Safeguarding Policies

​Llangollen Buddhists Child protection code of conduct2019
As a Friend, Mitra or Order member and as an employee, volunteer, leader, teacher or parent involved withchildren aged under 18 visiting, or taking part in activities at, Llangollen Buddhists

In the course of activities run by Llangollen Buddhists

I will do my best to

• treat all children and young people with respect and kindness.
• be an example of the good conduct I wish to see in young people and others.
• respect a young person's right to personal privacy.
• encourage young people and adults to feel comfortable and caring enough to point out attitudes or behaviour they do not like.
• remember that someone else might misinterpret my actions, no matter how well-intentioned
• be aware that physical contact with a child or young person may be misinterpreted.
• co-operate within the Llangollen Buddhists Child protection policy.
• give guidance and support to less experienced helpers, colleagues and volunteers.
• challenge unacceptable behaviour and report all allegations/suspicions of abuse to the Llangollen Buddhists Safeguarding officer, Moksanita
• ensure that, whenever possible, there is more than one adult present during activities with children or at least that we are within sight or hearing of others.

This is for my own protection as well as for the protection of children and young people in our care.

I will do my best not to

• allow someone who is likely to pose a risk to children to have contact with children (ie someone known to have a conviction for sexual or violent offences, or someone who has disclosed a sexual interest in children).
• have inappropriate physical or verbal contact with children or young people.
• allow myself to be left alone in a room with a person under 18
• ask a person under 18 for their phone number, or attempt to contact them via email, messaging services or social media, without the permission of their parent or guardian.
• engage in attention-seeking behaviour.
• make suggestive or derogatory remarks or gestures in front of children or young people.
• jump to conclusions without checking facts.
• exaggerate or trivialise child-abuse issues.
• show favouritism to any child.
• rely on my good name or that of the Llangollen Buddhists to protect me.
• assume "Things like that could never happen here” or “They would never do a thing like that."

I have read the guidance above, and the accompanying Llangollen Buddhist Centre’s Child protection policy,and agree to abide by them.


Name

Signature

Date

This document is to be read in conjunction with the Llangollen Buddhists Child protection policy and the guidance document ‘Care for teenagers in Triratna’, currently being drafted.
This model document published June 2019 by the Triratna Safeguarding Team, part of the Triratna Ethics Kula.
[email protected]

Llangollen Buddhists
Child protection policy 2019

Llangollen Buddhists
c/o Bryn Benlli
Llynclys
SY10 8LL

Email: [email protected]
Web address: www.llangollenbuddhistcentre.com

Introduction
Triratna is a worldwide network of friends in the Buddhist life. This is for many of us a source of great richness, support and strength. However, it also carries a risk that we may fail to notice, question or act on behaviours of concern, out of naivety, loyalty to friends or lack of awareness; or an assumption that “it couldn’t happen here” or “they would never do a thing like that.”

This policy is an expression of the first ethical precept taught by the Buddha: to avoid harming living beings. It refers to law and good practice mainly in England and Wales. Triratna bodies in other countries are requested to draw up similar documents in line with local requirements.
The purpose of this policy
This document is for Friends, Mitras and Order members involved in Llangollen Buddhists activities (and those of any outreach groups run by this centre) as employees, volunteers, leaders, teachers or parents.

It aims to provide

• protection for children (anyone under 18) who visit or receive Llangollen Buddhist Centreservices including children of Buddhists and other users of this Buddhist centre and
• protection for Friends, Mitras and Order members who may have contact with children.

It sets out

• practices and procedures contributing to the prevention of abuse of children.
• a course of action to be followed if abuse is suspected.

Our values

The members of the organising team of Llangollen Buddhistsrecognise their responsibility to ensure the welfare of all those aged under 18 visiting our Buddhist centre or involved in Buddhist Centre activities.

Moksanita is our Safeguarding officer. They are responsible for co-ordinating the protection of children and adults who may be at risk at Llangollen Buddhist centre. (See also our Safeguarding Adults policy.)

