on our moral and legal obligations.

To make sure the policy promotes safety, empathy, transparency, and consistency, we'd love to hear from you!

Your feedback will help shape how we continue to support residents, which is why we're inviting you to take our simple survey that should take no more than 10 minutes to complete.

📋This policy is no longer accepting feedback.

A note from Alice Courtney-Duguid, Service Delivery Manager

"We have a duty of care to protect residents from abuse, harm and neglect. This policy sets out our approach to safeguarding both adults and children living in our homes.

We've recently reviewed the policy and would really value your feedback to make sure it's clear, easy to understand, and effective. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us!"