Moksanita is responsible for making sure Safeguarding is taken seriously by the organising team and appears regularly on their agendas, ensuring the members of the organising team comply with their Safeguarding obligations as required by the Charity Commission.

We recognise that:
• the welfare of the child is paramount.
• all children, regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have the right to equal protection from harm.
• partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people's welfare.

This policy applies to all staff, including the centre team, volunteers, parents and anyone else working on behalf of Llangollen Buddhist Centre, whether as a Friend, Mitra or Order member.

We will seek to safeguard children and young people by:

• valuing them, listening to and respecting them.
• adopting child protection guidelines and a code of conduct for staff and volunteers.
• recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring checks are made where necessary.
• sharing information about child protection and good practice with children, parents,
staff and volunteers.
• sharing information about concerns with agencies who need to know, and involving
parents and children appropriately.
• providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support
and training.

Who is a “child”?
In the United Kingdom a “child” is a person who has not yet passed their 18th birthday.

What is “child abuse”?
The World Health Organisation defines “child abuse” as “all forms of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power.”

Types of abuse
• Physical abuse including hurting or injuring a child, inflicting pain, poisoning, drowning, or smothering.
• Sexual abuse including direct or indirect sexual exploitation or corruption of children by involving them (or threatening to involve them) in sexual activities.
• Emotional abuse Repeatedly rejecting children, humiliating them or denying their worth and rights as human beings.
• Neglect The persistent lack of appropriate care of children, including love, stimulation, safety, nourishment, warmth, education, and medical attention.
A child who is being abused may experience more than one type of cruelty. Discrimination, harassment, and bullying are also abusive and can harm a child, both physically and emotionally.
Signs of abuse
These are many and varied. Some have perfectly acceptable explanations. It is useful to bear in mind:
• Any injuries that cannot be explained
• Injuries not consistent with falls or rough games
• Malnourishment
• Any allegations made by children concerning abuse
• Sexual activity through words, play or drawing
• Self harm
• Eating disorders
Engaging safely with children in person
Outside of our own personal and family relationships we will not arrange to meet any child under 16 individually anywhere without written permission from their parent or guardian.
Having gained such permission we will conduct individual meetings with a child under 16 in public spaces such as our Buddhist centre reception area or a room with the door open.
We do not need parental permission to meet those aged 16-17 but we will take care to meet in public spaces such as our Buddhist centre reception area or a room with the door open.
We will not give lifts to those under 16 on their own. If this is unavoidable, we will ask the child to sit in the back seat.
See also the guidance document ‘Caring for teenagers in Triratna’, currently being drafted.

Engaging safely with children online and on social media
We are aware that individual contact with under 18s online, by email or using social media carries the risk of accusations of “grooming”; relationships established with a view to sexual contact.
We will not engage personally by email, text or online with anyone under 18 using social media, for example by ‘friending’ them on Facebook or including them in WhatsApp groups or similar – except with written permission from their parent/guardian, specifying agreed medium and the named Order member who will be running it/them.
As a Buddhist centre, we may receive emails from school pupils wanting information about Buddhism. Having answered their questions, we will not engage in further personal correspondence.
See also the guidance document ‘Caring for teenagers in Triratna’, currently being drafted.

Managing those who pose a risk to children
We will not allow someone who is likely to pose a risk to children to have contact with anyone under 18 (for example, a person who is known to have a previous criminal conviction for sexual or other violent offences, someone who is under investigation for possible sexual or other violent offences or someone who has disclosed a sexual interest in children).

Such a person will be asked by the Safeguarding officer to negotiate a behaviour contract setting out the terms of their continued participation in Llangollen Buddhist centre activities within agreed boundaries. (See the document ‘Managing those who pose a risk’.)

Such a person cannot be asked to sign the Child Protection Code of Conduct as it would conflict with the terms of their contract and in any case it would be very unwise to permit such a person to have any contact with those under 18 in the course of Triratna activities.

Where it is felt that the charity does not have the resources to manage this relationship safely, we reserve the right to ask the person not to attend our activities.

See also the guidance document ‘Caring for teenagers in Triratna’, currently being drafted.
Lettings/hireouts
Llangollen Buddhist centre rents premises belonging to Holy Cross Church. We have shown them our Safeguarding policies.

Reporting concerns or allegations
All reports or suspicions about abuse must be treated seriously. They may include
• something you see
• something you are told by someone else
• rumours about a person’s previous behaviour
• behaviour you observe in a child and
• disclosure from a child directly.
What to do if a person under 18 alleges abuse
• Be aware the child may have been threatened and may be very afraid.
• Look directly at the child.
• Keep calm and reassure the child that they are doing the right thing and are not to blame, even if they have broken some rules.
• Accept what the child says without judgment. Never suggest that the child may be wrong or mistaken. Your responsibility is to take them seriously, not to decide whether what they are saying is true.
• Never push for information or question the child. Let them tell you as much as they are ready to tell you.
• Be honest. Do not promise confidentiality; let them know you will have to get help for them but that you will try to agree with them what should happen next. This means that you will need to share what they say with others - on a need-to-know basis only.
What to do next
• Your first concern is the safety and wellbeing of the child. Do not be distracted from this by loyalty to the person who has been accused or your desire to maintain the good name ofTriratna or your centre.
• If you are not the Safeguarding officer the first thing you should do is to tell the Safeguarding officer. However, if this is not possible and you think the child is in immediate danger phone social services or police straight away. A telephone referral should be confirmed in writing within 24 hours.
• Every person has a legal right to privacy under the International Convention on Human Rights and data protection legislation; therefore if possible you should get the consent of the child’sparent or guardian to share the information they have given you.
• However, it may be necessary, and therefore legally justifiable, to report without parental consent, if you believe that the child is suffering, or at risk of, significant harm and that informing parents/guardians would not be in the child’s interest.
• If you are not the Safeguarding officer, tell the Llangollen Buddhist centre’s Safeguarding officer only. They will co-ordinate the handling of the matter on behalf of the Llangollen Buddhist centre’s organising team.
.
If necessary The Safeguarding officer should contact the Triratna Safeguarding team for advice as to what to do next: [email protected]

• Meanwhile, make detailed factual notes about the conversation/concern/incident as soon as possible, including time, date and location. Give them to the Safeguarding officer. (See ‘Secure, confidential record-keeping’ below.)
• No sangha member should attempt to investigate a criminal allegation. This is the job of the police and to attempt this could prejudice a court case and put the person in danger.
Who else needs to know?
Confidentiality, sharing information only on a need-to-know basis, is very important. Under data protection legislation nobody has a right to know about the matter – except, for Safeguarding purposes, with those in a position to prevent further harm, and your Chair, who holds ultimate responsibility for the governance of the charity. For example, where there is a criminal allegation against a mitra it would be justifiable for the Safeguarding officer, Chair and mitra convenor to know about it.
This is not a matter of concealment, but is intended to protect all concerned from further harm. It will also protect your sangha from fear, rumour and disharmony which will make it much harder to deal with the matter effectively without causing further harm.
Where a person is believed/has been found to pose a risk to children it is often thought that parents have a right to know. However, this is not the case. Proper implementation of Safeguarding policy and procedures will ensure that your sangha’s children are as safe from such a person as they are from any others who pose a risk but have not been identified as such.
Secure, confidential record-keeping
We understand our responsibility for secure and careful record-keeping. Our Safeguarding officer will keep a detailed log of all Safeguarding-related incidents as well as conversations, actions and the reasoning behind them. These will be stored on the charity’s computer, in a password protected section accessible only to the Safeguarding officer and one or two others approved by our trustees. If this is not practicable, they will be written on a computer, printed out and the paper copies stored in a locked cabinet, box or drawer accessible only to the Safeguarding officer and one or two others approved by our trustees. In this case the computer files must be deleted promptly. We understand that such records must not be stored on individuals’ own private computers.
We also understand that under data protection law we need to word our records in a form we would be happy for the subjects to read if they ask to, as is their legal right. This means notes should be factual and respectful, free of interpretations and value-judgements.
Keeping confidential records
We understand that because many abuse cases come to light 30 or more years later our insurers may require us to keep our logs for up to 50 years. (This is a requirement of the UK’s Buddhist Insurance Scheme.)
If our charity closes down, we will give our records to another Triratna Buddhist centre/charity to keep with their own confidential Safeguarding logs.


Reviewing our policies annually
All our Safeguarding policies will be reviewed by the organising team and Safeguarding officer annually and the review recorded in the minutes of their meetings.


Llangollen Buddhists


Chair's name and email address
Vidyamani
[email protected]


Chair's signature


Safeguarding officer's name and email address:
Dharmacharini Moksanita

[email protected]

Safeguarding officer's signature


Date 22/09/23


This document is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying Llangollen Buddhist centre’s Child protection code of conduct and the guidance document ‘Caring for teenagers in Triratna’, currently being drafted.
This model document published June 2019 by the Triratna Safeguarding team, part of the Triratna Ethics Kula.
safeguarding@triratna.community

Llangollen Buddhists
Safeguarding adults policy and guidelines 2019

Llangollen Buddhists
c/o Bryn Benlli
Llynclys
SY10 8LL

Email: [email protected]

Web address: www.llangollenbuddhistcentre.com

Introduction
Triratna is a worldwide network of friends in the Buddhist life. This is for many of us a source of great richness, support and strength. However, it also carries a risk that we may fail to notice, question or act on behaviours of concern, out of naivety, loyalty to friends or lack of awareness; or an assumption that “it couldn’t happen here” or “they would never do a thing like that.”

This policy is an expression of the first ethical precept taught by the Buddha: to avoid harming living beings. It refers to law and good practice mainly as defined in England and Wales. Triratna bodies in other countries are requested to draw up similar documents in line with local requirements.

The purpose of this policy
This document is for Friends, Mitras and Order members involved in Llangollen Buddhist Centreactivities (and those of any outreach groups run by this centre) as employees, volunteers, leaders, teachers or parents.

It aims to provide

• Protection for adults attending Llangollen Buddhists activities who may be “at risk” or vulnerable, and
• Protection for Friends, Mitras and Order members working with them.

It sets out

• information and practices contributing to the prevention of harm of ‘adults at risk’, previously known as ‘vulnerable adults’
• a course of action to be followed if harm is suspected.

Our values
Although we do not run activities specifically for those with mental illness or addiction, we recognise that people who may be vulnerable in these ways do attend our events and take part in the life of our sangha.

The organising team of the Llangollen Buddhist Centre recognise their responsibility to safeguard adults who may be deemed to be “at risk” visiting our Buddhist centre or involved in Buddhist centreactivities.

Moksanita is our Safeguarding officer. They are responsible for co-ordinating the protection of children and adults who may be at risk at Llangollen Buddhist Centre. (See also our Safeguarding children policy.)

Moksanita is responsible for making sure Safeguarding is taken seriously by the organising team and appears regularly on their agendas, ensuring the members of the organising team comply with their Safeguarding obligations as required by the Charity Commission.

Who is an “adult”?
In the United Kingdom an “adult” is a person who has passed their 18th birthday.

Who is an “adult at risk”?
This is not currently well defined. However, the following is one widely-used definition:


A person aged 18 or over, who needs, or may need, community care services because they are frail or have a learning disability, physical disability, sight or hearing disability or mental health issues; andcannot (or may not be able to) care for themselves, or take steps to protect themselves from significant harm or exploitation.

Adults who may be ‘at risk’ may also include those who

• have dementia
• have learning disabilities
• have mental health problems
• have drug, alcohol or substance dependency
• have physical or sensory disabilities
• have been bereaved, suffered grief and loss
• through age or illness are dependent on other people to help them
• live with domestic abuse
• are homeless
• are refugees or asylum seekers and
• for any reason may be considered not to have ‘mental capacity’. (See below.)
Whether or not a person is “at risk” or “vulnerable” in these cases will vary according tocircumstances, and it should be noted that a person with a physical disability is not necessarily vulnerable or at risk, though they could be. Each case must be judged on its own merits.
What is ‘mental capacity’?
Whether a person has mental capacity is a matter of specialist assessment and not for us to make. However, it may be useful to know something about it.

Mental capacity is the ability to make a particular decision. An adult may be at risk if they are unable to make a decision due to illness, disability, poor mental health, dementia, a learning disability or something else that may impair their judgment.

A person may be deemed to be ‘without capacity’ if they cannot:

• understand the decision
• retain the information
• weigh up the information
• communicate their decision

About matters such as
• finance
• social care
• medical treatment

Vulnerability can be variable
As is made clear above in the reference to the vulnerability of those who have suffered grief and losswe recognise that many people who are generally emotionally and psychologically stable in most aspects of their lives may on occasion find themselves vulnerable or at risk. This may be because of illness, relationship breakdown or bereavement, or because their practice of meditation or Buddhism has made them more sensitive and self-aware, particularly if they are new to Buddhism.
For example, we will bear in mind that a person who is emotionally vulnerable for any reason may not be able to make balanced decisions regarding giving money or becoming more involved with Triratna, or entering into intimate relationships, whether friendship or relationships which are more romantic or sexual in nature. We will take great care to help each other avoid exploiting people in such everyday situations of vulnerability.
Protecting those with psychological disorders
We are aware that those attending our centre and activities include adults experiencing psychological disorders ranging from mild to severe.

We recognise that as Buddhists we do not have the professional skills to diagnose or help people with psychological disorders and that they may not be helped solely by the kindness of Buddhists. In such cases we may need to advise them to seek professional help.

We are aware that for people with serious psychological disorders traditional Buddhist practices involving recognition of the illusion of self could be extremely dangerous. We may need to encourage them in traditional Buddhist practices involving the calming of body and mind, or to avoid meditation – altogether, or during periods of relapse.

Where we believe a person to be at risk of suicide or self-harm, or to pose a risk to others, we will alert our centre Safeguarding officer, who will refer to local mental health services and/or the police as appropriate, and consult with the Triratna Safeguarding Team if necessary. [email protected]

Protecting those with psychological disorders - online
Buddhism and meditation are increasingly taught using online media. In person, it is relatively easy to notice where a person may have compromised mental health; online it is much more difficult.

We recognise that among those seeking individual online guidance from members of the Triratna Buddhist Order there may be some reporting meditation experiences which are an indication of serious psychological disorder.

In engaging in individual guidance online by email, blog, social media or text we will take great care at the start to establish with local Order members the identity, location and suitability of the participant, and which local Order members are available locally to support them in person and gaining permission to contact those Order members if we believe they are at risk. (This does not apply where the participant is an Order member and therefore well known to us.)

(Responding to children online With anyone under 18, we will not engage in personal communication online or via social media except in carefully defined ways. See the Llangollen Buddhist Centre Child protection policy 2019.)

DBS checks (Disclosure and Barring Service)

We understand that the core team (Mitras or Order members, paid or voluntary) directly responsible for any Llangollen Buddhist Centre activities or events specifically intended andadvertised for adults likely to be more ‘at risk’ of mistreatment/manipulation must be DBS checkedwherever eligible. At present we, at the Llangollen Buddhist Centre do not run any such activities but will keep this under review in case this should change.

This does not apply to general activities which an adult with mental health difficulties (for example)may happen to attend.

Managing those who pose a risk to others
There are cases where it is known that a person attending our activities is likely to pose a risk to others (for example, a person who is known to have a previous criminal conviction for sexual or other violent offences, or someone who is under investigation for possible sexual or other violent offences).

Such a person will be asked by the Safeguarding officer to negotiate a behaviour contract setting out the terms of their continued participation in Llangollen Buddhist Centre activities within agreed boundaries. (See the document ‘Managing those who pose a risk’.) Where it is felt that the charity does not have the resources to manage this relationship safely, we reserve the right to ask the person not to attend our activities.

Lettings/hireouts

Llangollen Buddhist Centre rents premises belonging to Holy Cross Church. We have shown them our Safeguarding policies.

What is ‘abuse’?
‘Abuse’ is not a legal term, but covers a number of ways in which a person may be deliberatelyharmed (legally or illegally), usually by someone who is in a position of power, trust or authority over them, or who may be perceived by that person to be in a position of power, trust or authority over them; for example by a Friend, Mitra or Order member who is helping to run Llangollen Buddhist Centreactivities for those newer to such activities. The harm may be physical, psychological or emotional, or it may exploit the vulnerability of the person in more subtle ways.

However, harm can also occur less consciously, through naivety, idealism or lack of awareness.

Types of abuse
The 2014 Care Act identifies nine types of abuse, all of which have a psychological/emotional aspect.
1. physical abuse
2. sexual abuse
3. neglect and acts of omission
4. organisational abuse
5. self-neglect
6. modern slavery
7. domestic abuse
8. discriminatory abuse
9. financial or material abuse
10. Psychological abuse

Types of abuse, in more detail
Physical
• Bodily assaults resulting in injuries e.g. hitting, slapping, pushing,
kicking, misuse of medication, restraint or inappropriate sanctions.
• Bodily impairment e.g. malnutrition, dehydration, failure to thrive
• Medical/healthcare maltreatment

Sexual
• Rape, incest, acts of indecency, sexual assault
• Sexual harassment or sexual acts to which the person has not
consented, or could not consent or to which they were pressured into consenting.
• Sexual abuse might also include exposure to pornographic materials,
being made to witness sexual acts; also sexual harassment, with or without physical contact.
• Sexual contact of any kind with anyone under 16 is a crime. In the case of Order members“position of trust” law means sexual contact of any kind with anyone under 18 could beconsidered a crime.

Abuse through neglect
• Ignoring medical or physical care needs
• Failure to provide access to appropriate health, social care or educational service
• The withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate
nutrition and heating

Organisational abuse
• Neglect or abuse within an institution (eg.hospital/care home) or care provided in own home.
• One-off incident or continuing ill-treatment
• Poor professional practice, policies or structure of an organization

Self neglect
• Alcohol abuse
• Hoarding
• Drug abuse

Modern slavery
Examples: working as housemaids, in brothels, cannabis farms, nail bars and agriculture against their will, unpaid

Some possible signs
• Physical appearance, inappropriate clothing.
• Isolation, not being allowed to travel alone; restricted freedom of movement.
• Poor living conditions, few possessions, no ID documents
• Unusual travel times – being dropped off early morning or late at night
Modern Slavery Helpline (UK) 0800 0121 700

Domestic abuse
• Physical, psychological, sexual and financial abuse.
• ‘Honour’-based violence or forced marriage
• Involving intimate partner or family member
• Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
• 16 year-olds can be defined as suffering domestic abuse.

Some signs and symptoms of domestic abuse
• Visible injuries or unexplained marks, scars or injuries
• Making ‘excuses’ for injuries
• Controlling and/or threatening relationships

Discriminatory abuse
• Discrimination including gender, sexual orientation, race, disability, age, skin colour, language, culture, religion or belief, or politics
• Harassment
• Loss of self-esteem
• Not being able to access services or being excluded

Financial or material abuse
• Misuse or theft of money
• Exploitation, pressure in connection with wills, property or inheritance
• Unexplained withdrawal of large sums of money
• Personal possessions going missing from home
• Extraordinary interest and involvement by the family/carer or friend in an individual’s assets

Psychological/emotional
• Threats of harm, controlling, intimidation, coercion,
harassment, verbal abuse, enforced isolation or withdrawal from
services or supportive networks.
• Humiliation
• Bullying, shouting or swearing


Signs of abuse
Physical
NB Ageing processes can cause changes which are hard to distinguish from some aspects of physical assault e.g. skin bruising can occur due to blood vessels becoming fragile.
• A history of unexplained falls or minor injuries
• Bruising in well-protected areas, or clustered from repeated striking
• Finger marks
• Burns of unusual location or type
• Injuries found at different states of healing
• Injury shape similar to an object
• Injuries to head/face/scalp
• History of moving from doctor to doctor, or between social care agencies; reluctance to seek help
• Accounts which vary with time or are inconsistent with physical evidence
• Weight loss due to malnutrition; or rapid weight gain
• Ulcers, bed sores and being left in wet clothing
• Drowsiness due to too much medication; or lack of medication causing
recurring crises/hospital admissions

Sexual
• Disclosure or partial disclosure (use of phrases such as ‘It’s a secret’)
• Medical problems, e.g. genital infections, pregnancy, difficulty walking or sitting
• Disturbed behaviour e.g. depression, sudden withdrawal from activities, loss of previous skills, sleeplessness or nightmares, self-injury, showing fear or aggression to one particular person, inappropriately seductive behaviour, loss of appetite or difficulty in keeping food down.
• Unusual circumstances, such as, for example, two people found in a toilet/bathroom area, one of them distressed

Signs of psychological or emotional vulnerability
• Isolation
• Unkempt, unwashed appearance; smell
• Over meticulousness
• Inappropriate dress
• Withdrawnness, agitation, anxiety; not wanting to be touched
• Change in appetite
• Insomnia or need for excessive sleep
• Tearfulness
• Unexplained paranoia; excessive fears
• Low self-esteem
• Confusion

Signs of neglect
• Poor physical condition
• Clothing in poor condition
• Inadequate diet
• Untreated injuries or medical problems
• Failure to be given prescribed medication
• Poor personal hygiene

Signs of financial or material vulnerability
• Unexplained or sudden inability to pay bills
• Unexplained or sudden withdrawal of money from accounts
• Disparity between assets and satisfactory living conditions
• Unusual level of interest by family members and other people in the
vulnerable person’s financial assets

Signs of discrimination
• Lack of respect shown to an individual
• Substandard service offered to an individual
• Exclusion from rights afforded to others, such as health, education,
criminal justice

Other signs of abuse
• Controlling relationships
• Inappropriate use of restraint
• Sensory deprivation e.g. spectacles or hearing aid
• Denial of visitors or phone calls
• Failure to ensure privacy or personal dignity
• Lack of personal clothing or possessions

People who might abuse
Abuse may happen anywhere and may be carried out by anyone, eg:
• Order members, Mitras and Friends, whether financially supported or volunteering
• Parents
• People you consider good and trusted friends
• Informal carers, family, friends, neighbours
• Other users or tenants of Llangollen Buddhist Centre
• Strangers or visitors to Llangollen Buddhist Centre

If you have a concern
All allegations or suspicions should be taken seriously and reported to Llangollen Buddhist Centre’s Safeguarding officer: Muditavati at [email protected]

What to do if an adult alleges abuse
Do
• stay calm.
• listen patiently.
• reassure the person they are doing the right thing by telling you.
• clarify issues of confidentiality early on. Make it clear that you may have to discuss theirconcerns with others, on a strictly need-to-know basis, if at all possible with their permission. (See below.)
• explain what you are going to do.
• write a factual account of what you have seen and heard, immediately.

Do not
• appear shocked, horrified, disgusted or angry.
• press the individual for details.
• make comments or judgments other than to show concern. Your responsibility is to take them seriously, not to decide whether what they are saying is true.
• promise to keep secrets.
• confront the alleged perpetrator.
• risk contaminating the evidence by investigating matters yourself.

What to do next
• Your first concern is the safety and wellbeing of the person bringing the allegation. Do not be distracted from this by loyalty to the person who has been accused or your desire to maintain the good name of Triratna or your centre.
• If you are not the Safeguarding officer the first thing you should do is to tell the Safeguarding officer. However, if this is not possible and you think the person is in immediate danger phone social services or police straight away. A telephone referral should be confirmed in writing within 24 hours.
• Every person has a legal right to privacy under the International Convention on Human Rightsand data protection legislation; therefore if possible you need to get the person’s consent to share the information they have given you, within the limits described here and below.
• However, if necessary it is legal to pass on information without their consent if you believe they are at risk of significant harm.
• If you are not the Safeguarding officer, tell the Llangollen Buddhist Centre’s Safeguarding officer only. They will co-ordinate the handling of the matter on behalf of the centre’s organising team.

• The Safeguarding officer should contact the Triratna Safeguarding team to discuss what to do next: [email protected]
• Meanwhile, make detailed factual notes about the conversation/concern/incident as soon as possible, including time, date and location. Give them to the Safeguarding officer. If you are the Safeguarding officer, keep notes yourself and keep them either locked away or password-protected.
• No sangha member should attempt to investigate a criminal allegation. This is the job of the police and to attempt this could prejudice a court case and put the person in danger.

Who else needs to know?
Confidentiality, sharing information only on a need-to-know basis, is very important. Under data protection legislation nobody has a right to know about the matter – except, for Safegarding purposes, with those in a position to prevent further harm, and your Chair, who holds ultimate responsibility for the governance of the charity. For example, where there is a criminal allegation against a mitra it would be justifiable for the Safeguarding officer, Chair and mitra convenor to know about it. Normally it is illegal to share personal information about a person without that person’s permission in writing; however, where there are Safeguarding concerns it may be necessary, and therefore legally justifiable, to report without consent, for the prevention of harm.
This is not a matter of concealment, but is intended to protect all concerned from further harm. It will also protect your sangha from fear, rumour and disharmony which will make it much harder to deal with the matter effectively without causing further harm.

Secure, confidential record-keeping
We understand our responsibility for secure and careful record-keeping. Our Safeguarding officer will keep a detailed log of all Safeguarding-related incidents as well as conversations, actions and the reasoning behind them. These will be stored on the charity’s computer, in a password protected section accessible only to the Safeguarding officer and one or two others approved by our trustees. If this is not practicable, they will be written on a computer, printed out and the paper copies stored ina locked cabinet, box or drawer accessible only to the Safeguarding officer and one or two others approved by our trustees. In this case the computer files must be deleted promptly. We understand that such records must not be stored on individuals’ own private computers.

We also understand that under data protection law we need to word our records in a form we would be happy for the subjects to read if they ask to, as is their legal right. This means notes should be factual and respectful, free of interpretations and value-judgements.


Keeping confidential records
We understand that because many abuse cases come to light 30 or more years later our insurers may require us to keep our logs for up to 50 years. (This is a requirement of the UK’s Buddhist Insurance Scheme.)

If our charity closes down, we will give our records to another Triratna Buddhist centre/charity to keep with their own confidential Safeguarding logs.

Reviewing our policies annually
All our Safeguarding policies will be reviewed by the trustees and Safeguarding officer annually and the review recorded in the minutes of their meetings.


Llangollen Buddhists

Chair's name and email address​
Vidyamani
[email protected]


Chair's signature


Safeguarding officer's name and email address:
Moksanita
[email protected]
Safeguarding officer's signature


Date 22/09/23

This document will be reviewed annually by the Safeguarding officer and trustees of [name of Triratna Buddhist centre/enterprise]

Published [date] by the trustees of [name of Triratna Buddhist centre/enterprise]


This model document published May 2019 by the Triratna Safeguarding team, part of the Triratna Ethics Kula.
[email protected]